The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-07 00:00:00

IRISH FISHERIES..

Mr. 111‘MATION asked the Chief S ecretary for Ire-
land whether the fishery commissioners made, on or be-
fore the 31st day of January last, a report to the Lord
Lieutenant of their proceedings, receipts,. and expenditure
for the year 1855, as required by the sttatute in that be-
half ; and if so why a copy of such report was not laid
before Parliament pursuant to the statute ; and if such
report were not made, when it was likely to be made,
and to be laid on the table ?

Mr. HORSMAN said that the report alluded to bad
not been received till later than usual, but it would be
duly presented to the house as early as possible.
BILLETING THE MILITIA.

On the motion that the house should go into Commit-
mittee of Supply.
Mr. COWAN rose to bring forward the motion of
which he had given notice—it was that, in the opinion
of this house, the practice of billeting soldiers of the
militia and of the line in Scotland upon private families
was injurious to the comfort and discipline of the men, se
well as oppressive to the people ; and that it is the duty
of the Governmentto take means permanently to abolish
the grievance. The hon. member then proceeded to
detail the grievances that fell very heavily upon the in-
habitants of that country, and which every class was
anxious to shift to those next below them. The wretched
remuneration which the War-office paid, was three-
halfpence pir night for each soldier, and in many in-
stances members of the families on which soldiers and the
militia had been billeted bad been obliged to give up their
beds to accommodate them.
Sir A. AGNEW seconded the motion.

Mr. BAXTER supported the motion. It might be
true that, now peace was established, the evil com•
plained of would speedily be remedied ; but what was
wanted was an alteration of the present system, so that,
should the country be again unfortunately plunged into
war, the people would have no cause to complain.

Mr. F. PEEL said that the conclusion of the war had
put an end to all that could he complained of with regard
to this queetton, which had arisen from the necessity for
the embodiment of the militia, and the billetting
them in the prinoipal towns of their respective
counties. The militia would,,no doubt, now be speedily
disembodied. The Government had not omitted to
make every exertion in its power to relieve this
grievance. There bad been but 10,000 militia
men raised in Scotland, and but 2,000 billetted
at one time throughout that country. Barracks in
Scotland were situated at a great distance from each
other, and without soldiers could be marched at
once direct from one barracks to another it would
be impossible to dispense with billeting the soldiers of
the line on the people, unless barracks were erected in
almost every town in that country.
Sir J. FERGIISSON deprecated the present system
of billetting in Scotland. Hopes bad been held out by
the Government to rc'i,:ve that country from this-griev-
I e 3, but they bad not been fulfil,ed. In time of war
the patriotism of the people was appealed to
to submit to this grievance, and at the end
of the war the people were told the necessity
0" the continuance of billeting was at an end, and were
asked to be satisfied with that assurance, but it was the
principle against which the people of thai country pro-
tested, and considered now was the time to press their
grievance an I obtain a remedy befire another war might
unhappily occur.
Mnt EWA.RT hoped that the Government would
have propostd a remedy for the injustice com-
plained. The Scotea people complained that there
was one law for that country and another
for the peop'e of England and Ireland with regard to
the billeting system. In the former, the poorest inhabi-
tants had the tuilitia and soldier forced on them, which
was not the case in England and Ireland. It was no
answer to the grievance, to say it was in accordance
with the law of that land, which dated upwards of 150
years, and since which many great changes had
taken place there, which r!ndered this system now so
very oppressive to the people.
Mr. J. M`GREGOR also supported the motion. He
dif- not expect that this system could be at once put an
end to, but he did expect that a Government would give
a pledge that it should be as soon as possible assimilated
to that of England. (Hear )

After a few-words fioln Mr. ELME, see., who said he
thought it would be better to wait. and hear wh tt her
Majesty's Government intended to do with regard to the
force to be kept during peace, and the accommodation
tl at wo•l'd be required.

Lord PALMgas-roN sa'd that he admitted the un-
desirableness, both for the discipline of the troops and
the feelings and morality of the people, that sol-
diers. should be, billeted on the public, and more
espe-ctially on private families. He thought the barrack
aecommodatiou of the United Kingdom should be ex-
tended, At the same time it should be borne in mind
the billetting system complained of wa3 a law that
existe 1 before the Act of Union, and could only
be remedied by an alteration in the Mutiny
Acf, which could not be altered until next year,
and therefore he hoped the hon. member would net
press bis motior, Her Majesty's Government won!d
take the question of billeting into consideration, when
they took into consideration other matters connected
with the army and a state of peace.
[LEFT SPEARING.]

THE MILITARY BOARD OF INQUIRY.

(Meeting This Day.)

The Royal Commissioners, appointed to conduct this
inquiry, resumed their sittings this morning at the
Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

Little interest appeared to be taken in the proceed-
logs. Few persons had collected around the principal
entrance of the Hospital 'before the appointed time for
commencing the proceedingq, and there were not more
than 150 persons (which included many ladies), present
in that part of the Hall appropriated to the public.
When the Royal Commissioners took their seats the
numbers shortly after increased, and by 12 o'clock the
court was about three-quarters full,
The Earl of Lucan, with his solicitor, entered the Hall
at a quarter to 11 o'clock, followed shortly after by Lord
Elcho and others—his lordship's friends. Several
ladies of his lordship's family and their friends were pre-
sent, and accommodated with seats within the bar, and
at the right-hand side of the Hall.

Mr. Mereweather, Q.C., C.)lonel Knox, M.P., Sir J.
Wilson, Sir Edmund Lyons, Lord Raglan, Colonel Gor-
don, General -Upton, Mr. Commissary Filder, General
Airey, and General Freeth were also present.

Hig Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived
about 11 o'clock.

Lieutenant Charles Douglas, of the Adjutant-Gene-
ral's Department, was present to represent the Horse
Guards, and Colonel Bagott acted as secretary to the
Commission.

At a quarter.past 11 o'clock tho Royal Commissioners
took their seats and commenced the day's proceedings,
when

The President (Sir A, U. Woodford) said it was his
duty to impress on the audience the necessity of keeping
strict silence during the inquiry, and to refrain from ex-
pre:sing•any approbation or disapprobatioa in the course
of the proceedings, and trusted there would be no ieter•
ruption of that decorum and good order that ought to
prevail on such an occasion.

The Judge-Advocate-General (the Right Hon. C. P.
Villiers, M.P.) called upon Lord Lucan, and asked him
if he bad, received a copy of the report of the commis-
sioners on the state of the army in the Crimea, and
which part be objcted to as reflecting on his character?
Lord Lucan then rose and addressed the Court, say-
ing that before going into the question at issue he
wished to, ask the Board whether it intended, as his
case was to be ta'cen separately, to adjudicate on it se-
parately and at once, because it wasajl-important to him
that they should do so: It was essential to his case that
it should not be' mixed up with that of any Other oftcer.
He stood there in the character of ..a defendant, and he
respectfullyurgel thathis case should not only be taken
separately, but adjudicated on separately also. He could
understand that there might be an objection to make
known that decision, but he could see none to their ad-
judiCating on it.

The President, after consulting wish the other mem-
bers of the Board, said he did not think the Board could
adjudicate on it in the manner he required,- but declined
giving an answer to the question at that stage of the
proceedings.
Lord Lucan said it was essential to his case that what
heeasked should be granted, and if the Board decided on
refusing his application, he must ask for twenty-foer
hours' delay, in order to consider what course he had bet-
ter pursue.

The Judge-Advodate said, having reminded his lord-
ship of the coatents of his lordship's letter of the 7th
February, with reference to Sir J. /41'Neil and Colonel
Tulloch's report, that hi; lordship was called upon in
consequence of that' to give the explanation he desired
With reference to that part of the report which he con-
sidered reflected on his character, relative to the ineffi-
cient nature of the supplies.

Lord Lucan said that he .must press;his request for
hill ease to be adjudicated on separately, and at once ;
or t that the Court, if averse to it, would grant hint 24
houri" de!ay,`. to consider what course he would then.
pursue.

The Judge-advocate-General said it would be impos-
eible• the Board could know what turn his case might
take befora they beard it. It might implicate other
officers, whom it would be necessary to hear, and might
have a reference and bearing on that of other officers,
who considered their conduct impugned by their re-
port. If the noble lord considered that by his request
not being complied with it would prevent his bringheard
afterwards should any thing be said which he consi
• &red required explanation from him, he astored bitn
such would not be the case, but that be would be allowed
to fully explain anything ha wished.
tord -Luc= said b had no such fears, all 4 premed
hie question on the Board, and asked for their decisig%