The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-31 00:00:00

;IMPERIAL PARLIAMENTS

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
AMENDMENT OF THE CRIMINAL LAW.

The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply to Lord
Campbell, promised that the consideration of Govern-
ment would be given to the propriety of introducing a
bill to enable trivial cases of felony to be summarily dealt
v iith by magistrates at petty session.
RUSSIAN FLEET IN THE BLACK SEA.

The Earl of 111.A.LAIESBITRY inquired whether
was true, as reported in the newspapers, that a con-
siderable force of Russian ships bad left Sebas-
topol, and made a descent upon Circassia. It was said
they were not impeded in any way by the combined
ileets at Beycos, and he wished also to know where the
fleets were when the Government received their last
d espaches.
The Earl of CLARENDON said the only answer be
mad give was that he had read in the public journals
tt .e report to which the noble earl referTecl, but he had
nr official information with respect to it. All the infor-
mation he had was of a contrary charactex. It was a
telegraphic despatch from Constantinople, saying that
it was reported that ten Russian ships of the line had
left Sebastopol, and were between that place and Perri-
. :o p, which was not near the coast of Circz,ssia. With re-
;pea to the position of the fleets, :according to
;be last accounts, they were in the Wiack Sea, and
Edmund Lyons had just returned from a
( !raise in the Black Sea with the steam portion of the
f le et in which he had gone in front of S abastopol, and
a lAmg the entire north coast, but without :teeing a single
I issian vessel.

Cl IURCH BUILDING ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
!This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
con emitted.

TESTAMENTARY JURISDICTION BILL.

his bill, after a short discussion, went through coin.
mFit tee.

COI iVENTION BETWEEN ENGLAND, FRANCE,
AND TURKEY.

:[a reply to the Earl of MALMESBURY,
rite Earl of CLARENDON was undeastood to say
tha ,t a convention between England, France, and
Turkey had been signed at Constantinople, but as the
Fr( each Ambassador was not then fully instructed with
rest sect to it, it was only signed provisionally by him.
Un( Ler these circumstances he was not pmpared to lay
the d ocument on the table.
T b eir lordships adjourned at 6 o'clock.

FE( )USE OF COMMONS—(PEST= EiRDAY.)
They SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clocic.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The' following bills were read a third time and
pass ed :—Bury Port, Ramsbottom Gas Southport
Wa“.erworks, and South Sea Company.l
PETITIONS.

Siir W. HEA.THCOTE presented two petitions from
Wit tchester College against portions of tho University
Ref orm Bill.

IN fr. DUNCAN presented a petition fro of Dundee in
Favour of the Oaths Bill.

Mr. FAGAN presented a petition from a Roman
Cat b.olie body in Glasgow suggesting ame c tdments and
add itions in the Scotch Education Bill.

Mr. CROSSLEY presented a petition fr, om Halifax,
praying for the liberation of Caffy, and other convicted
Chartists.

Sir W. CODRINGTON presented a p.). tition from
Stroud, against the Oaths Bill.

Lord HOTiIXM presented a similar petition from a
place in the West Riding.
Sir 'W. SIVIYTH presented a petition fro t n Sturgeon
and Sot:, the hay contractors to the Admirfi;lty, praying
for an inquiry into the recently attempted ft tAud imputed
to them. The petition was read by the t:..lerk at the
table.

Sir. W. CLAY presented a petition from •the Dissent•
ing bodies of the metropolis praying for the% abolition cy
church rates.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petiti(); a from 7,600
inhabitants of the Borough of Preston compra doing of the
conduct of the local authorities of that town I during the
strike, and praying for a committee of inquii •y into their
conduct, as well as that of the masters of Pr( .3ston. The
hon. member gave notice that immediately -after Easter
he should move for such a committee.

Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petiti an from Bris-
tol, in favour of the ballot.
Mr. W. J. FOX presented a petition fro m Rochdale,
praying that Russia may be made to pay t he expense of
the war, and that the restoration of the: kingdom of
Poland may be made one of the conditions :for establish-
ing peace,
Mr. H. BROWN presented a petition from Wands-
worth, complaining;of the sanitary state o f that district.
Mc. FORBES presented a petition E!om Stirling
against the Education Bill.

Mr. G. DUNDAS and Mr. LOCKHART presented siin
Ear petitions.

Mr, BRIGHT presented petitions from the Friendly
Society es of Manchester and its neighbom rhood against
the Friendly Societies Bill.

Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition In )m Bell's Life
and other London newspapers, praying for the abolition
of the newspaper stamp and the repeal of tl:e paper duty.
A largo number of petitions were- presented against
the opening of public-houses on Sundays..