The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-08 00:00:00

EASTER HOLIDAYS.

The motion of Lord Palmerston that the house at its
rising do adjourn until the 24th was agreed to.
THE BUDGET.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave notice
that on the 27th he should make his financial statement.
'On the order for going into committee of supply,
Mr. MONSELL moved an address to the Crown, praying
that the commissioners appointed to inquire into the rail-
way system of the United Kingdom might be instructed to
direct their inquiries, in the first instance, to the Irish rail-
way system, with the view of ascertaining, with as little
delay as possible, such facts as might enable the house to
determine whether the provisions of the second clause of
the General Railway Act of 1844 should be applied to such
Irish railways as were subject to its provisions. Comparing
the railway system of Ireland with that of Belgium and
certain parts of Germany where the population was less
numerous than in Ireland, he contended that experience
proved that a reduction of fares by one-third would still
suffice to remunerate the companies, and at the same time
give an enormous impetus to the trade and commerce of
the country. Having also mentioned several instances of
unintelligible obstinacy on the part of the Irish railway
companies, and of dogged resistance to reform and the
adaptation of their management to the English system in
the matter of fares and quick trains. he suggested that the
Government should put in operation the act referred to in his
motion, possess themselves for a limited number of years
of the Irish lines—not, however, as absolute owners but

temporary lessees—and delegate to others the duty of con-
ducting the traffic. If the question were put to the Irish
people, whether they would prefer cheap travelling, or the
abolition of the income tax, he believed they would unani-
mously prefer the former as the best and most certain means
of restoring prosperity to the country.
Mr. WHITESIDE, in seconding the motion, said the
question was not that of the state taking upon itself the
management of the railways, but of exercising that control
over them which was intended by the admirable act of 1844
at the end of 21 years from that time if Parliament should
think fit. By the abolition of four-fifths of the companies
in Ireland, the creation of a central management, and the
adoption of a moderate scale of fares, a saving might be
effected of £200,000 a year.

Mr. SCULLY supported the motion as being of equal
importance to England and Ireland, but incidentally com-
plained of the absence of the Irish element from the com-

mission.

Mr. ENNIS opposed tho motion, and contended that the
cases of Ireland and Belgium were not analogous, the rail-
ways in the latter country being subsidised by the Go-
vernment. As an Irish railway proprietor he should be
delighted if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would take
the railways under his protection, as, owing to keen com-
petition and the depressed condition of the country; they
were now the reverse of prosperous.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, although
unable to give his assent to the motion, assured its sup-
porters that such measures as the Government could pro-
perly adopt should be taken to secure an early investiga-
tion of the condition of the railways in Ireland. He did
not approve of placing the railway system in the hands of
Government, but readily admitted that there were various
modes in which Government might intervene to secure the
advantages of cheap railway conveyance. The commis-
sioners recently appointed to inquire into the railway sys-
tem in this country had already entered upon their task ;
but it would be possible for'them to direct the collection of
facts relating to Irish railways. If, therefore, the motion
were withdrawn Government would cheerfully undertake
to avail themselves of such means as were at' their com-
mand to institute an examination of all the facts of the
Irish railway system without delay.

After somo observations from Colonel DICKSON and Mr.
LEFROY,

Mr. MONSELL expressed himself satisfied with the
assurance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and con-
sented to withdraw his motion.

Sir H. VERNEY put a question to the Under-Secretary
for Foreign Affairs respecting the construction to be placed
upon the despatch of Earl Russell to the English em-
bassies at Berlin and Vienna of the Bth instant concerning
the recognition of the provisional flag of the duchies of
Schleswig and Holstein. The lion. baronet, in drawing
attention to this subject, complained in bitter terms of the
conduct of Prussia.

Sir F. GOLDSMID said it was impossible for thellouso
of Commons to view the state of things in the duchies with
anything like satisfaction ; but the hon. baronet ought to
have known, when last year he advocated their separation
from Denmark, that the idea of a despotic power like
Prussia coming forward as the friend of oppressed nationa-
lities was the merest delusion. Prussia had throughout
but one object, and that was her own aggrandisement.
Mr. LAYARD also twitted Sir Harry Verney with hav-
ing been the earnest advocate of the state of things which
we now had the pain of witnessing. Government had not
interfered, however, and had nothing to say with regard to
what was passing in the duchies. When Schleswig and
Holstein were separated from Denmark they were placed
in an anomalous position, for they wore no part of the
territories either of Prussia or Austria, and had ceased to
form part of Denmark. But it was necessary that they
should have a flag, and in provisionally recognising that
flag the Government had not admitted the rights of
Prussia, Austria, or the Germanic Confederation.
In reply to remarks by Mr. Wmn and Mr. F. POWELL,
Sir G. GREY stated the objections of the Government
to the severance of Cornwall from the diocese of Exeter,
and the erection of that county into a separate see, and in-
timated that there was at present no necessity for any
general revision of the boundaries of dioceses.

Mr. H. SEY3IOUR called attention to the recent news
respecting the operations of the British expedition to
Bhootan.

Mr. GOSCHEN inquired by whom the war had been
initiated, the local or supreme Government, and whether
the Government or the commander-in-chief in India was
responsible for the manner in which hostilities had been
conducted.

Sir C. WOOD offered a detailed explanation of the cir-
cumstances which had led to the war, and said that it had
been determined upon by the Indian Government after
communication with the commander-in-chief and with the
sanction of the Government at home.

The only other question discussed on the motion for
supply was the works at Holyhead, the progress of which
towards completion was described by Mr. GIBSON.
The house then went into committee on the navy esti-
mates, and agreed to the votes of £1,158,797 for wages of
artificers and labourers in the naval establishments at
home, £72,585 for wages in the establishments abroad,
£64,800 for medicine and medical stores, and £103,925 for
miscellaneous services.

The Pilotage Order Confirmation Bill was read a third
time and passed.

The General Post-office (Additional Site) Bill was read
a second time.

Other bills were also advanced a stage, and the house
adjourned at five minutes past one o'clock. •

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

ROCHDALE.

Mr. William Baliol Brett has offered himself as
a candidate for Rochdale in the Conservative in-
terest. In his address he states that he, if returned,
will give his support to the political views or Lord
Derby. He is a member of the Church of England,
but is favourable to the relief of Dissenters from the
payment of church rates. He is prepared to add to
the franchise, but would not give exclusive power
to any one class. He is in favour of a policy of
peace, but hostile to a constant interference in
words, accompanied by an ill-concealed intention
of not acting. He thinks the colonies should be
defended with the whole strength of the empire from
foreign molestation. He would have the present
laws of settlement abrogated. He states, in conclu-
sion, that he has invincible objections to the Lord
Chancellor's proposed Bill for doing away with the
power of imprisonment for certain debts.

CLACKMANNAN AND KINROSS.
Mr. W. P. Adam, member for these united coun-
ties, having accepted the office of one of the Lords
of the Treasury, vacant by the resignation of Sir
W. Dunbar, has issued an address announcing "the
unsolicited " and " entirely unexpected " compli-
ment conferred upon him, which necessitates his
making a new appeal to his constituency. He says
he believes that in accepting office under the present
Government he is following out the principles of
progressive reform which he has always held. He
adds, " Whether, as an individual, I am right or not
in my present course it is for you to declare ; but I
believe that I may appeal to the general voice of
the country to say that Lord Palmerston's Govern-
ment have served it well ; and in trying times they
have kept a steadfast course, undeterred by clamour,
unprovoked by menace ; and that under their rule
Great Britain has enjoyed a prosperity hitherto
unknown to the world."

DEATH OF THE HON. MRS. BURN __The
Hon. Mrs. Goulburn, wife of Mr. Commissioner Goulburn,
died on Thursday. The learned commissioner will not sit
next week in the Court of Bankruptcy.