The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-23 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—YESTERDAY.
The LORD CH.txmLog took his seat on the wool-
sack at five o'clock.
The Earl of SEIA.FTESBURY presented a petition
from Woolwich against tha proposed plan of sewerage
for the metropolis.
Tie LO CIIANCELLOR said that, residing in
that part of the country, he could bear his testimony
to the justice of the complaint mentioned in the petition.
A strong case ought to be made out to justify the plan
proposed. That the sewage of London was a nuisance
to London he was free to admit, but that was no reason
why a large trench should be made at a small village
about six miles from London, and the whole of the
sewage emptied therein. The effect of such a plan would
be to render that village, as a place of residence, quite
unendurable.

Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from
Whitechapel against the smoke nuisance.
THE CRIMEAN INQUIRY.
Lord LUCAN said he was anxious to correct a
misstatement that had been made with respect
to what had filler' from him respecting the Judge-Ad-
vocate the other evening when addressing their lord-
ships on the subject of the late inquiry. That learned
gentleman had taken the opportunity of com-
menting rather warmly upon language which
he (Lord Lucan) had never used. In oraer to
render it more plain to their lordships, he would take
leave to read to their lordsloins what he really did say
on the occasion. He said that the Minister of
War, when excusing, himself on the last occasion
for not producing the report, stated that he was
acting under the advice of the Judge-Advocate-Gene-
ral. He did not desire to comment on the manner
in which that learned gentleman had conducted himself
on the late inquiry. All he could say was that he as-
sumed more of the authority of the board than
of the adviser of the Court. What character
that learned ventleman assumed when the doors were
closed he could not say, but he could not shut his eyes
to the fact that he was the colleague of the noble lord,
and was no doubt open—perhaps unfairly r —to the
suspicion that he had been not more efficient in drawing
up the report than the noblelord was .producing it tothe
house. The noble lord then said I took the op-
portunity of observing, that contrary to all sense
of justice in a political inquiry, it was to be re-
gretted that a political partisan should be the ad-
viser of the board, and I expressed a hope that the
next session would not passawaywithout their lordships'
attention being given to the office of the Judge-Advo-
cate-General—the functions of which office had been
heretofore exercised in' a manner necessarily tedious and
obstructive in eliciting the truth. Now, what he (Lord L.)
complained of was that the learned gentleman had taken
the opportunity of replying to his observations by assurn-
ing that he had used language in that house which he
had never uttered. He admitted the connection which
existed with one of his children and the family
of Lord Hardinge, but he denied having exchanged
one word with that noble lord since the early
part of April. He bad never even mentioned
the subject to Mr. Hardinge or his daughter. The
noble lord having denied several other matters referred
to by the Judge-Advocate, concluded by observing that
it would be well if that learned gentleman were a little
more careful in the language which he used before he
brought forward charges against any individual which
perhaps had not the slightest shadow of foundation.
Lord PANMURE said he could not do better than
give the noble earl the same advice which he volun-
teered to give to the Judge-Advocate-General. The
noble lord defended the Judge-Advocate-General
from the charges which had been made against him.
The Perth Borough and Harbour (No. 2) Bill was
read a second time.
The Sheep, &c., Contagious Prevention Bill was read
a second time,
The Hospitals (Dublin) Bill was read a second time.
The Burial Grounds' (Ireland) Bill was read a second
time.

CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) ri
BILL.
On the house going into committee on this bill,
Lord MONTEAGLE, on the house going into corn-
mittee on the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill,
called attention to the financial position of the country.
He objected to the separation of the War Department
from the Treasury. Thirty-four millions had been passed
in one estimate from the Treasury account to that of
'the Minister of the War Department. Sinoe that esti-
mate was voted a large reduction had taken place, and
27 millions only were required. Here occurred the dn.
culty. He objected to the changing accounts—to the
expending money voted for one purpose in carrying out
another. The change, too, in the system of auditing
was anything but clear and advantageous. The revenue
was decreasing—the resources of the country encum-
bered with debts that must be cleared off. They had
borrowed 33 millions, and only raised an income of 17
millions add4ional ; they would have to provide a million
a-year for the interest on this sum. Transactions had
gone on between the Governments and the savings-
banks. Such a course might he lawful, but was it
not desirable that the Treasury should deal with the
funds of the depositors in savings banks to facilitate
their financial operational He hoped the practice would
be discontinued, now that the exigencies of the war ren-
dered it no longer necessary.
Lord PANMURE considered Lord Monteagle wrong
in his epinion relative to the new method of auditing.
How could they audit the commissariat accounts in the
Treasury ? The system of detailed audits in these trans-
actions would assuredly break down on emergency.
The bill was reported without amendments.
THE CO IST-GITARD SERVICE.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY moved that the
Coast-guard Service Bill do pass. It transferred the
coast-guard from the Customs to the Admiralty, and
increased the number of men from 3,000 to 10,000. To
keep up a body of men fit for manning our ships, and
to provide 2,400 miles, as yet unsupplied, with coast-
guards, this measure was necessary.
Lord COLCHESTER, said the men would be got,
but how were they to be trained ? how was their effi-
ciency at any emergency to be secured ?
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that this mea-
sure, by itself, would be useless. Other similar mea-
sures, he was glad to hear, were about to follow. The
noble lord then went into details on the subject, show-
ing that a new class of officers must be appointed, and
pointing out difficulties in regard to the extra pay given
to the Coast-guard service, which the men would lose on
entering the navy in war-time. Then, again, when the
reserve was drawn off, who were to protect the coast ?
We must now command the steam-bridge which con-
nected us with the continent ; the advantage of our in-
sular position had gone. Ministers had lauded their
self-denial as regarded impressment. By so doing they
had given up a valuable power of the Crewn in emer-
gencies. The question of invasion was one we should
always have before our eyes. Our position demanded
such precaution. We should then have not weeks, or
months, or years for preparation, but five days
only. To provide against that was the duty of an effi-
cient and patriotic Government.
The Marquis of TO WNSHEND declared his appro-
bation of the measure, and hoped it would be carried
out to the full.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said that Govern.
ment had never absolutely given up t:e power of im-
pressment, but reserved it to the last necessity. There
would he no difficulty in the change from the Customs
to the Admiralty.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGS. still wanted an
answer. Wai our coast-guard tc receive additional pay
when employed in the naval service? How would these
two sets of men, one with good wages, and the other
with poor wages, work together side by side ? The one
badly paid being peesibly.the best seamen of the two.
What had become of the R ryal Coast-guard Volunteers?
Officers had been appointed with 500/. a year ; Viers
ha I been a vote 'of 8,0001. for the officers, and 12,0001.
for the staff, and it had resulted in a gross job ; might
not these antecedents be applied to their management of
the coast-guard service ?
After a few words from Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY,
the bill passed through committee.
The General Board of Health Continuance Bill passed
through committee.
The Militia Pay Bill, the Cursitor Baron of the Ex-
chequer Bill, and the Lunatic Asylum Act Amendment
Bill passed through committee.
The Formation of Parishes Bill was read a third time
and passed.
The7Deeds (Scotland) Bill passed through committee,
as did the Judicial Procedure (Scotland) Bill.
The following bills were read a third time and pass-
ed :—The Courts of Common Law (Ireland), the Unlaw-
ful Oaths (Ireland), the Nuisances Removel (Scotland),
and the Registration Act Amendment.
The Criminal Justice Bill passed through committee.
The Court of Appeal in Chancery (Ireland) Bill pass-
ed through committee.
The Poor-law Amendment (Scotland) Bill pa ed
through committee.
The Commons' reasons for insisting on their amend-
ment to the Irish Nuisances Act Amendment Bill, and
to which amendment the House of Lords disagreed,
were considered. The Lords decided that they would
not insist on their amendment, and that they would
adopt tho Commons' amendment, with a certain modi-
fication.
On the motion of Lord DIINCANNON, returns were
ordered of all circulars issued from the War office
relative to the disembodying of the militia of the United
Kingdom.
The house adjourned at eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lords' amendments to the following bills were
considered and agreed to .---Aberdeen and Sc Atish
Midland Junction Railwaynd i. Companies Amalgamation,
Oxford, Worcester,
a
tension of time, Ste.), Severnolv;Talirharnpton Railway (Ex-
tension Improvement
Commission, and Westminster Terminus Railway Bills.
. The following bills were reahird time and passed :
—Bell's estate, Dallington Estate, and Thoroton's and
Croft's Estate Bills.
TORTURE IN INDIA.
Mr. OTWAY presented a petition from the President
of Madras, complaining of the present mode of torture
tuo re
tE
'
India, and praying the house to appoint a mixed co
mission of Europeans and Indians to inquire into
subject, with a view to putting a stop to it.
COUNTY COURTS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.
On the motion for the third reading of this bill,
Mr. GLADSTONE called the attention of the Go-
vernment to the state of the courts in Westminster-hall,
whioli was a matter that ought to be taken up by the
executive rather than by a. private individual member
of the house. ae wished to ask if her Majesty's Go.