The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-05 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

Mr. HEADLAW gave notice that on Thursday
week he would propose that the administration of
oaths in the University of Oxford be discontinued.

RESIGNATION OF MR. W. PATTEN.

Mr. W. PATTEN said at the commencement of the
present session the house did him the honour of electing
him Chairman of Ways and Means, and he regretted
now to state that his health and strength were not ade-
quate to the proper discharge of the onerous duties of
that office. He expressed his grateful sense of the con-
fidence which the house had reposed in him, and gave
an assurance, that in order to prevent any public incon-
venience, he would willingly render any assistance to
any member whom the house might appoint to the post
which he now vacated. (Cheers.)
Lord J. RUSSELL was sure the house heard with
very great regret the statement of the hon. member.
During the time he had held the office the hon. member
had displayed much judgment and temper, and enabled
the house to carry on its business so far as regarded him
in a most satisfactory manner. (Cheers.)
Mr. DISRAELI also bore testimony to the efficient
manner in which the hon. member had discharged his
duties, and thanked him on the part of the late Govern-
ment for the readiness with which he had come forward
to fill the office of chairman of Ways and Means, though
at the time he was fully sensible of the injury it would
occasion to his health. (Hear, hear.)

DESERTION FROM THE ROYAL NAVY.

In reply to Mr. W. WILLIAMS,

Sir J.GRAHAM said he was bound to state that
since the month of January last a considerable number
of desertions had taken place from her Majesty's squad-
ron on the home station, but it ought to be remembered
that a squadron on so large a scale had not been as-
sembled on that station for a great length of time-. He
was not aware, until the hon. member mentioned the
fact, that these desertions were imputed to the infliction
of any increase or severity of punishment. From the
inquiries which he had instituted, it appeared that the
cause of the desertions was to be ascribed to other
reasons—to the unusual high rate of pay in the mer-
chant service, and to the most improper solicitations
from various quarters to induce the men to leave her
Majesty's service. (Hear.) He had great satisfaction
in stating that in consequence of more frequent leave of
absence, after the payment of the wages of some on the
home station, and other arrangements, those of most
experience on board a ship had returned to duty with
extraordinary fidelity. (Hear.) The right hon. baronet
then stated that the man alluded to by the hon. member
as receiving corporal - punishment, and to whose treat-
ment the desertions were alleged to be owing, had been
found guilty by a court-martial of using revolling lan-
guaee on the quarter--deck, and of knocking down a
sentry on duty. He need hardly point out that it was
necessary for the proper discipline of the navy
to severely punish such offences. (Hear, hear.)
The circumstances were considered by the Board of Ad-
miralty, and in one case the sentence was commuted from
12 months imprisonment to g months, with leave to re-
turn to the service at the expiration of that period.