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

LAUNCH OF

L ALBERT.

Trie preparation, for the launch of the Royal Albert,
131 guns, the official number as at present arranged of
this splendid screw steam-ship of war, will be completed
to-day, and are such as must give great satisfaction.
The Queen's booth will simply consist of a raised plat-
form, about four steps in height from the ground, erected
close to the spacious machinery storehouse, in which the
reception-rooms have been formed and fitted in the finest
style by Messrs. Wakeling and Sons, upholsterers to
the Admiralty. The large space on the wharf wall
leading to the Black Eagle steam-vessel, already moored
in the position alongside the wharf wall which she is to
occupy on the day of the launch, is covered in a pavilion
firm, and has a fine effect. The Black Eagle will be
fitted to accommodate 200 of the attendants on her Ma-
jesty and the nobility. The booth lettered A, admission
to which is by blue tickets, is set apart for the foreign
Ministers with their families and the Admiralty. The
booths lettered B, C, D, E, and F, admission to which
is by blue tickets, are for the members of the Houses
of Lords and Commons and the nobility and gentry,
and are all on the west side of the slip. The booths
lettered A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are on the
east side of the slip, A being on the wharf wall next
the river and extending in alphabetical rotation to the
south, H being in front of the bows of the ship on
the south side of the platform where her Royal High-
ness will christen the noble ship in the presence of
the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, several
members of the Royal family, and many of the most
distinguished and highest authorities in the land. The
requests for tickets to view the launch of the Royal
Albert are beyond all former precedent, and as 9,000
tickets have been issued to the nobility and gentry, it
has been found impossible to meet the wishes of the
applicants from all parts of the kingdom. Numbers
have already come up to town by railway, to remain
until the launch takes place, and should the weather
prove fine, the scene will be one of the grandest that
has been witnessed for many years. Every arrange-
ment for the accommodation of the public has been
made under the superintendence of Commodore John
Shepherd and Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, K.C.8.,
surveyor of the navy, and Sir Richard Mayne.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OP LORDS—(YESTERDAY.)
Tin: BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA.
The Earl of MALMESBURY wished to ask the
noble duke whether the Government had received from

the admiral of the fleet in the Black Sea any official ac-
count of the bombardment of Odessa, and whether the
noble duke had taken any means of making the details
of that operation known to the public. He also wished
to ask how, as the war proceeded, her Majesty's Go-
vernment intended to inform the public of the events
which occured. He thought this was an important
matter, for as regarded this war it was to be expected
that more interest would be excited than in former wars.
The invention of the electric telegraph, while it was a
great boon to the world, also laid the country open to
many false reports. In addition to this, in all cases of
action
the first reports would come by electric telegraph,
and as no details would be given, the greatest anxiety
would be felt by those whose friends were in the army
to have speedy and authentic details. He trusted,
therefore, that her Majesty's Government, if they intended
to furnish the country with informatton through the
Gazette, immediately te, would publish a Gazette upon the
receipt of any intelligence, and not keep it back or even
a day.
Tue Duke of NE WCASTLE said that despatches had
been that day received from Admiral Dundas respecting
the bombardment of Odessa, the first announcement of
which was made in that house by his noble friend, the
Secretary of State for Foreign affairs. Their lordships
were already in possession of the details of the operation
through the newspapers, and as those details were cor-
rect he believed that he should be wasting the time of
the house if he were to go into the circumstances. At
the same time he thought it right to mention that this
despatch and its enclosures gave the most positive de-
nial to the statements made on behalf of the Russian
Government. (Hear, hear.) It satisfactorily appeared
by this despatch that the flag of truce had been violated
by General Osten-Sacken. Admiral Dundas, however,
did not act upon the report alone of those in command
of the Furious. He took information from another party
who was present on the mole at Odessa when the gun
was shotted and fired. Upon the receipt of that infor-
mation Admiral Dundas wrote to General Osten-Sacken
informing him that his excuse was proved to be destitute
of foundation in truth, and as a reparation for the injury
he demanded the surrender of all the vessels in the port,
giving him due notice, that if not surrendered they
would be taken. No answer being returned, the bom-
bardment took place in the manner which had been de-
scribed. He (the Duke of Newcastle) was happy to add to
that statement that the loss on the part of the English fleet
amounted to only 1 killed and 10 wounded. With regard
to the second question of the noble earl, he had to
state that these despatches would be published in the
Gazette of to-morrow (this day), and that that will be
the means adopted for communicating such information
to the public as the Government might from time to
time receive. He could assure the noble earl that in all
cases where the feeling of the public could be excited, no
delay would take place, but that such information as
Government might receive would be communicated at
once to the country.
The Earl of MALMESBURY said that the noble
duke had pointed out that the bombardment of Odessa
took place in consequence of a flag of truce not having
been respected, from which it would appear that Admi-
ral Dundas had received orders not to attack Odessa.
Nlany persons to whom he had spoken had that idea,
and he should like to know whether it was a correct

one.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said it must be obvious
to the noble earl that to answer his question would be
to explain the instructions which had been given to
Admiral Dundas, and that was not compatible with pub-
lic interests. He had no objection, however, to state
that it was the desire of her Majesty's Government that
private property should, in this case, bo respected as far
as possible.
Lord REDESDALE remarked that questions had
been put and answers given which had occupied their
lordships during more than an hour. Pending this the
business on the paper had stood still. He thought in
such cases noble lords ought to give notice of their in-
tion to put questions. (Hear, hear.)
MILITIA ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in moving the first
reading of this bill, wished to give notice of the course
he intended to take with regard to the measure. The bill
was simply to amend the militia law in two respects ;
first to embody the militia in times of war as well as of
►nvasion, and, secondly, to enable the Government. to
lengthen the period for training before the present period
had expired. He intended, to-morrow, at one o'clock,
to move that the standing orders be suspended in respect
to this bill, and that it be then read a second and third
time and passsed, in order that it may receive the royal
assent by commission also to-moi row. The reason for
this was that it was most desirable that it should apply
to two regiments of militia now enrolled, and to which
it would not apply if the royal assent was postponed
until Monday or Tuesday.
The Exchequer Bills (16,024,1001.) Bill was read a
second time, and afterwards passed through all its re-
maining stages, the standing orders being suspended for
that purpose.
The Capitular and Episcopal Estates Bill was read a
second time.
The Church Buildings Act Continuance Bill was read
a third time and passed.
The Marquis of WINCHILSEA. moved a resolution
setting forth the deficiency of church accommodation
and church schools in England, and the expediency of
making some provision for the same by a grant of public
money.
The motion was opposed by the Earl of ABERDEEN,
and by the Bishops of OXFORD and ST. DAVID'S Other
noble lords having spoken, the Marquis of Winchilsea,
withdrew his resolution.
Their lordships adjourned at a quarter past eight
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BILL.
Tho house went into committee on the Oxford Univer-
sity Bill, beginning at clause 11, which prescribes the date
of election of the hebdomadal council, and, after discus-
sion, this clause, and the succeeding ones up to clause 17,
inclusive, were agreed to.
On clause 18, which prescribes the composition of con-
gregation,
Sir W.,HEATEICOTE moved to strike out the names of
the following constituents : —The tutors of halls and col-
leges and other officers engaged iu the discipline of colleges,
the masters of private halls, residents who may have held
any of the qualifications mentioned in the clause for three
years, and residents qualified in respect of study under the
act, and ho proposed to substitute the words " all resi-

dents." - -
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed the
alteration. It was designed that congregation should be
composed of what he might term the aristocracy of univer-
sity talent. The amendment would add the parochial
clergy, for whom he had the highest respect, but whom it
was not so desirable to include in congregation ; and he

also objected to the admission of the college chaplains.
Mr. R. PALMER supported the amendment, and re-
marked that the college chaplains were representatives of
the eleemosynary element of tho univergity.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL urged that the parochial

took little interest in the proceedings of the univer•

sity.
Mr. BLACKETT supported the clause as it stood.
Sir T. D. ACLAND insisted that every influential class
in the university should be admitted to congregation.
After a few words from Mr. HENLEY and the SOLICITOR-
GENERAL,
Mr. DRUMMOND protested against college chaplains
being treated as an inferior class of the university. The
only distinction which should be recognised should be
those that the degrees conferred.
Mr. R. J. PHILLIMORE supported the amendment.
He wished to know how the parochial clergyman stood
with regard to the university of Oxford; he had no rela-
tion to the university beyond the bare fact of his having a
duty to attend to in Oxford. Being accidentally resident
in the town, he could not see why parochial clergymen
should have any voice in the government of the university.
Nor could he see why the the chaplains, as such, should
have any seat; most of them were qualified for that posi-
tion, as holding other offices.
Mr. HiLDYARD thought that the hon. and learned
gentleman (the Solicitor-General) had increased the diffi-
culty to government by taking the view that a seat in con-
gregation was a distinction. Hence to exclude any man
from congregation was to cast a slur upon him. He had
heard no reason why the parochial clergy should be so ex-
cluded. He begged to remind the committee that many of
the bishops had been found like Cincinatus at the plough,
discharging the duties of a parish priest. (Laughter.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE (who rose amidst loud cries for a
division) was inclined to think that the hon. gentlemani
had made out a fair case. He thought that the parochial
clergy would make most useful members of convocation,
and he accordingly should feel bound to vote for the amend-
ment.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that it seemed to him that
although the actual effect of this amendment. would not be
very considerable, yet as a matter of rin principle it was of some
weight. What the Governarmenn
theped was in effect to
legislation of the uni-
give a power of taking a
engagedproperly in the working of that in-
stitution. It wasan importantg consideration to bear in mind
that the committee was at present engaged in reforming the
University of Oxford, with a view to its improvement as
an institution for education. Now, whatever might be said
with regard to the parochial clergy iu Oxford, or with re-
gard to the chaplains, the committee should recollect that
it was not a question with respect to their respectability
or fitness as persons, but with regard to the propriety of
making them part of the legislature of the university,
merely because they were resident in Oxford. The paro-
chial clergy of London were a most respectable body, and
among them might be found seine of the most eminent
divines in the kingdom. With the facility of travelling in
the present day, it would be perfectly possible for them to
be frequently in Oxford, and yet no one would propose that
they should have a part in the legislature of the university,
and yet they had quite as much to do with education at
Oxford as the Oxford clergy. With regard to the chap-
lains, ho (Lord J. Russell) much regretted the position in
which they were placed, and he trusted that the statutes of
the university upon that point would not much longer re-
main iu their present state, as regarded that head. He did
not think the parties should be permitted to interfere un-
less they were immediately concerned in the teaching of
the university. It must be admitted that they were not,
and he thought there are much more fitting modes of rais-
ing them iu public estimation than that which was now
proposed. The principle which the Government had to
adhere to was a very clear ono—it was that of giving the
legislation of the university to those who were engaged in
teaching and practically conversant with it. They pro-
posed to add words which would embrace all who were
engaged in study or in teaching.
Mr. WALPOLE said, according to the principle laid
down by the noble lord, congregation was to he constituted
solely for the purpose of regulating the proceedings under
the statutes of the Hebdomadal Council with reference to
teaching. He thought the great principle which ought to
be acted upon was that of bringing to bear on all the
bodies which constituted the Hebdomadal Council as large
an amount of influence as possible from members of
.the
university who took an interest in its proceediugg, and