The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-03 00:00:00

EMPLOYMENT OF THE POOR.

Mr. HENLEY presented several petitions, praying that
the poor in the respective union-houses might be employed
in the cultivation of waste lands.
DEBTS FROM MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
Mr. MOFFATT gave notice that on Tuesday next he
would move for leave tc bring in a Bill to provide for the
recovery of debts from persons having seats in Parliament.
WAR EXPENDITURE.
Mr. MITCHELL presented a petition, praying the House
to cause treaties to be entered into with all foreign powers
against expenditure in war, and in favour of referring Rational
disputes to arbitration.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

Sir JOHN PAKINGTON rose to put a question to the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government on a subject in
which he (Sir John Pakington) felt considerable interest,
namely, whether it was his intention to propose any altera-
tion in those rules and orders for the regulation of the
House, in conformity with the recommendation of the Com-
mittee which sat at the close of the last session on Parlia-
mentary business?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he intended to propose certain
resolutions in conformity with that recommendation, and to
propose some other resolutions on the subject of the ses-
sional orders, which would, he thought, be improve-
ments in the mode of carrying on the business of the House.
He should take care that the resolutions which he
should propose should be in the hands of the Members
by to-morrow morning, and he proposed to bring on the
question the first thing on ➢ionday.
RAJA OF SATTARA.

Mr. HUME asked the Noble Lord whether it was correct
that the Court of Directors of the East India Company, or
the secret committee of that Court, had, with the sanction
of her Majesty's Government, sent orders to take possession
of the territory of the late Raja of Sattara, and thereby to
depose the legal and the adopted heir of the territories, gua-
ranteed by solemn treaty with the East India Company to
them and their heirs for ever?

Lord J. RUSSELL said it was true that the Court of Di-
rectors of the East India Company and the Board of Control
had sent out a dispatch to the Governor-General of India,
desiring him, not as stated by the Hon. Gentleman, to de-
pose the descendant of the late Raja, for there was none
living, but to take possession of the territory, which virtually
belonged to the East India Company.
Mr. HUME then gave notice that on Monday he would
move for a copy of the minutes of proceedings of the East
India Company and the Board of Control.
CHURCH REFORM.

Mr. lIORSMAN said he would postpone until this day
week his question relative to the filling up of a vacancy in
the diocese of the Bishop of Durham. He thought it would be
desirable that the Noble Lord should be in the possession of
some further information from the Bishop before he an-
swered the question. With respect to the measures expected
during the session for some reform in the Church, the Noble
Lord would, perhaps, be good enough to state whether any
measures had yet been prepared on the subject, and when
they might be expected to be brought forward.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL was understood to say that he
had received serve communications from the Bishop, but that,
whatever alterations were proposed, he (Lord J. Russell)
had no power to alter or modify them. With regard to the other
question, it had been thought necessary as a preliminary to
advise the Crown to appoint a commission to inquire whether
leasehold property might not be made more available to th•
spiritual instruction of the members of the Church. That
Commission had lately been appointed ; but until it had made
some progress, it was impossible for him to say either what
measures would be proposed, or when they would be brought
before the House.

Mr. HUME asked if there was any objection to instruct
the Commissioners to inquire to what churches, and in what
places, large incomes or allowances were attached, though
they had little or no congregations. For instance, in the
city of London there were seventy or eighty churches with
congregations of no more than eight or ten persons. Was
it not desirable to ascertain whether the incomes of those
churches should not be applied to places where the popula-
tion was greater ?

Lord J. RUSSELL said this question might be a fit sub-
ject for consideration in some other way Abut as it had no-
thing to do with the duties assigned to the Commissioners,
he did not see how they could deal with it.
Colonel SIBILIORP begged to ask the Noble Lord
whether the Commission was to be a paid one?—(Laughter.)
Lord J. RUSSELL—It is an unpaid Commission. I may,
however, state that the secretary to the Commission is a paid
officer.—(Laughter.)
Mr. KORMAN said the Commission was appointed
upon certain subjects totally independent of the measures
which were promised to be brought forward. He would
call the attention of the Noble Lord to those measures on
Monday, for the purpose of asking whether any of them
were intended lo be brought forward this session.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he might as well say at once that
her Majesty's Government did not mean to introduce a num-
ber of measures which there was no prospect of carrying.
The notices already given upon the part of members of the
Government would occupy the attention of the House for a
considerable time.