The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON SAT URI) Y EVENING, MARCH 10, 1, 60.

fact tikatitilost each year as many mariners as were equal
to the ship's company of a first-rate man-of-war, should im-
pel them to immediate and strenuous efforts to carry out the
recommendations made to Government on the subject.
Mr. M. 'GIBSON replied that in consequence of the in-
quiry which had taken place before the committee, and also
of toe proposals made by the commission to which reference
had been made, the Government. had felt it to be their duty
to give this subject their most careful consideration. Un-
doubtedly great expectations had been excited upon the
subject by the reports which had been made, and by the re-
commendations of the committee and the commission. The
Government had formed their views as to what measures
they should submit to Parliament on the subject, and when
the state of the public business permitted, these views and
measures would be submitted to the house and fully ex-
plained. At present hon. members would excuse him from
entering into any details. He could only assure them and
the house that the Government were fully impressed with
a sense of the importance of the subject.
THE SHRUBS IN HYDE PARK.

Mr. COWPER, in reply to several questions, said—
With regard to the numerous questions of the hon. member
for Middlesex, and other hon. members, as to the shrubs in
Hyde-park, I will state simply what I believe has occurred.
When my late predecessor, whose loss has been so much
deplored by the whole house, had to consider the subject, he
thought it would be better to increase the amount of space
given to the flowers, and for that purpose it was desirable to
curtail the portion wcupied by trees and shrubs. The late
Mr. Fitzroy seemed to have expressed an opinio .4 hit the
mixture of trees, shrubs, and flowers was not al age her de-
sirable ; and though he did not wish to make the place bare,
he did desire to substitute another arrangement. He gave
his orders early in October for tho removal of the trees and
shrubs, audit was only at the suggestion of some one else
that the actual operations were postponed until the end of
November. There is no reason to suppose that the trees
and shrubs had not been planted in the very best manner.
They were planted under the care of Lord- Llanover, whose
practical experience in such matters, and zeal, was a gua-
rantee that the work was well and fairly done. But there
certainly were trees placed in that part of the park which it
was thought not desirable to have there, and that was the
reason why my immediate predecessor gave orders to have
them removed. lam not aware that any serious damage
has been done to the trees and shrubs in their removal, and
I am informed that when they shall be placed in the ground
again they will sprout out as vigorously and as successfully
as ever. (Laughter.) I do not desire to express any opinion
as to the fact. (Hear.) Time will show whether they are to
grow or not—(laughter)—all I desire is that the ground
should be again planted with flowers as far as can be done
with advantage, and that where the space is too large it
should be planted with shrubs, either deciduous or ever-
green, and I believe it will then be more pleasant to walk
in—when the shrubs are alone—than it was originally. I
find no reason to find fault with the superintendent of the
parks who originally planted the trees and shrubs. I think
he is the best person to have the care of them, and that the
person who uprooted them is the very best person to plant
them again. (Laughter.) May I add that I hope the last
operation will be as successful as the first. (Hear, hear, and
laughter.) With reference to the enclosure in the park and
the cows, it was in obedience to the feelings of the public
that the cows were prevented ranging over the whole park,
and a fence was put up in order that they might be circum-
scribed in their walks. (Laughter.) The only mistake that
seems to have been committed Was, that in shutting in the
cows the fence put up also shut out the pedestrians. (Loud
laughter.) But when 1 observed the mistake I ordered that
openings might be made in the railings of a size too small
to admit cows to pass through, but which would admit a
gentleman, a child, and, if possible, a lady. (Laughter.)
When the openings are made in that way, I hope they will
meet with approbation ; but if too wide or too narrow, I
shall be happy to make them of the exact size that will suit.
(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
THE CONFESSIONAL.

Mr. BOWYER rose to ask the Home Secretary a ques-
tion regarding the committal of a Roman Catholic priest at
the Durham Assizes for refusing to disclose statements
made to him in confession. During the trial of a prisoner
a Roman Catholic priest was called as a witness, and, on
being asked from whom he received a certain watch, refused
to answer. It was evident that if the priest had answered
the question he would have divulged the most material part
of the confession, for when a person confessed a theft he
was bound to make restitution of the thing stolen ; and the
watch was, no doubt, given to the priest in confession. The
judge told the priest that he was not asked to divulge any-
thing communicated to him in confession, but he was only
asked who gave him the watch. This appeared to be a dis-
tinction without a difference. The priest, however, was
committed for contempt. He wished to say nothing but
what was respectful to Mr. Justice Hill, but he thought the
matter was a mistake and an oppressive one. He thought
he was warranted in saying that by the old common law of
England the seal of confession constituted a privilege. An
attorney was not required to divulge anything told him by
his client, and the seal of confession was not of less high a
nature. What he wished to ask was, whether the rev.
gentleman who had been committed to prison had been set
at liberty, and, if not, he should like to know whether the
Government would take steps that he might be immediately
liberated.