The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-03 00:00:00

WHITSUNTIDE RECESS.

On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, it was agreed
that the house at its rising should adjourn until Thursday
next. _
_____

(mired the final accounts from India, which Were cloud 011
the last day of April.
CHOLERA IN JAMAICA.
Sir J. PAKINGTON wished to ask the Under Secretary
of State for the Colonies whether her Majesty's Goyern•
ment have lately received any information as to the reap-
pearance of cholera in Jamaica ' - and whether it is intended.
to take any measures, either by the renew-al of the appoint-
ment of an inspector, or otherwise, for the promotion of
sanitary regulationu in the West Indies ?
Mr. F. PEEL stated that in the early part of this year
some cases had occurred, but it was hoped by this time
that the epidemic had subsided. The West India colonise,
were uniting together for the purpose of establishing sana—
tory regulations for each.
THE lONIAN FLAG.
Mr. HUME asked how ships, with the lonian flag, now
under the protection of England, will be treated by Russia
—are they to be neutral in the eyes of England and France?
Lord J. RUSSELL said, after mature deliberation, it
had been decided by the Government and the Law Officers
of the Crown, that the lonian Islands being under the pro-
tection of her Majesty,could not be considered as a neutral
state.

OPERATIONS IN THE BALTIC.
Mr. HUME asked the right hon. the First Lord of the
Admiralty, if he could give the house any information of
the operations of the fleet in the Baltic?
Sir J. GRAHAM replied that to-day a despatch
had been received at the Admiralty from Sir C.
Napier, which was dated " Hango Bay, at the en-
trance of the Gulf of Finland, 23d May," and which
gave an account of a gallant exploit that had been '
performed by the Arrogant, a frigate, and a small
steam vessel under the command of Captain Hall, called
the Heels, on the 23d of May. These ships heard of three
large Russian merchantmen being at anchor in an inlet
fully ten miles inland, and under the fire of a fortress of
considerable strength, besides a fire of musketry from a
large force on troops on land, Captain Hall, in de-
fiance of the fire both of the fortress and mus-
ketry, succeeded in getting inland, and in a most
gallant manner cut out the only Russian merchant•
man he could find there, which he carried back to the fleet
in triumph. Sir C. Napier remarked that this exploit
was worthy of the best time of cur naval history. (Cheers.)
He might add that the fleet was in the best order and con-
dition. At the time the despatch left the French fleet
had not yet joined, bat it was expected to do so in
about five or six days, so that by this time it must hare
joined the British squadron. (Hear, hear.)
SUCCESSION DUTY.
Mr. HEADLAIf asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was his intention to introduce, during this
session of Parliament, any measure to impose a tax upon
land held by corporations, and for permanent objects,
equivalent to the Succession Duty imposed upon other
lands.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was
not intended to introduce such a measure this session.
DRESS OF THE ARMY.
Sir G. HEA.THCOTE asked the Secretary at War if it
was the intention of the Government to take any steps to
make the dress and accoutrements of the army con-
venient, and in accordance with the requirementsmor act
service, especially in hot climates ?
Mr. S. HERBERT replied that this subject had been
under the consideration of Lord Raglan, who had it in
contemplation to dispense with the stock of which so much
complaint had been made, as well as to make other altera-
tions to render the dress of the troops in the East more
adapted to the climate. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. HERBERT asked if it were true that an alters.
tion was about to be made in the regulations respecting
shaving. (A. laugh.)
Mr. S. HERBERT could not announce that any charge
had been made in the regulations respecting shaving, but
from the terms of Lord Raglan's letter, which had been
received on the subject of the dress of the soldiers, it
would appear that his attention had been called to that
subject also. (Hear.)
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Mr. HUME asked if any steps had been taken to place
the military establishments of the country under one head?
(Hear.) There were many rumours abroad upon this sub-
ject. Every newspaper had its version of the state of the
question ; and surely that house ought to know, especially
after the understanding which had been arrived at about
it. (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said he should state the intentions
of the GovernßOMOTlONment on the suIN bjeTHEAct after tRMYhe recess.
P.
Colonel DUNNE asked when the report of the commit-
tee of inquiry into the subject of promotion in the army
would be laid upon the table ?
Mr. S. HERBERT said as soon as it was presented.
CHANGES IN MILITARY ACCOUTREMENTS.
Lord A. VANE asked whether the Secretary at War
would have any objection to state who was the author of
the new kind of cap lately issued to the army, as it was
subject of considerable curiosity? (A laugh.)
The SECRETARY AT WAR did not answer.
MERCANTILE LAW.
Mr. D. SEYMOUR asked whether the evidence taken by
the mercantile law commission would soon be laid on the
table ?

-Mr; CARDWELL said the evidence was already printed,
and the report had boen on the table since Easter; and the
only reason it had not been distributed was that one of the
commissioners, who had submitted a separate report, had
not yet completed it.
STATUTE LAW COMMISSION.
Mr. J. PHILLIMORE asked what progress had been
made by the statute law commissioners, and whether any
portion of their labours would be printed before the close
of the session ?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the commissioners
had completed their inquiry, and the result of their is.
bours was already on the table of the other house, and
would soon be on the table of this.
TESTAMENTARY JURISDICTION BILL.
Mr. MAIINS asked whether it was intended to bring in
this bill on the 12th, the day for which it stood ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said he could not positively say, but
it was intended.
Mr. WALPOLE desired to know if any statement would
be made as to the amount of compensation which would be
required ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said a statement would be made on
that point.
REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS.
Mr. A. PELLATT moved for returns of the amount
paid out of the poor rates in the year 1853, by the over-
seers of the several parishes, for registration of electors in
England and Wales (by the certificate of the revising bar-
rister). Of the amouut paid out of the county rate to the
clerks of the peace, for the expenses of registration, in the
year 1853. And of the amount paid by the Treasury for
the services of the revising barristers in England and Wales
for the year 1853.—Agreed to.
MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL.

Mr. HORSFALL asked the President of the Board of
Trade if this bill, in which great alterations had been
made, had not better be postponed ?
Mr. CARDWELL said he had arranged most of its de•
tails with the representatives of the seaports, and antici-
pated no difficulty in passing through committee. Indeed
a notice of a motion to refer it to a select committee had
been withdrawn. It had been suggested, however, that
by reprinting the bill as amended its consideration would
be facili toted—(hear, hear)—and if that were the wish of
the house he would accede to it. (Hear.)
Mr. HENLEY expressed a strong opinion that uch
course would be desirable, and
Mr. CARDWELL assented to it.
BUSINESS AFTER THE RECESS.

Lord J. RUSSELL said the Government intended, on
Thursday and Friday next, to take committees of supply.
Mr. COBDEN asked what estimates.
Mr. WILSON said the miscellaneous.
THE WINE DUTIES.

Mr. RICH asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whe-
ther, in the event of any reduction of duty on foreign wins,
provision would be made (in accordance with a general
order of the 20th July, 1852) for allowing to certain dealers
a return duty on all such wines having paid duty thereon
within a named time, as should be found in such dealers'
possession at the time of the reduction of the duty ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there
was a Treasury order, dated in 1842, referring to reduc•
tions of duty on wine, in consequence of any conventions
with foreign countries, and providing that in such cases a
drawback should be allowed on wine in the possession of
dealers. He had not heard of any such conventions, but
if any should take place, the Government would be pre-
pared to act on the principle of that order.
SUGAR DUTIES BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
An amendment was proposed for omitting clause I
which enacted certain differential duties on Ifusoovado
sugar.
On a division the clause was retained by a majority of
69 against 12-57.
The bill then passed through committee.
EXCISE DUTIES BILL.
• •• -

The motion for the third reading of, the Excise Duties
Bill was opposed by Mr..J. O'CONNLLL, who protested
against the regulation with reference to drawbacks. 112
moved the postponement of the debate for a fortnight.
After considerable discussion the house divided, and the
amendment was negatived by 61 votes to 32-29.
Another division was taken, after a renewed opposition
to the bill, chiefly among the Irish members, upon AR
amendment for adjourning the debate. This was also na•
gatived by a majority of 71 to 23-48.
- The bill was then read a third time and passed.
PUBLIC REVENUE AND CONSOLIDATED FUND

CHARGES BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
On clause 1, enacting that charges in schedule A are to
be payable out of the consolidated fund, and charges in
schedule B to be voted,
Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
as this bill, though it would, he believed, involve no dif-
ference of opinion, was one of great importance, he would
just state to the committee the general outline of the moor
sure. In the first place, he begged the committee to ob.
servo that this bill must be considered in conjunction with
certain estimates which had within the last 10 days for the
first time been laid on the table of the house— he meant
estimates of the charges of collecting the revenue in the
various great departments. (Hear, hear.) There was one
exception to this which the committee should bear in
mind, because the charges with which the collection of the
land revenue of the Crown was burdened were not mai.e
s
the subject of any estimate. The reason was that
House of Commons—or, as he might say, the Leg
a:eatn the
House
were not in full and absolute possession of this land
or the estates from which it proceeded; estatesthe
remain-
ed the estates of the Crown, and the country h
coeds of those estates during the life oc.
flier Majesty,adtheupporon
the specific terms of the Civil List Act.
tuted a compact between Parliament
Pdentetion made anterior to the
and That
th e Ca:Owe:17:11
uinngdtehrethcerntewrnm
es
sot
ef t
ethatwas me
ea expense of maintain.
l ted to the three great the
paymentwhi
eh h,
do f
hteheen proceeds into oed
Customs, the Board of
related
Exchequer. The estimates
spend-
ing departments of the State—thepB.oface;
and they embrseed.
Inland Revenue, and the t
"thc;u7lat
ot of gme tohneery a.
but the gross amount included.
sum The of,
wholeh he
cumthought,
o f°4 ,
onwo t,
000 far
I. short
di,inooft
h 4
e,
appear in the estimates,am
y ents, which could not be made a
drawbacks and
ei
nt tdeeed wtooutl
the
perceivee
present thati
i.
there were certain schedules coampmp
Government had
and he would enumerate what were the different descrip-
tions charges with which the had to
desl'onfendeavouring to make this step towards a state of
uniformity and simplicity in the mode of handling and ac-
counting for public money—a state which ho would not sit 7
ould be realised by this bill, but towards which thei
were,w he trusted, approaching. The first class of charge •
comprised in schedule A consisted of certain charges which
had been heretofore defrayed, not out of moneys which had
come into the Exchequer, but out of various branches of
the revenue before it reached the Exchequer. The coin*
mitten should understand that all these charges had been
so defrayed with perfect regularity, bemuse they had been