The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-25 00:00:00

INEQUALITIES OF TITHE.

Mr. TITE gave notice that, early next session, he would
move for an inquiry into the inequalities that existed in
regard to levying tithes in certain parishes of the city of
London.
THE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION.
Mr. FREELAND gave notice that early next session
he would move for an inquiry into the organisation of the
Ecclesiastical Commission ; also, to inquire into the report
upon the treatment adopted with reference to the sale and
purchase of property held under the Ecclesiastical Com-
mission.

ABD-EL-KADEII. AN DTH.E SYRIAN DISTURB-

ANCES.
In reply. to Mr. GRIFFITH,
Lord PALMERSTON said it was true that Abd-el-
Kader had been the means of saving the lives of a large
number of Christians at Damascus, and her Majesty had
directed her Consul at that place to convey to him her
cordial acknowledgment of the services he had rendered.
CONJUGAL RIGHTS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
On the motion of Mr. E. CRAUFURD the houso decided
on not adhering to their own amendments wLich had been
disagreed to by the House of Lords, and the further con-
: ideration of the bill was postponed.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE—THE CoM
MITTEE ON PETITIONS.

Lord PALMER- §TONroseto move that the house at its
rising should adjourn till Tuesday, and availed himself of
that opportunity of drawing the attention of the house to
the devotion of tertian hon. members to a description of
business which did not generally attract public attention. He
alluded to the members of the committee on petitions, which
was established in 1832, and since then it had laboured
most serviceably in the public service. Previous to that
time there was no arrangement with regard to the present-
ing of petitions, which was left entirely at the discretion of
the members presenting them. It was now differently ar-
ranged, and the committee now made a selection of these
petitions, whieh, from their nature, or their importance,
should be printed. The average number of petitions which
had been presented during the five years ending 1859 was
8,767 per year, and the average number of signatures
1,074,000. The number of petitions this year was 24,264,
and the number of signatures upwards of 3,000,000, which
would show the additional labour imposed on the committee.
It further appeared that the committee made 64 reports during
this session, and 1,487 petitions were printed, the average
number for the year having been about 910. Not only was the
house indebted to this committee, but the petitioners
themselves were also deeply indebted to them for
giving more efficiency to the expression of their
wishes. The names of the committee were Mr.
Gregson, the chairman, member for Lancashire, Mr.
Carter, Mr. Barrow, Mr. A. Cathcart, Mr. Davison, Mr.
Dillwyn, Mr. Foster, who devoted a great deal of his time
to the business of the committee, Mr. Garth, Captain Grey,
Mr. Hunt, Mr. Hartopp, Mr. A. Smith, Mr. Stanley, and
Mr. Walter Talbot. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GREG SON thanked the noble lord for the kind
manner in which he alluded to the services of the committee
over which he (Mr. Gregson) presided. His success was
entirely owing to the assistance which he received from
the other members of the committee as well as the clerk of
the committee. If he discharged his duty diligently he
was only humbly imitating the conduct of the noble lord
(Palmerston) who was night after night in his place.
SAVOY AND NICE.—THE NEUTRAL PRO-
VINCES.
Mr. B. COCHRANE drew the attention of the noble
lord at the head of her Majesty's Government to a state-
ment which appeared in a newspaper as to the Emperor of
the French having invaded the neutral provinces, and being
about to construct a harbour on one side of the Lake of
Geneva.
Lord PALMERSTON said he had seen the statement in
question. With regard to Savoy and Nice he had to state
this, namely, that it was held that the King of Sardinia
was competent to cede, and the Emperor of the French to
accept, the transfer of these provinces, subject, however, to
conditions imposed by the King of Sardinia, and agreed to
by the Emperor. The latter considered that after the
cession of the territory its possession should be decided
' by the wishes of the population, and the vote of the
Chamber.

THE DEANERY OF YORK.
In reply to Mr. CRA.I7 FURD,
Sir G. LEWIS said that the documents laid before the
house afforded information relative to the proceedings of the
Ecclesiastical Commission, and any further information
that was required would be better furnished by some mem-
ber of the commission more constant in attendance than a
member of the Government.
Mr. WESTHEAD made some observations, and the
subject then dropped.
NATIONAL DEFENCES.

Sir F. SMITH asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether the projects submitted to the Government by the
late Mr. Rennie, under date of the 27th day of August,
1814, and the Ist day of September, 1821, for the improve-
ment of the navigation of the River Medway and the ex-
tension of Chatham Dockyard, had been under the con-
sideration of the present Board of Admiralty ?
Mr. WHITBREAD explained that there were objec-
tions to the adoption of the plan.

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE-THE PAPER
DUTIES.

In reply to Mr. WHITE,
Sir G. LEWIS said that there was no power in the
hands of the Treasury to give any compensation to the
papermakers, and he did not think they had suffered to
any extent from the act of the House of Lords.
The house adjourned at three o'clock.

Colonel J. W. Armstrong, C. 8., of the 4th Depot
Battalion, and formerly of the 491 h Regiment, has been
appointed to succeed Colonel Stewart Wood as Assistant-
Adjutant-General of the Aldershot Division.—Army and
Navy Gazette.

PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris
is about at par, and the short exchange on London
is 25.15 per £1 sterling. On comparing these rates with the
English Mint price of £3 17s. 10fd. per ounce for standard
gold, it appears that gold is about 1-10th per
cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from
Hamburg the price of gold is 4241 per mark, and the short
exchange on London is 13.41 per £1 sterling. Standard gold
at the English Mint price is therefore nearly 1-10th per
cent. dearer in Hamburg than in London. The course of ex-
change at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight
is 1091 per cent., which, when compared with the Mint
par between the two countries, shows that the exchange
is slightly in favour of England ; and, after making allow-
ance for charges of transport and difference of interest,
the present rate leaves a small profit on the importation of
gold from the United States.