The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-07 00:00:00

of the measure on the subject of the navigation-laws,
whether it was the intention of the President of the
Board of Trade to introduce some measure to relieve
shipowners from the difficulties which at present they
had to contend with. _ .

Mr. LA BOUCHERE was quite aware of the exist-
ance of the grievance to which the Hon. Member had
alluded, and the subject had frequently been under the
consideration of the Board of Trade. He believed the cause
•f the grievance was, that Quebec, to which the question
applied, was a ship-building p9rt, and the higher rate of
wages which was given there afforded an inducement to
the seamen to desert their ships. It would be a matter
of extreme difficulty to apply any remedy
to a grievance of that de3cription, but the
attention of Lord Elgin, the Governor of Canada,
had been specially directed to the matter, with the view
of applying some remedy.
ANNUITY-TAX (SCOTLAND).
Mr. HUME presented a petition from Montrose com-
plaining of the annuity-tax which was payable to the
Minister, and praying that as it was a very unpopular
tax, and that as Edinburgh and Montrose were the only
two towns which were called to contribute it, the House
would take some measure to abolish it.
THE SUGAR DUTIES.

Lord G. BENTINCK enquired if the Government
intended to proceed with the Sugar Duties this ever:jag?
The Bill stood thirty•five on the paper. The mat-
ter was one of great interest, and it was desi-
rous that the public interested should have the earliest
intimation of the p,riocl when the Government intended
to proceed with the Bill?
Lord J. RUSSELL feared (as we understood) that it
could not be taken to-night; it would, however, be pro-
ceeded with as soon as possible.
COMMERCIAL DISTRESS.

Mr. URQUHART wished to know from the Hon.
Gentleman the Member for Stamford (Mr. Hen ice) if he
had arranged for a day on which to proceed with his
motion with respect to the commercial distress.
Mr. HERRIES (who happened to be sitting next but
one to tee Premier, and in the place usually occupied by
the the Chancellor of the Exchequer, rose amidst some
laughter to reply to the question. He said he happened
to find himself on the wrung side of the House.—(Laugh-
ter.) He appealed to the Noble Lord for information
The subject, he need not inform him, was one of para-
mount importance, and an opportunity should be afforded
of discussing the reports of the Committee before the
House separated. Unless this opportunity were
afforded, the House and the Government would not
stand well with the country. If that opportuity
could not be afforded, he hoped early in the ensuing
session the subject would receive that consideration to
which it was entitled.
Lord J. RUSSELL could not in the present state of
the business fix a day, but suggested that Tuesday, the
only open day, might be taken advantage of by the Hon.
Gentleman to bring on his motion.
EMIGRATION.—THE WEDNESDAY SITTINGS.
Lord ASHLEY inquired if the Government were
prepared to take the subject of emigration into their
serious consideration during the recess—he meant more
with a view of diffusing information than by aiding
emigration by votes out of the public money.
Lord J. RUSSELL replied that it would not be desir-
able at present, if the Government had the means to pro-
pose any large grant for the purpose of aiding emigration.
Persons wishing to emigrate should concert amongst
themselves as to the best, means of doing so. The Go-
vernment would be happy to afford all the information in
their power with respect to emigration.
Lord G. BENTINCK hoped the Noble Lord had not
forgotten the promised loan of half a million to the colo-
nies for the purpose of promoting emigration.
Lord J. RUSSELL replied that he had not forgotten
the matter. He was anxious to take the usual votes in
a Committee of Supply, and with a view to facilitate the
public business in this and other respects, he should to-
morrow move that the standing order be suspended with
respect to the Wednesday sittings, and to propose that the
Speaker take the chair at twelve, and sit till three ; then
to adjourn till five, when he should resume it, in order
that the House might sit during the evening. The usual
business would be proceeded with until three, and at five
go into a Committee of Supply. On Wednesday,
at five o'clock, the Navy Estimates would be moved.
He should move Committees of Supply on Wednesday,
Monday, and Friday, at five o'clock.
AMERICAN POSTAGE.
In reply to Mr. CARDWELL,
Lord PALMERSTON stated that the correspondence
with the American Government had not been brought
to a close. On its termination he should feel happy to
produce it, but it was not the custom fur the Government,
unlike that of America, to produce documents of the kind
before the matters to which the correspondence had
reference were brought to a close.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON said he had pressed for the
production of the papers, because he had seen the
correspondence published in the newspapers ; the Ame-
rican Government having done so. He was thus led to
believe that the correspondence was concluded.
SARDINIA AND AUSTRIA.

Mr. P. HOWARD asked the Foreign Secretary,
pursuant to notice, whether it was the intention of her
Majesty's Government, either singly or in concert with
her allies, to mediate between Sardinia and Austria, for
the pacification of the north of Italy.
Lord PALMERSTON said that her Majesty's Go-
vernment were deeply sensible of the importance of
seeing a termination put to the unfortunate warfare in
Italy, and he believed that that desire was equally
shared by the Government of France. It, wa the intention
of the British Government to take steps, he trusted, in
connexion with France, for the purpose of endeavour-
fog to bring that warfare to an end.—(Hear, hear.)
BRITISH SPIRITS WAREHOUSING BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in an-
swer to a question from Mr. M. J. O'Connell, said he
should not be able to proceed with the Bill for the
present.