The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 17, 1865.

LAW INfELLIGENCE—(This Day).

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Registrar Winslow.)
IN RE HALLIDAY.

This bankrupt was described as of Cleveland-square,
Hyde-park, and he is a son of Sir Frederick Halliday, Bart.
He came up to-day upon the order of discharge, the ac-
counts showing debts 2501. The registrar granted order as
prayed.

The Metropolitan Board of Works and
Lord Robert Montagu's Committee.

Yesterday au adjourned meeting of the Metropolitan.
Board of Works was held at the offices, Spring-gardens,
Mr. Thwaites in the chair, for the purpose of continuing
the discussion upon the report from the Main Drainage
Committee, brought up at the weekly sitting on Friday,
with regard to the contract for the Thames embankment.

It will be remembered that on that occasion Mr. Newton
moved the adoption of the document, and Mr. Richardson
proposed an amendment, that it was inexpedient to answer
the charges contained in the report by the publication of
certain correyeendence.
Mr. MILLER M.P., resumed the debate, and contended
that many er:t:aneous matters had been introduced into the
question before the board. It was the opinion of eminent
men that the river gravel was not the proper material to be
by itself used in filling in the embankment. There was no
binding quality in it, and, therefore, it ought to be mixed
with something else. The engineer had been blamed be-
cause the use of land rubbish would be a great say7ng to
the contractor ; but the officer had had nothing to do with
the t. As it was a financial question, it was one for the con-
sideration of the board. The engineer was also blamed for
the non-acceptance of Mr. Ridley's contract, and it was as-
serted that that of Mr. Furness had been accepted through
the engineer's connection with the Odessa contract. -That
was not correct, as the engineer had recommended the
board to re-advertise. He thought from the first that Mr.
Ridley's contract should have been accepted, but the board
decided otherwise. Mr. Bazalgette had abstained from re-
commending Mr. Furness to the board until he was urged
to do so. That recommendation was, that Mr. Furness
had carried out large works for the board with success,and
that he (Mr. Bazalgette) Considered him competent to un-
dertake the contract for the Thames embankment. Those
works were now progressing satisfactorily, and would be
completed within the estimated cost. In conclusion, he
thought that the whole report of the facts should be pub-
lished, as he believed the whole of the main facts in the
report could be sustained.

Major LYON thought the committee had arrived at their
conclusion from newspaper reports and vestry documents,
and not from the whole of the charges which had beenmade
against the board. He urged that as the contract was prac-
tically completed, there could be no further wrong-doing,
even if there had been anything wrong done. He believed
Mr. Bazalgette had inefficiently answered the questions put
to him in committee by Sir Joseph Paxton. The report stated
that the board had accepted Mr. Furness's tender contrary
to the advice of the engineer ; but that was an error. He
defied anyone to prove such to be the fact. The statement
of the engineer as to Mr. Furness could not b 3 made to
agree with the report. He complained that the paid ser-
vants were becoming the board, and the board becoming
nothing at all. The report had been drawn up by some
officer of the board, and then but slightly altered in com-
mittee. He supported the amendment of Mr. Richardson.
Mr. DOULTON, M.P., would have supported the amend-
ment, that it was not expedient to make any answer to the
charges contained in the report, as he believed it was be-
neath the dignity of the Board to take any notice of them.
But when those charges came before a committee of the
House of Commons it was right this board should make such
a reply as would show the board was without reproach.
Mr. SAUNDERS went through the report of the committee
at great length, and contended that it was inexpedient to
answer many of the statements in it, which were untrue,
although he did not believe that the committee knew it was
so. He thought the whole correspondence should be left to
the consideration of a discerning public.
Mr. FREEMAN said he should vote for the adoption of the
report.
Mr. NICHOLAY thought the board had not acted with
fairness towards Mr. Ridley, and held that the Odessa affair
was the dead weight around the neck of the Board.
Mr. NEWTON replied upon the whole of the discussion.
A show of hands was taken, and the amendment declared
to be lost.

Major LYON then proposed, " That it is inexpedient at
the present time to make any reply to the charges referred
to in the report of the committee."
Mr. WESTEItTON seconded this amendment, which was
also lost.
A division then took place on the original resolution for
the adoption of the report, when there appeared—
For the motion ..• ..• ... 21
Against it ••• ... 6
Majority ... ... —l5
Upon the motion of Mr. DoVLTON, it was ordered that a
copy of the report be sent to every member of committee,
and of the Court of Common Council, in addition to the
vestries.

-------
The Board adjourned at 6 o'clock

THE EMPIRE OF MEXICO,

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
MEXICO, Dec. 10.
The arrival of Senor Meglia, the Pope's Nuncio,

leads every one to believe that a satisfactory settle-
ment of the long-pending question, the " Church
property," is not far distant. On presenting his cre-
dentials the Nuncio expressed himself as follows :
" Sire,—ln handing to your Majesty the brief by which
our Holy Father has deigned to accredit me, I am happy,
Sire, in being able to assure you of the sentiments of tender
affection which his Holiness the Pope entertains for your

Majesty. The Sovereign Pontiff, already aware of your

devotion to the Church,aad of your benevolent intentions,

places in you too much confidence to doubt but that our
sacred religion—the fruitful source of the prosperity of
nations as well as the most solid support of Governments
and Thrones—will ever be the constant aim of your Impe-
rial Majesty. I, Sire, shall ever employ all my zeal in the
maintenance of amicable relations, and to the preservation

of those bonds which ought for ever to unite the Holy See
and the Mexican Emp're." _

The Emperor's reply, as it will be seen, was much
more to the purpose. He said :
" To us it is a matter of real congratulation to see at
length realised, by the sending of a person so distinguished
and enlightened, the promise made to us while at Rome ;
a realisation which our Government, as well as the whole
nation, await with anxiety. The Holy Father, with his
proverbial bounty, gives us in this an evident proof, which
we accept with gratitude, that the Church is anxious for the
final settlement of the difficult question pending between
our Government and the Holy See. The Mexican Govern-
tient, Catholic, loyal, and based upon true liberty, will not
fail in its duty, and it is with these sentiments that it re-
ceived the worthy representative of Christ's Viceregent, in
full confidence that his arrival is the first step towards a
settlement beneficial for all, and which the Almighty will

bless."
Although nothing official has yet transpired re
specting the base of the " Concordat" about to be
signed by the Imperial Government and the Court
of Rome, I think that the following are the points
which will be mainly insisted upon. The toleration
of all religions not prohibited by the laws ; the
Catholic clergy to be provided for out of the public
treasury, and not to receive fees for the administra-
tion of the Sacraments; the Catholic religion to be
the religion of the State ; the nationalisation of all
Church property ; the re-establishment of religious
orders, dissolved during the Republic not to take
place without the express consent of the Mexican
Government ; the exclusive privileges heretofore en-
joyed by the clergy to be remodelled in conformity
with the usages now prevalent among civilised na-
tions ; and the establishment of a civil register for
births, marriages, and deaths in all districts where
the Government may deemi it necessary.
This Concordat once promulgated the semblance
even of an armed resistance will at once cease.
Mexicans fight for money, but not from patriotism.
I have heard many a rabid Liberal exclaim, " Let
the Emperor secure us in the possession of the
Church property, and it is all we ask." A revision
of all fraudulent sales must necessarily be made, as
it would be an act of gross injustice to place those
who have violated the law on an equality with
those who have complied with it. Itis not too much
to expect that the Government, from this source
alone, will realise sooner or later from 60 to 100
million dollars.
A Council of State, composed of eight members
and a president, has been named by the Emperor.
Its duties are to prepare such laws and decrees as
may be intrusted to it either by the chief of the
State or his Ministers ; to form a tribunal on legal
matters ; to adjudicate in all cases where high
functionaries are incriminated ; to report upon all
matters referred to it either by the Emperor or his
Ministers ; and to perform all other functions
which may be required of it either by the laws or
by the chief of the State.
The forces commanded by General Douay have
nowhere met with any serious resistance. Mazatlan
was occupied on the 13th, and the Empire solemnly
proclaimed on the 19th. This is one of the most
important events of the campaign ; in a military
point of view the occupation of Mazatlan secures the
possession of all that portion of the Pacific coast ;
in 'a financial one it is important as likely to supply
the Imperial Treasury with three or four millions of
dollars annually. An expedition to Sonora is much
talked of, and it is not improbable that the Belgian
troops will be employed in this service. From
Oajuca there is no news of importance ; by the last
accounts the French force was within 15 leagues of
the capital, and it was not expected that any serious
resistance would be attempted.
Several propositions having been addressed a
l.to
the Government for the atabliehment of ine

of steamers along the Pacific coast, the Govern-
ment have determined to leave the matter open
to public competition, laying down the following
conditions as the bases upon which the concession
would be granted :—lf the company is not Mexican
the persons who form it are to renounce, as far
as this enterprise is concerned, their rights as
foreigners ; the vessels are to sail under the Mexi-
can flag ; they are to make at least two trips every
month, coming and going ; any line established
along the Gulf between Matamoras and Campeachy
to call at the different ports open to commerce.
Every boat to carry, free of expense, a Govern-
ment agent charged with the correspondence ; and
all troops, munitions of war, &c., to be carried
at half-price. I have not heard that any tender has
been made for the Gulf line, but have reason to
believe that an American company, who once made a
similar proposition to Juarez and his Government,
and who have three first-class steamers ready for the
work, will obtain the concession for the Pacific line.
Nothing further has been done in the matter of
the railway company ; Messrs. Escandon and
Saunders arrived in the capital last night with full
powers from the directors in England—at least, so it
is said—to treat with the Government upon this all-
important subject. A confirmation of the Juarez
grant
in
all its details they will never obtain,
but it will be their own fault if they do not obtain
such terms as ought to satisfy any reasonable set of
proprietors.