The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-20 00:00:00

the contest, recollecting with siekenling apprehen:-
sion the wonderful ingenuity of agents and com-
mittee-men in multiplying strictly " legitimate
expenses" to a very formidable sum total ; while
a few men, who had nothing to dread so far as
they were personally concerned, might reasonably
deprecate the excitement and turmoil of a general
election. Under the existing circumstances of the
country, Ministers made the most of all these va-
rious matters, and the result was that they ob-
tained the above-mentioned majority of 39 in a
House of 443, or rather, including tellers and
Speaker, of 448 members--an unusually large
attendance before Christmas---there being 241 for,
and 202 against.
One delusion that prevailed, and which cer•

barracks, and, on their own piricie ground, it is
but justice to say that the practice and evolu-
tions were as admirable as usual.

LATEST NEWS.

What will NIOHOLAS say to the meeting ? His
first thought will be of the Invalide Busse. The
scissors won't exactly do. Very little cooking,
however, will make of it an admirable dish to set
before his Loyal serfs. The BRIGHT letter has
already done duty as first course. Now comes the
meeting forsecond course. "It was crowded to suf-
ocation. Aresolution was moved condemnatory of
the author of the letter, which denounces the War
against innocent and religious Russia. The speakers
could not get a hearing. On a division the num-
bers on each side were equal. Half Manchester,
my dear children, are opposed to the War ; and the
Hon. Member who condemns it withdrew with the
respectable portion of the assembly, and held a
successful meeting in another building." Such
will, of course, be the report of a meeting so dis-
creditable to the great metropolis of our industry.
The merits of the case in truth lay in a nut-shell. It
was desirable that Manchester should pronounce in
opposition to the views of its representative ; yet
it was desirable to respect the right of free dis-
cussion. The Manchester men were certainly
bound to support this right in their own member ;
he was no turn-coat ; they elected him with the
fullest knowledge of his out-and-out Peace prin-
ciples ; they, in fact, had turned rather than he ;
and they must have despised him had he renounced
his opinions at the bidding of the multitude. On
the other hand, Mr. BRIGHT would have assuredly
retained universal respect had he stood only upon
his known religious convictions ; all respectable
persons would have felt ashamed to violate them.
His mistake was in attempting to argue the case
on political and moral grounds. If before his
MAKER he feels all war to be sinful, our consci-
ence and his judge by very different measures,
but his convictions are sacred. When, however,
he extenuates the crimes, barbarities, and super-
stitions of the CZAR and his barbarians—exagge-
rates the errors of Mahometanism, and impugns
the motives of the Allies—he quits Beefed ground
altogether, and becomes either the sophist or the
blind partisan.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL. :,

PARIS, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20. St
The Moniteur says :—" A despatch from Sebas- 12!
topol, dated Dec. 13, announces that nothing of 50
importance had taken place there since the last 13,
advices.
31
" The weather had improved."

Our correspondent at Vienna sends us an extract
from the Presse, dated Galatz, December 15, stat-
ing that the following occurrence had created a
great sensation :
" A Cossack detachment crossed the Pruth, and,
in presence of the Austrian troops, destroyed the
supplies of straw and hay which had been prepared
for the Austrian army in Moldavia."

tainly appeared to rest on a tolerably solid foun-
dation, was removed during the evening. The
Duke of NEWCASTLE had, when first introducing
the measure, spoken of 15,000 troops as the num-
ber about to be raised. As a great concession,
he agreed to reduce the number to 10,000, and
complained that it did not lead to the withdrawal
of the opposition, as the 10,000 had been as
strongly objected to as the 15,000. Now, Lord
PALMERSTON last night told us that the number
was unlimited, or limited only by the sanction of
that House. The limit was only to the number
who may be within the kingdom. On the other
hand, the Duke of NEWCASTLE insisted that none
were to be employed within the country at all, and
he was far from desiring that the Crown should

Our correspondent at Marseilles states that the 25°5
Indus, from Constantinople, which was expected
yesterday (Tuesday) evening, had not arrived. 25
The Tage had sailed for Scutari and the Crimea 2 SO.
with 20 English surgeons. St.

possess the power."
These are matters to be-thought of during the
recess, and we trust that, when Parliament re-
assembles:on the 23d of January, Hon. Gentle-
men may be made aware of the error they have
committed in passing a bill so recklessly hurried„
through both Houses, without an opportunity
being afforded of learning the state of public
opinion thereon, or ascertaining the deep-rooted
objections that exist against this new and very
obnoxious phase of " Germanism."

"JOHN BRIGHT AT HOME."

A pretty row indeed there was last Monday in
the great metropolis of cotton-spinning, and with
JOHN BRIGHT, M.P., as the guilty cause. Guilty,
not because he wrote a letter to an individual
meant for the public—he and Lord JoHN RusszLL
are allowed that style of statesmanship—nor be-
cause he attended a meeting called to show that
Manchester would not countersign his letter : he
had a right to be heard in defence of his views ;
but guilty because, according to his own showing,
he who defends himself, or rather he who enlists
others in his own defence, is responsible for all
the consequences. Our worthy Friend has no
escape. We indeed always thought the greater
part of his celebrated letter little better than in-
genious sophistry. But its author does not think
30. He told the meeting he was prepared to de-
fend its statements, one and all. Well, then, in
this letter JOHN BRIGHT explicitly casts the " re-
sponsibility" of the present War " upon those
who expressed opinions favourable to it." Mello-
Les, the disturber of the peace, was innocent,
although his invasion of the provinces was "im-
politic and immoral" Those who would not be
borne sown by " immoral" ambition, those who
called in allies to sustain them under the pres-
sure, they and their helpers were the guilty
authors of the War 1 Transfer the scene to Man-
chester, write Manchester Tories for Russians,
and JOHN. Buiawr and his staff of Leaguers for
the SULTAN and his Allies, and, minus the bullets
- and bayonets, it is the very thing over again.
On Mr. JoHN BRIGHT and his friends, who would
not succumb to any invasion of his right to pub-
lish what opinions he pleased, who chose rather
to provoke a continuous uproar and battle lasting
as many hours as that of the Alma, rests all the
responsibility of a great public and disgraceful
Manchester brawl.

MONEY MARKET

♦ND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at from 5,000 to 6,000 bales, including
500 American taken for export. The market con-
tinued heavy at previous rates. The sales comprised
40 Pernam and Maranham, at 61d., 500 Surat
at aid to 3d., 60 Sea Islands, at Is. to Is. 6d. and
the remainder American. Railway shares were
dull, at rather lower prices.
Accounts from St. Petersburg state that great
preparations were making to fortify Finland, and
prepare against any attack of the allies next
season. Besides forts, there was to be an en-
trenched camp. The entrance to the port of Riga
is stated to have been blocked up by the sinking of
vessels laden with granite. The cold at Helsing-
fors had already been up to 14 deg. of Reamur.
There was a slight improvement yesterday after-
noon in the rates at which Bills of Exchange were
negotiated upon the principal continental cities.
Paris, 90 days, was at 25 32i to 37i, ; Amsterdam,
at 11 17k to 17i ; Hamburgh, at 13 ok to 51 ; and
Trieste, at 12 33 to 38. •

Neatly all the gold received from Australia by
the steamer Crcesus has been taken for shipment to
the Continent.

PANIC AT ODESSA. EXPECTED BOM-
BARDMENT.
VIENNA, TUESDAY NIGHT.
A despatch from Odessa says that a perfect panic
reigns in that city. The garrison is weak from re-
peated drafts to the Crimea. All the trading esta-
blishments are closed. Some families have departed
for the interior of Bessarabia ; others to the
Ukraine. The troops which Omer Pacha has em-
barked at Varna are expected, as well as a bom-
barding squadron from the Allied fleets. Several
of the enemy's steamers are in sight.

The English Stock Market opened at barely yes-
terday's rates, Consols being 91 i, but upon sales
made they have since declined to 911 4. The ma-
jority upoa. the Foreign Enlistment Bill has thus
far been of little account, but the decline in -the
French Funds to the close of business yesterday,
about 1 per cent. on.the previous day, has doubtless
had some effect. The New 3 per Cents. have been
911 to 2, mid. the Reduced.
_914 to t. Exchequer
Bills are 4s. to 75., and India Bonds 9s. to 12s.
premium.

We would add, however, that but for his own
letter we should have commended the Hon. Mem-
ber. We censure him not on our principles, but
on his own •nly. On those principles, if he re-
membered them, he did what he condemns
in others. But the truth is, his English heart
was better than his Quaker creed. We honour
him and his friends for it. It was indecent, it
was un-English, it was Czar-like, for a large meet-
ing to make one single u ian'a opinions the object
of their arsembliug and animadversion, and then
to refuse him a hearing. To silence the assertion
and defence of opinions by brute noise and vio-
lence was quite of a piece with defending the
creed of the Greek Church in Turkey by Russian
bayonets, and by puttiv ig down the SULTAN in
his own palace. It was worthy of the Lord of
Siberia, and the flogger of the nuns at Minsk.
But, then, Mr. JOHN 13] LIGHT must not play fast
and loose with his argurc tents. If non-resistance
was good for the Sin TAN, then it was not
good for our Friend to resist the riot, albeit in
silence, for " precisely thirteen minutes ;" and
still less the thing for Ti im to defy the meeting
to greater wrath and upr cariousness by " having
his say out" to the Lea .gue gentlemen and the
reporters. Lambs and doves, those pretty em-
blems of peace and love, • 4)ften fulfil their emble-
matic duties rather queer'. T. We have all seen
the one butt at, and the o ther peck, their fellows
in anything but the gene le poetic style ; and it
would really seem as if the sect which holds itself
bound to " testify" to no a-resistance and peace
principles could not avoid a sturdy fight now and
then ; and, despite its or eed, was compelled to
vindicate the old Horatiau a maxim, that even "if
you turn out Nature wit Ili a pitchfork, in she'll
come again." The (link sr of the Russian letter
fought like a Turk at Sills •tria in its defence. His
motto seemed to be duke et decorum est pro literis
mori.

- The operations in the Foreign Stock Market are
confined within a very narrow compass. Brazilian
5 per Cents. are quoted 98, and Russian 44 per
Cents. 88k. Spanish Deferred Bonds remain at
19. Dutch 4 per Cents, are weaker, being 91.
The Turkish Scrip is now quoted fully paid up, and
is rather flatter at 73i to 741.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6; Mexi-
can, 211 to 218 ; Peruvian, 69 to 71 ' • ditto
3 per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents.,
41 to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 97 to 99 ; ditto
4i per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred,
19 to 191 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 39 to 39i ; ditto
Certificates, 5} to 51 ; ditto Passive, 4g to 4i.
There is a heavier market for most of the Eng-
lish Railway Shares, and in some cases a decline of
ss. has occurred, but the amount of business doing
is limited. The Foreign lines are dull, and some-
what depressed also.
In Mining Shares the dealings are restricted, the
Banks are without particular variation, and the
miscellaneous undertakings generally inactive. The
Peninsular and Oriental Company s Shares are
rather lower.

all
3
8
29.

10
all
10
all

100
20
25
25
25

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES,
-
(Prom the 09icial List.)

Business done
$ per Ceut. Reduced Annuities 9ll a i
New 3 per Cent. Annuities %Ma
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 -16 i
India Bonds, 21000
Ditto, under 21000 l2
Consols for Account, 10th January
Exchequer Bills, 24d.
£lOOO ..•••.... •••••• 7 4

Small 4
Exchequer Bonds 1858, 3i per Cont. 99i
Ditto 1859, „
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent 9B i
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent . • 102
Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent. 7Ol
Russian Bonds, 4} per Cent BB} i i
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent —
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. l9
Turkish Scrip, paid up
Ditto for the Account
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Guil
Ditto 4 Der Cant. "Certilleates...„
THREE O'CLOCK

all
all
11
all

20
20
20
20

The meeting, to be surf 1, got itself into rather
an awkward plight. It 1 tad a resolution and an
amendment before it. B Dili of them very good,
too, in their way. Both. might have been passed
without inconsistency in. words. It was quite
true that the "citizens of Manchester did not, as
a body, concur in the vier WS of Mr. BRIGHT'S let-
ter ;" everybody knew it, and Mr. BRIGHT knew
it. It was also true that the citizens generally
desired that "the War sh mild be carried on with
the utmost vigour." .Aga in, all Manchester and
all England would agree with the amendment,
that Mr. BRIGHT exercised an " undoubted right"
in publishing boldly his opinions, and that to
" censure him, even by irt4 plication, for so doing,
would be unfair, tyranniea 1, and unjust." The
opposing parties were, the refore, each required
to vote against what the, - believed, if one of
them were determined to 1 )eat the other. The

resolution might well have included the amend-
ment, and all might hay e a greed that it was ho-
nourable to defend lions, honestly held,
though they happened tio be unpopular ; yet,
that nearly all Manch:- ,stay opposed to the
opinions thus honour: ibly maintained. But ;
1 a fight there was to b e,
regular fight there
was ; not, however,
ayar LT and Manchester fought.
Tans one, at least, -If
ke those glorious battles
about which Mr. B
originators of the fig),
:as a drawn battle. The
t, however, were not so
easily satisfied; they
adjourned to the old League

ronsols.
Ditto, January Acoonnt ...... 91i z d

MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.)

CORN EXCHANGE.
Although the supplies of each kind of grain in to•day's
market were moderate, the demand was in a sluggish state,
on former terms.

ARRIVALS THIS WURR.
1 Wheat. Barley. Malt.
English .. 1,010 1,060 1,080
Irish •• ••
Foreign .. 1,02)

Oats. I Flour.
30 . 220
1,170 --
3,33) I 120 tits

WHITECHATEL.
Beef, 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 81; veal,
3s 101 to 5s 2d; pork, 3s Od to 4s Gd per 81bs. by the
carcase.

BOROUGH HOP.
We have a slow sale for most kinds of hops. Inferior
parcels are offering on lower terms. The imports of foreign
hops coastwise very extensive.

THE lIITTN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 11_54t

SHARE MARKETS.
(THIS DAY.)

ItAILW4YB.

'Closing Prices
this day.

20 - 20

4i - 5

8 - 8i

12i --11 i d

164 -17 i
7 - 6

93 - 95
604 - 61

13A - 14
9 - 11

..• --- •.
4 - 3•

c. -7,

15 - 16
11i -- 11

70 - 72
53 - 55

19 =

67 - 69
89i - 90,
78 - SO
123 - 125
90 -92
70 70A

58 - 62

72 - 77
6 - 8
6 - 8
5i - i 5
-7,

...d

Business done
this day.

61 601

'
1106 1078
100 —100 k
a —
dl
If
83 —84 d
9 . 811
I 9 8(I.

~ .... ...

23 - 24

6i 69
41 - 42

id -- par
loi -- 94
lt 2t

ig 51
3a 3i-
-31 ~. 32
8 10

fi
64 --
74 -- 75
7 -- 51
4 -- 3i
12i -- 13
52 -- 53
53 -- 55
id -- 1
1$ -- 434
6 -- 64
d p

21 - 32

191 20

90/ 89 901
lii 8

90 1
70 i

94 - 96
60 - 62
8 - 80
43 - 45

11 - 13
59 - 59,
284 - 29,

••• .••
Id

li - 37

3 -
16 17
4 - 4
20- t,2
6 - 7

i' - 7

FOREIGN.

Antwerp &Rotterdam
Belgian Eastn. June.
Beziers to Clraissorlac
Bombay, Baroda, and
Central India. Scrip
Central 02 Ita'y
Demerara ...
Dijon and Besancon..
Dutch Rhenish
Eastern of France
Do. New
East Indian
Do. Extension
Do. 41 p. c. Bds., pay
'57, convertible
Do. do. do., '59, d
ad. Junct. of France
Cd. Tk of CanadaA is.
Do. do
Do. St. Lawrence &
Atlantic do.

ax ins

72i 3

107
100 a a a

li
8311

681 i

6?). -
-

id-ip

74i 4
12i
52t

64 I

Do. Cert. of Deben.,
con. into Stk. till '63
Do. Comp. 6 p. c., do.
Gt. Central of France
Gt. Indian Peninsula
Do. New 5 per cent.
Gt. Western of Canada

Shares .
,Do. Bds., payablo's7,
with option till '55
De. do., '62, p. '56
De. do., '76, p.
Di. do., '73, without)
option
Hamilton & Toronto
Do. 6 per cent.
Lake Const. & Basle,
Luces. & Pistoj a 5 p. c '
prof
IGlreat Luxembourg
Constituted Shares
Do. Obligations
Lyons and Geneva
Lyons & Mediterran
Madras
Do. New
Maria Antonia
Do. do. Now

Melbourne Dk. & Ry.
Namur & Liege (with
Interest)
Do. (ex interest)
Northern of France.
D 0.201. Shs.late Char-
leroi and Erquelines
guar. 3i p. c. & red.
at 22 dur. 88 yrs.
from 1 Jan. 1854
Do. 201. 3 p. • Bde
(fmy.B.&Ams.Shs.)
NorwegianTrunkPref
Paris and Lyons
Ditto Bonds

59 81
28/

3i —31 P
3 311
41 51
1 lip

8 - 7:1

9 7d
10 8.1
- IP
Sp
16/ 171

• * • ..." ••• 1*

.. -.
ld 1p

2d • par
2 d par
2 d par'

die
3i 3
2t 2
d ip

i d par

62 - 7

••• ..... ••
34 -31 i

1.2 i - -12 i

31i
214

17i 17

Ni.

8i - 94
191 - 19/

Paris and Orleans
Paris and Rouen
ParisCaen & Cherbrg
Rouen and Havre
Royal Danish
Royal Swedish
Sambre and Meuse._
Do. 54 p. cent. Pref.
Southern of France
St. Andrew's and
Quebec (A)
West Flanders
Do 54 per c. Pref
Western of France
West. of Switzerland
Wiesbaden
Zealand

46 -- 48
88 -- 40
pua
20i -21 i
id iP
21 -- 10
4 -- Ti

••• --- •••
.•• - pm

3i 4
. a
5 51;

171 17 I

1 lq - 17

t6i i

CRIMINAL CO URT.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.

Firebrand
Odiham ,
Alma

Alp
Bullfinch

Janus .

Francis R. Newton and William P. Newton surren-
dered this morning to take their trial for wounding
Adam Stewart Kerr.
The facts of the case our readers are perfectly familiar
with, as they have frequently appeared in this journal
under the title of " The Murderous Outrage at the
Beulah Spa."
The jury returned a verdict of unlawfully wounding,
recommez.d.ng the prisoner Williams to mercy.
At a later period of the evening they were brought up
and sentenced—Franeis to nit(' months in Newgatel
and William to three mouths in the 'iamb jail.

MARYLEBONE-ELECTION.

(THIS DAY.)

OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF TUE POLL.
This morning shortly after 12 o'clock, the Returning-
officer announced the numbers polled for the respective
candidates for the seat in Parliament for Marylebone, as
follows : 6,919 Ebrington ..................... 6,919
Mr. Bell ................................ 4,166
Majority for Lord Ebrington, —2,753
Lord EBRINGTON briefly returned thanks for th•
honour conferred on him.

ttlw ?Pk/Pt 24v- i; 4

SUN OFFICE, Seven, o'clock.

WALTHAM RACES.
(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

ABBEY STAKES.

HURDLE RACE.

ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE.

Tom Gurney •

Six ran.

• • •-0.) 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.)
The SPENICER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
EPISCOPAL AND CAPITULAR ESTATES
MANAGEMENT BILL.

The Marquis of BLANDFORD brought in this bill,
which was read a first time and ordered to be read a
second time after the recess.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS BILL.

Mr. EWART brought in this bill which was read a
first time and ordered to be read a second time on Friday
next.

CONSOLIDATED FUND.

On the motion for going into committee on the Con-
solidated Fund,

Mr. HENLEY objected to going into committee
without notice. The object of the committee was to
enable the Chancellor of the Exchequer to deal with the
Savings Banks Funds, and he thought before tbelSpeaker
left the chair they ought to have some explanations of
the necessity for dealing with the subject at this period
of the session.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought
the proper time to make his statement would be when
they got into committee.

Sig H. WILLOUGHBY said the house could not be
in a position to discuss financial matters without pre-
vious notice.

Sir W. MOLESWORTH said all his right hon. friend
wanted was, to go into committee for the purpose of
making a statement.

Mr.-SPOONER insisted that there was no pressing
necessity for the statement. Besides, many members
had left town under the impression that there would be
no financial statement before Christmas.

Sir F. BARING thought the right. 'hon. gentleman
ought to have an opportunity of making his explanation
now ; but the house should abstain from coming to any
resolution upon it at present.
The house then went into committee.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
explanation he had to make would not be a financial
statement, in the ordinary acceptation of tl:e term, be-
cause the resolution he had to propose in no way related
to taxes—the subject of taxes in the ways and means of
the year. It referred exclusively to a matter of admi-
nistrative arrangement, and his object in proposing the
resolution was simply to enable him to print the mea-
sure of the Government with the view of its being con-
sidered during the recess. The resolution would form
the foundation of a bill intended to remove the objections
which hitherto had been taken to the existing law
relating to Savings' Banks funds. The subject of
Savings' Banks divided itself into two branches ; the
first was the custody of the moneys, and the se-
cond the guarantee to be afforded to the deposi-
tors. The bill he had now in view would
relate to the first of these branches, but it would be his
duty after the recess to bring in a second bill for the
purpose of strengthening the guarantees which deposi-
tors already possess, giving them increased facilities for
enforcing their rights, and regulating the internal
management of Savings Banks. Az, present the law
affecting Savings Banks deposits was exceedingly
complicated ; Government were only responsible for
the sums which absolutely reached their hands,
while they were bound to insert it in a parti-
cular security, and an erroneous impression had gone
abroad that Vie interests of the depositor was seriously
affected by the fluctuations of the public securities. It
was no such thing ; but still the depositor had the right
to demand that the law relating to his security should
be simple and explicit, and that was the main object of
this resolution. The bill to be founded upon it would
require the National Debt Commissioners to publish
once a year a statement of their liabilities on account
of Savings' Banks depositors, and certain other provisions
of animportant character. The resolution he had to move
was this, viz.: that it is expedient to create a charge on
_ _

the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, in respect of the sums due to
Savings Banks and Friendly Societies, and to provide
for the payment of interest thereon to the Com-

missioneri Of the National Debt at three per cent=
per annum, and also to make provision out of the
said Consolidated Fund, or by Exchequer Bills or
Exchequer Bonds, for any difference which may now or
hereafter exist between the asse;:s in the hands of the
Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt
in respect of savings banks and friendly societies, and
the liabilities thereon ; and also for the interest on such
Exchequer bills or Exchequer bonds. The second bill
would relate to the management of savings banks and
the rights and securities of depositors.
Mr. DISRAELI thought the proposal of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer was reasonable enough ; it way
impossible that the house could be in a position to
consider the measure of the Government until they had
the measure itself before them. Now, the bill could
not be introduced according to the forms of the house
without a preliminary resolution, and he therefore
thought they ought to agree to it pro forma.
Mr. HENLEY hoped the effect of the two bills would
be to prevent the tampering, on the part of the State,
with savings banks' deposits. He should not object to
the passing of the resolution, but it must be understood
that it did not bind the house to the principle of the
Government measure.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY questioned the policy of re-
ducing the interest on Savings' Banksdeposio.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the interest payable to Savings' Bank depositors was
not in any way affected by this resolution.
Lord J. RUSSELL deprecated discussion until the
bill was before the house.
The resolution was then agreed to, and, the house
having resumed, leave was given to bring in a bill
founded on it.
ENLISTMENT OF FOREIGNERS BILL.

On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. NEWDEGATE asked whether any steps had
been taken for bringing British troops from India to be
used for the purposes of the war ?
Lord J. RUSSELL declined to enter into any ex-
planation of what the Government had done or intended
to do for collecting troops.
Mr. LIDDEL said, although he could not approve of
the bill, he yet hoped the anticipations which Govern-
ment had formed of it would turn out correct. The house
had sanctioned its principle, and he did not apprehend
that there would be much quarrelling about its details,
but at the same time he felt bound to express his belief
that the measure would prove an entire failure.
Mr. RICH had voted for the bill, but it must be dis-
tinctly understood that he was averse to the employ-
ment of mere mercenary troops. He did not object to
the services of foreigners who entered our army from
a patriotic spirit, but he could not bring himself to be-
lieve that men who entered from mercenary motives,
would even make good soldiers. He suggested a reor-
ganisation of the Cabinet in order that the war might
be carried on with the utmost vigour. At present the
Peelites had too great a preponderance of the power
which Ministers exercised, and he hoped, during the
recess, this state of things would be changed.
Mr. DRUMMOND said the public out of doors,
looked upon this bill with something of the same feeling
that Newmarket people viewed " a dark horse," they
telt that every thing was not fair and above board, that
Government entertained some ulterior object which they
kept out of sight, and if that were so it should never be
passed. He thought even if the Government did re-
sign, some one or other might be found who would
prevent the horses at Sebastopol eating each
other ; that might enable the officers and men to have a
change of linen before now, and to prevent the clothes of
officers and men droppingoff their backs. At all events
he entreated the Government not to pass the bill till the
country had time to pronounce an opinion upon it.
Colonel VERNER also opposed the further progress
deser-
tions
of the bill, and gave his own experiencesof th
tions and other ill consequences of our enlisting foreign
troops in the late war.
for doing so. He
last night wished to state his reaswenass
perfectly unneces-
Mr. OTWAY having voted against the Government
believed this proposed measure
great reinforcements
rom India, for ex-
ample,from other portions o
sary, and that we might obtain
ee,
pire
a large European force which
spared—(Hear, hear)--and
where there wansil
be sent to the Crimea very
proposed foreign troops could
might now be very w
those. forces might new
much sooner than the propand
legion. Prussia was the
lie could not entirely approve
be enlisted, trained, officered, sent out to the
seat of war.
of the P
part of Germany where a man was of neces-
sity
idler, and the inhabitants of
proposed German
the other
sity a 8" •
portions of Germany would require es much drilling and
training as any portion of our own people. If the
Government, had announced their intention to
form a Polish legion, he should hare been
perfectly willing to support them; if they had landed a
Polish legion of 400 or 500 men in the Crimea, be had
no doubt they would be joi •
ned by a very large number of
deserters among their fellow countrymen who were now
forced to serve Russia against their will.
Mr. WHITESIDE quoted the opinion of Mr. Burke,
that if at the time of the infamous partition of Poland
there had been an English Minister of spirit at the
head of affairs that result of imperial conspirators would
never have taken :place. From his own experience of
Naples he found the presence of foreign troops—Swiss
troops—only served to keep down the liberties of the
people. The same remark applied to Rome. He con-
tended it was a principle of our constitution that the
army should consist of the people, that they might par-
take of the feelings of the people. He said it was an
immoral principle--it was an unjust principle—it was a