The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-25 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from Birmingham, in
favour of the repeal of the malt tax.
Sir F. SMITH presented a petition praying for a repeal
of the Attornies Certificate Tax.
Mr. CLAY presented a petition in favour of the Union
Rating Bill.
Mr. LOCKE presented a petition from Southwark, pray-
ing for the opening of the British Museum in the evening.
Mr. AYRTON presented similar petitions.
PRISONERS IN ABYSSINIA.

Mr. WARNER asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign
Affairs if he could state what steps had been taken to pro-
cure the release of the prisoners in. Abyssinia.
Mr. LAYARD said he could not give the hon. gentleman
much information, because it would perhaps be attended
with very serious consequences if any observations relative
to these prisoners were forwarded to Abyssinia. He might
say that active means had been taken to procure the release
of the prisoners. The latest accounts said that Colonel
Cameron and Mr. Rasam, although prisoners, were in the
enjoymentof good health ; he hoped in a short time to have
the pleasure of informing the house that the gentlemen
were restored to liberty.
THE BANKRUPTCY ACT.

Mr. MURRAY asked the Attorney-General whether .
was intendel to introduce in the present session any bill to
carry out the resolutions reported to the house by the se-
lect committee appointed to inquire into the working of the
Bankruptcy Act, 1861.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he could not give
any engagement that a bill would be brought in during
the present session. The recommendations of the com-
mittee were being well considered, with a view of found-
ing a bill thereon.
PENSIONS TO COLONIAL GOVERNORS.

Mr. a COCHRANE asked when the bill for conferring
pensions upon colonial governors would be laid on the
table.

Mr. CARDWELL said at the earliest opportunity.
SUPPLY—THE WAR OFFICE.

The house then went into committee of supply, and
General PEEL rose for the purpose of calling the atten.

tion of the committee to the organisation of the War-office.
He fully approved of the consolidation of the different
departments of the War Department, but one of the chief
things that required immediate attention was a system
of general promotion. Another of the causes that led to
much inefficiency was the frequent changes not only in the
persons holding the office of Secretary of State, but in
others holding responsible positions. The result of such
arrangement was, that not only did inconvenience arise,
but that state of things was greatly increased in conse-
quence of a new system having to 13e thoroughly organised.
Having alluded to the clerks appointed after competitive
examination, he expressed a hope that the temporary clerks
would be treated with much greater liberality than had
hitherto been the case.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE thought that the fullest informa-
tion ought to be given as to the working of the new system
of organisation, especially as to the expense of carrying it
into execution. He should also like to be informed by the
noble lord whether any alteration was in contem-
plation with respect to the organisation of the Audit
Board? Refbrring to that portion of the subject adverted
to by his gallant friend who had brought the subject for-
ward, he was of opinion that much of the inconvenience
complained of arose from the agitation which was continu-
ously caused by changes that were constantly going on,
because it was always known that each of the changes was
invariably attended with a very extensive superannuation.
He was not at all satisfied with the branch promotions, as
they were called, but he entirely approved of the employ-
ment of soldiers in temporary work, because by that
means junior clerks would be enabled to attend to the
business of the officer, and to prepare themselves
for promotion. He, however, thought that the work
entrusted to soldiers should be selected with care. For
instance, he did not think it would be advisable to entrust
soldiers with the examination of accounts. , In conclusion,
he should like to know whether the noble marquis pro-
posed to continue the system of temporary clerks, because
there was nothing to show that it was to be discontinued, and
in the event of its being so proposed he should like to be
informed whether they were to be retained on the footing
laid down in the minute of 1862.

After a few words fi-om Sir IL VERNEY,
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said one of the reasons
that induced Earl de Grey to desire the investigation of
the committee was that since 1856, the date of the re-
organisation, the number of clerks had been continually
increasing, although it did not appear that the
business of the department was at all expedited by the ad-
ditional appointments.

The vole was then agreed to.
The following votes were subsequently agreed to with•
out discussion:—

£1,134,000 for naval stores for the building, repair, and
outfit of the fleet.

£554,700 for steam machinery for her Majesty's ships
and vessels.

£698,195 for half-pan reserve half-pay, and retiring
allowances to officers of the Navy and Royal marines.
£507,211 for military pensions and allowances.
£208,033 for civil pensions and allowances, and £320,580
for freight of ships, victualling, and conveying of troops.
The Chairman was then directed to report progress.

The Metropolitan Houseless Poor Bill and the India-
offices Site and Approaches Bill were respectively road a
time and passed.
The Lancaster Court of Chancery Bill, the Local Go-
vernment Supplemental (No. 2) Bill, the Police Super-
annuation Bill, and the Land Drainage Bill were severally
read a second time.

The Land Debentures Bill was passed through com-
mittee.

The house adjourned at half-past eight o'clock.

PAUPERISM IN ST. GlLES'S.—Yesterday Dr. Lan-
kester held an inquest at the Oporto Stores, Blooms-
bury, on the body of a pauper who had been found dead
in St. Giles's Workhouse. From the testimony of Henry
Cannon, an inmate of the workhouse, it appeared that the
deceased was 75 years of age, and that on Monday morn-
ing, at half-past seven, when he went to call him to his
breakfast, he found he was dead. Ho went to bed about 8
o'clock the previous night. He had gruel, with bread and
salt in it, in the afternoon. The coroner asked the medical
officer how it was that the paupers were allowed nothing
to eat between 4 o'clock in the afternoon and 8 o'clock in
the morning, to which Dr. Bennett replied that he con-
sidered it a bad arrangement. The " wardsman," himself
a pauper, said that he had beer on account of the labour he
performed, but the deceased had none. The coroner re-
marked that it seemed very hard that an able-bodied man
of 75 years of age should not have beer, a remark in which
the jury expressed their hearty concurrence. After a very
lengthened examination of witnesses with regard to the
food supplied to the paupers, the Coroner said—l think, as
I said on a former occasion, the general dietry is too low,
and, although it may not produce disease, it shortens the
life of the inmates, and that ought not to be done. I may
perhaps be allowed to remark that they dare not tdrreaetsspinrig-
goners in the same way they do our paupers. Addressing
of
Dr. Bennett, the Coroner said—Do you think
irre-
proachable character, and 75 years of age,
de-
prived of his beer because he feels well enousgbahemutoldbebien thecal
mboadny. of
Dtrh. houseeßon nßennett
t?your
been
eopinionen thoughtin
ht aei
might
iang
infirmary,
havedai
ordered him a little beer if he had
replieda askingt
hat he
but he had nothing to do with the body of the house.
by the
of tHe
did not think the man's death was acceleratede
of beer. The Coroner said a case
dietary, but he did not think it wils.eketothdiespsrhivoewseud hochaw ne-
cessarymen it was that deaths occurring in
fornhe
workhousesfelt should
be ben Court,
if
• quired into by the Coroner's
a
l
supervision of this sort were exercised the lamentable ex-
posures which had occurred in that parish would never re-
cur. Several of the jury said they thought that deaths in
wo workhouses were treated as they were in lunatic asylums
and prisons, but the coroner told them it was not so; at the
same time an inquest might be held if any one communi-
cated with the coroner. Moreover, a jury, once within the
walls of a workhouse, had the power to examine all the
wards as in a prison. The jury returned as their verdict,
That on the 20th of April Thomas Wright wan found
dead in St. Giles's workhouse, and that the said death was
caused from effusion of serum on the brain, and that the
said death arose from;,natural causes." To that verdict the
jury appended the following remark; which were recorded
by the coroner :—" That in their opinion the aged poor of
St. Giles's should have a more nourishing diet than the
deceased had, that they should have more stimulants if
necessary, and, when requisite, a little beer." A juryman
suggested that they should occasionally have cocoa instead
of tea. The Coroner said, " That is a very valuable sug-
Kestion," The proceedings then terminated,