The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-28 00:00:00

SICILY.

Lord BEAUM.ONT asked when the papers relating
to Sicily would be produced. The horrors of Messina
had been surpassed by the horrors of Catania. The
place had been given up to plunder and sacked, and the
route of the troops had been marked by burning houses.
He had understood that the property of English and French
subjects, although situated in the centre of the town, had
been respected, which proved that these horrors must
have been perpetrated, if not by the orders, at least with
the connivance of the Neapolitan commanders. He
wished to know if the Government had received any in-
formation on the subject.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, who rose to answer
the question, was so inaudible that not even the purport
of bis observations could be caught in the gallery.
Lord STANLEY complained that the answer that the
papers should be produced in a day or two was the
same that bad been given to him ten days ago. He must
say, with regard to the statement of the commission of
atrocities, he never saw more vague reports than those
sent by the British Consul's in Sicily.
The Earl of ABERDEEN had expected to find the
papers on the table immediately after the recess.
Lord EDDISBURY said the utmost diligence had
been used in preparing the papers, and that they were
laid on the'table as'soon as possible.
The'Earl of ABERDEEN wished to have the papers
relating to Piedmont pioduced forthwith. The war in
the north of Italy`was at an end, and the papers should
bo produced forthwith.
After &lei-words from Lord EDDISBURY,

Lord BROUGHAM protested against the charge
which had been made against General Filangieri, of
conniving".at the commission of atrocities; no general
could command they effervescent spirits of a victorious
and exasperated army, and prevent the commission of
atrocities.

The Earl of MINTO denied that the statements of
the atrocities committed at Messina had been ex-
aggerated, as had been stated by the Noble Lord
(Stanley). The British Consul, Mr. Barker, bad taken
great pains to verify his statements, and they were not
to be put down as unfounded on the strength of those
statements on which the Noble Lard had relied. He
had seen the statements of British officers describing the
advance of the Neapolitans on Catania as marked by the
burning of the houses, and the murder of women and
children. The city of Catania, one of the finest in
Europe, had been wantonly destroyed, but the property
of the British and Maltese in the city had been re-
spected, although situated in the midst of the town.
The General therefore possessed sufficient command
over his troops to cause property to be respected, yet
he gave up the city to pillage for two days.
Lord BEAUMONT had not thought there could
have been found a Noble Lord to speak of
those scenes of horror so lightly as the Noble
Lord had done. He trusted that the reports alluded to
by the Noble Lord (Minto) would also be produced, and
he moved for the copy of memorandums presented to
the Neapolitan Government in 1814, the letter of
Lord Castlereagh of 1816, and the correspondence of
Mr. A'Court in 1815 and 1816. His object
was to ascertain whether or not we had abandoned our
engagements to Sicily, and if it should appear we had
done so, nothing would prevent him from bring;ag for-
ward a motion, to give the House an opportunity of ex-
pressing an opinion on the subject.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that papers had
been already presented to the House, but there could be
no objection to collecting and reprinting them.
The Earl of MINTO said these papers were necessary
to enable their Lordships to understand the nature of
our obligations towards Sicily.
The motion was azreed to.
GOLD COAST.

On the motion of the Bishop of OXFORD certain
returns, relating to missions on the Gold Coast, were
ordered.

PETT noNs.

Earl FORTESCUE presented several petitions,
praying that no more licences might be granted to beer-
houses.

The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from
Greenock against the repeal of tho Merchant.Seamou's
Act.

NAVIGATION LAWS.

Lord STANLEY moved that a return be from time
to time laid before the House of the petitions presented
for and against the nzvigation-laws.
SANITARY BILL FOR LONDON.

In answer to a question from a NOBLE LORD,
The Earl of CARLISLE said dust the Commissioners
of Sewers had some most imz.ortant sanitary measures
under their consideration, among others a measure
for the supply of the metropolis with water, and for
preserving the Thames from further pollution. lie
trustei he should shortly be enabled to submit a mea-
sure for doing away with the burial of the dead in the
metropolis.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS PREVENTION BILL.
Thu Duke of BEAUFOIIT moved the second read-
ing of this Bill.

—Lord CAMPBELL opposed the Bill, on the ground
that its provisions were c :mplicated, c ,ntradictory, and
too restrictive. If enacted they would be productive of
great hardship to persons who might be individually
alameless. For instance, one of the clauses provided
that in cages Ahem it api aired there had been any ex-
cessive cruelty used to dogs the " owner" of the clog
should be liable to a penalty. This assumed the owner
was in all cases the person who would act cruelly.
Another provision was that any person, man, woman, or
child, riding in dog carts, were subject to penalties. Why
the very object of the greater number of these carts was
to follow pursuits, by the aid of these docile animals,
which includes riding, and 93 for children riding them,
ho had often seen his own children riding in them with
the greatest delight.—(A laugh.) The second clause was
all that was needed, and sufficiently comprehensive to
meet the case.

The Duke of BEAUFORT said if the second read-
ing was agreed to, he had no objection to modify or omit
the clauses alluded to by the Noble and Learned Lord.
The Earl of MIN rO objected entirely to this species
of legislation. As to cruelty, the Noble Duke must not
suppose that it was confined to the poor,'as this Bill ap-
peared to presume it was. Did the Noble Duke' never
see very heavy men riding on very little horses?—(Hear
and a laugh.) Had he never seen men urge their horses
at their very highest speed, when after the hounds? If
not, the Noble Duke had been more fortunate than he
had been.— (A laugh.)
Lord REDESDALE opposed the Bill.
The Bishop of OXFORD supported the
The LORD CHANCELLOR jiht the question, and,
as we understood, declared the second reading carried.
A conversation ensued, in which Earl GREY and the
Earl of MALMESBURY opposed the Bill, on the ground
that it would be ineffective as to its main object, and at
the same time revive all the odious machinery of public
informers.

The Duke of ARGYLL supported the Bill, because it
would reach the cruelties of the higher as well as the
lower classes.

The Earl of CARLISLE wished to know how the
question before the House stood with respect to the
second reading of the Bill ?
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that he had already
declared the second reading carried, as there were no
non- contents when he put the question.
The Earl of CARLISLE asked what had become of
the amendment that the Bill be-read a second time that
do, six months ?
such
Thamendment proposed.e LORD CHANCELLOR said he had not had any
Lord GREltawierstood his Noble Friend the Earl of
Minto to bare 131,6(1 it.
The LORD CHANCELLOR repeated that he had
not heard it, and that he declared the second reading
carried.

The Earl of MINTO observed that he had moved
such an amendment as Lord Grey stated, and was
seconded by his Noble Frien4 bliind him. however,
as the Bill could be opposed at a future stage, he would
not then raise any objection to the Lard Chancellor's
decision.
After a brief conversation the subject dropped.
Lord REDESDALE laid on the table a Bill to faci-
litate the union of turnpike trusts, which was read r
first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Mon-
day next.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 27.
Th© SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.

NEW WRIT FOR SHEFFIELD.
On the motion of Mr. TUFNELL, a new writ was
ordered to issue for the borough of Sheffield in the room
of Henry George Ward, Esq., who had accepted the
office of Stewafd of her Majesty'a Chiltern Hundreds..
Mr. HEYWORTH presented a petition from Leicester
in farm 9f th, Clergy Relief Bill.

Mr. HENRY presented a petition from Churchtown,
Lancashire, in favour of a diminution of the number of
beer-shops, and complaining of their evil tendency.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT presented petitions from
places in Wiltshire in favour of the Marriage Bill.
Mr. CL AY presented a petition from Hull in favour
of the Clergy Relief Bill.
nt i t
oi of nt sh frome Laws
oe vf extr aal rpr
jest::
Bts
ill.
Mr. pthreeseanliteerdatpioe
Relief Bill.
COWAN presented petitions from Edinburgh and
other places in favour of the Clergy
URN f
festehnetend veumsbeerroafl
beer
-thioonussesin;
favoura : Mor o. Gf
several the° diminution lj
petitionsl3
ropomr Middlesex and Huntingdon
against the Marriage Bill.
Mr. J. S. WORTLEY presented petitions in favour
of the Bill; also a petition from the Committee of
Supply of the County of Bute against the Lunatic
Asylums (Scotland) Bill.
Mr. G. THOMPSON presented petitions from Gla-
morgan and other places in favour of arbitration in the
case of international disputes.
Mr. COBDEN presented several petitions in favour of
the Clergy Relief Bill, and also petitions in favour of a
reduction of the national expenditure liens different
parts of Yorkshire.
Mr. HUME presented petitions from Fife against the
Marriage Registration Bill; also a petition fron Montrose
against the Scotch Lunatic Asylums Bill ; and peti-
tions in favour of the Clergy Relief Bill.
TREATMENT OF IRISH PAUPERS AT CORK.
Mr. STAFFORD wished to know whether, with re-
gard to the statement which it appeared from one of
the papers that the Hon. Member for Cork had made
last night, that the corporation of Cork had voted one
hundred pounds to transport all their paupers
to England, the Right Honourable Gentleman
the Secretary of State for the Home Department had re-
ceived any information of such illegal conduct on the
part of the Cork authorities.
Sir G. GREY had received no information whatever
on the subject.
Mr. FAGAN had stated that the authorities of Cock
had voted 1001. to cart all the paupers out of the place.
POLICE RATE.
Lord DUDLEY STUART wished to put a question
to the Right Hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary with
regard to the metropolitan police. By the Police Act
the Government was authorised to advance 95,0001. out
of the Consolidated Fund towards. the maintenance of
the metropolitan police force, whenever the metropolitan
parishes should have paid a sum equal to 6d. in the pentad on
the rating towards their maintenance. In 1847 the ma-
gistrates of Middlesex had re-assessed the county at
7,700,0001., instead of 6,200,000/., which had been the
assessment previously ; consequently 35,0001. more was
levied towards the police rate, under the new assessment,
before the Government could advance the 95,000/. In
answer to representations made to the Goverment on
this subject, it had been stated that it was the intention
of the Government to introduce a Bill authorising
it to make the advance when the rate should be
fivepence in the pound, instead of sixpences.—(Hear.)
He wished to ask his Right Hon. Friend, although cir-
cumstances Enky have made it necessary to impose this
burden on thrrate-payers of Middlesex during the last
year, whether it was likely to be permanent? He trusted
that an explicit answer would be given to this question,
in order that the irritation which had been excited on
this subject might be allayed.
Sir GEORGE GREY said that the sum drawn from
the Consolidated Fund for the support of the police force
was 90,0001. usually, and last year it was 98,0004
When this force was first instituted a rate of eight-
pence in the pound was levied. That was sub-
sequently reduced to fivepence, but afterwards in-
creased to sixpence, in the hope of increasing the funds
so as to raise a surplus. Last year circumstances had
occurred which compelled an increase of the force, a
proceeding which was conceived to be necessary nut
only by the Government, but by the whole of the metro-
polis. The expenses had consequently been increased,
and however severe the pressure might be felt, he was i
assured that his Noble Friend would see the reasonable-
ness of it. In some future time he anticipated that a
surplus would be created; but he thought that it would
be unfair that the rate-payers should reap all the advan-
tage. At any rate he could hold out no present hope of
a reduction of the imposition.
THE NAVY ESTIMATES.
In reply to a question from Mr. HUME as to the time
for taking the Navy Estimates,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he was desirous of deferring the consideration of
the estimates in the Committee of Supply till the Ist of
May, but it might come ou to-night.
Mr. HUME said that this was no sufficient answer to
his question. He thought that it was hard, not to say
injudicious, on the part of Government to oblige Hon.
Members to enter into the consideration of the esti-
timates at eleven o'clock at night, when there had been
no opportunity whatever of considering the papers upon
the subject. He was aware that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer had a notice on the paper, and he thought
that considering the debate to which that motion might
give rise, it was, to say the least, unfair to force the con-
sideration of the navy estimates.
Lord J. RUSSELL begged to _remind his Hon.
Friend that this was only a vote on account, and such as
was usually allowed to pass without discussion. On
Monday night he proposed to take the third reading of
the Rate in Aid Bill; and it was quite impossible for
him to say to what discussion it might lead, and con-
sidering that without this vote the public service cou4l
not be carried on, he trusted that his Hon. Friend would
not feel that the Government had in any way taken the
House by surprise.

- THE COLONIES.
Mr. DISRAELI presented petitions from Canada,
from Jamaica, and other colonies on a variety of subjects,
chit fly praying for the restoration of the protection to
their produce.