The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-04 00:00:00

THE COASTGUARD.

Mr. CHILDERS, in reply to Mr. S. HARDY, said there
had been a small reduction in the coastguard service to
the extent of 225 men, but it had ben caused by the abo-
lition of certain river stations above the Custom-house.
TIIE • HORSE GUARDS.

Mr. CARDWELL said, in reply to Mr. White, that
submissions for appointments were made in the office of
the Commander-in-Chief, and sent to the War Office for
the approbation of the Secretary of War. When these
submissions were returned to the office of the Commander-
in-Chief, they were then submitted by him to the Queen,
and the Secretary of War received her Majesty's pleasure
on the subject. The subject had been inquired into some
time ago, but it had been thought undesirable to alter the
existing practice.

HAMMERSMITH BRIDGE.
Mr. BRUCE, in reply to Lord Bury, said previous to
the boat race on the 17th it was proposed to examine the
state of Hammersmith bridge to see whether it would be
safe to allow a large number of people to assemble there
on that occasion.
THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

On the motion for the house going into committee of
supply,
Mr. 'WHITE called attention to the large sum
that the house was now asked to give its con-
sent to for the expenses of the Abyssinian Ex-
pedition. It was said last year that the expense
of the expedition would be about £4,000,000, but
the expense he believed had already amounted, with that
which had already been voted and that which was to he
taken that night, to no less a sum than £8,50,000. He
thought it right that the house should make the most
searching inquiry into the circumstances that had caused
such an enormous excess over that at first estimated. He
thought such an excess a disgrace and a scandal, and that
it tended to show that no reliance was to be placed in the
official estimates.

Sir J. JENKINSON said he hoped they would have
some Information of the causes that led to the expedition
and of the mismanagement connected with it.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE said tha estimate made by his
his right hon. friend when he was Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer that £1,000,000 wouilmdpbeerfetchte cinosf,tiromf
atthioene.xpTedhie-
ttliroonn, ‘Gvaos made with
ihthadvneoryinformation upon which they
could rely with respect to the country to be traversed,
and when the troops arrived on the coast a great de-
ficiency of water was one of the first difficulties
to be overcome. It was absolutely necessary that
the expedition should be pushed on with the greatest
rapidity, and that, with the want of information, must be
considered in regard to the money now required. The
way in which the expedition had terminated with the
smallest sacrifice) of human life, and human suffering, was
a matter of the greatest congratulation. He had on a
former occasion had to inform the house of the great diffi-
culty that was experienced in getting information from
India, and that was ono of the matters that nrevented the
then Government of the day giving the house specific in-
formation. He hoped it was not to be imputed to the late
Government that they had published estimates that were
known to be inaccurate. The expedition had to be pushed
on in order to prevent the troops being detained in that
inhospitable country, and that doubtless had led to a great
deal of the expedition that had taken place.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in asking
leave to make a payment to the Indian Government, in
part payment of the cost of the Abyssinian expedition,
said that the accounts were not yet complete, but he might
say that the accounts ho had received from Mr. Turner,
who was sent out to superintend the expenditure, showed
the following items :—The War-otlice had spent £161,1100,
thc.Admiraliy £l,::62,o00, and the Govervmont of India
57,010,000, in all £8,761,00 ). Owing to the incomplete
state of the accounts he could not say that more would not
be required, but lie hoped it would not be his unpleasant
duty to make any further announcement that more money
was necessary. The right hon. gentleman then gave the
details that made up the griss sum he had mentioned
and moved a resolution that £3,500,000 be granted in part
paytneut of the expenses of the Abyssinian Expedition,
£5,000,000 having been already paid.
Mr. W. HUNT defended the late Government from
any imputation of negligence during the time the expedi-
tion was going. on.
Mr. Whirl] willingly acquitted the late Govern-
ment of any intention to deceive the House of Cotnmons.
What he found fault with was the want of informrtion
that they showed during the whole expedition.
Sir P. O'BRIEN said he was sorry that the hon. mem-
ber for Brighton did not conclude his observations with
something practical. When he, with others, last year
declared the expedition would cost ten millions they were
laughed at.

The vote, after some further discussion, was agreed to.
[LEFT SITTING.

PRUSSIA.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
BERLIN, March 4.

The North German Parliament was opened to-
din by the King in person. His Majesty, in his
Speech from the Throne, said that he rejoiced
that the prospect of the maintenance of peace
had not since their last assembling proved
fallacious. His Majesty mentioned the improve-
ments which would be effected by the bills which
had already been passed, and those which were
still underdiscussion. A bill relative to the Electoral
Law, framed in accordance with Article 20 of
the Constitution of the North German Con-
federation, would be laid before the Parliament to
secure a uniform system of electoral procedure
throughout the whole Confederation, and also to
secure the legal status of the Federal officials. The
Budget of 1870 showed that an increase of the
revenue was necessary. In the postal arrange-
ments between the Confederation and foreign
States progress had been made, and postal conven-
tions with the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, and the
Danubian Principalities will be laid before the Par-
liament. The organisation of the Federal Consu-
lar system is approaching completion. A consular
convention with Italy is about to regulate
the respective powers of the Consuls of both
nations, in order to insure uniformity in the
conditct of the consular administration and
the diplomatic representation abroad of North
Germany. The necessary expenditure for this
ebfiersbtroduugthyt
offortwhearddipinlomthaeticßaugdegnetst
op
fu rlpBo7soe.
abroad will be to secure the maintenance of
peace between all nations who like ourselves know
how to value its benefits. The fulfilment of this
duty will be facilitated by the friendly terms at
present existing between the North German Con-
federation
and all foreign Powers, and
negotiationswhichnc
nf
proved afresh by the peaceful solution of the
difficulty which but lately threatened to dis-
turb East.P
aris
TheCesult of
endeavour of the European
pr
regard the blessings of peace as a valu-
able and common benefit to be guarded by all as
common property. Havniantigonse‘evnhiethhe
hassucepersosveodf
this course of action, a
both the will and the power to respect the inde-
pendence of foreign States and to defend its own, is
justified in trusting •
the
continuance of peace,
to disturb which neither foreign Governments have
the intention or the •
enemies of order the power."