The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-23 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

On the return of the SPEAKER, the following Bills
were read a third time and passed :—Darlington Gas and,
Water Company Bill, Epsom Rates Bill, Felt% ell Se-
cond District Drainage Bill.
PETITIONS.
Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from the
Skibbereen Union, praying that some teinporary mea-
sure of relief might be passed to mitigate the di*tress of
that district.
Mr. TOLLEMACHE pmienterl a petition from a:
place in Cheshire against the admission of Jews into.
Parliament.

Lord RENDLESHAM presented several petitions,
praying for the repeal of the hop and malt duties.
Captain PECHELL presented a petition from
Brighton, praying the House to sanction no interna-
tional relations with Spain or Brazil till those powers
consented to suppress the slave •trade.
Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON presented a petition
from the Tower Hamlets in favour of international arbi-
tration.

Mr. Alderman HUMPHERY prescnted a petition
from Southwark to the same effect.

Mr. BUSFEILD, Mr. BRIGHT, and other Hon. Mem-
bers, presented petitions to the same effect.
Lord CASTLEREAGH presented a petition from the
Ulster Railway Company, complaining of the present
system of rating railways.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the inhabitants
of Westminster, setting forth the abominations of the
Palace Court, and praying for its abolition.
The HON. MEMBER also presented a petition from a
public meeeting in Finsbury, praying the House to in-
terfere in the attempt to force Pope Pius On the people
of Rome. The Hon. Member intimated that he did not
approve of this country interfering in the affairs of other
nations.

Sir W. CLAY presented a petition from Whitechapel,
praying for a repeal of the window-tax.

WORKING CLASSES.
Mr. SLANEY postponed his motion with reference
to the condition of the working classes till after Easter.
POOR-LAW (IRELAND).
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL moved for copies of all
correspondence between the Rev. Mr. Donovan, Cathulic
curate of Kanturk, and the Poor-law Commissioners of
Ireland, relative to certain charges made by the former
against the managers and officers of the workhouse in
that union ; also, of Major Bolton's report on the satire.
—Agreed to.

Mr. CURTEIS gave notice that on an early day he
should move " That the Excise duty on hops is local,
partial, and oppressive in its operation, entailing peri
odical distress, and not unfrequently ruin upon the
grower; that it greatly limits the means of employing
labour, thereby promoting pauperism with its attendant
evils; that it forms but a precarious source of revenue
to the Exchequer; and that such duty ought to be forth-
with repealed."
WAR IN THE PUNJAUB.
Mr. HUME wished to know whether it was the in-
tention of the Right Hon. Baronet the President of the
Board of Control to lay on the table of the Hausa
any papers with reference to the late extraordinary
proceedings in India? It appeared, from the accounts
which bad been received, that alter the victory was
gained, for which salutes were tired, the Commander- in-
Chief, Lord Gough, entrenched himself within a few
miles of the enemy.
Sir J. C. HOBIIOUSE, in reply, stated that the
papers which had been received from India were very
voluminous, but that he would give his best attention to
them, and lay such of them as he thought necessary before
the House on as early a day as possible.
In reply to a question from Mr. HINDLEY,
Sir J. C. HOBLIOUSE stated with reference to the
distribution of the prize money among those engaged at
the victory of Moultan, that a questio❑ had arisen as to
whether or not theCummander-in-Chief of the forces in In.
dia was entitled to any share of it. That question had been
referred by the Governor-General of India to the
authorities at home, and it would bo decided according to
precedents in the usual way. As to the other question,
with reference to the plunder said to have been committed
by the British troops after the taking of Moultan, he had
to state that the whole transactions in India had been
exceedingly misrepresented—(Loud cries of " Hear,
hear ")—and he could assure the Hon. Gentleman also,
unless some facts should be made known which did not
appear or were 'even hinted at in any one of the dis-
patches, that the rumours which had got abroad were
totally unfounded.---(Hear, hear.)
THE CHARTIST SHAW.

In reply to questions from Mr. F. O'CoNrcon,
Sir GEORGE GREY was understood to say (for his
voice was scarcely heard in the gallery),
that the prisoner Shaw was subject to no
special regulations with respect to his con-
finement in Newgate. A regulation was made at
the last court with respect to him, but it would be re-
considered at the next meeting of the justices. Some
of the books sent to Shaw by his friends were deemed
by the chaplain of the prison improper books for his pe-
rusal, and were therefore rejected by him.
ABOLITION OF Till; COURT OF EQUITY

(IRELAND).
Mr. OSBORNE wished to know whether it was the
intention of the Government to introduce a Bill for the
abolition of this court?

Sir G. GREY said, neither the Chancellor of the Ex-
ch( quer nur the Secretary for Ireland were present;
perhaps the Hon. Gentleman would renew his question
when they were.
GRAND JURY BILL (IRELAND).
Mr. J. O'CONNELL gave notice that he intended to
ask, on a future day, whether it was the intention of the
Government to introduce a new Grand Jury Bill.