The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-09 00:00:00

THE BIRTH OF A PRINCE.

Sir G. GREY said that in consequence of a happy event
which had occurred since they last met, he had to propose
that an address be presented to her Majesty on the occa-
sion of the birth of a Prince, and assuring her Majesty of
their devoted attachtnent to her person and family.
Mr. DISRAELI, in seconding the motion, said the event
could not be more gratifying to her Majesty than it was
publicly and privately to her Majesty's subjects,
The motion was agreed to.
The house then went into committee of supply. • -
TIIE NATIONAL GALLERY.

On the vote of £23,336 for the expenses of the National
Gallery, including the purchase of pictures,

Mr. A. SMITH asked what were the intentions of the
Government respecting the enlargement of the National
Gallery.

Mr. COWPER said an estimate was in course of prepara-
tion, which he hoped to lay upon the table in the course of
a few days, which would provide a vote for the purchase of
the ground in the rear of the National Gallery, and which
was at present occupied by the workhouse and the paro-
chial schools. Nothing, however, could be done at present
towards the enlargement beyond purchasing this land. He
had been in communication with the Vestry of St. Mar-
tin's in the Fields, and he found that they were willing to
dispose of the workhouse, upon the condition that they re-
ceived an amount of money which would enable them to
erect a workhouse iu the suburbs of the metropolis, and a
casual ward and parochial office within the parish. The
trustees of Archbishop Tenison were also willing 'to dis-
pose of their property provided they could obtain another
school within the parish. Under these circumstances it
would be his duty to bring forward a proposal for the pur-
chase of this site, and when the property had been acquired,
it could be laid out so as to provide for the enlargement of-
the National Gallery as might be required from time to time.
Some time, however, must elapse before the Royal Acade-
micians would be able to obtain for themselves a building
to which they could transfer their pictures.
Mr. A. KINNAIRD asked if the right hon. gentleman's
attention had been called to the large number of petitions
which had recently been presented in favour of opening
the national art collections to the public three evenings in
the week. It was perfectly certain that a large class of
persons had no opportunity of visiting them during the
daytime.

Lord J. MANNERS asked if the committee were to un-
derstand that Burlington House would not be offered to the
Royal Academy.
Mr. COWPER said a proposal had been laid before the
Royal Academicians, informing them that, if they were
pleased to apply for a site at Burlington House, the Govern-
ment would grant them one. As yet, however, time had
not been allowed for ascertaining the determination of the
Academy. With respect to the question of his hon. friend,
he quite agreed with him that a large proportion of the in-
habitants of the metropolis were so busy during the day
that unless they were able to see these collections in the
evening they could not see them at all. And he entirely
went along with him in the principle that every public ex-
hibition, so far as was feasible, ought to be open in the
evening. (Cheers.) However, as regarded the National
Gallery, the house was aware that it was in the hands of
trustees, who were under a very great responsibility in re-
gard to the preservation of a number of works which were
so immensely valuable, and which could not possibly be re-
placed if any accident occurred to them. They all knew
that the mere introduction of gas increased the risk from
fire ; and although, by very great caution under certain
circumstances that risk might be reduced to a minimum, he
did not think it would be desirable to introduce gas into the
present building. (Hear.) It would be possible, however,
by the erection of a fireproof building, to introduce gas into
it with the least possible amount of risk. And it must also
be remembered that nothing was more deleterious to pic-
tures than the effluvia from gas—(hear)—while, on the
ether hand, it should be admitted that the progress which
had been made in the art of ventilation afforded the means
of carrying off the effluvia. (Hear.) There was no doubt
the subject required very great consideration ; and that, if
possible, arrangements ought to be made for enabling the
public to visit these collections in the evening.
Mr. MITFORD suggested that the public should be ad-
mitted to the National Gallery by sixpenny or shilling
tickets upon the two days on which it was now exclusively
given up to students. At present the number of students in
attendance was not very large, being not more than thirty-
eight, and these were scattered over five or six rooms.
Sir W. FRASER believed that at present many persons
were deterred from leaving pictures to the nation because
they feared they might be hidden away in some hole or
corner.

Mr. A. SMITH drew attention to certain balances which
Appeared in the estimates.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
balances alluded to were practically re-votes of money which
had been voted in former years.
The vote was then agreed to.
The vote of £1,650 for the British historical Portrait
Gallery was agreed to.
The vote £1,059 for magnetic and meteorological obser-
vations was agreed to.
The vote £5,000 for preliminary expenses of the manage-
ment of the British Department in the Universal Exhibi-
tiion at Paris was agreed to.
The following votes were also agreed to without discus..
lion :—.£500 to defray the expense of providing accommo-
dation for the meetings of the Royal Geographical Society ;
£l,OOO for the Royal Society, to enable it to carry out cer-
tain experiments ; £5OO for the Royal Academy of Music
41,260 to defray the expense of civil establishments in
Bermuda ; £36, 000 for defraying the expense of bounties
on slaves; and £91,018 for consular establishments
abroad.

--.1;.-CLAY moved that the vote be reduced by the
amount of £750.

.....
The committee divided on the amendment to reduce the
vote by striking out the salary of the consul at St. Peters-
burg.

Ares

Noes..

50
-30

Majority

On the vote being again put from the chair,
Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked whether her Majesty's Go-
vernment could give any information with regard to the
steps taken to procure the liberation of a British subject
taken prisoner by brigands in Italy.
Mr. H. SEYMOUR wished to know what steps had been
taken by her Majesty's Government to obtain the release

of Capt. Cameron, the British consul, two missionaries,
and several other Europeans, who had been held captive
for more than a year by the King of Abyssinia. He believed
that a gentleman had been sent from Aden into Abyssinia
to endeavour to obtain their release, but he should like the
hon. gentleman the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs to
state whether he could not lay on the table some papers
relating to the efforts made by the Foreign Office for the
release of those gentlemen, or, if not, whether he could
state the reason for the failure of those efforts, and what
course her Majesty's Government now intended to pursue
on this really important subject.
Mr. LA YARD, in reply, said, with regard to the question
of the hon. member for Devizes (Mr. D. Griffith), that
everything had been done which possibly could be done
on behalf of the unfortunate gentleman, and he might add
that the Italian Government were doing even more than
they had a right to expect, in order to obtain his release.
All that he (Mr. Layard) could say was that within two
hours they had received information that Mr. Bowen had
been seen, that he was well, and, as far as possible, was
taken care of by the brigands by whom he was seized, and
it was hoped before long he would be released. The other
question was no doubt of painful interest, and he was
quite sure the committee felt that the Foreign Office had
only one object in view, and that was to save the lives of
the unfortunate gentlemen. Not only was her Majesty's
consul, Captain Cameron, in confinement, but several
missionaries. It had been a most difficult question to deal
with, requiring the greatest possible prudence and circum-
spection. He would most willingly state to the house
everything which had occurred, and the time might
come when he should be able to show that nothing had
been omitted to procure the release of these gentlemen ;
but he could assure hon. gentlemen conscientiously that any
public statement might lead to most serious consequences.
He had only recently received a letter from Mr. Rassa,m,
the gentleman sent out by the Foreign-office, entreating
and imploring him to stop the publication of any state-
ments on the subject, all of which were sent out to Abys-
sinia, translated and made the most of by those who were
unfriendly to this country. He regretted very much that
there were some gentlemen, he did not know who they
were, who betrayed official secrets in a manner deserving
the strongest condemnation. In a public print—the Pall-
Mall Gazette—there had recently appeared extracts from
letters received officially and sent through two or three
public offices. He did not wish to place the slightest re-
striction on entire freedom of the press ; but when persons
in official positions were capable of betraying such trusts,
it made him feel a most painful want pf confidence. He
hoped that journal, which he believed was most respectable,
would not allow any more statements to be made which
were most injurious, and might lead to serious results, even
to the loss of life. Mr. Rassam, who had been selected to
endeavour to obtati the release if the captives, was in
communication with persons in Abyssinia. He was a gen-
tleman in every way qualified by his knowledge and expe-
rience for the duty he had to perform, and her Majesty's
Government hoped that his efforts would have a successful
result. The papers relating to this matter were not printed.
If they could be given without injury, her Majesty's Go-
vernment would willingly lay them on the table ; if, on the
other hand, their publication might lead to the death of the
gentleman in captivity, it would be the duty of her Ma-
jesty's Government to refuse them. • He should be guided
entirely by that consideration. In the meantime, he could
assure the hon. gentleman who put the question that every
thing would be done to obtain the release of Capt. Cameron
and the other gentlemen who were prisoners with him.
The vote was then agreed to.

On a vote of £102,972 for the services in China, Japan,
and Siam,
Colonel SYKES drew attention to the disparity between
the salary of £B,OOO paid to the Minister at Pekin, and that
of £2OO paid to the surgeon.
Mr. LAYARD admitted that the salary at Pekin seemed
high, and it had been intended to reduce it ; but the fact
was that as everything required, even for the ambassador's
daily table, had to be brought up from the coast on the
backs of animals, the expense was very great.
The vote was agreed to.
The vote of £32,400 for the extra expenses and disburse -
ments of her Majesty's embassies and missions abroad was
agreed to.

The vote of £19,000, to complete tho sum for special
missions, diplomatic outfits, and conveyance and entertain-
ment of distinguished persons was agreed to.
The next vote was for a sum of £179,792 for superannua-
tion and retired allowances.

Mr. HENNESSY took occasion to complain thatthe Go-
vernment pressed the humbler class of civil servants with
the strict letter of the law, while those who were in the
receipt of the higher salaries had a much more liberal in-
terpretation dealt out to them. The hon. member cited the
case of a man who, after having been 50 years in the Cus-

toms Department, had retired at the age of 80 upon a pen-
sion of £l2 a year.
Mr. F. PEEL said retiring pensions were regulated in
every instance by the amount of salary enjoyed by the can-
didate and his period of service.
Mr. A. SMITH pointed to the circumstance of Mr. Hood,
late consul at Buenos Ayres, being permitted to retire at
the age of 31, and after a period of only 12 year's public
service, upon a pension of £4OO, his official salary having
been only £BOO a year.

Mr. F. PEEL explained that Mr. Hood was pensioned
on the office which he filled baing abolished.
Mr. A. SMITH moved that the vote be reduced by a sum
of £4OO.

The committee divided, when there were—
Ayes
Noes

Majority

The vote was then agreed to.

- 15

Votes of £661 for French and Corsican refugees ; of £325
for a refuge for the destitute; of £2,789 for Polish and
Spanish refugees; of £54,200 for merchant seamen's fund,
pensions, &c. ; of £30,400 for the relief of distressed Bri-
tish seamen abroad ; of £3,780 .for miscellaneous charges
formerly in the civil list; of £2,772 on account of Irish in-
firmaries ; of £2,600 on account of the Westmoreland Lock
Hospital, Dublin ; of £7OO on account of the Rotunda
Lying-in-Hospital, Dublin ; of £2OO on account of the
Coombe Lying-in-Hospital, Dublin ; of £7,600 on account
of the Hospital of the House of Industry, Dublin ; of £2,500
on account of the House of Recovery, and Fever Hospital,
Cork-street, Dublin; of £6OO for the Neath Hospital and
County Dublin Infirmary ; of £lOO for the St. Mark's Oph-
thalmic Hospital, Dublin; of £1,300 on account of Dr.
Steven's Hospital, Dublin ; of £245 on account of the Board
of Superintendence of Dublin Hospitals ; and of £8,644 on
account of Charitable Allowances (Ireland), were agreed to.
The vote of £40,809 for non-conforming, seceding, and
Protestant dissenting ministers in Ireland, was agreed to.
The following votes were agreed to ; £3,740 for the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners of England ; £25,702 for
Temporary Commissions; £25,003 compensation payable
under the provisions of the Patent Law Amendment Act,
1852.

On the vote of £11,427 to complete the vote for salaries
and expenses of the Board of Fisheries in Scotland,
Mr. HENNESSY remarked that a grant was formerly
given to fishermen in Ireland, and the late Fisheries' Com-
mission had recommended its renewal. Did the Govern-
ment intend to carry out that recommendation ?
Mr. F. PEEL said the Acts under which the grant was
made were only of a temporary nature, and expired in or
about 1830. The Government, however, had recommended
that an Act of Parliament should pass authorising the
Board of Public Works to make small grants of money out
of any amount the house might grant, on the principle on
which the sum of £93,000 had been issued under the pre-
vious Acts.

Mr. WHITE objected altogether to the vote, which he
regarded as a remnant of the old protection system. He
would not, however, move the rejection of the vote, for he
considered it an act of patriotism to hold one's tongue with
respect to the estimates, as the sooner this Parliament was
got rid of the better.

The LORD ADVOCATE, while admitting that theore-
tically this was a remnant of protection, yet practically the
Fishery Board had effected a great deal of good. It was
an undoubted fact, for instance, that the Crown brand on
herrings considerably enhanced their price.
After some further discussion,
The vote was agreed to.

The following votes were agreed to without discussion :
£2,000 for annuities on account of the Board of Manu-
factures in Scotland.

£39,532 for the payment of local dues on shipping under
treaties of reciprocity.

£1,900 for salaries of inspectors and expenses of corn
returns.

£5OO for the boundary survey of baronies and counties
in Ireland.

On the vote of £5OO for the expenses of publishing the
Brehon Laws of Ireland,

Sir R. PEEL, in reply to Mr. BLAKE, stated that one
volume was already published, and that a second would
probably appear in the course of the second year.

The vote was agreed to.
GREENWICH HOSPITAL BILL.

On the order for the recommittal of this bill,

Mr. CAVE compared the regulations in force at the
hospital to the confining in a gilded cage a bird that
would rather bo in its native woods. He suggested that
one of the wings which were to be vacated should be used
as an hospital for foreign seamen. He was sorry to find
that the Dreadnought, which had served the purpose so
well, was to be given up, and it was proposed to expend
£60,000 in constructing a new hospital.

The house then went into committee on the bill.
Clauses 1 to 4 inclusive were agreed to.
On clause 5,

Sir J. HAY remarked that no power was taken to give
pensions to widows, instead of giving them lump sums as
a gratuity. He did not think that pensioning was always
thethe bc)epsttierr
ed fe, but he did think the Admiralty should have
granting a pension in lieu of a gratuity.
Mr. AYRTON suggested an amendment, preserving to
seamen of the mercantile marine the right to the benefits
when wounded in defending their ships against an enemy
or from pirates.
Mr. CHILDERS said an amendment to that effect would
be introduced. He did not think it would be right to
introduce pensions for widows.
Mr. HENNESSY complained of exclusion of medical
officers from the pension list.