The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-25 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

Sir R. LOPES presented a petition from Devon,
complaining of agricultural distress in that county, and
praying for the re-imposition of protective duties on
agricultural produce.
PRISON DISCIPLINE.

Mr. C. PEARSON presen•ed a petition from Dr.
Rice, as the representative of a very large body of
gentlemen, magistrates, inspectors, and chaplains of
prisons, assembled in the City to discuss the question of
prison discipline, and praying that the petition may be
referred to a Committee to inquiry into the truth of its
statements.
EXTENSION OF COUNTY COURTS.

Captain PECHELL presented a petition from 200
Jadesmen in Brighton, praying that the jurisdiction
of the County Courts may be extended to debts of ut

least 501.
THE STEAM•BOAT ACCIDENT IN THE IRISH

CHANNEL

In answer to a question from Mr. CARDWELL,
Mr. LABOUCD ERE said Captain Denham had re-
turned from his visit of inspection to Liverpool, into the
recent calamity which happened on the voyage of a
steam-vessel between Liverpool and the coast of Ire-
land ; hot unfortunately a domestic affliction had pre-
vented Captain Denham presenting his report to the
Board of Trade. He thought, however, the report
would be received to-morrow, and there would be no
objection to lay it on the table of the House.
PRIVATE BILLS.

The Cockermouth and Workington Railway (Branch
to Bridgefoot, Amendment of Act, and Power to lease
to Whitehaven Junction Railway Company) Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The report on the Transfer of Sheffield Canal to
River Dun Navigation Company Bill was considered and
agreed to.
MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES.

Colonel SIBTHORP would beg to ask the Chancellor
of the Exchequer when the House was likely to have a
discussion un the civil contingencies and miscellaneous
estimates?
Mr. PARKER said it would come on on Thursday
next.
Sir J. GRAHAM said surely the discussion on that
subject would not come on so early as Thursday
night ? The papers had not yet been circulated
among the Members.
Mr. PARKER said that was owing to the papers not
having been printed yet.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said (with some warmth)
that surely the matter would not be pressed on on Thurs-
day night.
Mr. PARKER said the Right Hon. Gentlemtin bad
better repeat his question when ho saw the Chancellor
of the Exchequer in his place.
Sir J. kiRAHAM—Pooh!
, FISCAL DUTIES OF IRISH GRAND JURIES.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD rose to 0.4 s the Secretary for
Ireland whether it was the intention of her Majesty's
Government to submit any measure for the amendment
of the laws relating to the fischl duties of grand juries
in Ireland • during the present session.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said a Bill was in course of
preparation on the subject.
A NEW BOOT FOR THE ARMY.
In reply to Mr. C. LUSHINGTON,
Mr. FOX MAULE stated, that as Secretary at War,
ho had nothing to do with the discipline of the army.
It appeared that a Mr. Duhey, a very respectable
person, had taken out a patent for a certain
description of boot, which having been tried- by
several commanding officers arid men, was generally
approved ot ; and, like all tradesmen, he applied to the
Board of General Officers to make the, boots what was
called a "sealed pattern;" they inspected it, and re-
ported against the application. The board at the
same time intimated that they saw no reason
why the soldiers should not purchase the boot for their
own use at their own expense ; but by some means or
ether, for which ho was not responsible, the permission
thus given had ant been allowed.—(Hear, hear.)
THE ECCLESIASTCAL COMMISSION.

Mr. iiGRS3IAN inquired if the Noble Lord intended
to proceed with his motion with respect to the Ecclesi-
astical Commission on the Bth of June, and if he was in
a position to state to the House any particulars with
respect to the rectory of Bishopswearinoutb.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL replied that he did not intend
on the Bth of June to proceed with the motion in ques-
tion ; he should merely do so pro forma. The
question of the rectory of - Bishopswearmouth had been
under the consideration of the Ecclesiastical Commission,
and the result of their deliberations had been placed in
the hands of the officers of the Crown. When he
had received further information he should be happy to
communicate it t, the lion. Gentleman.
Mr. HORSMAN inquired it the Bill for amending the
constitution of the Ecclesiastical Commission would be
introduced during the present session ?
Sir G. GREY replied that he feared there was not a
reasunable prospect.
THE FINANCIAL. STATEMENT OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
In reply to Mr. DISRAELI,
L')rd J. RUSSELL intimated that next week he
should propose to proceed with the Committee of Sup-
ply. Until the House had made some progress
with the miscellaneous estimates, the statement referred
to would not be made. He calculated that it would be
made about the middle of June.
S FATE OF IRELAND.

Mr. AIONSELL, in the absence of the Noble Lord,
the Member tor Arundel, inquired whether after the
recess the Government would b, prepared to lay before
the House the existing state of the people of Ireland in
the distressed unions, and the areount of aid afforded to
them out of the funds of tho Government.
Sir GEORGE GREY s,id at the beginning of the
present month a statement was laid before the House.
Further information would be laid before the house
also the applications made for aid from the Poor-law
Commissioners.
IRISH. POOR-LAW AND INCUMBERED ES-
TATES (IRELAND).
Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to a question from Mr.
Stafford, said that he proposed proceeding with the In-
cumbered Estates (Ireland) Bill on the 4th, and the
APopo
jr-olauits
w(lrlejlaEnNO TB 01,
ill o
THEtbe
HOUSEB tht June.
AND MIS