The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-17 00:00:00

JUDGES.

Col. FRENCH gave notice that, on going into commit-
tee of supply to-morrow at the day sitting, he would call
thesqttention of the house to what had occurred between
her Majesty's judges and the high sheriff of Guildford, and
ask for the production of any correspondence in posses-
sion of the Government on this subject.

STAMP DUTIES.(NO. 2) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
EXCISE DUTIES BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CUSTOMS (No. 2) BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
DEFENCE OF THE REALM BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passel.
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.—THE BRITISH
MUSEUM.
The house went into committee of supply.

Mr. WALPOLE, in moving a vote of £80,850 to com-
plete the whole vote of £100,850 for the British Museum,
said that this year there was an alteration in the form in
which the estimate was presented, as all the charges
connected with the institution were brought under one
head. The expenses were reduced to £2,000 in some
branches of the expenditure, and though there was an in-
crease in the item for building, on the whale there was a
saving of £147 this year. This saving had been effected,
notwithstanding that a collection of pictures the property
of Lord Norclifte, and a collection of valuable MSS., be-
longing to the Duke of Lauderdale, as well as a mineralo-
gical collection, had been purchased. The right hon. gen-
tleman concluded by stating that a valuable collection of
medals and coins had been presented to the institution dur-
ing the past year.

Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR. asked whether it was pro-
posed to make any alteration in regard to the hours of ad-
mission, which at present excluded professional men and
the working classes.

Mr. SPOONER objected to the vote, on the ground that
the institution was of a local and not a national character.
Mr. E. JAMES also complained of the hours of admis-
sion, and said that there had been a large diminution in
the number of persons visiting the institution last year as
compared with 1357, which he attributed to the inefficient
arrangements for attracting visitors.

Mr. WALPOLE said that, in 1857, there was an in-
crease in the average number of visitors to the British
Museum in the May of that year in consequence of the
library being then opened, which would account for the
falling-off last year. It would be found that there was an
increase in the number cf those who attended the institu-
tion since the new arrangements had been carried out, which
was a very gratifying fact.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER contended
that
this institution was national, and not local, as described
,
wtylitheireciuholten(rmber (Mr. Spooner.) At present those
the reading -room could pursue their
dstwo
e ir'ie% with greater luxury than any gentleman f ould
i)rsenhel.BfmoN,vna
all parts
and they included in their number
Mr. xiitTo.,rrts of the country.
Museum analzmieoruplained of the manner in which the
del
Mr. BUTT al Gallery in this country were man-
aged as regard,
drew attention
4fication and other points.
to the salaries of the officers
of the British
I,4ll2Quwhieh were lower than those of
any other department (k the
contended, most inade public service, and were, he
quat e for the.duties they were called
th
on to perform. Ho trusted that e memorial which had
been presented by these officials to the
ft
(I l
l onsll' Treasury, calling-
ejideration.
attention to the subject would receive care
The CHANCELLOR of the Exe
rm
said that
these salaries had been revised within the last
before the
It was quite true that there was a memorial
Treasury, but the sttbject to which it related had b
re.
ferred to the trustees, as the best qualified to deeile the
question. He dein coated discussions of this character,
when coimparisons in regard to salaries were instituted.be_
tween the British Museum and different Government
departments, wltich could lead to no benefit, as

the particulars connected with the duties required'
relatively werenot generally known, and no fair conclusion
could be drawn as to the justice of theremuneration respec-
tively given. He would mention that there was no one
officer in the British Museum who did not receive more than
was promised to him.
Some further discussion ensued, in the course of which
Sir G. LEWIS stated that the appointments in the in-
stitution were not made by the executive, but were vested
in the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and
the Speaker of the House.
•
The vote was agreed to.
A vote of £4,300, for civil establishments at Bermuda,
was agreed to.
On the vote of £6,228 for ecclesiastical establishments in
the British North American Colonies,
Mr. HADFIELD objected to the vote on the ground
that the colonies could support these establishments with-
out aid from :this country.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE explained that the country could
not in honour discontinue this vote, which belonged to what
were called expiring votes, and were to terminate with the
lives of the individuals who were benefited by the same.
There was no intention on the part of the Government to
continue the vote beyond the lives of these individuals.
Mr. HADFIELD considered that Canada was wealthier
than many parts of England and Ireland, and persisted in
his objection to the :vote. He moved that the vote be re-
duced by £2,393, the amount granted for foreign mis-
sionaries.

The amendment was negatived without a division, and
the vote was agreed to.
£1,600 was voted for the Indian Department in Canada.
On the vote of £15,000 to complete the vote of £30,000 to
defray the expenses of British Columbia,
Mr. WILLIAMS asked for some information as to the
revenue of the colony.
Mr. FORTESCUE said that the revenue for the year
1859 was £50,000, and he trusted that ultimately the vote
would be withdrawn from Parliament, owing to the pro-
sperity of the colony.
After some conversation the vote.was agreed to.
On the vote of £24,728 for the salaries of governors in
the West Indies and certain other colonies,
Mr. WILLIAMS thought that the time had arrived
when those colonies should support their own governors
and other officers, and moved that the vote be reduced by
£3,500, the salary of the governor of Jamaica.
Mr. CAVE defended the item, which was not only just
but necessary, considering the duties which the official in
question had to discharge, and Jamaica was not in the
prosperous condition it was supposed.
After some remarks from Mr. WILLIAMS,
Mr. FORTESCUE said that the islands of the West
Indies were in a very anomalous condition at present, but
he assured the hon. member that the vote would disappear
from the estimates after some time.
The vote was agreed to, as well as a vote of £lB,OOO to
defray the salaries, &c., of the' stipendiary justices in the
West Indian colonies and the Mauritius.
Several other minor votes for the civil service of the
colonies were also agreed to.
The sitting was then suspended at 4 o'clock.
The house resumed at 6 o'clock.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Mr. JAMES gave notice that he should next session
move for leave to !wing in a bill to abolish imprisonment for
debt where it appeared to have been eontracted without an
intention of fraud.