The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-20 00:00:00

THE INDIA PRIZE MONEY.

Lord BE laER.7g n;;;edfO7copy Of aclSspaich, in July,
1858, signifying the approval of the late Board of India
Directors to the regvaations proposed by the Governor-Ge-
neral on the subject of the Delhi prize money, and all sub-
sequent correspondence which may tend to explain the
delay which has tqko
n place in satisfying the just expecta-
tions of the army vrhich effected the capture of the city.
The noble also inquired into the cause ef delay in distribut-
ing the medals and clasps granted by her Majesty for tho
capture of Delhi.
The Duke of ARGYLE said there could be no objection
on the part ef the Government to produce the whole of the
despatches moved for by the noble lord. The noble duke
assured the noble earl that there was nothing that could be
in the slightest degree construed into indifference on the part
of the Governor-General with respect to the brilliant services
rendered by the army in India. With respect to the medals
he had great pleasure in informing him that the medals
were being struck off, and would very shortly be distri-
buted.

Earl of ELLIINBOROUGH said as far as he could
learn the Royal assent had not been given for the distribu-
tion of any part of the Delhi prize money.
Lord BE PIERS did not impute blame to the Govern-
ment, but it was certain blame rested somewhere.
The motion was then agreed to.
THE TREATY OF COMMERCE.
The Earl of DER BY rose to inquire what steps the Go-
vernment intended to take to carry into effect the 20th ar-
ticle of the Treaty of Commerce lately entered into by this
country with France, and said, although he had only given
notice to ask a question relative to the article, he should be
excused, as the subject was of such importance, if he made a
few observations. The 20th article was in somewhat unusual
terms, viz., " The present treaty shall not be valid unless
her Britannic Majesty shall be authorised by the assent of
her Parliament to execute the arrangements contracted by
her in the articles of the treaty." lie thought at first
the article had been inserted for the purpose of
enabling the Parliament to discuss the articles of the treaty
with better grace, but on referring to the French version of
the troaly he also found it there. On that occasion it was
not his intention to enter at length into the various subjects
contained in the treaty, neither was it his intention
to inquire whether or not it was in accord-
ance with the theoretical principles of free trade,
as he felt there would be other occasions when such
a subject could be much better discussed. (Hear, hear.)
The noble earl then proceeded to read portions of a speech
made on the 21st of July, 1859, by the First Lord of the
Treasury, in which the principle of making a bargain be-
tween the two countries for convenient purposes was con-
demned. He did not disapprove of the principle of recipro-
city treaties, but such treaties were diametrically opposed to
the principle the noble lord had heard done iu the speech he
had just quoted. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition benches).
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(Tuis EVENING.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a second time :—Coln River
Water; Conway, Llanrwst, and Bettws:y Cocd Railway;
Denhigh, Ruthin, and Corwen Railway; Egham and
Woking Railway; Llyfni Vale Railway and Harbour;
Macclosfield Gas; Manchester and Milford Railway;
Sovereign Life Assurance Company; St ,ekporL-, Disley,
and Whaley Bridge Railway; Tewkesbury, Upton-
upon-Severn and Malvern Junction Railway; Westmins-
ter Improvements ; Ulster Railway and Corporation of
Belfast; and 'Wellington (Saloy) Water.)
PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented in favour of and against
the commercial treaty with Franee, against the uneendi-
tional repeal of church rates, against licensing coffee-shop
keepers to sell wine and beer, and in favour of the repeal of
the duty on paper.
BERWICK ELECTION, 1859—INCOME TX
Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the NorthernA
Reform Union praying for an inquiry into a compact
which had been entered into between Mr. Marj( ribanks and
the two members who lad been returned at the election for
that borough in 1859. The hon. member also presented a
petition from merchants and manufacturers of Birmingham,
complaining of the income tax, and regretting that the ex-
travagant expenditure of the country should render the tax
necessary.

TIMBER DUTIES.
Lord J,RUSSELL prevented a petition from merchants of

tioa of the house to the subject, with a view to afford
hon. members an opportunity of expressing their opinions
as to the propriety of proceeding with the works.

- PASSES, &c.
Sir C. NAPIER asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether a circular had been issued forbidding officers to
give passes out of the sea port town ; and whether the Cap-
tein of the Princess Royal asked permission to give passes,
and was reproved for so doing ?
Lord C. PAGET said that, except in special cases, the
passes alluded to would not be granted.
THE CASE OF GIOVANNI PORPA.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, if he had inquired into the truth of the
allegations contained in the petition of Giovanni Porpa,
a naturalised British subject, presented on the 26th
day of January last, complaining of wrongs in-
flicted upon him by the Neapolitan Government ; and, if
proved to be true, whether he had taken any steps to obtain
the petitioner redress.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the party, being only a
naturalised British subject, the Government could not in-
terfere.

SALE OF BEER AND WINE.
Mr. E. JAMES asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether he was prepared to state the course her Majesty's
Government intend to pursue with reference to the grant-
ing of licenses for the sale of beer and wine by
retail to the keepers of refreshment houses, as indi-
cated by Resolution No. 15, to be proposed in com-
mittee of NVIYS and means ; and whether he still intended
to propose that resolution to the committee ?
Mr. GLADSTONE said that he had been waited on by,
a deputation of licensed victuallers, a portion of which con-
sidered that there should be no alteration in the system of
licensing places for the sale of wine. Another action con-
sidered that there might be such an alteration as would
enable those who now could be licensed to sell beer to ob-
tain licenses for the sale of wine, which would b 3 subject
to the discretion of the magistrates; and there was
another section of the deputaton who entertained a further
diversity of opinion. He assured hon. members that they
would not be called on to vote on this subject, until thoy
had received every information as to the intention of the
Government.

THE TREATY WITH FRANCE.
On the motion for going into committee on the Customs'
Acts,

Mr. DU CANE withdrew the following motion which
stood on the pa?er

" That this house, recognising the necessity of providing
for the increased expenditure of the coming financial year,
is of opinion that it is not expedient to add to the existing
deficiency by diminishing the ordinary revenue, and is not
prepared to disappoint the just expectations of the country
by reimposing the income tax at au unnecessarily high rate."
He explained that he had adopted that course in conse
quence of his right hon. friend (Mr. Disraeli) having given
notice for that evening of a motion of a similar character.
However, when that motion was disposed of, he would
again bring forward h s motion. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI then rose to move the following amend-
ment :—" That this house does not think fit to go into com-
mittee on the Customs Acts, with a view to the reduction
or repeal of the duties referred to in the treaty of commerce
between her Majesty and the Emperor of the French, until
it shall have considered and assented to the engagements
in that treaty." After some preliminary observations, the
right hon. gentleman said he did not on that occasion wish
to express any opinion as to the merits of the commercial
treaty. The party with whom he acted considered that
it was incumbent on them to adopt the step which he was
now taking. The Government proposed a large reduction
in the duties, in the face of a large deficit, which, :if
they were successful would be still farther re-
duced. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition benches.) It was
no doubt a hazardous experiment. Besides, they were
called on to consider the treaty with France, a subject the
most important that had ever been brought before the how e
in the way it had been by the right hon. member the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. He contended that that
right hon. gentleman had acted erroneously in mixing up
the question of the treaty with that of the general finances
of the country. These matters should have been kept
distinct and separate, and before they had been called
to discuss the financial statement of the right hon. gentle-
man, the treaty should have been submitted to them to be
fully debated. The course pursued was without precedent,
and introduced a dangerous innovation, which they were
called :on to interfere with as soon as possible,
first place the house called on to approve or disapprove of
its provision. That was a recognition of the con-
stitutional privileges of the house, and he warned la( n
members not to allow their privileges to degenerate into
mere formalities, Though we could not do better than to
follow those precedents which the wisdom of their ancestors
had furnished them. lie referred to the treaty of com-
merce between France and England in 1786.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

SP ORTIIV & NO7 ES.

THE NOTTINGHAM MEETING.

Those who invested on Curlew and Tommy Noble
last weak were not sorry that the frost interfered
with the plans and diversions of the " milkers."
Still much disappointment was experienced by
those persons who had brought horses a long dis-
tance to compete for the different stakes, and who
watched the skiey influences with no little anxiety
and impatience. Still the stewards had no alterna-
tive; they were compelled to abandon the meeting,
which has been appointed to take place next week,
when I hope that the committee will have better
luck.

At my present waiting a probability exists that
the Nottingham sport may be impracticable. The
frost throughout the country is still very severe,
marring alike the pleasures of the chase, the
coursing field, and the racecourse. The uncer-
tainty, therefore, which exists induces me to briefly
dismiss the items contained in Mr. Bradfield's pro-
gramme, for it would be useless to occupy space by
an attempt to arrive at conclusions on a subject
on which nothing may be concluded.
Should the appointed sport take place, I shall
place my trust in Ambush and Prince of Orange
for the Nottingham Handicap. Job has a light
weight, and report says he will be dangerous. For
the Innkeepers' Plate I shall select Accurate and
The Dane, and for the Stand Plate I am sweet on
Spicebox, and for the Forest Plate Lord Berkeley,
Julie and Fern Leaf are most to my fancy.
The Two-year-Old race will perhaps be won by
Little Lady.

A FRESH MAN.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1860.
FEBRUARY.
Nottingham Spring ....21 Cheltenham Club .. 23
Gullane 25 I Lincoln

Liverpool Spring 0 Northampton 27
Shrewsbury Spring S I Llanboidv 27
ov Centry l4 I Croxton Park 3O
Warwick Spring 201

APRIL.
Politeland 2 Thirsk l3
Newmarket C........... 9 I Epsom Spring 19
.
Catterick Bridge ....... 11 I Newmarket F S 23
Abergavenny .......... 12 I
MA Y. •

Chester ................
Dormasttr Spring .. 8
York Spring 10

Harpenden ............18
Epsom .. .
Manchester.......... 22
.

4 ork SIR
Saliabury lO
Bath l5

-,0 ........... 30
H .
ungerford
............ 3 I

JUNE.

Ascot
Newton
Beverley ............ 20 I Newcastle 2ti

Horeford NOVE
Liver .............. 1
pool Alit unit' ...... i 1

11BER.
Sikrevabury Autaum....l3

---
TIIE 1:11t8T DINING-BELL—The first diving-bell
we read of was nothing more than a very large kettle, sus-
pended by ropes with he mouth downwards. and planks to
sit on fixed in the middle of its concavity. Two Greeks of
f,eledo, in 1588, made an experiment with it before Charles.
. They descended in it with a lighted candle to a consi-
derable depth. In 1683 William Phipps, the son of a black-
smith, formed a project for unloading- a rich Spanish ship,
sunk on the coast of Hispaniola. Charles 11. gave him a
ship, with every necessary fur his undertaking, but being
unsuccessful, he returned in great poverty. He then en-
deavoured to procure another vessel, but tailing, he got a.
subscription, to which the Duke of Albemarlecontributed.
In 1687, Phipps set sail in a ship of 230 tons, having pre-
viously engaged to divide the profits according to the 20
shares of which the subscription consisted. At first, all his
labours proved fruitless ; but at last, when he seemed almost
to despair, he was fortunate enough to bring up so much
treasure that he returned to England with £IIO,COO. Of
this sum ho got about 110,090, and the duke £93,000.
Phipps was knighted by the King, and laid the foundation
of the f)rtunes of the presort Marquis of Normanbv,

the City of London, praying for the abolition of the duties
on tiuibor, and in favour of the passing of the commercial
treaty with France.
Mr. BROCKLEHURST presented a petition from the
operatives employed in the silk mannfactures of Maccles-
field, praying that if tho silk goods of. France and
the continent are to be admitted free of all duty,
that British silk goods be admitted free into France, and
that this union will insist on this measure of justice to
labour.
The presentation of petitions occupied more than an hour.
CLEANSING THE SERPENTINE.
Sir J. SIIELLEY gave notice that as soon as the re-
port of the commission to inquire into the cleansing of
the Serpentine was laid on the table he woull call the atten-
_

41 proceeding wile
COALS, CINDERS, CULM, &c.
Mr. H. H. VIVIAN moved for accounts of the
quantities of coals, cinders, and culm, and patent fuel,
shipped at the several ports of England, Scotland,
and Ireland, coastways, to other ports of the United
Kingdom, in the year 1859 ; distinguishing the
quantity shipped at each of the said ports as compared with
the year 1858, &c.—Ordered.
CINNA MON, &c.
Mr. HANKEY moved for a return of the total quanti-
ties (producing countries not required) of cinnamon, cloves,
mace, nutmegs, and pepper taken for home consumption in
the United Kingdom for thirty years past, giving the rate
of duty payable on eaoh article in each year.—Ordered.
DWELLINGS FOR LABOURING CLASSES
(ILAND)
Sir W. SOMERVIELERE moved for leave to bring in a
bill to extend the act to facilitate the improvement of
landed property in Ireland, and the acts amending the
same, to the erection of dwellings for the labouring classes
in Ireland.—Agreed to. _