The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-19 00:00:00

Odibam
Penelope
Seven ran. Won by a neck.

2

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(This Evening.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE WENSLEYDALE PEERAGE.
Earl GREY gave notice that, in the Committee of
Privileges on Friday next, he would move an amend-
ment to the motion of which notice had been given by
Lord Lyndhurst. liis amendment was in effect to leave
out all the words after the word " opinion," for the
purpose of inserting these words, namely, " that the first
legal authorities having concurred in declaring that the
Queen had the power of creating peers for life, and that
this power had been exercised frequently in former times,
the House of Lards would not be justided in de•
daring the patent creating Lord Wensleydale invalid,
and that the noble and learned lord has therefore a
right to take his seat in this house." The noble lord
Haiti, in the event of the above amendment being agreed
to, he would move the following resolutions, viz.:—
"That though there have been several grants of peerages
for life in the female line up to a comparatively recent
period, there is no precedent found, up to a recent period,
for the raising of a Commoner to the peerage for life.
" That as the grant of a peerage for life is not supported
by any reasonable precedent, it is expedient that a general
role should not be applied, without the consent of Parlia-
ment, of anyprerogative of the Crown being exercised which
cannot be shown to have been exercised except at very re-
mote periods of history. But having regard to all the cir-
cumstances of the present case, the House of Lords has
properly abstained from expressing an opinion as to the
grant of Lord Wensleydale of a peerage for life.
" That the granting of peerages for life was peculiarly
liable to abuse unless the exercise of the prerogative was
guarded by some special regulations.
" That it is important for this house to consider and de-
termine upon what steps ought to be adopted in order to
prevent this grant of the Wensleydale peerage for life
being drawn into a precedent in favour of life peerages
generally, and in order to establish securities against the
abuse of such creations if they should hereafter take
place."

Lord GLENELG gave notice that, on Thursday, lie
would place upon the table of the house the terms of
the amendment which he intended to move to the mo-
tion of Lord Lyndhurst.

The Earl of DERBY gave notice that he would, on
Thursday, put a question to the Government with a
view of ascertaining the respective duties attaching to
the respective offices of the Secretary of State for War
and the Commander-in-Chief, and should move for the
production of such reni)rts as may exist on the subject.
VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF

EDUCATION.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICES BILL.
This bill was also read a third time and passed.
METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL.
This bill was also read a third time and passed.
SUNKEN VESSELS.

The Earl of HARDWICKE rose to put a question to
her Majesty's Govermaent as to the state of the Russian
vessels now sunk in the harbour of Sebastopol, and
as to their intentions with respect to such vessels.
He believed that it was not yet decided what
was to be done with those vessels—whether it was in-
tended to raise or completely destroy them, Admiral
Lyons was about to return to the Black Sea, and it was
important that the matter should be attended to. The
noble lord then referred to the facilities that were af-
forded for their total destruction by the possession of one
side of the harbour.

Lord PAN.IIURE reminded the noble lord that they
were not yet in possession of the harbour of Sebastopol.
The Russians always turned their guns against all those
Who made their appearance in the harbour ; but the noble
lord might rest perfectly assured that every means would
be taken to effectually destroy all fortifications and con-
structions both above and beneath the water. It was
only yesterday that he received the important intelli-
gence of the total destruction of Fort Nicholas.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COIVINONS—(This Evening.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
Petitions against the opening of the British Museum,
National Gallery, and Crystal Palace on Sundays, were
presented by Mr. Brotherton, Mr. W. Duncombe, Mr.
Dunlop, Mr. Buck, Mr. Wilcox, Mr. P. Urquhart,
Colonel Freestun, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Walter, Mr.'
Greene'', Mr. A. PeHatt, Mr. Spooner. Mr. Wilkinson,
Mr. Bailey, Mr. Henley, Mr. Alex. Hastie, Mr. Had.
field, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Ker Sevmer, Lord J. Rosell,
the Marquis of Blandfurd, Sir B. Dering, and several
other hon. members.

Mr. W. J. FOX presented several petitions from
planes in the metropolis in favour of opening the Crystal
Palace and British Museum on Sundays.
• Colonel FItEESTUN presented a petition, signed by
the Mayor and upwards of two'thousand inhabitants of
Melcombe Regis, against the opening of the Museum,
National Gallery, and Crystal Palace on the Lord's day.
Mr. GRA.NVILLE'BERKELEY presented a peti-
tion from a working man, praying that India might be
divided into electoral districts, and return members to
Parliament. ( Laugh ter.)
Sir E. PERRY presented a petition from the son-in-
a s? of the late Nawab of Surat, complaining of the man-
ner in. -which the East 'lndia Company had dealt with
the inheritance of the Nawab, and praying for inquiry
and -redress. The hon. member proceeded to call the
attention of the house t t the allegations contained
therein.

Mr. ROEBUCK presented a petition, signed by 10,000
civil servants of the CroWn, prAying that the 10 ;11, 11th,
and 12th secs. of the act of Wm. IV. he amended, that
the Beale of pensions be revised, and that persons might
be *permitted to retire from the pubic servipa after 30
years' service. The hon. 'inem'•;er said it was his inten-
tion to move that the paLition, be referred to a select
committee.

PRIVATE BUSINESS. .
The following bills wera severally read a seentid time
and ordered to be committed :—Antrua and Coleraine
Roads ; British and American Great Railway Land
Company • Donington Turnpike Trust ; East Sorner4et
Railway ;2kpsom and Leatherhead Railway Godley
Lane Road ; Gravesend Impravement; Killarney Junc-
tion. Railway and Tralee arid Killarney Railway ; Llanid-
loes.and Newtown Railway ; Middlesbrough Extension
and,lmprovevaent ; Morayshire Railway ; West Lou-
den,and, Crystal Palace Railway ; and Wimbledon and
Croydon Railway.
SUPPLIES FOR THE CAVALRY.
Mr. J. FHRGUSSON gave notica that he should
ask .the Secretary of War a question relative to the
quality of the supply of saddlery, Sce., to:the German
Legion.

PURCHASE IN THE ARMY.
Sir D. L. EVANS gave notice that on the 4th March
he should submit a resolution relative to the. present
system of purchase in the, army.
THE BALTIC FLEET.
Sir C. NA.PIER gave notice that on the 4th March
he should call the attention of the house to the opera-
tions of the Baltic fleet in 1854 and 1855.
BENEFIT BUILDING SOCIETIES.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD moved for a return of the. total
number ot Benefit Buildinz Societies enrolled under:- the
Act 6 and 7 Will. 4, c. 32, since the passing of the act,
specifying as to .-ach society enrolled since the Ist day
of January, 1845, the name of such society, place of
meeting, date of enrolment, and name and address of
secretary or manager.—Agreed to..

BANK CTIARTER ACT,
Mr. B. LULL'S asked the Chancellor of the Ec.
chequer whether, in, the event of the Government de-
ciding to renew the Bank Charter Act for another torm
of years, he would, be prepared to introduce a olauee to
continue in force the arrangeMent by which the DaTik of
England agreed. to pay those private banks who con.
seated to withdraw their pa.per circulation,
per annum upon the average:issue of those 1 per cent.
banks h t the
three previoras years, aad to Continue the same so long
as the othec private banks Were permitted to issue their
paper.

- The `JHANCELLOR of the EXOREQUER said
that the ant in question would expire shortly. Po 'rwers
were, given to put an end to certain privileged of th o act
on notice being given to that effict. These notices, lad
ng.st been given. Until that be done it would remai Tv in
torce. Its operation was limited till August nett. mi.
efts previously renewed by the Legislature:

WEST IND,L4. MAILS.
On the motion of Mr. LINDSAY, a copy of met
the
from certain inhabitant's of British Guiana to
o•
Secretary of State for the Colonies, complaining of t
irregularities in the conveyance of the mails between t his
country and our West India possessions, and copies 01
any correspondence bearing upon it, was ordered.
SIR JOHN 'NEIL'S REPORT.
War whetherLo W GRAIIAM asked the Under Socretanr "for
Sir J. 11'Neil's report was communic 3 ted
to the authorities at the Horse Guards on its arrix lin
induced the
this country,
Government and, if not,
to Withholdreasons
.
-w
Mr. F. PEEL said that two
rehportsit had been r atlde
by the Crimean Commissioners relating to the 13 :eras
earde, which were dated in London,
and c Auld not
therefore have been presented, immediately on the re turn
of the commissioners. The second report related to the •