The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-25 00:00:00

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

Mr. BENTINCK moved the following alteration in the
57th paragraph of the rules, orders, and forme of proceeding
of the house :—" If it appear on notice being taken, ht the
close of the speech of any member (such notice not
to be taken during the time that any member
is addressing the house), or on the report of a
division of the house by the Tellers, after four
o'clock, that 40 members are not present, ➢ir. Speaker do
adjourn the house without a question first put till the
next sitting day ; and the name of the member who has
taken such notice, and also the name of every member pre-
sent when the house is counted, shall be taken down by the
clerk of the house, and published on the following day in
the votes and proceedings." He contended that under the
existing practice injustice was done to hon. members, and
the progress of public business was retarded.
Mr. KNIGHTLEY seconded the motion.

Sir G. GREY hoped the house would not accede to the
motion, and argued that every reasonable latitude was
afforded to private members to bring on their motions. He
drew attention to the fact that Government never placed a bill
on the paper for Wednesday, when itwould interfere with
the bills of private members. (Hear, hear.) He thought
the effect of counting out was rather salutary, as it tended
to induce hon. members to compress their speeches into
reasonable limits.

Lord R. CECIL supported the motion, the object of
which he contended was merely to secure the courtesy to
every hon. member of having an opportunity to finish a
speech which he had commenced. He strongly deprecated
the practice of an honourable member being per-
mitted to move that the house should be counted
out, without due publicity being given to his
name. He thought such secresy was injurious to public
business, and most unjust to private members.
Mr. PAULL opposed the motion, and he thought that
no hon. member would shrink from the responsibility
of placing his name to a motion for "counting
out," merely because be had the privilege of
going behind the Speaker's chair and making such motion.
He for ono would not feel disposed to avail himself of such
privilege as exercising the constitutional right of moving
that the house should be counted out when there were not
forty members present.
Mr. ENVART supported the motion.
Mr. B. OSBORNE, on the part of the house, declared
that in a count-out there was no feeling of hostility towards
any member, and he referred to his hon. friend (Mr. A.
Smith), who had been counted out five times in one
session, as an illustration of what he sthted, so far
as his own personal feelings were concerned. He thought
the services rendered by the " counters out" were very
valuable—(laughter)—and he objected to that meritorious
body being dragged into publicity. (Great laughter.)
Mr. BENTINCK replied,

The house divided, and the numbers were—
For the motion
Against
Majority —l76
The motion was accordingly negatived.
TRANSPORT SERVICE.

Mr. LINDSAY then brought forward kis motion on
this subject, which we have given above. He contended that
that there was necessity for a great alteration in the present
system. In the three years ending 18,6, no less than
£16,000,000 had been expended by the Admi-
ralty in the service. He referred to the ad-
vantages which resulted to the country by the
establishment of an organised system in regard to this ser-
vice, by which £1,000,000 on the public expenditure was
saved He alluded to the Transport Board, which had been
the means of effecting this saving. Having analysed the
composition of the select committee which had been
appointed in 1860 to inquire into the Transport Service, he
contended that the house were bound to adopt the recom-
mendation of that committee.

[LEFT SPEAKING].

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

(From the Gazette of this evening.) 1
WAR-OFFICE, FED. 25.
The Queen has been graciou-ly pleased to signify her
intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on
the undermentioned officers and non-commissioned officer,
whose claims to the same have been submitted to her
Majesty's approval, on account of acts of bravery performed
by them in India, as recorded against their several names,
viz. :
Major Richard Harts Kpatinge, Bombay Artillery (now
of the Staff Corps)—For having rendered most efficient aid
at the assault of Chundairee, in voluntarily leading the
column through the breach, which was protected by a heavy
cross fire. He was one of the foremost to enter, and was
severely wounded in the breach. The column was saved
from a serious loss that would probably have resulted, but
for Major Keatinge's knowledge of the small path leading
across the ditch, which had been examined during the
night by himself and a servant, who declined, when re-
quired, to lead the column, without his master. Hav-
ing cleared the breach, he led into the fort, where he
was struck down by another dangerous wound. The Com-
mander-in Chief in India states that the success at Chun •
dairee was mainly owing to this officer, whose gallantry,
really brilliant, he considers was equalled by his ability
and devotion. Major Keatinge was at the time a political
officer with the 2d Brigade of the Central India Field Force.
Capt. James Blair, 2d Bombay Light Cavalry—For hav-
ing on two occasions distinguished himself by his gallant
and daring conduct. 1. On the night of the 12th of
August, 1857, at Neemuch, in volunteering to apprehend
seven or eight armed mutineers who had shut themselves
up for defence in a house, the door of which he burst open.
He then rushed in among them, and forced them to escape
through the roof; in this encounter he was severely
wounded. In spite of his wounds he pursued the fugi-
tives, but was unable to come up with them, in con-
sequence of the darkness of the night. 2. On the 23d of
October, 1857, at Jeerum, in fighting his way most gallantly
through a body of rebels who had literally surrounded him.
After breaking the end of his sword on one of their heads,
and receiving a severe sword cut on his right arm, he re-
joined his troop. In this wounded condition, and with no
other weapon than the hilt of his broken sword, he put
himself at the head of his men, charged the rebels most
effectually, and dispersed them.
Lieutenant Charles George Baker, Bengal Police Bat-
talion—For gallant conduct on the occasion of an attack on
the rebels at Suhejnee, near Peroo, on the 27th Sept., 1858,
which is thus described in this officer's own words :—" The
enemy (at the time supposed to have mustered from 900 to
1,000 strong in infantry, with 50 cavalry) advanced. With-
out exchanging a shot, I at once retired slowly, followed
up steadily by the rebel line for 100 yards clear of village
i or junghs when, suddenly wheeling about my division into
I line, with a hearty cheer, we charged into and through the
centre of the enemy's line, Lieutenant Broughton,
with his detachment, immediately following up
the movement, with excellent effect, from his
position upon the enemy's left. The rebel right wing, of
about 300 men, broke at once, but the centre and left, ob-
serving the great labour of the horses in crossing the heavy
ground, stood, and receiving the charge with repeated
volleys, were cut down, or broke only a few yards ahead of
the cavalry. From this moment the pursuit was limited
to the strongest and best horses of the force, num-
bering some sixty of all ranks, who, dashing
into and swimming a deep and wide nullab,

followed the flying enemy through thevillage of Russowlee
and its sugar-cane khets, over two miles of swamp, and
600 yards into the thick jungles near Peroo, when, both
men and horses being completely exhausted, I sounded the
halt and assembly, and, collecting my wounded, returned
to the camp at Munjhaen about 6 p.m." The charge
ended in the utter defeat of the enemy, and is referred to
by Lord Clyde, "as deserving of the highekt encomium, on
account both of conception and execution." It is also
described as having been as gallant as any during the war.
Lieutenant William Francis Frederick Waller, 25th
Bombay Light Infantry—For great gallantry at the capture
by storm of the fortress of Gwalior, on the 20th June, 1858.
He and Lieutenant Rose, who was killed, were the only
Europeans present, and, with a mere handful of men, they
attacked the fortress, climbed on the roof of a house, shot
the gunners opposed to them, carried all before them, and
took the fort, killing every man in it.
Lieut. John Chas. Campbell Daunt, 11th (late 70th)
Bengal Native Infantry—Lieut. Daunt and Sergeant Dynon
are recommended for conspicuous gallantry in action, on the
22d Oct., 1857, with the mutineers of the Ramgurh Batta-
lion at Chota Behar, in capturing two guns, particularly
the last, when they rushed at and captured it by pistoling
the gunners, who were mowing the detachment down with
grape, one-third of which was hors-de-combat at the time.
Sergeant Denis Dynon, 53d Regiment—Lieutenant
Daunt is also recommended for chasing, on the 2d of No-
vember following, the mutineers of the 32d Bengal Native
Infantry across a plain into a rich cultivation, into which
he followed them with a few of Rattray's Sikhs. He
was dangerously wounded in the attempt to drive out a
large body of these mutineers from an enclosure, the pre-
servation of many of his party, on this occasion, being
attributed to his gallantry.
Conductor James Miller, Ordnance Department, Bengal
—For having, on the 28th of October, 1857, at great per-
sonal risk, gone to the assistance of, and carried out of
action,:a wounded officer, Lieutenant Glubb, of the late 38th
R-giment of Bengal Native Infantry. lie was himself
subsequently wounded and sent to Agra.
Conductor Miller was at the time employed with heavy
howitzers and Ordnance stores attached to a detachment
of troops, commanded by the late Colonel Cotton, C. 8., in
the attack on the above-mentioned date on the rebels who
had taken up their position in the Serai at Futtehpore
Sikra, near Agra.
Midshipman Arthur Mayo, Indian Navy—For having
headed the charge on Nov. 22 1857, in the engagement be-
tween the Indian Naval Brigade and the mutineers of
the 73d Native Infantry, and Bengal Artillery, when the
former was ordered to charge two six-pounders which
were keeping up a heavy fire. Mr. Mayo was nearly twenty
yards in front of any one else during the advance.