The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-02 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

The Eirl of MALMESBURY presented a petition
from Jersey for the preservation of the Crystal Palace.
He considered this a most absurd petition, for he could
not imagine what interest the petitioners could have in
the matter.

The Earl of CARLISLE presented several petitions
,n favour of the preservation of the Crystal Palace.
NEW FOREST DEER REMOVAL. BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
NAVAL PROMOTIONS.

Earl TALBOT moved for a copy of the Order in
Ginned recently issued for the regulation of
promotions in the navy. He knew that he brought
this motion forward under great disadvantages at this
late period of the session, when the business was nearly
wound up and the anneal fish dinner was fixed for to-
morrow. He considered that this measure inflicted a
great injustice on the officers in the service, and he hoped
they would undergo revision. Several officers would be
very hardly treated by this Order in Council, by being
placed against their wills on the reserved list, and he had
received several letters from some of these officers com-
plaining of that injustice. Among those who were thus
unfairly treated were Sir A. Green, Rear-Admiral
Forbes, Sir John Ross, Sir George Westphal', Captain
O'Brien. One of the officers who had been placed upon
the reserved list, on the ground that he had not served
a sufficient time afloat, had applied for employment no
less than 80 times—once a quarter, for twenty years, he
had applied to the Admiralty for employment. There
were great complaints in the service that employment
was only given to particular men and particular sets, to
the exclusion of others. He wished to know whether
coast guard service and inspecting service, and gunner
service, would reckon for promotion. There were many
officers constantly employed. Now the continued employ-
ment of Sir W. Parker in the Mediterranean was a
reflection on all other officers, as if there were no
other officers capable of commanding it. It was
said ho was to have another command when he
came home, and if so it was a shame.
Then again Captain Martin had served his time in com-
mand of his fleet. Why was not he called home, and
why were others excluded ? He did not mean
to cast the slightest reflection on those
gallant officers, who were admirably fitted for their
commands, and had always done their duty, but it was an
injustice to others not to give them tho same chance
of service as had been given to those officers. With these
perpetual changes introduced by Orders in Council
naval officers did not know what they had to trust to.
He thought that every officer, as the time approached
when he would be eligible for a flag, should have an op-
portunity afforded him of commanding a ship, and
to serve out his time. The Noble Earl concluded by
moving formally for the production of the Order in
Council.

Earl GREY could have no objection to grant the
motion for the production of the Orders in Council.
With regard to the production of the rules adopted by
the Admiralty for their guidance, in the selection of
their officers, those rules were never reduced to writing.
Earl TALBOT would not press for their production.
Earl GREY did not object to the production
of the other papers, and when the Noble Earl drew
the attention of the House to those papers, then
would be the time to discuss the question which the
Noble Earl wished to raise. It was undoubtedly
a matter of great importance to reduce our
overburdened navy list, and such a reduction would
be not less beneficial to the service than to the
public. He regretted that his Noble Friend had
adopted the dangerous and unconstitu►ional practice of
canvassing the claims of particular officers. It was
a practice dangerous to the interests of the service and
the constitution of the country.
The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND said he thougt
it most desirable that officers should know what were
the rules of the Admiralty with respect to promotion,
so that they might be aware of what they had to expect.
He should, therefore, propose that the motion should be
left in its integrity.
The Earl of MINTO said that there were no such
formal rules as those refered to in the latter part of the
motion. The Noble Earl (Earl Minto), i❑ conclusion, ob-
served that he believed there was no objection to grant
the former part of the motion of the Noble Earl opposite
(Earl Talbot), and which was in terms to the following
effect, namely, "For copies of so much of the Orders in
Council of the 20th June, 1827, and the 10th August,
"1840, as related to the promotion of captains and com-
manders in the navy."
Earl TALBOT in briefly replying, wished to advert
to one point alluded to by the Noble Earl (Earl Grey)
who had succeeded him in that discussion. It had been
observed that he wanted only to promote the interests
of the profession, without at all considering those of the
public; now he thought he could not substantially ad-
vance the interests of the profession without advancing
those of the public also.
The first part of the motion was then agreed to, and
the second negatived without a division.
ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal assent was then given by Commission to
the following Bills:
Chief Justices' Stlaries.
Woods, Forests, &e.
Tithe Rent-charge Assessment.
Arrest of Absconding Debtors.
Expenses of Prosecutions.
Hainault Forest.
Victoria-park.