The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-22 00:00:00

THE AMNESTY IN POLAND.

Mr. DENMAN asked the First Lord of the Treasury,
whether her Majesty's Government had received any in-
formation as to whether the amnesty offered by the Em-
peror of Russia to those engaged in the Polish insurrection
was intended to suspend the execution of political prisoners
taken since the commencement of those proceedings of the
the Russian authorities which led to the insurrection ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied that it was now well
known that the Russian Government had issued a procla-
mation granting an amnesty. , There were some variations
in the proclamation issued at St. Petersburg, and that
is ued at Warsaw. As yet the Government had received
no very accurate information as to the correct interpreta-
tion. There wero different interpretations as to the
exact purport of the proclamation—one asserting
to be in the comprehensive sense mentioned by his
honourable and learned friend ; the other that its
intentions were rather restricted. All he could say
was that he hoped the larger interpretation was the just
one. (Hear, hear.) It was impossible not to feel that the
Russian Government entertained the sense that its troops in
Poland had unfortunately committed acts of ferocious vio-
lence, and that there was great reason for the enaction of
acts of forbearance and mercy in order to set them right
wi.h the public. (Hear, hear.)

CHIEF MINISTERS OP STATE IN THE HOUSE

OF LORDS.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH desired to ask the noble lord (Lord
Palmerston), whether he thought it desirable, with a view
to the efficiency of the public service, and respectful to the
House of Commons, that the chiefs of three departments--
namely, the Secretary at War, the Chief Secretary of the
Admiialty, and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
should be concentrated in the House of Lords, and this
house left to the Under-Secretaries of the three Depart-
ments? (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON replied that it had been his en-
deavour to make the best arrangement he could for
the public service, •eiSmbining as many benefits
with as few objections -as possible. (Hear, hear.)
It would be desirable, '-no doubt, to have the whole of the
Secretaries of State in the House of Commons; but all he
could say was, that the house would not suffer any incon-
venience in consequence of the arrarigements recently made
in regard to full explanations being offered to the house in
all matters relating to the public service, (Rear, hear.)
ADMIRAL WILKES.
Mr. ROEBUCK desired to ask the noble lord, the First
Lord of the Treasury, a question—but if inconvenient he
would repeat it on Thursday—whether the Government
h td determined upon what line of conduct it would be prOper
to pursue with regard to Admiral Wilkes—(hear, hear)—
and whether the noble lord had any objection to state the
nature of the determination of the Government ?
Lord PALMERSTON—I would rather take the ques-
tion as a notice for a future day. (Laughter.)
WOODS, FORESTS, AND LAND RE VENUE
OFFICE, &c.
Mr. A. SMITH then rose to move for a select committee
to inquire into the Office of Woods, Forests, and Land Re-
venues, and the Office of Works and Public Buildings, and
the operation of the Act 14 and 15 Vic. c. 42, by which
three were constituted as two separate departments. Dur-
ing the past year there had beenar and ,the navy but he re
asaving of one million on
,
e !eh of the departmentso w r
gi ed ted to find there had f
been no saving effected in the es-
timates for the civil service, with regard to which there
was more complaint than in any other department of the
Rafe. The hon. gentleman then referred to the Hon. Mr.
Gore's report of the income and expenditure, which he
(Mr. Smith) urged was a too favourable estimate of the
receipts and expenditure of this department. The hon.
gentleman concluded by moving the appointment of a se-
lect committee.
Mt. PEEL said he was quite ready to admit that the
condition of the Crown lands was a fair subject to be
brought from tame to time under the consideration of the
house, both because they constituted a considerable source