The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-28 00:00:00

French it would be impossible, at the beginning of the
war, to keep up our convoys to enable merchants to make
their voyages. The navigation of the -seas by merchants
would be stopped, and a great many men employed in the
naval service would then be disposable here for her Majesty's
service. The same thing would occur in every part of the
world, for the merchant would be afraid of putting his ship
to sea unless he could receive a great degree of protection
from men of war. Therefore the men of the merchant
service in different districts abroad would be available for
service in the Queen's ships in the same districts ; and,
even if the proposed naval reserve should fail, still he
' thought there would be that reserve which he had just
now alluded to, and of which no circumstances could
deprive this country. He must say that the account
given by the noble duke of the prospects of the naval
reserve was a great deal better than he had expected ;
and, considering that the Admiralty had confined themselves
in the first instance to accepting as volunteers able seamen,
he had no doubt, recollecting how comparatively few were
the numbers of that body, they might congratulate them-
selves on having established a system which would produce
on paper a respectable force. He was, however, under the
apprehension that, in consequence of the men being engaged
in distant voyages, the number available in war would not
be so great as he should desire to see. There was one thing
he would venture to recommend, and that was the Admi-
ralty should consult Lieut. Brown, who was a perfect mas-
ter of this subject. He would likewise advise them to have
at all times in their possession an account of the number of
seamen actually in this ccuntry. The number, of course,
varied at different times, but there should be no week in
which the Government should not be aware of the total force
of the seamen in the country. He congratulated the coun-
try on. the efforts made by successive Boards of Admiralty
to improl, e the condition of the seamen. There could be no
doubt that the country had acted with great wisdom, libe-
rality, and benevolence towards the seamen, and he trusted
that the jealousies and suspicions entertained by the latter
would gradually cease to exist, when the seamen observed,
as they must of necessity soon perceive, the kind manner in
which they were dealt with by successive Boards of Admi-
ralty and by Parliament. (Rear, hear.)
, 'ORDNANCE SURVEY OF RAILWAYS.
The Earl of PO WIS asked the Under-Secretary for War
what provision was made for marking on the complete
sheets of the Ordnance Survey new lines of railway as they
were opened for traffic ?
The Earl DE GREY and RIPON replied that officers
went about the country from time to time to survey different
lines as they were made. The reports of those surveys were
sent to the office at Southampton, and then the plates from
which the sheets were printed were altered by laying down
the new lines. Surveys were being continually made, and
the stock of printed sheets kept on hand was extremely
small.
Their lordships then adjourned.
.s

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

NEW MEMBER.

Captain STACKPOLE took the oaths and his seat as mem-
ber for the borough of Ennis.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were considered and ordered for
third reading :—Blackburn Gas, Silverdale and Newcastle
Railway, and West Middlesex ater.
PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented against the uncondi-
tional abolition of church rates ; in favour of the reduction
of the malt duties ; against the proposed system of licensing
eating-houses and coffee-shops for the sale of wine ; in
favour of the repeal of the duty on paper ; for the reduc-
tion of the duty on tea and sugar ; praying that the income
tax might not be imposed on incomes under .E2OO a-year ;
against the highways bill, &c.
MR. GLADSTONE'S MISSION TO THE lONIAN
ISLANDS.

Mr. MAGUIER. gave notice that, on an early day after
the Easter holidays, he would move for the production of
any papers in the possession of Government in reference to
this matter.

'THE SERPENTINE.
Mr. COWPER gave notice that to-morrow he would
move for the appointment of a select committee to inquire
into the best means to be adopted for cleansing the Serpen-
tine. (Hear, hear.)
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION (IRELAND).
Mr. VANCE moved for a return of all annual salaries
paid under the Irish Ecclesiastical Commission, with the
names of the recipients and the situations they hold, and
the number of years' service in every instance ; and, de-
tailed account of the income and expenditure of the Com-
mission for 1858.—Ordered.
THE STATUE OF RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.

•
In reply to Mr. HANKEY,
Mr. COWPER said that some unavoidable delay had
arisen in reference to the erection of this statue.

WINE LICENSES.

Lord E. THYNTEasked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer whether magistrates would have any control over
licenses to sell wine granted to confectioners, eating-house
keepers, and others in towns, boroughs, or rural districts,
and, if not, what remedy was proposed against those per-
sons if they kept disorderly houses or harboured persons of
bad character ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said tho
most satisfactory answer he could give to the question
would be a general one. Before he would ask the house to
come to any vote in regard to this matter, he would
laf on the table of the house the whole of
the regulations which the Government proposed to
introduce in respect to licensing eating-houses. It was
certainly most desirable that magistrates should have a
power, not only with reference to granting licenses, but
that facilities should be atlorded them of enforcing the law
against persons who conducted their business in a disorderly
manner,