The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-02 00:00:00

Mr. DIGBY SEIr 4OUR seconded the motion.

Sir W. MOLESWORTH resisted the proposition.
For two centuries it had been the custom of civi
lied nations to pay debts due to an enemy, the
single exception being in the case of the Silesian loan, a
had
in which the conduct of the King of Prussia ad
been pronounced to be contrary to the law of nations.
If the Emperor of Russia bad money in cur funds at
this time he would receive the div.deeds thereon, and
there was really no difference between such a case .and
that in question. The desired backsliding and departure
from the rule dictated by the spirit of the age ought to
be most strongly vindicated. He admitted the general
violation of the treaty of Vienna, which, had we not
been at war, would have been a casus &Ili, but neither
that nor war would justify the required repudietion •
and he contended that the Emperor of Russia had
not committed the specific violation requisite to in-
validate our agreement, Sir William showed that
we had purchased frorn the Netherlands, the
Cape of Good Hope, Demerara, Essequibo, and
Berbice, on condition of applying a
part of the purchase-
money
purchased the assent
money in the discharge of the obligation in question ;
and that in 1831 we had press
of Russia to the new arrangement between Belgium and
Holland, and that we were bound to continue our pay-
ments, except in the case of Ru-sia ceasing to concur in
our policy in regard to those countries, a contingency
which had not arisen. We were, therefore, engaged by
treaties and acts of Parliament to fulfil our obligations ;
and he made an eloquent appeal to the house to resist
a propositien which would have come better from the
obscure delegate of some bankrupt transatlantic state
than the representative of a great metropolitan consti
tuency.
Mr. DIGBY SEYMOUR vehemently supported the
motion, controverting the arguments of Sir W. Moles-
worth, and contending that we ought to stand upon our
strict rights.
The ATTORNEY.GENERAL explained that Mr.
Seyinou.'s energy was entirely thrown away, as he bad
misconceived the arguments of Sir W. Molesworth. He
briefly re-stated the case, which he characteii=ed as a
perfectly clear and simple one. The debt did not rest
upon the treaty of Vienna, and no infraction of that
treaty could
invalidate our liability.
Lord
D. 811-TA.RT replied, and said that be had
effected his object, which was to procure a discussion of
the sultk.et.
Mr. CAy LEy urged the withdrawal of the motion,
against the character of which he stron.,
ely protested.
Mr.: PELLA.TT
also urged Lord D. Stuart not to

Lord D. STUART persisted, and the Speaker having
had a second time to read the volini,inous resolutions,
The house divided, and the numbers were—
For the motion 5
Against it 57
Majority
CAVALRY IN THE EAST.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS rose to move for a return of the
effective force of cavalry employed or now under orders
for the East ; stating the number of regiments ; of
officers, specifying their respective ranks in each regi-
ment ; the number of effective men and horses actually
embarked, and of the general and sta'l' officers attached
to the cavalry service, specifying the rank and names of
the general officers, and of their staff. There had been
a great deal of agitation in the public mind as to the
disproportionate number of officers, as compared with
the men, in the cavalry regiments sent to the East.
There were on!y five men to every non-commissioned
officer, and ten men to every officer it, commission. It
was clear that the proportion of officers was excessive,
and he made the motion in
.order to eli it explanations.
Tbere was also a large and disproportionate number of
general officers in our cavalry service. The result was
greatly to augment the expense, as compared with the
efficiency, of our cavalry forces in the East. In the in-
fantry the proportion of officers to men was 1 to 25,
and there was no reason why it should be greater in the
cava ry.
Mr. S. HERBERT said the return was one which
the Government could not grant. There was no force
in Europe conducted upon a principle so patent to the
world as our army. The hon. member would see that
his object could be obtained without asking for a return,
the production of which would be prejhhei rl to the
public service. It was true that there was a dispropor-
tion of officers to men, but the reason was that the men
were too few, not that the officers were to() many, the
cause being that in time of peace our cavalry regiments
were kept up in a skeleton state. The Government
were augmenting the cavalry, and by raising an addi-
tional number of men, he trusted that the disproportion
of officers and men complained of by the hon. member
would to a considerable extent be removed. He thought
the adoption of the motion would he setting a precedent
which the War-office of St. Petersburg would be very
slow to follow. (Hear, hear.)
Lord SEYMOUR, while he trusted the motion would
not be pressed, complained that regiments were not
made complete by a more perfect system of drafting
from one to another.

Mr. S. HERBERT explained that, as far as practic-
able, this system •of drafting was carried out.
Colonel DUNNE thought a more mischievous return
could not be asked for.• Government might as well
furnish Russia with a return of the entire British army.
(Hear, hear.)

The motion of Mr. Williams was then negatived
without a division.
POST-OFFICE.
Mr. EVELYN moved for copies of any communica-
tions which may have passed since the (234 cf February
between the Treasury and the Post-office, relative to.the
allegations contained in a petition (presented Feb. 15)
from certain persons in the western division of the county
of Surrey, praying for an inquiry into the cause of the
non-delivery, in August, 1853, of thu notices of oljec-
tion to their votes, together with the report of any in-
vestigation which, by direction of the Treasury, had
been made into the matter.

waMs
orr.d\c„Vrled.LSON had no objection to the return, which
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH moved for leave to bring in
a bill to make better provision for the administration of
the laws relating to the public health. It was, he said,
framed in conformity with the opinions expressed by
the house on the preceding day. These he understood
to be, that there ought to be a department charged with
the administration of the Public Health act, of the Nui-
sances Removal Act, and which should also have the
general charge of the health of the cluntry. The opinion
of the house he further gathered to be that the Board
of Health was not a good one for c Lrrying out these ob-
jeer's, and that there (right to be some one in that house
responsible for the adniinistration of the law, and capable
of explaining it, but that such administration should not
become a portion of the duties of the Home office. He
proposed to constitute the new board precisely as the
Poor-law Board. was constituted Its presi.lent should
have a seat in the house, and should have a secretary
and an under-secretary. Tile superintending inspectors
should be salaried officers of the board, and therefore
incapable of t4king private work. He proposed to give
Mr. Chadwick compensation to the amount of 1,0001 a
year, and paid a tribute to the valuable services which
had been rendered by that gentleman.
After a few observations from Sir G. PECHELL,
Lord SEYMOUR expressed his thanks to the Go-
vernment fur the proposed bill, which he believed would
be satisfactorv, and he assented to compensation being
granted to Mr. Chadwick. He thought, however, that
the new act should be operative for a year only, and
that an inquiry into the whole subject should be bad.
Mr. HENLEY concurred in the observations of Lord
Seymour, and thought the plan likely to be a good one.
Lord J. RUSSELL expressed the willingness of Go-
vernment that the proposed inquiry should take place
next session.

Mr. NEWDECIATZ and Mr. DUNLOP expressed opinions
in favour of local self government.
Leave wa, given to bring in the bill.
The Crime and Outrage (Ireland) Bill went through
committee.

The Militia Bill, No. 2, was advanced a stage, and
amendments were introduced.

The other orders were then disposed of, and the house
adjourned.

METROPOLITAN SEWERS CO.11.11ISSION:

A special ciurt of commissioners was hell yesterday
at the chief office, Mr. R. Jell presiding. President—
Sir J. Burgoyne, Sir C. Fellows, Mr. T. Hawes, Mr.
George Baker, Mr. G. S. Smith, and Mr. L. Redhead.
The Secretary reported that the available balance in
hand was 29,287/. There were cheques to be drawn
that day to the amount of 7,4451. 10s. ld.