The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS EVENING.)
Their lordships met at four o'clock.
ROYAL COMMISSION.

The Royal assent was given by commission to a num-
ber of public and private bills. The following are the
titles of the public bills : --The Income Tax Bill, the Ex-
chequer Bills Bill, the Militia Bill, and the Ministers'
Money (Ireland) Bill. The Lords Commissioners were
the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Argyle, and Earl
Granville.

The Earl of WICKLOW presented a petition from
the Society of Solicitors, against the Bills of Exchange
Bill.

MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR.

The Earl of ALBEMARLE presented a petition from
the Military Knights of Windsor, complaining of the
misappropriation of certain funds which they claimed,
and praying for inquiry.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply to a question
from the noble earl, said it was not within the compe-
tency of the Charitable Commissioners to inquire into
the case of these individuals, because there was an ex-
press provision in the act appointing them, to the effect
that the jurisdiction of the commissioners should not
extend to the funds of any collegiate church. It
would, however, be a very strange case of the mis-
application of charitable funds, if the Lord Chancellor
could not interpose for the protection of the rights of
the parties.
THE TRANSPORT SHIP ANDES.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE called attention
to a letter in the newspapers, written by an officer in
the ship Andes, stating that while she was at sea, with
a thousand troops on board for the East, a fire broke
out which occupied two hours in being put out, that
there was a great quantity of gunpowder on board, and
only two life-boats ; and that for a considerable time
the lives of the whole crew were jeopardised. It also
appeared that 50,000 cartridges were thrown overboard.
He wished to know whether the Government were in pos-
session of any information on the subject, and if true,
whether they would take precautions to prevent for the
future a vessel leaving without a sufficient number of
boats ?

The Duke of NEWCASTLE said it was true that a
fire broke out in the Andes when 300 miles west of
Malta. It was supposed to have been ignited in conse-
quence of too great a draught in the furnaces. He was
not able to say whether no more than two boats were on
board. The Admiralty had received no report of the
circumstances, nor was it mentioned in the letters
which had reached the Horse Guards from the com-
manding officer, who spoke of the admirable discipline
of the troops on the trying occasion. He could
scarcely believe it possible that the inspecting officers
would pass a vessel with only two boats. It was sur-
mised, however, thatthe boats might have been left behind
to make room for an increase of baggage ; and he could
only say that, if such was the case, the officers were
greatly culpable in allowing the ship to put to sea. He
might mention that he had requested the Admiralty to
make enquiries into the subject.
The Earl of ELLENBORO UGH observed that his
impression was that the account given in the letter was
correct, for it was very probsble that the boats had given
place to live stock and to officers' baggage, but they
were of trifling importance compared with the lives of
such a large number of troops.