The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-21 00:00:00

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

the Earl of DERBY rose to put a question to her
Majesty's Government as to the respective duties and
responsibilities of the Secretary of State for the War
Department and the Commander-in-Chief of her Ma-
jesty's forces, and to move for any document in which
such respective duties may be limited and defined. The
noble lord proceeded to state the important duties that
devolved upon the Secretary for War during a state of
war, and stated that so important were they that the
Secretary for War might almost be termed a dictator to
the rest of his colleagues. The Secretary of State for
War was not to interfere with patronage or promotion.
Such was all the information respecting the duties of
Minister he had been able to obtain. He had had tl e
honour to fill the office of Secretary of State for
the Colonies when it was united with that of Secretary
at War, and he could say, from experience, that the
duties were of a very trifinig character.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(This Evening.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
NEW MEMBER,.

Mr. HARDY took the oaths and his seat for Leomin
star.

An immense quantity of petitions against the opening
of the British Museum, National Gallery, and Crystal
Palace on Sundays.
Sir J. WALMSLEY presented several petitions
in favour of opening the Crystal Palace and British
Museum on Sundays. o.ie "was from Leicester, signed
by the Mayor, on the part of a numerously attended
meeting ; another wsos from the working men of Lei-
cester with their addresses in full ; another from Dover
similarly signed ; another from St. Paul's Churchyard,
sod another from the printers of the metropolis.
Mr. BROCKLELIURST presented three petitions
from Macclesfield against opening the Museum, &c., on
Sundays, via., from the inhabitants, the Sunday school
teachers, and the Independents ; also one from the
Wesleyan body at Knutsford.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented a petition front the
corporation of Birmingham against the Police Bill.

The presentation of petitions this afternoon occupied
Ono hour and five minutes.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Mr. HAYTER, a new writ was
ordered for the borough of Stigo in the room of the late
}sir. J. Sadleir,

EDUCATION.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that on that day fort-
night he would subunit a resolution with reference to
education.

EXETER COLLEGE STATUTES.
Mr. HEY WOOD gave notice that he would move for
an address to her Majesty, praying that she would be
graciously pleased to withhold her consent from certain
statutes of Exeter College, Oxford, recently sanctioned
by the Oxford University Commissioners, and which
impose new religious tests on the scholarships and fel•
lowships of Exeter College.
GRAND JURIES,
Mr. L. KING gave notice for a motion declaring the
:uselessness of grand juries.
POLICE BILL.
Sir G. GREY said he would :rilove the second reading
of this bill on Friday. the 29th inst. If anything
occurred to prevent it he would give further notice to
the house.

THE SUGAR TRADE.
Mr. MOFFATT moved for tabular returns showing
of sugar of the several sorts imported into
the quantities
the United Kingdom, and the quantity retained for
home consumption ; together with the rates of duty
and the net revenue accruing therefrom
in each year, from 1800 to 18.5
charged thereon, and
JOINT-STOCK BANKS,

Ina reply to a question from Mr. DUNLOP,
Mr. LOWE said it wag intended to apply the Joint
Stock Act to Scotland. On i'vionelay he proposed to
proceed with this bill pre Ji)rina, and also with the
Limited Liabilities Bill, and the Local Dues on Ship.
ping Bill.