The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-23 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, the
produce of the British possessions in America, computed
from the returns made in the week ending Jan. 20, 1846, is
84s. 2id. per cwt.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.) -

• HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.:
EDINBURGH AND PEEBLES RAILWAY.

Mr. MACKENZIE presented a petition in favour of
a railway from Edinburgh to Peebles.
MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.

Mr. ENTWISLE presented petitions in favour of the
Manchester and Birmingham Railway.
AGRICULTURAL PROTECTION.

Mr. LAWSON presented petitions from Borough-
bridge, Skelton, and twelve other towns in the West and
North Ridings of Yorkshire, in favour of protection to
agriculture.
CORN-LAWS.

Mr. VILLIERS presented a petition praying for the
immediate and total repeal of the corn-laws.
THE CONVICT SYSTEM IN VAN DIEMEN'S

LAND.

Mr. EWART presented a petition from Van Diemen's
Land, praying for the total abolition of the present sys-
tem of making that colony a general receptacle of the
transported convicts of this country. The petitioners
stated that this system had been found to
be attended with many evils, and the co-
lony, from being in the nourishing condi•
tion it was in before 1849, had considerably altered
for the worse. In 1844 a change had taken place in the
mode of transportation, for the Noble Lord the late Se-
cretary, had issued an order confining transported con-
victs to the single colony of Van Diemen's Land. In
the last four years it appeared that not less than 14,000
convicts had been sent there, and the consequence was
that vice had increased, and the morals of
the colony generally been greatly deteriorated.
The colonists said that they lived in a constant state[of
dread, and were apprehensive both for themselves and
their families, and that looking forward to the probable
state of the island, they could not wish to leave their
children in the midst of so much vice. There was also
another circumstance of a fearful character, and which
called for the utmost indignation of the country. It
was believed that it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to send convicts from Norfolk Island to that
colony, and if those were added to the number already
there, it would make the place a scene of vice of the
most intolerable character. They therefore prayed that
the number of convicts sent to that island might
be reduced, and the practice gradually discontinued.
THE NELSON MONUMENT.
Mr. COLLETT wished to ask the Noble Lord, who
was at the head of the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests why the Nelson Monument, in Trafalgar-
square, was not finished; and why its completion had
been delayed so long, and whether it was the intention
of Government to complete it at all ?
The Earl of LINCOLN said that the monument bad
originally been projected by private individuals, and
subscriptions had been raised for its erection. It had
remained unfinished so long in consequence of a deft•
ciency in the subscriptions, and the Government, finding
that no more money was likely to be subscribed,
had unertaken its completion. The Honourable
Member would remember that at the close of lest session
a sum of money was voted for the purpose of finishing
the monument. The reason of its delay at present was
in consequence of the great difficulty of obtaining granite
of the large size required. With regard to the orna-
ments round the base, the Government had decided upon
employing three or four first-rate artists, and there could
be little doubt that the work would be finished in the
course of a few months.
CORN-LAWS.

Mr. ESCOTT presented a petition from a place in
the county of Somerset, praying that the House would
adopt such measures as would relieve the wants of the
country.
Mr. MILNES was sorry that the Hon. Member—
(Cries of "Order, order,' in the midst of which the
Hon. Gentleman resumed his seat).
Mr. COLVILE presented a petition from the county
of Derby in favour of agricultural protection.
Mr. E. WODEHOUSE moved that all papers con-
nected with the appointment of Mr. Chapman (late as-
sistant commissioner for the purpose of inquiring into
hand loom weaving), to the Chief Justiceship of Welling-
ton, in New Zealand, be laid upon the table.
Dr. BOWRING moved for the correspondence, or
extracts of correspondence, on the subject of the Eclair,
and of the epidemy which broke out in the said vessel ;
with copies of any orders issued from the public depart-
ments regarding the same.
COLLEGES IN IRELAND.
Mr. ROSS, seeing the Right Hon. Gentleman, the
Secretery for Ireland, in his place, wished to put a ques.
tion to him on a subject of very great interest in Ireland.
The House would be aware that there was in or near
Belfast a col'ege being erected by the Government,
and he wished to know whether the Government in-
tended erecting it in the very inconvenient situation an-
ticipated by the public ?
Sir THOMAS IfREMANTLE said, that in answer
to the Hon. Gentleman, he might say that the subject
would meet with the most careful consideration of the
Government.mr
.ROSS—Am
oss
—Am I to understand that the building
will be raised within the precincts
_ of
the
site h
to weat:
Sir T. FREMANTLE
Tactual not been
finally fixed upon.
SESSIONAL ORDERS.

Mr. CARDWELL-moved the usual Sessional Orders.
The SPEAKER then read the orders from
Mr. 'WILLIAMS thought it was of no its chair,
such sessional orders, in as far as they related otoptne
election of the Members of that House, as it was noto •
rious they could not carry them out. Before these or-
ders were allowed to pass as a matter of course, they ought
to ascertain how far they possessed the power of enforc-
ing them. It was well known that in a great number of
instances the Members of that House were elected under
the influence of the Peers. In any county wherever
there were three or four Peers possessing large estates,
persons acquainted with election matters well know how
matters would turn. They could tell that no other per-
son would be returned, unless he had the sanction of ,