The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-06 00:00:00

CANADA.

The Earl of AIRLIE asked whether negotiations were
still pending between her Majesty's Government and the
Government of Canada on the subject of the defence of
that colony ; and if so, whether, after these negotiations
were concluded, the papers relating to them would be
laid before Parliament. He alluded to articles which had
appeared in the American press in reference to the subject
of an invasion of Canada. They were aware that a strong
party existed in America who entertained very hostile
feelings to this country, and were in favour of an attempt
to wrest Canada from this country.
Earl DE GREY and RIPON quite agreed with the noble
earl as to the importance of the question put by his lord
ship. For that very reason, however, he could not reply
in any detail to the speech to which they had just listened.
All that he could then say was, that four members of the
Canadian Government had come over to this country to
communicate with her Majesty's Government on this sub-
ject. The communications between those gentlemen and
the Government were now going on. The Canadian re-
presentatives appeared fully impressed with the magnitude
of the question they had come to discuss, and with the
duties that lay on Canada with respect to them. When
those communications ware closed, the Government would
take an early opportunity of informing Parliament of their
nature, and of the result which had been arrived at.
PRIVATE COMMITTEES.

Earl STANHOPE mold that, with regard to select
committees of this house other than those on private bills,
notice of any motion for naming any lord or lords to serve
on such committee, or for adding any lord to such com-
mittee, or for substituting any other lord for any lord
named on such committee, should be given and entered
among the printed notices on or before the day previous to
the day on which such motion should be made.
The motion was agreed to.
THE CONDUCT OF COLONEL JOHNSON.

Earl VANE called the attention of the house to the
charges brought against Colonel Johnson, a magistrate of
the county of Durham, and a friend of his own. In doing
so ho expressed his regret that the Earl of Malmesbury,
by whom those charges were made, was not then in his
place. He did not deny that Colonel Johnson was
guilty of an informality in signing the warrant on which
the late unfortunate Mr. Docknall, of Sedgefield, in the
county of Durham, was committed to a lunatic asylum.
No ono was more sorry for that informality than Colonel
Johnson himself, who had promptly offered to pay £BO by
way of amends. But it was said that Colonel Johnson
had committed to a lunatic asylum a man who was
perfectly sane, and that he had done this without
seeing the patient. The fact, however, was that
Mr. Docknall lived close to the colonel's residence, and
was perfectly well known to him. The unsound state of
Mr. Docknall's mind was also well known in the neigh-
bourhood. The next charge was that Colonel Johnson
had entered into a conspiracy with the man's wife, who was
a bad woman, to imprison her husband. But any one who
was acquainted with Colonel Johnson knew that he was
quite incapable of such conduct, and was perfectly con-
vinced that in what he had done he had been actuated by
the best and kindest motives.

The LORD CHANCELLOR explained that he bad
hitherto taken no notice of the conduct of Colonel John-
son, because an action was pending against him in respect
of his conduct in this case.

Lord RAVENSWORTH could bear testimony, from an
acquaintance of 40 years, to the high character and humane
disposition of Colonel Johnson.
After a few words from Lord CHELMSFORD and the Lola:,
CHANCELLOR, the subject dropped.
The Common Law Courts (Fees) Bill was read a third
time and passed.