The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-27 00:00:00

NAVAL COURT- MARTI AL.

In answer to a question put by Mr. WILLIAMS,
Mr. WARD (the Secretary to the Admiralty) stated
that the sentence of death, recently passed by a court-
martial at Portsmouth on a private of the marines for
insubordination, had been brought under the consi.
deration of the Lords of the Admiralty, who, con-
sidering all,the circumstances connected with the cases,
had felt themselves justified in recommending to her
Majesty a commutation of the sentence already ordered
to take effect.

NAVAL ARTICLES OF WAR.
Mr. WILLIAMS wished to know whether the Lords
of the Admiralty had considered the existing naval ar-
ticles of war, with a view to an amelioration of their
inhuman and unjust provisions? 4
Mr. WARD said that the subject had been considered.
but he was not at liberty to state as yet the result of
those deliberations; he hoped to be able to lay before
the House the determination to which their Lordships
had arrived.

HARBOURS OF REFUGE AT HOLYHEAD.
Lord SANDON wished to know whether commis-
sioners had been appointed to consider and take evi-
dence upon plans to be adopted for constructing har-
bours of refuge at Holyhead, and, if so, who they consist
of, and what were their instructions?

Mr. WARD said that a Commission had been ap-
pointed, consisting of Captains Berkeley, Collinson, and
Shepherd. Their instructions were to take evidence,
and hear the objections of opponents upon the subject,
and report thereon to the Government.
MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER said that at the beginning
of the session he had moved for certain returns con-
nected with the squadron in the Mediterranean. He
wished to know when they would be laid on the table?
Mr. WARD was understood to say that they would
be furnished as soon as possible.

LANGPORT UNION.
Mr. ESCOTT wished to ask the Secretary for the
Home Department whether he had any objection to pro-
duce certain documents respecting the management of
this union?

Sir G. GREY replied that he had not, as soon as the
charges at present in course of investigation were
brought to a termination.

HOLYHEAD HARBOUR.
Mr. 0. STANLEY wished to ask the Secretary of the
Admiralty if it was the intention of the Government to
reconsider the plan respecting Holyhead harbour, not-
withstanding the interested representation of the city
of Dublin?
Mr. WARD said many grave objections had been
urged against the plan ; and it was thought ad-
visable to well consider the matter before they
consented to spend a million of money upon
the undertaking, so that the Government might
be satisfied that the money would be satisfactorily and
usefully expended. It was still under the attention of
the Government.

ARREST ()E FOUR PERSONS AT BRIGHTON.
Captan PECHELL wished to call the attention of the
Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the
Home Department to the arrest of four persons at
Brighton (from whom he had presented a petition to-
Aiy)..- They complained that they had been taken up
on suspicion of having committed a robbery, that they
were taken before a magistrate, from whom they ob-
tained their discharge, the charge not having been made.
They complained that during the intervening period
they were not allowed to instruct counsel except in the
presence of a police-constable. Ile wished to know
whether the Hon. Gentleman had had his attention
called to the case, and whether he intended to take any
steps to prevent a similar occurrence?_
Sir G. GREY said the case had been brought under
his attention. He, however, would make an inquiry
into the matter.
CUSTOMS' DUTIES BILL.

On the order of the day being read for going into
Committee en this Bill,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose
and said he thought it necessary, in justice to his Noble
Friend opposite (Lord G. Bentinck), to state the course
which he intended to pursue with respect to this Bill.
He believed his Noble Friend intended to state his
case against the Bill, in bringing forward his motion
that the subject be referred to a Select Committee,
instead of arguing his case in Committee. On
bringing forward his financial statement he stated
that he proposed a duty upon colonial rum
of 6d. higher than that imposed on British spirits. Since
that time he had had the opinion of distillers and others,
who urged that that duty would not be adequate as a
protecting duty. Although his opinion was unchanged,
he had been induced to reconsider his decision.
He had said at the time that it was impossible to fix a
precise amount, and, therefore, he had been anxious to
adopt as moderate a duty as possible. It was, there-
fore, his intention in the Committee on this Bill to pro-
pose that colonial spirits should be charged a duty of ed.
per gallon higher than the home spirit. He would not
now go into the reasons one way or the other;
but he would assign these in answer to the
statement of his Noble Friend opposite. He
had thought it fair thus to apprise his Noble Friend of
the course he intended to adopt.
Lord GEORGE BENTINCK said that he would
require the especial indulgence of the House on this
cceasion, for of all the dry subjects—(Laughter)—that
could possibly he devised, and which it had ever been his
misfortune to bring forward, this was the most tedious,
and he feared that neither wit, talent, or ingenuity
would suffice to make it agreeable. He believed that
the Right Hon. Baronet desired by his measure to do
justice to all parties, but he (Lord G. Bentinek)
believed also that the Right Hon. Geutleman was en-
tirely in error in the result at which he had arrived. He
was compelled to say that this question was not one of
pounds and shillings; hu:, one of pence, halfpence, aye,
and one of the twentieth parts of farthingq, and it was
for that very reason that it was of such universal appli-
cation, and it would be better entertained in a Select Com-
mittee up stairs than in a Committee of the whole House.