The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-27 00:00:00

[DEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF LORDS—YESTERDAY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at four o'clock.

On the motion of the Dubs of RICTINIOND, William
Isaacs, clerk to Mr, Boodle, solicitor, of Cheltenham, and
John Preston, town crier of Cheltenham, were ordered to
appear at the bar to-morrow (Friday), with reference to
their conduct in getting up petitions against the East
Gloucestershire Railway bill.

Their lordships adjourned during pleasure.
Their lordships resumed at five o'clock.
NEW PEER.

Lord CLIFFORD, of Chudleigh, took the oaths and his
seat as a peer of the United Kingdom.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a second time :—Horsham,
Dorking. and Leatherhead Railway—Middle Level Drain-
age—Kent County Gaol and Lunatic Asylum—Sheffield
and Chapel-en-le-Frith Roads—Cardiff Borough—Eastern
Counties Railway (Epping Lines)—Edinburgh, Perth,
and Dundee, and Fife and Kinross Railway Company—
East Grimstead, Groombridge, and Tunbridge Wells Rail-
way.

ITALIAN AFFAIRS.
Lord BROUGHAM said he had heard that some of his
observations the other evening had given offence to the
friends of a certain individual who denied all participation
in Italian affairs, although ho was in opf osition to them.

He was happy to hear that these continued interferences in
Italy only excited the hostility of Austria without obtaining

any security from France.
EDUCATIO \; OF PAUPER CHILDREN BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
PUBLIC HOUSES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
LEASES, &c,, RESTRICTION BILL.
This bill was alsl read a third and passed.
DEFENCES OF THE KINGDOM.
The Earl of AIRLIE moved for a return, showing how

the loan, authorised to be raised for expenditure on the de-
fences of the kingdom, had been appropriated and expended
down to March 31, 1562. The return to show the estimated
cost of the works in each district, the cost of the land, the
contracts entered into, and other details. The noble lard
considered in the changes which were taking place in naval
warfare owing to the introduction of our plated ships rendered
the policy of constructing these works very doubtful, at all
events until the experiments which were being made by Sir Vs.
Armstrong threw fuller light upon the offensive powers of
artillery of large size, and the defensive capabili-
ties of iron plates. The noble lord then entered into
an analysis of the evidence given before the
royal commission, and impugned the results which they
had arrived at, as not supported by the opinions of the
eminent officers who were examined before them.
Earl DE GREY and RIPON consented to the production
of the returns, and added that it would be premature to
adopt the advice of the noble earl and to abandon the
works which had been sanctioned by Parliament two years
ago, in order to substitute for them armour-plated ships.
With regard to the construction of a central arsenal, he
had to state that the consideration of that subject had been

suspended for the present, but the idea had not, therefore,
been abandoned. The Government were prepared to give
the fullest information with regard to the existing works,
and also in reference to their future intentions. It was
his beilef that whatever might be the improvement here-
after effected in ordnance and in iron ships it would not
secure to this country complete immunity from invasion ;
and unless it could be conclusively shown that it would
lead to such a result Parliament ought not to be called
upon completely to retrace the steps which they had
already taken for the national defence.
Earl GREY, in commenting on the measures which had
been adopted by the Government for the defence of the
country, complained of the expense which those measures
would involve. He also observed that the new fortifica-
tions were designed upon an old plan, and that an immense
sum was expended upon iron ships while experiments or
new inventions in artillery were not yet complete 3.
The Duke of SOMERSET stated that all defensive
measures were necessarily expensive ; but if we were to re-
fuse to lay out any money for that purpose the country
would be wholly helpless in the case of a sudden out-
break of war. The late Government had commenced
the reconstruction of our fleet, and the work had
only been continued by their successors. It we s
a mistake to suppose that the new forts were
designed upon an old-fashioned principle. He readily ad-
mitted that it was not advisable to scatter fortifications all
over the country; but it was at the same time manifestly
desirable that we should protect our dockyards and arsenals.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE expressed his entire con-
currence in the course which the Government had adopted
in suspending the works at Spithead and proceeding with
those which had been already commenced in other quarters.
He was of opinion that the forts at Portsdown Hill were
absolutely necessary for the defence of our great adjoining
arsenal. He also approved of the fortifications at Dover,
and contended that they were absolutely necessay as a por-
tion of the works for the protection of the metropolis.
The motion was then agreed to, and their lordships ad-
iourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Inverness and Aberdeen Junction and Inverness and Ross-
shire Railway Companies—Llynvi Valley Railway— Ulster
and Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railways —Wilford
Bridge.
On the motion of Col. W. PATTEN, the following mem-
bers were appointed to serve on the select committee ap-
pointed for the revision of the standing orders relative to
private bills :—Col. NV. Patton, Mr. Massey, Mr. Henley,
Mr. B. Carter, Mr. Walpole, Lord Stanley, Mr. S.
court, Mr. Mr. Adair, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Deedes, Mr. Scholefield,
Mr. Hadfield, Mr. A. Mills, Mr. R. H
ers, dgson, and
ords.
Mr.
Dunlop. Power to send for persons, pap and rec
Five to be the quorum.
PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented against the Burial Bill ;
against the employment of police in Ireland as registrars of
births and deaths ; against the salmon fisheries ; in favour of
rate-payers being allowed a voice in the granting of licenses
for the sate of intoxicating liquors in their respective
parishes.
oEf SW.
parishes.
`Forks,
wheinr.PtilA
the return of public monuments and statues in Lon-
don, ordered on the 3d of June, 1861, would be laid on the
COWPER said that the return was not yet pre-
pared,but he hoped to be able to lay it on the table in a
table.mr
few days.
SUPPLY OF MILITARY STORES TO HONG
Colonel SYKES askedKtOheN_UG.
Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs Ohothor, tb,s
280, day of April last or