The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-23 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING,', FEBRUARY 23, 1853.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Admiral Sir W. Hall Gage, G.C.H., Captain the Hon.
R..S. Dundas, C. 8., one of the Lords of the Admiralty,
Colonel Greene, Chief Director of Admiralty 'Works,
and Mr. Walker, civil engineer, visited Dover on Mon-
day, and inspected the harbour and defences of the port.
They returned to town in the evening, and yesterday
morning proceeded to Portsmouth to embark in the
Admiralty steam-yacht Black Eagle, Master Commander
Petley, for the Channel Islands, to inspect the harbaur,
works, and defences there.
Commander John Hiatt (1848), on the retired list of
1816, died on the 11th inst. at Truro, aged 68..
ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL, NEW uoss.—LSir James
Graham, the First Lord of the Admiralty; under whose
patronage this school was projected in 1831, has hand-
somely .expressed through Admiral Bowles,, the presi-
dent, his intention of continuing to give annually, for
competition, among such of the students of this insti-
tttilin as are the sons of naval and marine officers, the
marine cadetship which was granted by his predecdssors

in office.
THH MEDITERRANEAN FORCE.—Admiral Dundas's
force in the Mediterranean will amount to a fleet again
on the arrival of the Rodney, 92, Captain Graham, C.B.
We learn from Malta, Feb. 12, that the Arethusa, 50,
Captain Symonds, left that day for Naples : the'Retri-
bution, 28,- steam-frigate, Captain the Hon. H. R.
Drummond, and Niger, 14, screw-sloop, Commander
Heath, left, for Nice on the 9th inst. ; the Sampson, 6,
steam-frigate,- Captain Jones, left Malta that day ; and
the Modeste, 14, Commander Lord'Crompton, with the
Spitfire, steam-vessel, Commander Spratt, left on the
12th for Messina.

PORTSMOUTH/FEB.FEB 22
•
The Agamemnon 91 screw two-decker,, Captain Sir
Thomas•Maitland; for her steam at Spitheiul
this morning, and came into harbour. She sent seven
more cases of fever to Haslar Hospital yesterday. It iv
reported that her crew is to be hulked and the vessel
fumigated.
The Blenheim, 60, screw two-decker, Captain Hen-
derson, C. 8., proceeded out of harbour this morning'for
trial, and saluted the flag of Rear-Admiral Fanshawe,
C. 8., the acting Commander-in-Chief. She went down
as far as Cowes. Lieutenant Louis R. Reynolds is ap-
pointed to this ship, vice Cunningham, superseded from

ill health.
The Leopard, 16, paddle frigate, Captain George Gif-
ford, has removed from alongside the Camperdown hulk
this morning to make room for the Agamemnon.
The Odin, 16, paddle frigate, Captain Francis Scott,
was officially inspected to-day at Spithead by Captain
Henderson, C. 8., of the steam reserve. Her ship's
company
.were mustered on their stations, fire quarters,
quarters, arid all examined as to their knowledge of their
duties, and whether they were supplied with every-
thing necessary for their various stations. The exami-
nation wa's minute, especially in the engine-room and
bilges, and every particular found correct and satisfac-
tory. Captain Henderson expressed his pleasure to
Captain Scott with his inspection, and the highly effi-
cient state of the ship. She has a few cases of influenza
on board, but is well manned and ready for sailing
orders.
The Thomas Arbuthnot, chartered troop-ship, received
on board early this morning the head-quarters of the
48th Regiment at the Shears Jetty. She came out of
harbour at 11.15 in tow 'of the Echo steam-tug, and
under 'her own topsails, jib, and spanker. On passing
the saluting battery (where the garrison troops were en-
gaged at the great gun exercise) the 48th gave them
three cheers, wich was instantly returned with right
good will. She lay to at. Spithead till 4.30, at which
time she put to sea for Corfu.
The Rattlesnake, 8, Commander Trollope, has com-
pleted. taking in her stores,. and is down to the 17 foot
mark. She looks very deeply laden.

SHEERNESS, FEB. 21.

The Rhadamanthus, steam-transport, Master Coro-•
mander John Belam, after discharging stores for this
port, left here at 10.30 a.m. this day for Woolwich.
The Barracouta, steam-sloop, Commander George
Parker, on her return from Portsmouth, when off the
South Foreland on Thursday last, fell in with the sloop
Sarah Ann, of London, laden with stone for the works
going on at the Houses of Parliament. The Sarah Ann
had an ensign hoisted in her rigging, union down, and
the pimp constantly at work. She was taken in tow by
the Barracouta and assistance sent on board. She was
towed up to the Nore and from there cast off, and pro-
ceeded for London in a disabled state.
The Espibgle sloop, Commander George Hancock.--:
The master of this sloop, Mr. Thomas Huss, whose
health has been much impaired by the climate on the
coast of Africa, where he has been recently serving, has
this day been sent to Melville Hospital at Chatham, he
being rendered quite incapable of perforniing his duty
from severe illness.

COMMANDER KENNEDY, OF THE COAST GUARD, AND
THE " WRECKERS."—The name of this officer is getting
familiar to the ears of the inhabitants of-this neighbour-
hood and the coast, for his ever readiness to render aid
to the distressed mariner, under all and every circum-
stance. It will be recollected that it was this officer who
disp4tched his cutter in search of the unfortunate crew
and passengers of the ill-fated Amazon, and by his di-
rection the men of the coast-guard station protected, as
well as their small force was able, the property that
floated ashore from the wreck of the Ocean Queen, in
Bigbury Bay. It is a disgrace to the name of English-
men that there should be so little respect for the rights
of property on occasions of misfortune to their fellow-
creatures, and particularly in cases of shipwreck. Not-
withstanding all the efforts used, the thefts on the
wreck •of the Ocean Queen area known to have
been considerable, and, in accordance with in-
structions from Commander Kennedy, a strict watch
had been set for any circumstances likely to lead
to the recovery of the property. One day
last week it was reported that some papers, apparently
belonging to some of the passengers, were in possession
of a " shark "on the coast. Commander Kennedy im-
mediately sent one of his men to demand them—the pos-
sessor very reluctantly gave them up. .When they were
handed over to Commander Kennedy he discovered from
the smell they had been in a Russian leather case. He
immediately sent the man back to demand the book from
which the papers were taken. The " old smuggler " even
was taken aback at this demand. How to the did
they know he had a case, which he denied having pos-
session of, but the applicant was not to be put off easily,
and after threats of the law extracted a Russian leather
book from the party, who in delivering it, swore if they
hid the case' they shouldn't have the money that was in
it. On this being reported to Commander Kennedy, he
communicated the facts to the Admiralty, upon which
such instructions were received as extracted 31. is. 6d.
from the illegal possessor.—Plymouth Mail.
THE ARCTIC SEARCHING EXPEDITION OF 1353.—The
screw sloop Phoenix, selected for the service of commu-
nicating this year with the squadron now in the Arctic
regions under the command of Sir E. Belcher, is being
fitted with the utmost dispatch at Woolwich, and we
trust that, although the work is to be carried on 'expe-
ditiously, it will be done at the same time more efficiently
than the fitting of the Rattlesnake was performed. , The
Phoenix is not to go alone on her interesting and ha-
zardous expedition. She will be accompanied by at
least two other vessels. The sailing-vessel Lady
Franklin, it is said, will attend the Phoenix, and we
have heard that one or two of the lieutenants in Captain
Austin's gallant advance and rapid retreat have been
offered the command. Why not, however, give the
charge of this vessel to her old captain, Mr. Penny.
This gentleman has been rather scurvily treated we
may almost say that he was sacrificed for the purpose of
white-washing the Royal portion the expedition of
1850; but Sir E. Belcher's reports have since vindicated
Penny's statements, we must say that handsome re-
paration is due to that zealous and distinguished
Arctic voyager, who, we doubt not, would be fully
satisfied with another opportunity of seeking untram-
melled the tracks of Sir John Franklin and his
companions. Commander Inglefield, who has been
appointed to the Phoenix, is a liberal, high-spirited,
energetic officer, and we doubt not that Captain Penny
and he would get on very well together in any joint en-
terprise. Commander Inglefield will of course earn his
promotion in his new service, but we regret to see his
friends so clamorous for his advancement beforehand.
It is indiscreet to press for Commander Inglefield's pro-
motion when there are so many Arctic officers who have
much greater claims than he has. For instance, it
would be a piece of great injustice to Commander
M'Clure, in command of the Investigator for the last,
hin the
beforeeArc him ;
ticregions,
wtooulpdriotmboe just
uCstorato-
niaieleder yearsi Inglefield
Commander Pullen, who as a commander conducted the
boat expedition, and suffered the most appalling priva-
tions in his search on the north-east shores of North
America, and, who is now in command of the North
Star in Sir E. Belcher's expellition. It would scarcely
be fair to Commander 111‘Clintock, who is now with
Sir E. Belcher's squadron, and in command of the In-
trepid screw-tender--his third commission in Arctic
service :; and if command of a ship in private Arctic
service is held, to be a claim to advancement in the
Royal Navy, the promotion of Commander Inglefield
would be marked neglect of the claims of Commander
Forsyth, who commanded Lady Franklin's little ship
Prince Albert in her unparalleled Arctic trip, when lie
brought home the first news of the discovery of traces
of Franklin's party.

ROBBERY AT MANCHESTER.—On Saturday evening
last a robbery was committed on Mr. 011ivant, a silver-
smith, St. Mary's-gate, • Exchange-street, Manchester.
The thief entered the premises and snatched a bundle of
bank-notes from the, desk at which Mr. 011ivant was
seated. In the hurry of his retreat the string by which
the bundle was tied broke, and the notes fell on the
ground ; he, however, contrived to pick up a considera-
ble portion of them, amounting to about 2001., and
effected his escape. Pursuit was made without delay,
but the thief got off, and has not yet been discovered.

LEEDS TOWN-HALL—The Town Council of Leeds on
Monday agreed to increase the outlay in the new Town-
hall by 4,0001., which will make the total cost, with the
land, nearly 49,0001:

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)

CANTERBURY ELECTION.
On the motion of Mr. KER SEYMER, the writ for
the election of two citizens for the city of Canterbury,
was ordered to be susiSended for six weeks

THE BANK OF ENGLAND.-EXCHEQUER-

BILLS.

Mr. MASTER?-lAN wished to put a question, arising
out of a leading paragraph in one of the public journals,
reflecting on tlie high character' of that body of Direc-
tors which managed the affairs of the Bank of England.
He wanted to ask of the right honourable gentleman the
Cfraficellor of the Exchequer whether the governor and
deputy-governor of the Bank of England were aware of
the intended reduction of interest on Exchequer-bills by
the Government previous to the 12th February ? The
accusation was that they were aware of the intended re-
duction for a fortnight previous to that date. Perhaps
the right hon. gentleman would have no objection to
state when the reduction of the rate of interest was
determined on.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I am
sure the house will excuse me if I endeavour to give an
answer, in the most distinct terms I am able, to the
question of my honourable friend, which is not altoge-
ther of a common order, relating -as it does, to a body
which stands so high in public estimation as the Bank
of England, and which it is so important to maintain in
all the estimation it enjoys: The statement to which
my hon. friend has referred was the statement, not of a
morning journal, but of the correspondent of a morning
journal, printed in rather conspicuous type, and it was to
the effect, not that there was proof; but that them was
Presumption, that the Bank of England bad been,made
aware of the intention of the Chancellor Wrthe Exchequer
to reduce the rate of interest on kxchequer Bills to ld.
a considerable time before the reduction took place, and
that the direction of the Bank availed themselves of this

knowledge to sell a large amount of Exchequer Bills at
a premium much higher than they would otherwise have
brought. The exact date when the reduction of the rate
of interest became known to the public was the 16th of
this month, the time when the formal act which deter-
mined that reduction was performed was the evening of
Monday the.l4th. I did not think it fit to take any ad-
vice from the Bank of England, or to ascertain the opi-
nion of its governor and deputy-governor on the subject,
any long time before the decision was taken, and it was
only on the afternoon of Saturday the 12th that I ad-
dressed to the governor of the Bank of England a note,
requesting him and the deputy-governor to favour me
with their company in Downing-street at an early hour
on Monday, nor did I then specifically name the subject
on which I wished to see them, but I simply stated that
it was a subject on which it would be necessary that a
decision should be taken on Monday. I have very little
doubt that the governor and deputy-governor, conversant
as they are with these matters, understood by that note
that it must have reference to the rate of interest on
Exchequer Bills. But I think the house will see that
the statement that no communication proceeded from
me before the afternoon of Saturday the 12th is in itself
a conclusive answer to the imputation which has been
rashly hazarded. (Cheers.) On the morning of the
14th of this month I saw the governor and deputy-
governor on this subject, and consulted with them
further, but they left mo at the middle of that day not
possessed of what my final intentions were. Therefore
I hope that if in the mind of any man a prejudice exists
on this point, what I have stated will be sufficient, and
more than sufficient, to remove it. (Cheers.) I wish
further to state, and it is but just to the governor and
deputy-governor that I should do so, that they are not
in any manner or degree responsible for the measure
taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that they
gave me their recommendation, as they on every occa-
sion do, in the most frank and friendly spirit, leaving
me the most entire freedom to pursue that line of con-
duct I thought best for the public interests.
Sir J. PAKINGTON begged to ask the Under-
Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any
objection to lay upon the table of the house the follow-
ing papers A letter recently written by the Lord
Bishop of Quebec to the Duke of Newcastle, on the
subject of the Clergy Reserves in Canada. 2. The; dis-
patch from Sir John Pakington to the Earl of Elgin,
which would haSe been sent by the mail of Friday,
Dec..l6th, in reply to his lordship's dispatch of Sept.
22d (forwarding an address to the Queen from the
Legislative A.sserubly of Canada on the subject of the
Clergy Reserves), had net the late, Government ten-
dered their, resignations to her Majesty on that day.
Mr. F. PEEL was understood to answer that there
was no objection to the production' of the Bishop of
Quebec's letter. With regard to the second document,
the right hon. gentleman must be aware that the dis-
patch was not signed, and that there was no instance in
which a dispatch iµ draught had been 'laid on the table
of the House of Coaimons.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Sir .T. PAKINGTON wished-to ask the Under-Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial-office
had received reports of the proceedings of two Oublic
meetings held in the colony of the Cape of Good Hope
on the 22d of Nov., 1852—one. at Utenhenge, and the
other at Graham's Town—at which strong approbatinn
was expressed of the policy of the late Government with
respect to the constitution ordinances, the latter meeting
having unanimously 'adopted resolutions declaring the
" unalloyed satisfaction" of the meeting at the postpone-
I-pent of the constitution, and passing a vote of thanks to
Sir John Pakington for his dispatch of September 4, in
which he stated the grounds on which her Majesty's
Government had decided upon that postponement ?
Perhaps he should mention that he derived his informa-
tion on this subject from the Graham's Town Journal of
November 27, in which it was stated that it was resolved
at these meetings that copies of their proceedings should
be forwarded to the Colonial-office.

Mr. PEEL said that he had heard nothing of the
meeting at Utenhenge, but the chairman of the meeting
at Graham's Town had forwarded to the Colonial-office
copies of the resolutions to which it had come.
Sir J. PAKINGTON then asked the Under-Secretary
for the Colonies whether he had heard that the British
portion of the population at the Cape, already so inferior
in number to the natives, was likely to be considerably
diminished by emigration to Australia ?
Mr. PEEL said that no information of this kind had
been received at the Colonial-office.
CUSTOM-HOUSE REFORM.
Mr. fIORSFALL said that a committee of that house
had sat for a considerable time for the purpose of consi-
dering the present constitution of the Board'of Customs,
and the system pursued by them, with a view of reme-
dying the evils complained of by the mercantile body.
He believed the late Government had intimated their
intention to introduce into the house a measure on this
subject, and he wished to ask the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer whether it was the intention of her Majesty's
present advisers to introduce such a measure, and if so,
when ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he could not at present undertake to say whether
any measures to be taken by the Government for the
improvement of the Customs department and its ma-
chinery would or would not require an act of Parlia-
ment. The whole subject was under the consideration
of the Treasury, the result of whose deliberations would
probably, be embodied in a minute.; and if • so, he
should have no difficulty in laying that minute on the
table of the house at the proper time, which he hoped
would not be far distant, together with a report of the
Board of Customs on that of the committee of the house
—a report in which they had furnished the Government
with very important matter for their consideration. In
nwhich in point of fact,
o muste importantbe
th the
foundation
a cohf aanlgl ;other measures, was in
progress at the Board of Customs. To have reduced the
number of the members of that board would, under or-
dinary circumstances, have been attended with consider-
able expense, but within the last two months, or little
more, a reduction had taken place. In December last,
the number of commissioners was eight, but about the
time of the change of Government Mr. Lushington re-
signed, which reduced the board to seven, the precise
number which had been recommended by the commission
another member
his intention to resign—indeed, he believed, had actually
which
sat
a
sent in his resignation ; and the noble earl at the head
of the Treasury -having, after consultation 'with the
mbWerit ohfin thet h
chairman of. the• Board of Customs, decided that it was
not necessary. that this vacancy should be filled up, the
nurnber of the board would now be reduced to six. It
would remain for consideration whether any,' and 'if so
what, other changes should be made in the constitution
of the board, and when the views of the Treasury had
been definitively formed upon this point they would be
intimated to the house.
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN IRELAND.
Mr. BUTT said that he wished to ask the noble lord
the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether
since his accession to office any instructions have been
issued from the Home-office to the authorities at Dublin
Castle, with reference to the awarding of rank and pre-
cedence to the Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland ?
_ Lord'PALMERSTON—No instructions have been
sent on that subject.
THE BUSINESS OF THE ROUSE.
Mr. E. DENISON said that he wished to call the
attention of Lord John Russell to the state of the com-
mittee business of the house. • Up to the present time
ten select committees had been formed, and it was pro-
posed that there should be seven election committees
each creek from now to Easter. Besides'this, there were
no less than fifty-three private bills which had passed
their second reading, and were waiting to go into com-
mittee. Ile wished to ask the noble lord whether, in this
state of the committee business of the house, he would
not endeavour to arrange with gentlemen who wished
for select committees that, except in cases of extreme
urgency, they should postpone their nomination until
the time of honourable members was more at their com-
mand than was the case at the present Moment ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that he quite agreed with
his honourable friend that the great number of commit-
tees now sitting, or required for the trial of the election
petitions which had been presented to the house, was
such as to render it desirable that gentlemen should as
much as possible abstain from proposing select commit-

tees at this time, and he hoped they would do so except
in cases where their nomination was urgently required.

CIVIL SERVANTS' SUPERANNUATION.

Sir DE LACY EVANS desired to ask the Chancellor
of the Exchequer whether the Government intended to
take any, and if so, what measures, during ,the present
session, With reference to the petition of the civil ser-
vants of the Crown,
_which was presented to that house
in the month -of December, 1852 ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that. the queAloiiof the gallant general had reference to
a subject of great public importance-the application of

the civil servants of the Cro-wn for a.modiaelition of the

Superannuation Act, which would have the effect of
materially increasing their emolument. The Govern-
ment did not oontemplate any immediate change of any
sort in that act ; he was, however in -communication
With the civil servants on this subject. He could no
Say whether any decision would or would not result
from these communications, but he could not, w4hout
an Undue intrusion on the time of the house; then'state
the general,yiews of the GeYernment upon the subject ;
and if the gallant general wished to hear these, the best
way would be for him to make a motion.