The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-12 00:00:00

PRICE OF GOLD.

Ihe quotation of gold at Paris is about at par, and
tie short exchange on London is 251. 22;c. per XI sterling
uncimparing these rates with the English Mint price 01
.E 3 •is. 100. per ounce for standard gold, it appe.&rs that
gold at the above price is of higher value in London than
in Paris.
The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at GO
days' sight was on the 10th inst. about lo9lper cent. At this rate
there is no profit on the importation of gold from the United
States.

PARLIAMENTARY SKETCHES.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

Mr. O'Sullivan may be congratulated on bringing
together a larger number of members at the unusual hour
of two in the afternoon since Parliament was opened
in February. By half-past one the major part
of the seats were occupied by members, who
discussed the coming proceedings with evident
zest. The doubt and uncertainty existing as to
whether the Mayor of Cork would really put in an
appearance still continued, although it was known that
the lion of the day was within the precincts of the House.
As it was aptly termed by an Irish member,
in answer to a question whether the erratic mayor would
present himself at the bar, " O'Sullivanwas such a strange
man, that it was impossible for him to know his own
mind for two minutes' together." Such was
the state of affairs when the Speaker walked up
the floor of the House at two o'clock, by which time
not a single seat was unoccupied in the body of the build-
lug. The Peers', Speakers', and Strangers' Galleries were
all crowded ; and the side galleries devoted to members
also presented a very creditable appearance. Among the
peers present were the Earl of Carnarvon, the Earl of
Harrowby, and the Bishop of Peterborough. Prayers
having been read, an exodus of members took place, the
usual formality of presenting petitions and the regular
baiting of Ministers having to be gone through
before the real proceedings of the day commenced.
The notice of motion given by Mr. Candlish—that after
the Whitsuntide holidays he should call attention to the
enormous expense of the Abyssinian Expedition—was
received with favour below the gangway ; and
Mr. Morley was at last- able to get from the
Attorney-General a definite answer as to when the Bank-
ruptcy Bill would be taken in committee. It was half-past
two when the first order of the day was read—that the
O'Sullivan Disability Bill should be read a second
time—when Mr. Maguire rose to move that the
order be discharged. He was greeted with loud cries of
"Order," and the hon. member for Cork had to give way
11 until the Attorney-General had informed the House
that he had carried out the Speaker's order
as to the summoning of witnesses and engaging
counsel, and he concluded by moving that counsel
should be at once heard at the bar of the House.
The question having been put by the Speaker, Mr.
Maguire again rose, and commenced reading a letter from
Mr. O'Sullivan. When he commenced with "My dear Mr.
Maguire," the House roared with laughter, which pre-
vented the speaker from proceeding rok covoro seconds.
As you will learn from the parliamentary report, the letter
stated that he had placed his resignation in the hands of
Mr. Maguire and The O'Donoghue, and that he never en-
tertained the idea which his words had been supposed to
convey. When Mr. Maguire sat down The O'Donoghue
rose from the front seat below the gangway, and
in a few sentences—which were delivered under great
emotion—he pledged the House that the Mayor of Cork
would send his resignation to the Town Council of Cork
this evening. Mr. Gladstone stated that he had
not been previously made acquainted with the
contents of the letter which had just been read,
and expressed his opinion that it would be better for the
House not to proceed with the further prosecution of the
bill, which was greeted with loud cheers from the Liberal
party. In order to provide against Mr. O'Sullivan's
re-election, the right honourable gentleman sug-
gested that the debate should be adjourned for four
weeks, a proposition which appeared to be generally
agreeable to the majority of members. Of course,
it was exceedingly unlikely that the question
would be dropped without Mr. Ncwdegate contributing
his quota to the debate, but his remarks— although received
with respect—were treated with contemptuous silence.
Colonel Wilson-Patten having inquired whether it was a
special or general bill, Mr. Gladstone replied that the bill
only related to Mr. O'Sullivan, and that it did not refer
to mayors in general. Mr. Liddell wanted to go into
the whole question of treasonable language, but he was
interrupted by the Speaker, who reminded him that he
was wandering from the real point under discussion. The
lion. member for South Northumberland thereupon
dropped into his seat, and then Mr. Bo the
testified his
approval
the courseadopted of
Ir. bij
such a difficult matter. iatzoireG oaysesrinirmedentuiine
Government that Mr. O'Sullivan (lid not intend to seek
re-election as mayor ;
and Mr. Hadfield having addressed
the House in his quaint manner, which convulsed the
members with laughter, the Attorney - General
moved that the order of the Speaker summoning the
witnesses be discharged. This was carried without
opposition, as was also Mr. Gladstone's motion that the
second reading of the Disability Bill be adjourned until
this day four weeks. By ten minutes past three the
" scene" was over, and the House once more presented
the stereotyped appearance usually witnessed at &morning
sitting.