The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENINU, FEBRUARY 24, 1860.

THIN D EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Ecven o' Clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T.

HOUSE OF LARDS-(THIS EVENING.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
it five o'clock.

CHURCH RATES.

The Earl of DOSOTJCiilliiiikE presented petitions
against the abolition of church rates.
THE NEW TREATY.

Lord EBURY presented aieit don from Spitalfields
against any alteration in the duty on silk. _

[LEFT SITTING.]

SPAIN AND MOROCCO.

The Earl of CARNARVON drew the attention of their
lordships to statements that had appeared in the newspapers
this day, relative to the terms of peace stated to have been
offered by Marshal O'Donnell to the Moors. (The de-
spatch will be found in another part of The Sun.)
The noble earl quoted from a correspondence between the
noble lord at the head of the Foreign-office and the British
ambassador at Madrid, in which a distinct declaration
was said to have been received from the Spanish
Government to the effect that it had no intention
of increasing its territory in Africa. This declaration was
precisely in opposition to the proposed arrangement. The
importance of preventing any European Power preponde-
rating on the coast of Africa could not be overrated. He
should very much like to know -whether any intelligence
had been received by the Government ; and, if so, whether
there would be any objection to its production ?
Lord WODE HOUSE said the Government had received
information similar to that which had appeared in the pa-
pers; but as the noble lord had given no intimation that
he intended to ask the question, he was unable at that time
to go into the details.
DIVINE SERVICE IN THEATRES.

Viscount DUNGANNON called attention to the per-
formance of Divine Service at Sadler's Wells and other
theatres by clergymen of the Church of England on Stin
da3r evenings; and moved a resolution to the effect &at-
such services, being irregular and inconsistent with order,
are calculated to injure rather than advance the progress
of sound religious principles throughout the country.
The noble lord took the opportunity of entering at length
into the question, and said that there was not a peer in the
house would point to a case of a clergyman ever
preaching the word of God on the boards of a thea-
tre. He thought that a place where comedy,
farce, and pantomime had been a few hours before
performed was not a place fitted for the public worship of
the Almighty At Sadler's Wells, it was said the curtain
rose and the clergyman was discovered in a pulpit sur-
rounded by a garden scene, and many of the au-
dience in the front boxes wore their white kid
gloves, and, instead of divine worship, any one would
have imagined before the curtain rose a pantomime was
to be performed, rather than the Word of God preached.
He could not understand how it was thought desirable to
secure the public theatres for such a purpose when there
were other places quite as commodious and as easy of ac-
cess. Under all the circumstances he thought the effect of
such religious services would detract from, rather than
benefit the Church of England.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS EVENING.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NE WRY.

Tho SPEAKER announced that he had received a com-
munication to the effect, that the petition against the return
of the member for Newry would not be proceeded with.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Blyth Harbour Dock Bill was read a second time.
PETITIONS.

The early part of the evening was occupied with the pre-
sentation of petitions relating chiefly to the Budget; against
the abolition of church rates; marriage with a deceased
wife's sister, &c.

DIOCESE OF DURHAM.
Mr. HOWARD moved for a copy of any memorial or
letter addressed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for
England, in respect of local claims from the diocese of
Durham on the funds of the commissioners, and of any
answer thereto.—Ordered.
TREATY WITH FRANCE.
Lord J. RUSSELL laid on the table the negotiations re-
lating to the treaty with Franco.

State for the Colonies, whether her Majesty's Government
had decided to advise the Queen to withhold the royal
assent from the bill lately passed by the Legislature of
Tasmania, for reducing the salaries of the colonial chap-
lains.

Mr. C. PORTESCUE said that the Crown would take
,he steps necessary in refererence to the matter.
PRISONS' ACT (SCOTLAND).

Mr. E. CRAUFURD asked the Lord Advocate what

course he intends to pursue with regard to the Prisons' Act
(Scotland) Continuance Bill ; and whether he would under-
take to introduce a general bill to abolish the Prison Board,
and to amend the present system of prison assessments in
Scotland, at a period sufficiently early to ensure its being
dealt with during the present session ?
The LORD ADVOCATE said that he intended to pro-
ceed with the Prisons Act (Scotland) Continuance Bill,
and also with the Prisons Assessments Bill at an early
period.

LONDON GAZETTE-(THIS EVENING.)

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 22d day of
February. 1860, present, the Queen's Most Excellent Ma-
jesty in Council.
This day the Right Hon. William Hutt was, by her Ma-
jesty's command, sworn of her Majesty's Most Hon. l'rivy
Council, and took his place at the Board accordingly.
Her Majesty in Council was this day pleased to appoint
the Right hon William Hutt to be President of the Com-
mittee of Council appointed for the consideration of all
matters relating to trade and foreign plantations, in the
absence of the President of the said Committee for the time
being.