The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-15 00:00:00

IRON PLATES.

Sir FRE DE RICK SMITH asked the Secretary of State
for War when he expected to receive the report of the Iron
Plate Committee ; and whether he intended to lay it upon
the table of the house

_ .
Sir G. C LEWIS said that the subject was under con-
sideration of the Board of Admiralty.

INFRINGEMENT OF TIIE CONVENTION WITH

FRANCE.
Mr. BENTINCK asked the President of the Board of
Trade whether it was the intention of her Majesty's (10.
vernment to introduce any measure in that house or to tal to
any steps for the Purpose of putting a stop to the presen t
manner of dealing, in this country and in Ireland, with-4

British and French fishing boats captured for infringements
of the Convention of 1843 ?

Mr. M. GIBSON said that there was no comp'.:lt with
regard to the manner in which this country acted ;n regard
to the Convention; and the French Government had been
communicated with on the subject, and the communication
had been received in a friendly manner. (Herr, hear.)
FORTIFICATION OF THE BRISTOL CHANNEL.

Mr. DILLW YN asked the Secretary of State for War
whether there is any truth in the report that it is the in-
tention of the Government to construct fortifications on the
islands of the steep and flat Holmes,and the adjacent coasts,
for the protection of the upper part of the Bristol Channel.?
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that during the misunderstanding
with America it had been decided to erect forts on the
islands mentioned by the hon. member.
CONVENTION BETWEEN SPAIN AND MOROCO.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Under Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Government was in
possession of a copy of any convention which had been
concluded between the Government of Spain and that of
Morocco, whereby one-half of the receipts of the Moorish
customhouses has been pledged to the Government of Spain;
and, if so, whether they will lay the same before this house ?
Mr. LAYARD said that Government were in possession
of papers on the subject, but could not at present lay them
on the table.

Mr. CHILDERS asked the First Commissioner of Works
what steps Government proposed to take for rendering the
International Exhibition more accessible, and whether any
of them will require the approval of Parliament.
Mr. COW PER said, that no doubt the approaches to the
exhibition were too narrow for the convenience of the number
of persons that might be expected when it was opened. The
subject was under the consideration of Government, and
steps would be adopted to render the means of approaching
the Exhibition more commodious, if possible.
THE NEW NATIONAL GALLERY.

Lord ELCI#IO asked the First Commissioner of Works,
whether there was any truth in the report that plans for a
new National Gallery to be erected on the Burlington
House site have been prepared, and that a vote for its
erection is to be proposed to Parliament in the present
Session : whether, in the event of such being the intentions
of Government, the plans and elevation of the proposed
building will be exhibited before any vote is proposed to
Parliament ; and, whether any decision had been come to
as to the purpose to which the present National Gallery is
to be devoted.
Mr. COWPER said that there was no doubt the Na-

tional Gallery, at Trafalgar-square, would shortly be un-
able to contain all the collections of national pictures, and
of course means must be devised for their reception else-
where.

Lord ELCHO asked whether, in the event of plans being
submitted, they would be laid before Parliament before
being carried out.

Mr. COWPER—That is part of the subject on which
the Government have not come to any decision.

TRADE MARKS.
Mr. BASS asked the right hon. gentleman the President
of the Board of Trade whether the Government had any
intention of introducing a bill upon this subject.

Mr. M. GIBSON said it was understood at the close of
the last session that, from the difficulty of the subject, it
would be desirable that any bill introduced should be re-
ferred to a select committee. The Crown had prepared a
bill, and was quite willing that it should go to a select com-
mittee, but the hon. and learned member for Sheffield (Mr.
Roebuck) was also desirous of submitting his views to the
house on the subject in the form of a bill. The Govern-
ment had no objection that both bills should be referred to
a select committee.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS.

Mr. B. COCHRANE inquired of the hon. member for
the King's County whether he would postpone his motion
with respect to the subject of competitive examinations for
civil service junior appointments to a later period of the
session than that which he had named ?
Mr. HENNESSY said as he understood the Chancellor
of the Exchequer would not be present on that day onwhich
he had intended to bring the subject forward, and as he
understood the right hon. gentleman was a supporter of the
terms of his motion, he should be willing to postpone it.