The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-21 00:00:00

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

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

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following petitions were read a third time and
passed :—Midland Railway (A.mendment of Acts, &c.) ;
Scottish Central Railway.
The Lands Improvement Company (No. 2.) Bill was
rend a second time.

PETITIONS.
Mr. WILCOX presented a petition from Southamp-
ton, against the Crystal Palace being opened on Sunday.
A number, of petitions to the same effect were pre-
sented by other HON. MEMBERS.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from Ar-
broath against the abolition of the University Tests in
Scotland ; also petitions from Essex against the admis-
sion ofJews into Parliament, and against the Canada
Clergy Reserve Bill.
Mr. PHINN presented a petition from Somerset in
favour of the Aggravated Assaults Bill.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented petitions from Hull,
Leeds, and other places, against the French occupation
of Rome.
Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from Rotherham,
and other places in Yorkshire, praying for the total re-
peal of Church rates.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
The Members of the Berwick-on-Tweed and Maidstone
election committees were called to the table and sworn.
METROPOLITAN LETTER CARRIERS.
Mr. T. DUIN.WOMBE asked the Secretary of the
Treasury, what steps the Postmaster-General had taken
towards the removal of the complaints of the district
later-carriers of the metropolis, as well as of the various
grievances contained in the petitions of the provincial
letter carriers of the United Kingdom ?
Mr. WILSON said lie was glad to inform his hon.
friend that the Postmaster-General had already sent a
circular to the different postmasters throughout the
country withdrawing the prohibition issued last year
respecting Christmas-boxes. With regard to the ques-
tion of superannuation allowance, a new and more just
System had been prepared by the Postmaster-General,
and he was now ready to send it to the Treasury for
its approval. As to the unequal pay of letter-carriers,
the Postmaster-General had come to the conclusion that
equality of payment throughout the country was im-
possible. but he had received numerous applications for
increase of pay in individual cases, and wherever he had
found that the complaints were justly founded, he had
given an increase of pay.

BARNSTAPLE ELECTION.
' Mr. 0. STANLEY reported that this committee had
determined that Sir W. Frazer and Mr. Bremridge were
not duly elected for Barnstaple at last election. (Toe
resolution of the committee has already appeared in The
Sum). On the motion of the honourable member, the
evidence taken before the committee was ordered
to be laid on the table. He also gave notice that he
would move the suspension of the writ for six weeks,
and also fur the appointing of a commission to inquire
into the corrupt practices at the last and previous elec-
tions. He likewise gave notice that, when the evidence
was in the hands of members, he would call the atten-
tion of the house to particular circumstances which took
place at the last election, with a view to further measures
being taken.
COMMISSIONS IN THE MILITIA.
Colonel LINDSAY asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department if the clerks of the peace in
counties had any legal right, or had any authority from
the Government, for charging the officers of militia with
fees, either on appointment or promotion ; and if it was
the intention of the Government to take any steps to
prevent a continuance of this practice for the future ?
Lord PALMERSTON said he was not aware of any
law by which they were entitled to levy these fees, but
the Government had no power to interfere in the matter
it being one entirely under the control of the lord lieu-
tenants of counties. The Secretary at War and himself
had, however, turned the question over, and they were
endeavouring to get rid of these varying and, in some
instances, exorbitant charges.
In reply to Sir G. PECIIELL, who wished to know
whether, itt addition to the ordinary force of militia in
Sussex, there was a.bo It to be raised by the Govern-
ment a corpe
Lord PALm artillery of 500 ?
to be made to th ERs TON said no addition was intended
:10uWorita of militia already fixed for each
county, but the
power to train the militia in
such a manner as inilPbde thought necessary for the
public service, and it wone!d e very desirable to train
, to the use of great guns.
them, in maritime counties
RYE ELECTION.
house the Sir J. J. PAKINGTON reported to th
ee on this
solution unanimously adopted by the coe
election. It stated, that it appeared frolteitth taken before the committee that, from 1832 to evidence taken
Mr. Jeremiah Smith, of Springfield-horts2 --
Rye,_ had exercised great influence at all the elections for the borough ; that his influence was created and ob-
tained by a system of lending money to voters, varying
from 700/. to 2/. or 3/., according to the different
situation and necessities of each, and that this system
had pre ailed to a very great extent ; that by docu-
ments presented to the committee it appeared that from
1832 to 1837 Mr. Smith had corruptly lent money to
di,Torent parties to the amount of 8,200/., and he had
himself stated that in 1837 loans of this nature

were outstanding to the extent of 15,000/., and

he added that tee advances were made by the

instructions of Major Curteis, then: the member tor the

borough. The resolution then went on to say that there
were strong grounds for believing that that system of
loans for political objects had been continued by Mr.
smith, though on a less extensive scale up to the last
election in 1852, and that demands for paymentor interest
were generally made by him previous to an election. fit
had been admitted by the agent of Mr. Mackinnon that
Mr. Mackinnon paid 2,0301. into the bank previous to I