The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-06 00:00:00

THE BALLOT.

Mr. 11. BERKELEY said that he had received various
applications on the subject of the ballot, and he begged to
give notice that he would state on next Tuesday week, the
day on which he intended to bring the question forward.
SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING
CLASSES.

Mr. SLANEY gave notice that he would move for leave
to bring in a bill to improve the social condition of the
working classes in or near large town 3.
EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Mr. BLACKBURN asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, whether it was intended to go on with
the Education (Scotland) Bill ; and, if so, whether the
second reading would be proposed on Thursday next.
The LORD ADVOCATE said that he did not propose
to proceed with the second reading of the bill next Thurs-
day, but he would state the course the Government would
take with regard to it.
'THE BOARD OF WORKS IN IRELAND.
Sir H. BRUCE asked the Secretary to the Treasury
whether it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to
introduce a bill into Parliament this se-lion, to enable the
Board of Works in Ireland to extend their advances for the
purposes of draining and erecting farm buildings and la-
bourers' cottages.
Mr. PEEL replied in the affirmative, and said that the
measure would be only temporary.
VENTILATION OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS, &c.
Sir J. ELPHINSTONE asked the Secretary to the Ad-
miralty, if he would lay on the table of the house the re-
port of the committee appointed by the Admiralty to consi-
der the ventilation of her Majesty's ships : whether her Ma-
jesty's ships and vessels detined for tropical climates since
the reception of that report had been fitted in conformity
with the opinion of that committee; and whether the offi-
cer commanding the Coquette, a gun-vessel now preparing
to sail for China, had applied to have the ventilation of his
ship improved; and, if so, what reply had been given to
his application ?
Lord C. PAGET said he would have no objection to lay
on the table tho report alluded to, but it was a merely pre-
liminary one. The Admiralty were carrying out the recom-
mendation of the committee relative t 3 vessels intended for
voyages to tropical climates, and the Coquette had been
fitted up for her voyage to China.
THE ALLEGED ATTACK ON HERAT.

Mr. GRIFFITH asked the First Lord of the Treasury,
whether, w;th respect to events now occurring at Herat,
any proceeding or operation, diplomatic or military, had
been undertaken, either by the English or Indian Govern
meat, which should have a tendency to pledge this
country to any act of hostility against Persia, or to any
step for or against any of tho other Powers of Central Asia,
without the full knowledge and consent of Parliament and
the country.
Lord PALMERSTON said that the only answer he
could give was that, neither:her Majesty's Government nor
the India Government had received any information to
show that any such operations as those, in question had
taken place on the part of the Shah of Persia, and he was
disinclined to disb.lieve the report to the contrary.
THE FORTS AT SPITHEAD.

Sir J. ELPHINSTONE asked the First Lord of the
Treasury when a discussion would be taken on the pro-
priety of proceeding with the erection of the three forts at
Spithead P
Lord PALMERSTON said that the committee
of defence had not yet reported on the subject, and
as he had stated before it would be necessary to come t
Parliament for a grant to carry on the works, and the
question would then be fully discussed. The house was
run away with in its views in consequence of the engage-
ments of the Merrimac and Monitor, and the consequence
was that the course which had been adopted with reference
to these works had been taken. Without any discourtesy
to the house, he begged to say that when hon. members
took administrative matters out of the hands of the execu-
tive it was attended with increased expense and diminished
efficiency. (Laughter.)

CEYLON.
Mr. LYALL called the attention of the house to the ex-
pediency of transferring the Government of Ceylon from
the Colonial to the Indian Department; and moved for a
return of all charges, civil, military, and naval, defrayed
out of the Imperial Exchequer on account of the colony of
Ceylon during the five years ending the 3lstdayof Decem-
ber, 1860. The hon. member went at some length into details
bearing on his motion, and was interrupted by frequent
cries of "Divide."

Mr. C. FORTESCITE, in reply, said that there could
be no doubt of the improved condition of Ceylon. From
1856 to 1860 £1,000,000 had been voted for public works
in Ceylon, which had been chiefly expended in the con-
struction of roads and bridges, which were so essential to
the development of the resources of the country. He
referred to the advantages which good example
and good government had effected on the in-
habitants of Ceylon, of which he gave 'some
illustrations. Ho thought the proposed transfer
of the Government of the Colony would be productive of
evil instead of benefit. He contended that imperial interests
were beund up in the prosperity of Ceylon, and cited the
fact that over £1,000,000 worth of English and Irish goods
had been exported to that colony in ]B3O. Besides
they possessed various naval and military stations in Cey-,
lon, including the magnificent harbour of Trincomalee,
which it would be most undesirable should pass into the
hands of any other power. He quoted the opinions of the
late Lord Wellesley and other distinguished authorities on
' colonial subjects to show how valuable the restoration of
Ceylon was to this country. Ho assured the house that
the Government wore fully alive to the subject.
Lord STANLEY considered that the empire of India
was already too large, and its extent was one of the great
difficulties which attended the administration of its affairs.
Besides, throwing the finances of the countries together
would be attended with great complication, and then even
several objections to the transfer advocated by the hon.
gentleman who had brought forward the motion.

Mr. LYALL did not regret having brought this eubject
forward from the discussion he had elicited and would con-
, fine his motion to the return of the papers.
The motion as amended was then agreed to.
MAYNOO rri COLLEGE.
Mr. 'WHALLEY, who had been frequently called for
while the last three members had been speaking, and
who was received with some cheers, rese to bring for-
ward the following motion, of which he had given
notice:—" That this house will immediately resolve itself
into a committee to consider the Act of the
eighth and
ninth of Victoria, for the Endowment of the College of
Maynooth, with a view to the repeal of the same,
due regard being had to vested rights and interests,"
He drew the attention of the house to the difference
in the present motion to that which he had previously in-
troduced. The former motion seas for the withdrawal of
the grant to Maynooth College, while the present was for
repeal of the Act of 1845, and was intended to bring the
grant to Maynooth under the control of this house.
Ho considered that the time had arrived when the whole
question of the Roman Catholic religion, the education of
its clergy, and application of hundreds of thousands to
their purposes, should be fully considered. He accused
Lord Palmerston of inconsistency in supporting the
grants of this money, after the sentiments so
Exchequer ably
that the effects of such grants was to enable the
Roman Catholics to furnish out of their own funds armed
brigades to crush the liberties of Italy. (Cries :4' "Divide,
n
diiovi d
ofe ,'
h and e
grants "hear, hfa money
.
He believed that the continua-
would prove most injurious
tt'esoe
to this country.

[LErT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF LORDS—YESTERDAY.
TRANSFER OF LAND BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the third reading
of this bill.
Lord ST. LEONARDS said he looked upon the bill as