The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

PRIVATE BYSINESS.

The following bills were severally read a second time,
and ordered to be committed :—Cannock Mineral
Railway, Grand Junction Water, Lands Improvement
Company of Scotland, North Staffordshire Railway
(Liverpool Extension), North Staffordshire Railway
(Sandbach to Warrington). Norwich Union Life Insur-.
ance Society, and Severn Valley Railway.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AND TOWN BILL.
On the motion that this bill be read a second time,
Mr. FENWICK rose and moved that the bi 11
be read a -econd time that day six months.
Mr. WIGRAM was in favour of the second reading
of this bill.
After a few words from S. ADAIR and Mr. STAFFORD
the bill was read a second time.

A great number of petitions were presented by several
hon. members against the opening of the Crystal Palace,
British Museum, and National Gallery on Sundays,
Mr. CAIRNS asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether there were any letters or papers illustrative of
the probable effect of the late convention with the Em-
peror of Japan on the trade of this country ; and whether
the Government would lay on the table c)pies of such
letters or papers ?
Lord PALMERSTON said the only thing that could
be laid on the table was the despatch of Admiral Stir-
ling. He had no objection to the production of that
document.

Mr. CAIRNS asked whether there wal not some
letters in the Foreign-offiao and the B>ard of Trade ?
Lord PALMERSTON said the letters referred to
were inter official papers, and it was not usual to pro-
duce those documents.
Mr. HEADLAM asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether he would direct that the warrant under
which the value of the commissions of officers killed in
action is paid to their relatives might be laid upon the
table of the house ?

Lord PALMERSTON said be bad no object'en to
the production of the warrant.

Mr. A. PE LLATT asked whether the Sultan's recent
edicts, granting civil and religious equality to all his
subjects, abolished the penalty of death upon a Mussul-
man becoming a Christian ; and, if not, whether Go-
vernment would exert its diplomatic influence to repeal
that law

Lord PALMERSTON said the G3vernment were
aware that such edicts had been signed, but as they had
not yet arrived in this country their contents were
unknown. Her Majesty's Government had for many
years urged the importance of the subject, and hon.
members might rest assured that no exertion on their part
would be wanting to effect the object desired by the
hon. member. At the same time it would be admitted
that the religious matters of other countries were very
delicate things to handle.
Mr. PA LK asked whether it was the intention of her
Majesty's Government to take any steps to ascertain
the correctness of the allegations reflecting on the con-
duct of certain officers in Sir J. M‘Neill s report ?
Mr. F. PEEL said answers bad been received from
Lord Cardigan and Lord Lucan, which he would lay on
the table during the evening.
Mr. PALK said, under the circumstances, he should,
on an early day, move that the report of the Commis-
sion of Inquiry be referred to a select committee, in
order to see if the charges made by it were borne out by
the facts it contained.
THE CRIMEAN COMMISSION.
Mr. LAYARD said he found that it would not be
convenient to bring on his motion on the evening be
had last night fixed on. He, therefore, hoped, as hie
motion was essentially a Government one, the noble
lord at the head of the Government would give him a
day for bringing forward the same.
Lord PALMERSTON said an appeal would have
been fair when one day only was open to independent
members, but as they bad now two days of the
week, and the session had but just commenced,
he could not grant the hon. member's request. He
begged to recommend to his hon. friend (which he
trusted he might call him) to try his luck again, and
attain that by right which he was now asking as a
favour. (Laughter.)
An eoN. Mziniza hoped that the same facility would
be gives to those pereolle ghireadverted upon 111 the