The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-14 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS EVENING.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from
Wakefield, praying the Government to bring into opera-
tion all the resources of the country in order to bring
the war to a speedy and successful termination. he
noble and gallant duke took occasion to pass a warm
sulogium on the bravery displayed by our troops at the
Alma, Balaklava,- and the Inkerman ; and recommended
that medals in honour of those brilliant achievements
should be immediately issued, and not delayed till the
close of the war.
ENLISTMENT OF FOREIGNERS BILL.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said there not being
sufficient force now in the Crimea for carrying on the
war, nor a sufficient army of reserve at home, 1171 did not
anticipate any opposition to the second reading of this
bill. It bad been always found desirable to enlist
foreigners at the commencement of a war, as the people
of this country were not trained according to a military
system, such as was the case with the Prussian
Landwehr, and other continental systems. He might
say at once that no communication on this subject had
been made to any foreign Gel-moments, nor would there
be till this bill should, be passed, and, therefore, he
trusted no opposition should be made to its passing.
The noble duke bora testimony to the gallantry of the
German Legion in the last war, and he trusted they
should now have similar assistance from those and other
foreign troops. He proposed to limit the] number of
those foreign troops to be raised and trained at any one
time-in this country to 15,000. The noble duke con-
cluded by moving the second reading of the bill.
The Eerl of ELLENBOROUGH called attention. to
the unconstitutional power of suSstitetieg, in this coon-.,
try 15,000 Germae or Swiss troops for 15,000 British
Militia, who were to be sent out to our garri,one abroad.
He maintained the conduct and spirit hitherto evinced
by the people of this country were the best proofs that
they are ready and able to maintain the national honour
and defend the national welfare. (Hear.) For this rea•
goo he absolutely objeeted to the proposition of the W.
. iiiister. He believed the late Sir Rinert Peel, whose
niantle was supposed to have fallen on the noble duke,
would never have propoeecl or consented to such a Ineaell re.
Link at the client, if in case of riot in this country Kee!'
as the late riots in some parts of England, called "bread
riota ;" if the troops then stationed in these towns were
foreigners, and had been called upon to act against the
people, the popular irritation would have been so intense
as to have caused the necessity of the immediate extra-
dition of those troops. He was far from depreciatirre
either the German or Swiss troops ; when well officered
and disciplined, they made respeata'ele soldiers ; but were
not equal either English or French soldiers. Suppose
a German. or Swiss regiment had been placed between
two English or two French regiments at Belaklava or
Like/mann, was it to be supposed they would have stood
and fought as the Eite,lish and French troops did ; or
would not there be great danger of them giving way,
and that might he fatal to the safety of the whole
Allied army? Ile deeply regretted that the advice
had given nine months ago to call out the whole militia
force of the country had not been Adopted, which would
now be effectual to save the country from the unpleasant
alternative of invoking the aid of foreign troops or re-
sorting to the ballot. (Hear.)
The Duke of RICHMOND hoped the Government
would not enlist either prisoners of war or deserters ;
at the same time he would remind the noble earl that the
foreign legions in the British army in the last war, at
Bayonne, and various other celebrated actions, die-
played the utmost bravery and gallantry. (Hear.)
The Earl of DERBY regretted that the noble earl
(Ellenborough) should have thought it necessary to
make any invidious comparisons between the foreign
troops acting with us in the late war and our own troops,
for he thought the conduct of those foreign auxiliaries
• in the late war was highly praiseworthy. (Hear hear.)
[LEW SPEAKD.TG.]

ROUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS EVENING.)
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly before four
o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.
Major REED took the oaths and his seat for Abingdon,
PETITIONS.

A number of petitions were presented, praying that
the war may be prosecuted with vigour, in order that it
may be brought to a speedy termination.
Mr. PIIINN presented a petition from Bath, praying
for a reduction of the mileage duty on stage coaches.
NAVY SERVICES.

On the motion of Mr. DISRAELI, the following re-
turns were ordered ;—Statements of the amount paid
for naval stores, freight of ships for victualling and
conveyance of troops and stores, prisoners of war, and
packet service, respectively, on account of sums granted
for the navy services, during the year ending the 31st
day of March, 1855, under the Act 17 and 18 Vic., c. 121.
And, the sainei for the Commissariat Department, on
account of sums granted for the Army and Ordnance
Services, under the same Act. Statements of the amount
of payments by the Bank of England up to the 11th
day of December, 1854, in respect of the sum of
12,874,5051., appropriated under the Act 17 and 18 Vic.,
c. 121. for the navy Services during the present year,
and of the balance of credits now in Bank. Same in re-
spect of the sum of 8,810,0591., appropriated in the said
act for the Army Services during the present year,
and of the balance of credits now in Bank. Same
in respect of the sum of 4,583,7011., appropriated
in the said act for the Ordnance services during the pre-
sent year, and of the balance of credits now in Bank.
And, same in respect of the sum of 2,000,000/., appro-
priated in the said act for any additional expense
which may arise in consequence of the war with
Russia, and of the balance of credits now in Bank.
FINANCIAL R ETUR NI S.
On the motion of Mr. DISRAELI, the following re-
turns were ordered :—Statements of the amount of all
deficiency bills, or rather bills in anticipation of the
public revenue (specifying whether payable out of the
growing revenue of the then present or next quarter),
issued since the return (No. 423) of last session, and up
to the 11th day of December ; with the sates of their
issue, dates of their redemption, and amount out-
standing on the 11th day of December, 1854 ;
setting forth, also, the rate per cent, of interest payable
for the same, and the aggregate amount of interest paid.
Or all Exchequer hills, or other G-everninent securities
purchased by the Governor and Company of the Bank
of England since said return, or on which any sum has
been lent or advanced for the public service, or issued
to the South Sea Company ; showing the amount of
such bills paid off, and when ; the rate per cent. per
annum, or per day, of interest payable ; the amount paid
for interest ; and the amount of such bills or securities
outstanding on the 11th day of December, 1854.
Of all sales or purchase of stock, or exchequer, or
deficiency bills, by the Commissioners for the Reduc-
tion of the National Debt since the said return (No.
423) of last session, either in respect of savings
bank of the Sinking Fund, with the dates of the trans-
actions and rates of purchase, and rate of equivalent
stock, if any, created as respects savings banks; and
amount of deficiency bills, if any, now held by the said
commissioners. Of the balances in the Exchequer at
the end of the quarters, the sth day of October, and on
the 11th day of December, 1854. Of all additions to,
and reductions of the funded and unfunded debt respec-
tively since the return (No. 424) of last session ; and
of the amount of the funded and unfunded debt
respectively, on the 11th day of December, 1854.
Of the sums certified, after the expiration of the quarters
ending the sth day of July and the sth day of Oct. last,
respectively, by the Lords Commissioners of the Trea-
sury to the Commissioners for the reduction of the
national debt, in pursuance of the act 10th George IV.,
cap. 27, as being the actual surplus revenue beyond the
actual expenditure for the year preceding, with a state-
ment of the sums which the Commissioners for the reduc-
tion of the national debt gave notice in the " Gazette "
would be applied during the then next ensuing quarter
to the reduction of the national debt. And, of sums
actually applied, in pursuance of such notice towards the
reduction of the national debt, during each of such quar-
ters, and of the sums applied out of such surplup in
Paying deficiency bills (all is continuation of Parliamen-
tary Papers, Nos. 423 and 42,4, of last session.)
•

GOVERNMENT MEASURES.
Mr. aADFIELD asked the PresidentßE S.
of the Conn-
cll. whetheritis intended, during the present session. to
Ir introduce a bill
to abolish Ecclesiastical Courts, or to
transfer the testamentary
to jurisdiction thereof to any
other court, and
administration of sufficient one probate of will or grant of
binding authority over the
entire property of anyeceased person in all parts of the
United Kingdom, the
edaionies, or elsewhere within the
dominions of the Crown.
Lord J. RUSSELL said—gfir, I must say, it is
whether aorp hen. members, in-
always an inconvenient course
arliamentary bill is
stead of simply asking
with regard to the
to be brought in, to make inquirisei: w
iclarly in the
what,ter that Go-
contents of such bill. I think,
measures
present session of Parliament, that %tllrst
vernment should have time to consider
they will bring forward in the course of
Zee
session, after the Christmas ?peen, and that
should not state, until after that nighta,cto
measures we propose to introduce. There are of
various questions to be considered by the coarse
Govern-
ment, and the subject of the ecclesiastical courts is one
of them, but it is far better that I should not at the
present tithe state what course they intend to take
with regard to them.. (Hear.)
THE AUSTRIAN TREATY.
Mr. MILNES wished to ask the noble lord whether
it was the intention of the Government to Ir.y
on the table of the house the treaty with Austria during
the present intermediate session. (Hear.) It was un•
derstood that Lhe treaty bad received the signature of
her Majesty, and had been sent to Vienna. Now, in-
formation of the ratification of the treaty could be for