The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-20 00:00:00

CLERGY RESERVES BILL.
Sir GEORGE GREY said last night a motion was
agreed to for the production of the Canada Clergy
Reserves Bill, but Government had not yet received
the bill, and therefOre' they could not produce it,. The
order ought to be discharged. The order was discharged
upon the understanding that there would be no objec-
tion to produce the bill directly it arrived from Canada.
FRENCH TROOPS FOR THE EAST.
Mr. MUNTZ wished to ask a question of the noble
lord the President of the Council, the answer to which
might influence his vote, and that of other members
upon the Foreign Enlistment Bill. He wished to know
whether before introducing that bill Government used
all their exertions with the Emperor of the French to
induce him to send out to the East an increased number
of French troops at the expense of this country ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said the Emperor of the French
had at all times shown his willingness to send out troops
to the East, and when the occasion arose later for an
additional supply he displayed the utmost anxiety to
send out as many troops as could be got together, and
sent out as the means of transport could supply ; in
point of fact the only limit to the number of troops sent
out was the means of transport. (Hear.) Her Majesty's
Government had never proposed, nor did they think it
advisable to propose that this country should make any
payment for the service of such troops. (Cheers.)

_ .
COAL MINES.
Mr. HUTCHINS wished to ask the Secretary for the
Home Department whether it was the intention of the
Government to bring in a bill for the prevention of
accidents in coal mines at an early period of this
session ?

Mr. FITZROY said such a bill was in preparation,
and would be produced shortly after the recess.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Mr. V. S MITH asked the President of the Council
what steps had been taken to consolidate the depart-
ments of the army since the vote for a Secretary of State
for the War Department in the last session ; and, whe-
ther he would lay any official correspondence relating to
the subject upon the table of the house I
Lord J: RUSSELL said the Commissariat Depart-
ment had been united to the War-office, but be was not
aware that any correspondence had taken place which
threw any light upon the matter. No other change of
importance had yet taken place.
SUCCESSION AND LEGACY DUTIES UPON
TILE PROPERTY OF OFFICERS IN THE
CRIMEA.
in a bill
who have died, or may die, during the present campaign,
mtoilVisrseilrofenvßeedEtoßhffieEepSerrFosp7eaßrntli apmnrcil:a4etdilesfe:crtkeilleAloefdveoi
nffit6tebiele-gn,gn
Crimea ;
or
from wounds, disease, or fatigue, from the payment of the
succession and legacy duties. The hon. member in
bringing forward the measure eulogised, in the
warmest manner, the gallantry of our arms in the East,
and pointing out the difficulties which the military man
experienced in securing, either by insurance or other-
wise, a competency to those whom he might have left
behind, hoped the house would show their generosity
by at once acceding to his motion.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he should be sorry to be at issue upon any point
connected with those who were now engaged in the East,
but he thought that the mode of rewarding our army
should be left to the Crown, and that when the Crown
was found wanting in its duty, it would then be time for
the house to take the matter up. In the present instance,
the measure proposed was objectionable, upon the ground
that it would not afford the relief soeght for the relatives
who most needed it ; as it was, the widow was exempted
from the duty, and the child paid but 1 per cent. He would
take a case in point to show how the proposed measure
would act. An officer recently fell in the Crimea, and
the whole of his property went to a second cousin, and
EBARIcT further
LlBRARlESremarksmoved
fo rt lhee av motion ot
EXTENSION.
to ion was i
n
if the proposed measure was carried it would give ten
times more to that relative, a comparative stranger, than
it would afford to the widow and child.
After
withdrawn.
PUBLIC
bill for
further promoting the establishment of free public
libraries in municipal towns, and for extending it to
towns governed under local improvement acts, and to
parishes.b rg ina
mr. w some

PRAYER FOR THE ARMY AND NAVY.
Mr. NAPIER said he, had a notice on the paper for
an address to her Majesty, that she will be graciously
pleased to order a suitable prayer for our army and
navy to be prepared and used in the public service of the
United Church of England and Ireland. He under-
stood, however, that the subject was under the consider-
ation of Government and he need not therefore press it.
Lard J. RUSSEI,I, was understood to assent to the
statement of the ,hon. and learned member.