The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-18 00:00:00

IMPE MAL PARLIAM EN T

HOUSE OF LORDS—Tms EVENING.
THE EDUCATIONAL CODE. _

Lord BELPER presented petitions against the new
educational code.

ARRESTS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN AMERICA.
The Earl of CARNARVON took the opportunity to
correct a slight mistake he had made respecting the num-
ber of English subjects he had stated the other night had
been arrested and confined in Fort Warren. He had stated
that there were three persons, but he had since learned
that one had taken the oath of allegiance to
America, and therefore he had removed himself
from the protection of the British Government. While
he was addressing their lordships he would take the oppor-
tunity of asking a question of the noble earl the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, of which he had given him private
notice. He then proceeded to allude to the arrest of Mr.
Shaver, and asked whether any claim for compensation for
indignity offered that gentleman in America had been de-
manded by the British Government ; and, also, whether
there was any further correspondence, in addition to that
already presented, in the hands of the Government.
Earl RUSSELL said with reference to the case of
Mr. Shaver, that gentleman had not claimed com-
pensation, and that being so, he (Earl Russell)
had not claimed compensation for him from the American
Government. The noble earl seemed to have overlooked
that Mr. Shaver, it was said, was the medium of commu-
nication between the North and Southern parties, and
that he had also conveyed revolvers to the Con-
federates. Mr. Shaver had not said the charge
was unfounded, and before he asked for compensa
tion.for that gentleman, he thought he ought to have satis-
factory evidence that the charge was at variance with the
fact. If Mr. Shaver had acted in the manner described,
and had given the Confederates aid, he had acted
in direct contradiction of her Majesty's royal proclamation,
and he had no right to ask fur any compensation for the
inconvenience he had suffered. As he had said before, Mr.
Shaver had not made any demand for compensation,
and the assertion of the American Government remained
uncontradicted. With respect to the other topics touched
upon by the noble earl, no one could regret more than he
did the lamentable position of affairs in America, and owing
to that unhappy state of affairs the acts of the Government
ought to be looked upon with great forbearance—acts
which, under other circumstances, would call for remon-
strance and indignation from this country. Mr. Shaver
had not yet demanded compensation, and therefore he did
not think that he should be justified in directing Lord
Lyons to take any steps in the matter, but in the event of a
claim being made, satisfactory evidence would be required
that he had not acted in the manner described.
THE TAXING MASTERS IN DUBLIN.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE wished to ask whe-
ther it was intended to fill up the office of a third Taxing-
Master in the Court of Chancery in Dublin; and also what
progress had been made in collecting judicial statistics in
Ireland ?

Earl GRANVILLE'S answer was inaudible in the
gallery.

[LEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—THIS EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. P. A. TAYLOR took the oaths and his seat as mem-
ber for Leicester.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a second time :—Aberdeen
Police, Water, &c., Barnsley Coal Railway Extension,
Hull and Hornsea Railway, Lostwithiel and Fowey Rail-
way, Merionethshire Railway, Mersey Docks and Harbour
Board, Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway,
North Devon Railway and lock, Suuth'Yorkshire Rail-
way (Hull Extension), Trent, Ancholme, and Grimsby
Railway, and West Riding, Hull, and Grimsby Railway.
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (No. 2.) BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. J. BROWN moved that the bill be read a second

time that day six months. He referred to the fact that
whenever this bill came before the house it was defeated
either in committee or in the second reading, and contended
that it was monstrous that a company like the Great
Northern should be permitted session after session to re-
introduce it.

—Mr. G. H. PACK defended the bill, and said that there
were only two or three landowners under the law who dis-
approved of it. He asserted also that the line would not
interfere materially with the country through which it
would pass, and that it would be a great advantage to the
public.
Lord GALWAY thought it was a vary bad return to
make to the hon. member for Malton (Mr. J. Brown), after
the manner in which he had previously acted in reference
to the Great Northern, to intersect his land with this line,
without any corresponding advantage to the public. He
concluded by expressing a hope that the bill would be
rejected.
Mr ROEBUCK said that this house was not the proper
tribunal to decide this question, and he thought it right
that it should be referred to a committee up stairs.
Mr. M. MTLNES opposed the bill, and called on the
house, by its rejection of it, to show that they could not
allow the interests of landowners to be overridden by a
powerful company like the Great Northern.
Mr M A SSEY considered that the house should read the
bill a second time, and its details could be discussed fully
before a select committee. (Hear, hear.) The Great
orthern Company merely desired to make a loup line of
five or six miles, in order to relieve the main line from the
pressure'of its goods traffic. He thought, under all cir-
cumstances, that the bill should receive the sanction of the
house, and that it would be of much use to the public.
The amendment was agreed to without a division, and
the bill was accordingly rejected.

TOLL GATES IN THE METROPOLIS.
Mr. WHITE gave notice that on Friday next he would
ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he
had received any information from the commissioner ap-
pointed to consider the subject, and whether any measure
would be adopted for the removal of the toll-gate obstruc-
tion in the metropolis.
PATENT LAWS.

Mr. RICARDO gave notice that he would draw the at-
tention of the house to the propriety of an alteration in the
patent laws.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE.
Mr. COX asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether
it was the intention of the Government to introduce this
session a bill to amend the representation of the people in
Parliament? (Laughter.)
Lord PALMERS[ON—It is not the intention of Go-
vernment to introduce this session any bill to amend the
representation of the people in Parliament. (Laughter.)

TREATY WITH JAPAN.
Mr. WHITE asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, why Nee e-gata, or some other convenient
port on the west coast of Nipon, was not opened to the
British trade on the Ist day of January, 1860, as was sti-
pulated by the third article of the treaty with Japan ; and
whether British subjects will be allowed to reside in the
city of Yedo, as was likewise stipulated in the same article
of the above-named treaty ?
Mr. LAYARD was understood to say that the Govern-
ment bad not come to ant determination on the subject.
MURDER OF OFFICERS BY SOLDIERS.
Mr. RICHARDSON asked the Secretary of State for
War, what precautions had been taken to prevent the re-
petition of the numerous murders of their officers by sol-
diers in the British army ; and whether it was in contem-
plation to discontinue the practice of permitting soldiers to
retain ball cartridge in their barrack rooms.
Sir G. C. LE WIS said that the military authorities had
been consulted on the subject of depriving soldiers of ball
cartridge in their barrack-room, and it appeared th-t it
would be impossible for any amount of vigilance to prevent
soldiers getting possession of ball cartridge. However, he
proposed to intro ince a bill to render the punishment of
soldiers firing at their officers more speedy than it was at
present.

THE AMERICAN BLOCKADE.
Lord R. CECIL asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs how soon the papers which had been pro-
mised upon the subject of the American blockade were
likely to be laid upon the table ?
Mr. LAYARD said that papers wire being prepared on
the subject with great dispatch, and he hoped to be able to
lay them on the table at the end of the week. (Hear.)
MARRIAGES OF AFFINITY BILL.
Mr. BLACKBURN asked the hon. member for Ponte-
fract, whether, as his Marriages of Affinity Bill extends to
Ireland and Scotland, it was his intention to proceed with
the second reading on so early a day as to-morrow ?
Mr. M. MILNES said he would be happy to oblige the
hon. member by postponing his bill, but from the arrange-
ments he had already made he could not do so.
OFFICERS IN INDIA.

Colonel GILPIN asked the Secretary of State for India,
whether, in consequence of the effects of amalgamation
upon the prospects of a considerable number of
officers in India, many of whom have rendered
good service to the state, and who have already lost
the money paid for their promotion on the faith of a
GI (=oral Oide. ‘,E the Court of Directors, dated May, 1858.
and who are now receiving Indian pay and allowances for
doing, comparatively, nothing, these officers, or any of
them, will be allowed the option (in accordance with the
recommendation of the commissioners) of retiring upon a
moderate bonus. _ _

Sir C. WOOD was understood to say that offers of corn.
pensation had been made, but in some cases they were no.
accepted.
LORD HENLEY.

On the motion of Mx. BRAND a months' leave of absengp
was given to Lord Henley, on the ground of domestic
affliction.

LAND DEBENTURES BILL.

Mr. SCULLY, in moving for leave to introduce a bill for
authorising transferable debentures to ho charged on land
in Ireland, explained that the present measure resembled
that which he brought before the house on a previous occa-
sion, only that it did not extend so far. He contended that
the bill would be of great advantage to Ireland, and that it
was popular amongst the landowners in that country.
Mr. URQUAHART seconded the motion for leave to
bring in the bill. He contended that the objections which
had been made to these debentures as interfering with the
currency applied with equal propriety to bills of Exchequer
and bankers' cheques. _

Mr. H. HERBERT would not oppose the introduction
of the bill, but he hoped it would receive the most careful
consideration of the house.
After a few words from Mr. GEORGE, to the effect that
he would reserve his judgment on the moasure at present.
Sir R. PEEL said the subject was one that did not
excite much discussion in Ireland, and he though the dis-
cussion should be postponed.
Mr. lIADFIELD considered that tho effect of the bill
would be to multiply difficulties and increase expense.
Mr. SCULLY replied. Leave was then given to bring
in the bill.
TRADE MARKS.

Mr. ROEBUCK, in committee of the whole house,
moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating
to trade marks. The manufacturers of this conntty, by
dint of labour, skill, and industry, had acquired a
great reputation, and were naturally anxious to preserve t 3
themselves all the advantages that resulted therefrom. His
only object was to prevent forgery.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

THE REPRESENTATION OF LEICESTER.—The
nomination of a member to serve in Parliament in the room
of Mr. John Biggs, resigned, took place yesterday on hust-
ings erected in front of the Exchange, Leicester. About
20,000 persons were present. Thera was no opposition to
Mr. Peter Alfred Taylor, who was declared duly elected.
Most of the leading Liberals of the town were present.