The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-28 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PAiILEAMENT,

HOUSE OF LORDS.-(THIS EVENING
The house met at five o'etock.
REFORVI OF THE CRIMINAL LAW.

The Earl of STRAD BROOKE called attention to the
enormous expense, and the inconvenience imposed upon
the country by the prosecution of persons for petty
offences at the assizes, and exoressed a hope that a mea-
sure would be introduced, to enable these cases to Be
disposed of by magistrates at petty session.,
Lord BROUGHAM said a bill had been introduced
on that subject into this house, but it had been post-
poned in consequence of the lateness of the session.
. The LORD CHANCELLOR intimated that it was
his intention to consider the subject during the recess
and he hoped to be able to bring iu a bill next session
to remedy the evil complained of.
Lord CAMPBELL rejoiced to hear that a measure
was to be introduced by his noble and learned friend,
and trusted it would not be delayed beyond next year.
The Earl of HARDWICKE concurred in the proposed
reform in the criminal law,
The sußbjEecFtuthseAuLdroTpo TAKE dropped.
AN OATH.
Lord CONGLETON adverted to the case of the female
who was committed to gaol at the assizes for refusing to
take an oath, and inquired whether the law was such that
a judge had no alternative, when a person refused, on
conscientious grounds, to take an oath, but to commit
him to prison.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said as the law stood,
if a person was supposed to give evidence, he was bound
to take an oath, unless he belonged to the excepted
classes of Quakers, Moravians, and SeparatiQts,
and to fail in doing so was a contempt of court for which
the judge had no alternative but to commit the indivi.
dual to prison. In the present session, however, there had
been introduced a bill, which he trusted would receive the
concurrence of the other house, and shortly become law,
which would meet the cases of persons who had con-
scientious scruples to taking an oath.
After a few words from Lord CAMPBELL, the subjeA
dropped.

YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
Lord BROUGHAM said he approved generally of
the bill, but objected to the second clause, which
rendered it necessary that a young person should be
sent to prison for a few days before becoming an in-
mate of a reformatory school.
The BISHOP of LONDON considered that no sys-
tem of reformation for juvenile offenders could be effec-
tual, while it subjected them to the taint of associations
in a gaol.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said the term of impri
sonment was so short that it was not calculated to con
taminate young persons.
The clauses were then agreed to, and the house re
sumed.

The Convict Prisons (Ireland), the Indian Appoint-
ments, &c., the Inclosure, &c., of Land, and the Ad-
miralty Courts Bills, passed through committee.
The Land, Assessed, and Income Taxes Bills were
read a second time.

The Public Revenue and Consolidated Fund Charges
Bill passed through Committee.
The Standard of Gold and Silver Wares Bill also
passed through committee.
[LEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS DAY).
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lords amendments to the following bills were
considered and rwreed to :—Cork and Waterford Rail
way, Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway
(Chipping Norton Branch), Portsmouth and Direct
London anti Portsmouth Railway, Stockport Rectory
Division, West London and Crystal Palace Railway
(Bromley and Farnborough), York, Newcastle, and
Berwick, York and North Nl:dland and Leeds Northern
Railway Companies Amalgamation ; British Guarantee
Association (No 2), Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver-
hampton• Railway (Stratford-upon Avon and Stour-
bridge Brant.hes).
The Earl of Etzlinton's Estate Bill was considered and
ordered to be read a third time.
Caton's Divorce Bill and St. Catherine's Parish
(Dublin) School and Charity Estate Bill were read a
third time and passed.
Legh's Estate Bill was read a second time and ordered
to be committed.

PETITIONS.
Petitions were presented by Mr. SPENCER, from
Brighton, against the opening
of public houses on Sun-
day ; by Mr. CHRISTOPHER, from Lincolnshire, to the
same effect ; and by Mr. HENLEY, from Oxfordshire,
with the same prayer.
MILITIA (No. 2) BILL.
The committee on this bill was then resumed.
Clauses 1,2, and 3 were agreed ta.
On clause 4,
M. R. PALMER moved an amendment, with the

...,

view of provi•ling that half the expense of militia stor
and barra,:kl sboalA i4e 'uorue by the Consolidate 1
Fund.

P iT.III,'RSTON and Mr, W1L5,...0r resiBtTd fte

Mr. S :IERBERT said if the amendment !liould he
carried. 1: would lie for ti,e Govtrumw:t to consider
whether thy would g on with the bill.
After some further discussion the committee divided,
when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority
The amendment was accordingly carried.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
amendment involved a very important principle, and it
being now sanctioned by the committee, it had become
the duty of the Government to take time to consider
what course they should pursue with regard to the bill.
Notwithstanding this declaration, the consideration of
the remaining clauses were proceeded with.
Clause 4, as amended, was agreed to.
The remaining clauses were agreed to.
Colonel NORTH moved the following additional
clause :—" Adjutants of militia • regiments who have
been captains in the army, or in the East India Corn-
pany's service, shall take rank in the militia, according
to the date of their commissions in the army or East
India Company's service, and all other adjutants, of
whatever regiments, shall rank as the junior captains of
their regiments."

85
60
-25

The jiause was negatived.
Ttie CLIAIEMAN then reported progress, and the report
was ordered to be brought up on Monday.

MILITIA (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.
The clauses were agreed -to, and the bill passed
through committee.

The Militia (Ireland) Bill was postponed until Mon-
day.

The other orders were disposed of, and at four o'clock
the sitting was suspended.

The house resumed at six o'clock, and was
(LEFT SITTING.)

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

(From the London New Price Current of this day.)
SUGAR.—The market for British West India has been
heavy. Barbadoes have realised 30s 6d to 31s for brown
31s 6d to 36s 6d for low to good yellow, and 39s for grainy
Nevis went at 29s 6d for brown, and at 32s to 33s for low
to mid yellow. Demerara crystalised brought 40s to 41s
for fine yellow, but low was taken in at 32s to 345. East
India—Mauritius sold steadily for the finer sorts, fine
yellow at 36s to 375, ord to good at 31s od to 33s 6d,
mid to fine brown at 28s to 31s, low at 26s to 27s 6d, and
ord to fine grey at 30s to 34s 6d per cwt. Bengal was
taken in at 30s Gd to 31s for low date yellow. Penang
:Ound buyurs at 29s Gd for low brown. Foreign—Porto
Rico sail at full rates for the good qualities, low heavy
yellow to fine Lright grocery at 33s to 38s Gd. Cuba Mus-
covado was taken in at 29s to 30s 6(1 for heavy brown, but
Cuba low brown to good mid yellow sold at 28s to 34e,
„loot' and fine at 34, to 378, and grainy at 375. St. Croix
low mid to fine yellow brought 35s 6d to 40s. Brown and
yellow fla.vannah has re eded Gd per cwt. washed low to
‘ine brown selling at 28s 6.1 to 31s, and low to good yellow
at 31s 6tl to 368 per cwt. Refined brown lumps have been
dealt in at 44s to 41s &Land grocery at 44s 6,1 to ?Os.
To-day there w,s not much desire on the part of grocers
or refincli to operate in British plantation sugar, and rates
closed 6,1 per cwt. under those of last Friday. Purchase!
vere 300 lihtis, , including at auction Wu's and 200
brls B ,rbadoes, whi,l realized 31s. 6.1. to 355. tid. for low
to gond yellow. The quality of sugar sold for the week
amounts to 1842 hhds and trcs.
COFFEE—Plantation Ceylon has been is lower, fins to
fine ord sold at 64s to 66s 6d, fine ord at 49s 6cl to 53a 6d,
low mid at 57s to 665, good mid to good at 57s to 66a, low
mid and mid hold at 55s to 6As, fine ord grey to colony 5t
498 Gd to 53s 6,1, triage at 425. to 52s 6(1, and peaberrY ,
53s to 628. Native has been (lull, at 44s 6(.1 for good ord.
Rio was taken in at 42s to 42s 6d for ord to good orq
brownish mixed. Costa Rica has been at full rates, mid
and good bold coloyr at 57s to 63s for fine ord, and lout
brownish mixed at 53s 6d to 56s 6d, pale at 515.6 d to 538,
and peaberry at 53s 6,1 to 55s Gd.
RlCE.—White Bengal is 3d per cwt cheaper, low mid
lOs Gd to lls, good mid to fine bold pearly at lls 6d to
12s Gd, and good cargo 9s to 98 6d. Madras sold at 9s to
I,ls Gd for good cargo, but ord to fair yellow barley was
taken in at 9s Gd, and good pinkey at 10s. Moulmein good
cargo brought 9s to 9s 6d, and low anti white at lOs 6d.
SPlCES.—Nutm,gs have advanced 2d to 3d, good to fine
selling at 3s 9d to 4s id, and at 2s 3d to 2s 7d for SingeP°Fe
mid and good. Mace has receded 2d to 3d. Singapore lola
~ark to good pale sold at is 10d to 2s 3d. Jamaica ginger
went at 6/ Cs to 10/ 2s for good.
TEA.—The market is dull, at 102 d to lld for common
Congou.
CocoiNEAL.—This article has receded in value.

COTTON.--Very little has been done.—
SALTPETRE.—The market has improved since the early
part of the week, and Bengal N to 3 per cent. refraction,
sold at 208 per cwt.
TALLOW.—There was a reluctance to operate early in
the week, and pricce declined ; first sort P. Y. Candle on
the spot selling at 65s 3.1 to 65s 6,1„ and at 67s 6d for last
three mouths. Since Tuesday speculators and the trade
have purchased more ireely, and there is an advance ;
i;64 3d to 66s 6d having been obtained on the spot ; 67s
to 67s 6d for delivery in September, and 68s to 68s 6d for
last three months of the year. There is now a free sale
for home melted, and 65s is the value cash. Of other
slrts of tallow supply is less than for some time past, and
the rates obtained to-day were for Australian, mutton, 61s
to 66s 61, beef 60s to 63s 6d ; and South American 60s to
669 esl per cwt. Stock of tallow still exceeds that of last
year, and deliveries are 3,000 casks smaller.
OIL.—To-day at auction 100 tons palm went at 45s to
47s 6d per cwt.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE—Tars DA.T.
A msterdam 11 15M Gibraltar. ,
Ditto, three months .. 11 17 Leghorn .............. 30 52,,'4
Rotterdam ...... • • .... 11 I 71,', Genoa ......... 25 3770
Antwerp .• • • • • .4 • • •• • • 25 2742 M .......
ilan •• • • ••••••• •• ••
,trussels • • •• o• •• •• 25 27% Venice •• • ..• .• •• . • •
damburo ••••••• • • • • • 13 634 Naples .• •• •.•••••• •• •• 431 A ,
•• •• 25 2% Jlessina •••
Ditto, three months ••25 30 Lisbon ................ 5336
Marseilles......- '
...... 25 30 Oporto 156%
3ourcteaux ............ Rio Janeiro
Wr,tolteort-on• Maine 118% Buenos Ayres
3 rliu
. .............. New York, 60 days' sit. ht

Vienna •••• ............ 12 32 . -
-Trieste •• •• 2 3.5 ; PRICE.* OF BULLION, PER 07.
eetersburg'...••.••• ...• 36 ;Foreign Gold in liars Z 3 17 9

4adrld .:.............. 4.91 i Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 -0

50q, Mexican Dollars o

liArcelona

New Dollar.., 0
In bars .. n 5 1%

DEATH OF LORD MEnwrx.--We regret to announce
the death of Lord Medwyn, which took place at his
hnuee here yesterday morninv. His lordship had reached
the advanced age of 77. He was called to the bar in
1799, and raised to the bench in 1825 ; and he only re-
signed his judgeship in the end of 1852.—Seotstaan.
LORD ABERDEEN AT MALVERN.-It has transpired
that the Earl of Aberdeen's flying visit to Malvern the
other day was paid to his son, Lord Haddo, who is a
patient at one of the water-cure establishments there.
The disclosure will prove a great relief and comfort to
the minds of many credulous old ladies and gentlemen'
who might otherwise have fancied that he had gone th
ther to meet the Russian Count Nicholas Pahlen, on the
sly, and colleague with him for betraying this country to
Russia.—Worcestershire Chronicle.