The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-04 00:00:00

CHINA.

Mr. WHITE gavo notice that on the 24th inst., he
would call the attention of the house to the state of China.
TELEGRAPHIC 'AND RAILWAY COMMUNICA-
TION WITH INDIA AND TURKEY.
Mr. J. E WART asked tho Secretary of State for India
whether any proposition had been made to the India Coun-
cil to aid the establishment of a line of telegraph between
Singapore and India, and if so, what was the general nature
of that proposition ?
Colonel STUART asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether an agreement was entered into in
1858, between the Governments of Turkey and this coun-
try (or of India), for the construction of a line of telegraph
from' Scutari to Bagdad by the Turkish Government ;
whether it was not also agreed between the contracting
parties that, on the completion of the telegraphic commu-
nication between Scutari and Bagdad, a line of telegraph
should be laid down from Bagdad to Kurrachee by the Go-
vernment of this country or of India; whether it was not
the fact that the line from Scutari to Bagdad was completed,
surveyed, and reported on as fit for use by a British
officer, in December, 1860 ; and, whether it was not also the
fact that no steps have since been taken by the Government
of this country (or India) to continue the line of telegraph
from Bagdad to Kurrachee, in accordance with the agree-
ment of 1858 ?

Sir C. WOOD said with respect to the first question, the
Sultan had been communicated with on the subject, and it
was considered by the Government that the telegraph
communication between the places indicated would not be
of such importance to India as to justify its being estab-
lished. With respect to the other questions, ho thought the
Government was bound to complete the line from Scutari
to Bagdad.
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT.

In reply to Mr. HODSON,
Mr. M, GIBSON said that he hoped to be able to make
arrangements to proceed with this bill shortly after the
Whitsuntide recess.
THE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.—THE MOTION

AND AMENDMENTS.

Lord PALMERSTON, in moving that the house at its
rising do adjourn until Thursday, said he would avail him-
self of this opportunity to make a statement as to the
present state of the business of the house. Up to
yesterday her Majesty's Government had reason to believe
the question which the house would have to deliberate upon
this evening was one relating to the economy which should
be exercised in the expenditure of the country con-
sistently with the efficiency of the public service.
(Hear, hear.) But a notice had been given last night by
the hon. and learned member opposite (Mr. Walpole)
which entirely altered the issue to be taken. The question '
to be decided now will bo whether the gentlemen on the
Ministerial benches on the opposite side of the house were
the better entitled to the confidence of the house. (Hear,
hear, and cheers from the Ministerial benches.) He ar-
rived at that conclusion from the form in which the hon.
gentleman (Mr. Walpole's) amendment was framed, from
the side of the house from which it emanated, and from the
political meeting which had recently taken place of mem-
bers of the other side of thn house. from which it emanated.
He thought that tin best course the house could pur-
sue would be at once to proceed to the discussion of the
real question raised, as to which party was the best
entitled to the confidence of the house. (Loud
cheers from the Ministerial benches.) He trusted, therefore,
that the noble member for Huntingdonshire (Lord R.Mon-
tagu) and the other hon. members who had amendments on
the motion proposed by the hon. member opposite (Mr.
Stansfeld) would withdraw them. (Hear, hear, and cries
in the p
of " No, no.")
Lord
R. TIONTAGU said that he did not place his
amendment on the paper from any hostile feeling to the
Government,ublicexbpuetnfdroi
expenditure,
sincere Hewe
sdveesri rye
stoorrp:o wmhoetne
theec nobleonomy
lord (Palmerston) stated that this subject was brought for-
ward in a
party
spirit.
noble
lordH e( waspe
huat e the(Palmerston),
o politicaln)and he
denied
the
alluded to by the
the amendment to which the noble lord more particularly
referred emanated from that meeting. 'On the
on which the motion and con-
trary, it was
not be made a Ttyliqeuestion.
at tatetndmmeeentitnsgwtehreatfouthnededqusehantwiond
the noble loredwas
(Hear, hear, from the Oppo-
sition benches.
withdraw his amendment if
thaotthhe same. (Hear, hear.)
other hon. members would
NHseaicdonsidered that he had taken a very
eOr
n1:I
tA.
the course taken by quite unprepared for
at the head of her Majesty's •
erroneous line of action, and he had
in
the
41413 a tho 12,91180. placed himself entirely
4V thought that the right