The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-27 00:00:00

inPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

110IISE OF COMMONS--(YESTERDA.Y.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
The Earl of Fife (Trustees) Estate Bill was read a
bird time and passed.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill wera considered
and agreed to.
MORTMAIN. BILL.

This bill was ordered to be committed this day three
months.
PORTLAND CHAPELS BILL.

The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered
and agreed to.
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES BILL.
On the order of the day for resuming the adjourned

debate on this bill,
• Mr. T. BARING insisted that if the laws of the
country were not sufficient to prevent trading and
speculation in the securitie sofa Governe menuh which
we were at war, some gnl measht to be
brought in by Ministers to remedy the defect, because,
although this measure was only directed against Russia,
it was just possible that
.in a short time we might be at
war with Prussia., and v. ho was to propose a measure
which should apply to the securities ? It was, therefore,
clear that any change in the law must be based upon ge-
neral principles, applicable to all the world and not con-
ned to Russia alone; and as this bill being based on petty
spite, did not go that length, he decidedly objected to
sing into committee upon it. With public opinion
.against it, there was not the least disposition amongst
Englishmen to speculate in Russian securities; but if this,
bill passed, it would lead to impressions on the continent
that without this special enactment there would be, and,
RS a natural result, instead of depressing Russian securi-
ties, it would rather tend to enhance their value in many
of the capitals of Europe.
Lord D. STUART supported the bill. It would be
time enough to legislate in a similar spirit with regard
to other countries when we had declared war against
- them. At present we were only at war with Russia,,
and it was enough, therefore, to direct the provisions at
that power.
Mr. WILSON remarked that if the real state of the
financial affairs of Russia was known, it would go fur.
ther to reduce the value of her securities than any bill
of this nature, even if it were adopted by all the Legis
'Mures of Europe.
Mr. ISAAC BUTT had heard nothing which should
induce the house to refuse to go into committee on this
bill.

lA2r. SPOONER and Mr. L. HEYWORTH supported the
bill.
Lord PALMERSTON said he should certainly sup-
port the bill, which was based upon the intelligible
principle that British subjects should not be allowed to
aid Russia with money. It was a childish absurdity to
draw a distinctiOn between directly lending money to
Russia, which was high treason, and lending the same
money indirectly. What the Secretary to the Treasury
had said was perfect nonsense, and unless they passed
this bill they ought to abolish the law of high treason.
It was sheer nonsense to say that British subjects should
be allowed indirectly to supply Russia with money, and
those. who could support such a principle must be pre-
pared to say the Dutch admiral was right, who, in the
lull of an engagement, sold powder to his antagonist to
enable him to renew the engagement. It was not right
to set the interest of the pocket against the honour of
the country. (Cheers.) It was not a pounds, shillings,
and pence question, but a question of national honour,
and no man who w,s not anxious to assist the enemy or
avoid committing high treason could hesitate to vote for
this bill. (Cheers.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON asked how it had come to pass,
then, if the bill was of so much importance, that it had
not been brought forward by the Government. He was
at a loss to understand how the noble lord could call
that " sheer nonsense" which a member of the Govern-
ment sitting near him supported ; but for his own part
he should vote in accordance with the expressed senti-
ments of the noble lord.
_ Mr. KINNAIRD replied that the hands of the
Government had been full enough this session, without
twitting them for not taking up this bill.
' Mr. DUNCAN thought the bill would interfere with
the operations of commerce.
Mr. HENLEY contended that if the act the bill

dealt with was nothing short of high treason, the bi

did not go far enough—the penalties it imposed were
not sufficiently high ; but after the strong opinion the
noble lord had expressed upon it, the Government could
have no alternative but to take the responsibility of the
measure upon themselves. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. BROWN concurred in the views of Mr. Wilson,
and protested that before they passed a measure of so
much importance, they ought to have the opinion of the
noble lord the member for the city of London upon it.
He should therefore move that the committee be post-
poned until a future day.
The house then divided, when there appeared—
For going into committee
Against it 24
Majority —s3
After the numbers had been declared,
Lord D. STUART said he was informed that a right
hon. member, who was in the house before, and in the
lobby while the division was taking place, had abstained
from voting. (Cries of " Name, name.") He referred
to Sir William Molesscorth, the President of the Board
of Works. (A. laugh.)
The SPEAKER stated that the announcement ought
to have been made before the numbers were declared.
The figures could not now be altered.