The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-15 00:00:00

P.pIVATEERING.

Additional Rayless from New York seem to warrant
an opinion that the recent reports of attemput so-pro-
mote the crime of privateering having been succeasfully
made by agents of the Emperor of Russia in that 'city
were not so groundless as was supposed. From the fol-
lowing communication, addressed by Messrs.
seen that
-Dunbar
and Sons to the Duke of Newcastle, it will be
several vessels are believed to have been purchased for
the purpose at New York, some of which are
eut now cruseize is-
ing, their object being-not to take prizes,to
specie and destroy ships : ~
"My Lord—l beg to Limehouse, June 13.
hand you a copy of a received
letter
from one of the first -mercantile firms in New York, and
which may be deserving the consideration of her Majesty's
Government.
"D. DUNBAR.
" I am respectfully your humble servant,
"To his Grace the Duke of Newcastle,,, &o.

" ' New York, May 31.
" ' Dear Sirs,— 4s you are so largely interested in ship•
p. we think it may be of use to you to know all that is
ping, hero as regards any proceedings of privateers, and
We suspect,i from some information that we heard yester-
day, that some vessels have been purchased here by the
agents of Russia, and sent to some place to be fitted as
privateers, and that vessels in that capacity are now on the
ocean. There is no port to which they can carry prizes, but
they will take specie and destroy property under the Bri•
tish and French flags. They cannot be fitted out here, as
this Government has given the most positive orders to seize
any vessel on which the least suspicion can be had, and will
do all in their power to prevent any vessels under this garb
from sailing.
r-
alio underwriters here are charging an advanced pre.
minm on specie by the steamers to England.
" ' A. number of American ships have lately been pur.
chased here, and will, we suspect, continue under the
1 American nag.
' " ' Messrs, Duncan Dunbar and Sons, Lyndon: ".

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—North and South-Western Junction Railway ; Tyne
Keelmen ; Wells and Fakenham Railway.

PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented by Mr. MEAL, from Oldham,
praying for the total- abolition of church rates ; Mr. C.
FOSTER, from Staffordshire, to the same effect ; Sir J.
WALMESLEY, from Leicester, to the same effect ;
by Mr. CHRISTOPHER, from the Lincolnshire Drainage
Commission, against the Drainage of Lands Bill; by Mr.
AGLIONBY, from the conventions of poor-law medical
officers, suggesting improvements in their department of
the Poor Law ; by Mr. IIADFIELD, from Sheffield,
against church rates ; by Mr. A. PELLATT, from a dis-
senting body in Southwark, to the same effect ; Mr.
COLLETT presented 29 petitions from the manufacturing
districts, complaining of violations of the Factory Act,
and praying the house to pass a bill to prevent such
violations in future ; by Mr. T. CHAMBERS, from Hert-
ford, praying for the total abolition of church rates.

- - - -
CHURCH RATES BILL.
Mr. PACICE, who had charge of this bill, which stood
for second reading to-day, announced his intention to
withdraw it, and explained his reason for doing so. The
bill of the honourable baronet the member for the
Tower Hamlets, which proposed entirely to abolish
Church rates, he viewed as a Church destruction bill,
and it would- therefore be his duty to meet it
with a determined opposition. The noble lord the Pre-
sident of the Couneil approved of the principle of the
bill, though he differed with its details, and he yet hoped
Government would be induced to bring in a measure to
confine the payment of church rates to members of the
Established Church only. At all events, should he not
succeed in obtaining an assurance to that effect, he
should feel it incumbent on him to renew this bill ;
but, in the meanwhile, he had only to move that
the order for the second reading should be discharged.
Sir J. WALMSLEY said an erroneous impression
bad gone abroad that the Dissenters as a body were not
opposed to church rates, but he hoped after to-day that
impression would be dismissed.
Sir W. CLAY hoped the hon. member's statement
that the President of the Council approved of the prin-
ciple of this bill was unauthorised, because the public
would only be satisfied with a measure that totally
abolished church rates.

Mr. PACKE explained that he had no authority to
make such a statement from the noble lord, but he
gathered the noble lord's opinion upon this bill from
what had fallen from the noble lord in the course of
debate.

Sir B. HALL was glad to hear that, because he was
satisfied the noble lord could neither sanction the prin-
ciple nor the provisions of this bill. There must be no
half measures, but church rates must be entirely abo-
lished.

&[r. BOOKER expressed 'his cordial approval of the
course that was proposed to be taken with regard to this
bill.

Captain SCOBELL had come down to thQ house to
help to throw out this bill, and he was glad it had been
withdrawn.

After a few. word; from Messrs. BuTr and PELLATT,
the motion was agreed to, and the order was discharged.
REFORMATORY SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was passel through committee pro forma.