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

REPEAL OF THE WINDOW-TAX.

Petitions against the window-tax were presented by,
Mr. C. LussuNGToss, from the Westminster Reform As-
sociation, and by Mr. HOLLAND, from the Mayor, Alder-
men, and burgesses of Lichfield.
Several other petitions were also presented against the
window-tax.
Colonel SIBTHORP presented a petition praying
for the abolition of the attorneys' certificate duty.
The Marquis of GRANBY presented a petition from
the Corporation of Stamford against the Papal ag-
gression.
Sir B. HALL presented a petition to the same effect,
signed by 14,500 of the inhabitants of St. Pancras.
LANDLORD AND TENANT LAW IN IRELAND.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL wished to ask the question, of
which he had given notice, viz., as to whether it was
the intention of her Majesty 's Government to bring in
a Bill to amend the relations between landlord and
tenant in Ireland; and if so, at what time it will be in-
troduced?
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that it was his intention
at present to introduce some measure upon the subject
but what the particular nature of the measure might be
or at what time it would be introduced, he could not at
the present time possibly say.
STAMP ACT FOR IRELAND.
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL wished to ask if it was
the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to
emend the Stamp Act of last session (13 and 14 Vic., c.
97), or so much of it as confines the trial of all Stamp
appeals to her Majesty's Court of Exchequer at West-
minster, instead of allowing those arising in Ireland to
be, tried in that country ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he was sorry to say he could not answer the Hon.
and Learned Member's question satisfactorily.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Mr. DISRAELI said that, seeing that the Hon. Mem-
ber for East Yorkshire (Mr. Cayley) was in his place,
he would beg to ask him a question, and trusted to re-
ceive a favourable reply. He had himself given notice of
a motion for Tuesday week f considering the distress
which prevailed in the agricultural districts, as it had
been remarked upon in her Majesty's Speech. But the
Hun. Member (Mr. Ca} ley) had preceded him with a
notice for the s one day, tor the consideration of the aho•
lition of the malt-tax. Now, as the motion bf Thich he
had given notice embraced the while of the suffering
endured under the malt-tax, the question which he de-
sired to ask was, whether the Hon. Member would give
way to him and postpone his motion; and he was
induced to ask this question because he believed that
it would teed greatly to the convenience of the House
if the Hon. Member would postpone the motion of which
he had given notice.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. CAYLEY said that, seeing the experience which
he had obtained last session of the result which occurred
when an independent Member consented to postpone
his motion; and that if he once allowed an interruption
of his proceedings there was very little doubt but that he
would find himself postponed fur five months—(Hear,
hear, and laughter)—it was with considerable difficulty
that he prevailed upon himself to yield to the request
which had just been made to him—(Hear, hear, and
cheers)—yet, seeing the truth of his observations, and
considering his position, he could not do otherwise than
ask the Honourable Member for Buckinghamshire
(Mr. Disraeli) if, in the event of his own motion
failing, he would himself undertake the malt tax?
Mr. DISRAELI thankfully accepted the concession
of the Hon. Member, and, as it might tend to the con-
venience of the House, he would now state the sub-
stance of the motion which he intended to propose.
It was to this effect—" Seeing that the distress which
so extensively prevailed in the agricultural districts had
been markedly noticed in her Majesty's Speech, it was
the hope of the House that her Majesty's Ministers
would shortly introduce some measure for the relief of
that distress."—“Haar. hear, and cheers.)
DIFFERENTIAL DUTIES LEVIED ON BRITISH
SHIPPING IN SPANISH PORTS.

Mr. ANDERSON wished to ilisc7citit Palmer-
ston, whether he has yet been able to induce the Go-
vernment of Spain so far to reciprocate the commercial
policy of this country as to abandon the levying of
higher duties in the ports of Spain and her dependen-
cies on goods, when imported and exported in British
ships, than when imported and exported in Spanish ship?
Lord PALMERSTON said that several communica-
tions had passed between the two countries, but nothing
conclusive had yet resulted.

Mr. ANDEIiSON then gave notice that on the 18th
of February he should bring forward a motion with a
view to the abolishing of such differential duties.
ADVANCES TO IRELAND.
Mr. SADLEIR wished to ask the Attorney-General if
he intended to introduce before Easter the Securities for
Advances (Ireland) Bill, and a Bill, to amend the En-
cumbered E,tstes Act?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that it was his
intention to introduce a Bill on the subject, but could
not say at what time he should do so.
FIRE AT Ti iE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
Mr. LAWLESS said that, seeing the Noble Lord at
the head of the Woods and Forests in his place, he
would repeat the questions which he had put last night.
Lord SEYNIOUR said that before he could an-
swer the questions he must make a few observations.
He had seen Mr. Barry to-day, and that gentleman said
he had not been able to ascertain the cause of the fire.
There was a great accumulation of wood in the tower.
The left of the tower, were the fire broke out, had been
locked all the morning, but when the fire was dis-
covered it was unlocked. With regard to the
ne at question, sa far as the tower was concerned,
all the wood had been entirely removed.—(Laughter.)
Thera were eight tanks for high and low water service
about the building. Of the four fcr high water service
two of them were erepry—(Laugher)—while the water
in the other two was nut available at the time the fire
was raging.—(Laughter.) The low water tanks ought
to have been chsrgea, hut Mr. Barry said they
were not.—(Laughter.) There wers two reservoirs
available for the (louse, one in Orange-street and the
other on Constitution hill, but they were too far cif,
and Mr. Barry thonght it would be necessary to have
another capable of suppling water copiously in case of
fire aboui, the House.—(Laughter.)

ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.
Sir B. HALL wished to ask the Right Honourable
Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department
a question relating to the Ecclesiastical Courts of this
country. It would be remembered that last session he
alluded to an appointment which had been made by the
Archbishop of Canterbury to a reversionary office in the
Prerogative Court worth 10,000/., and to a similar
appointment by another dignitary of the Church, and he
wished now to know whether it was the intention of Go..
vernment to introduce this session any measure to remedy
those evils, and generally to reform the system of our
Ecclesiastical Courts? He also wished to ask the
Right Honourable Baronet whether it was his intention
to bring in any Bill for dividing large and populous
parishes?
Sir G. GREY said a Bill was under consideration
with reference to the Ecclesiastical Courts, but he could
hold out no hope when it would be brought in. With
regard to dividing populous parishes, Government did
intend to propose a Bill on the subject.

CHOLERA IN JAMAICA.
Mr. GOULBURN wished to know if the Colonial
Department bad any objection to lay on the table any
returns they might have received relative to the progress
of the cholera i❑ Jamaica; and whether it was the in-
tention of Government to take steps to relieve the colony
in any way.

Mi. HAWES had no objection to produce all the
papers on the subject; but with regard to the second
question, all he could say was the Noble Lord at the
head of the Colonial Department was in communication
with the colony upon the matter of relief, and everything
would be done that was in the power of the Government,
BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.
Mr. BERRIES wished to ask the Right Hon. the
President of the Board of Trade when the usual
monthly returns of trade and commerce were likely to be
forthcoming. Perhaps, at the same time, it would be as
well for him to intimate that it was not his
intention to bring forward the motion of which he had
given notice for Tuesday next.
Mr. LABOUCHERE had made inquiries on the sub-
ject of the returns, and he hoped to be able to lay them
before the House on Monday.
EC CLESI S TIC A L MATTERS.

Sir R. H. INGLIS, adverting to Sir B. Hall's question
reported above, said the Hon. Baronet was mistaken in
supposing the appointments to which he referred were
sinecures, and so he thought the Right Hon. the Secre-
pary of State tor the Home Department eculd c snfiim.
Sir GEORGE GREY said he had certainly received
a communication trom the Archbishop of Canterbury to
that eff, et.