The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock, at which hour there was a rather numerous
attendance of. peers. The space before the throne was
also fully occupied, Count Bernstorff, the Prussian Am-
bassador, being present.
THE WAR.—NEUTRALITY OF BELGIUM.
Earl GRANVILLE, after referring to the anxiety produced
by the publication of the terms of a projected treaty between
France and Prussia, said her Majesty's Government had felt
that they could not remain perfectly quiescent under the
circumstances. The noble earl having stated the courses
open to the Government, proceeded to say that on the
30th of July they wrote to the Courts of Prussia and
France expressing their satisfaction at having received an
assurance that neither of the belligerents in-
tended to violate the neutrality of Belgium,
adding that they considered it the duty of both
to maintain the obligations of the treaty which
guaranteed the independence of Belgium. It was further
proposed that a treaty should be entered into recording a
common determination to maintain the independence of
Belgium. The noble earl then stated the provisions of
the treaty in nearly the same words used by Mr. Glad-
stone in the House of Commons, and said that
Austria and Prussia approved of the proposition of Great
Britain, and although he could not say that all the matters
connected with the treaty were settled, yet he might say
as both belligerents had consented to the principle,
the completion of the threaty would be but the
work of a very short period of time. Prus-
sia had telegraphed to Count Bernstoff expressing her
acquiesence to any measure to strengthen the neutrality of
Belgium, and also her assent to the draft treaty, reserving
only its final approval until the measure itself was sub-
mitted. (Cheers.) He hoped that the proceeding
would show that her Majesty's Government had
not been either inactive •or unmindful of the
great importance of maintaining inviolate the nationality
of Belgium.

The Duke of RICHMOND expressed his complete and
entire approval of the steps taken by the Government,
and further said it was a proceeding that would meet with
the approbation of the country at large: (Cheers).
The Foreign Enlistment Act passed through committee,
The Commons' reasons and amendments to the Elemen-
tary Education Bill were considered and agreed to.

The other bills on the paper were forwarded a stage,
and their lordships rose at a quarter to eight.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY.
The Speaker took the chair at ten minutes past three
o'clock.

WANT OF AMMUNITION.

Sir JOHN HAY asked the First Lord of the Admiralty
if it was true, as reported in the Western Morning News
of the 3d August, that the Agincourt and Northumber-
land having been ordered to sea, it was, found that they
could not leave in consequence of the almost total absence
of shells and ammunition at the Bull Point Magazines.
If the Audacious, Iron Duke, and Vanguard, now fitting
at Devonport, would be delayed for want of tanks, of
which there were none in store to fit them, several of that
size having been sold three or four months ago ; and that
the Captain and Manarch were 246 Palliser shot short of
their complement.
Mr. CHILDERS replied that there was not a word of
truth in the statement respecting the Northumberland
and the Agincourt, neither was it true that the Audacious,
Iron Duke, and Vanguard would be delayed for the want
of tanks. It was not true that the Captain and the
Monarch were 246 Palliser shot short of their
complement, but they were short of the new pattern of
shot recommended to the Admiralty some time ago. In
reference to the latter part of the question, the right
hon. gentleman referred to the factories of Sheerness and
Chatham.