The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-27 00:00:00

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LSUN OFFICE, Six o'Clock.

LIVERPOOL RAOES.--(This Day.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH)
SEFTON HA.NDICAP.

Mary
Little Davie
Roddam

Eight ran.
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.

Freetrader
Minerva

Minos

Twenty-one ran.
HURDLE RACE.

Stamford

Freedom

Three ran.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(This Day.)
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock.
Several petitions were presented against the County
and 13.)rough Police Bill ; ono from Mr. BAINES in
favour of it ; and another by Mr. MOIVIMAY, frun the

Mayor and Corporation of Durham, in its favour.
THE CRIMEAN INQUIRY.
Mr. W. 0. STANLEY gave notice that he should
tomorrow ask the First Lord of the Treasury if the
inquiry to be conducted by the General officers relative
to Sir J. M`Neil and Col. Tulloch's report was to be an

open or secret one.
COUNTY AND BOROUGH POLICE BILL.
_ _

In answer to a question from Sir J. WALMSLET,
Sir G. GREY said that he intended to postpone the
secoud reading of the County and Borough Police Bill
frOm Friday to Monday next, but he did not promise to
bring it on on that day.
CONTRACTORS' DISQUALIFICATION
REMOVAL BILL.

Mr. MITCHELL having repeated the reasons why
he had been induced to introduce this bill, moved for
leave to withdraw it in consequence of the notice of mo•
tion that had been given by the hon. member for Fins-
bury, that the bill be read a second time that day six
months.
Mr. DUNCOMBE said that his objection to this bill
was, that it was not such a measure as should be passed
by a reformad House of Commons. Every interest was
now represented in that house, and in consequence of
the passing of the Reform Bill the trade of this country
Lad been more fully represented than before, and it
might be said that now the counting-house interest and
not the lauded interest was in the a-oendaut in that house.
He considered that this bill would have had an injurious
and prejudicial effect on the public welfare if carried
into effect. He had much pleasure in seconding the
motion of the mover that it be withdrawn.
Mr. WALPOLE was of opinion that it was not de
sirable to make any alterations in this law. It was de-
sirable that every possible source of corruption should
be avoided, so that the house might stand well with the
country, which he thought it would not do if they re-
pealed the act that prevented Government contractors
from sitting in that house. He thought the law with
reference to the contractors for public loans should be
altered, and suggested that the Government should in-
troduce a declaratory measure in reference to it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
was glad to find the hon. member for Brid port had con-
sented to withdraw the bill, otherwise he (the Chancellor
of the Exchequer) must have voted against its second
reading. He thought that the Parliament which passed
this bill had acted wisely in doing so. An attempt to
apply the disqualification act to contractors for loans
was made for the first time last session, but the solution
of the difficulty was clear, because a contractor to a loan
was not in reality a contractor, but a negotiator ; and
with regard to them it was impossible any undue ad-
vantage could be given to them by the Government,
because the Chancellor of the Exchequer had to come to
that house and ask the house to ratify the terms agreed to.
He would give the subject his best attention. He thought
the decision of the committee last session sufficient on this
que,tion; but if it were thought desirable ho should have
no objection to introduce a measure to set it at rest.
After a few words from Mr. NeriEn and Mr. HAT-
FIELD,
Mr. HENLEY expressed an opinion that he thought
contractors to public loans were as liable to corruption
as tho ordinary Government contractors.

The bill was withdrawn.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE QUALIFICATION

BILL.

Mr. COLVILLE moved the second reading of this
bill. The alterations he proposed to make in the pre-
sent bill were very small, and the only repeal of an exist-
ing qualification was that which related to reversionary
property. As the law now stood, 1001. a year in laud
was required to qualify a gentleman to act as a magis-
trate, and he proposed to extend that qualification to
person., possessed of 300/. per annum in personal pro-
perty, and also to persons holding office or who had a
pension under the Government or in the East India
Company's-service to that amount. This bill proposed
to repeal four acts of Parliament referring to this
subject. Three of them had become obsolete,
and the remaining one was that of George II , under
which justices of the peace row qualified. Ile also pro-
posed to repeal two sections of two other acts of Parlia-
ment ; one (if which prevented practising attorneys and
solicitors from actin? as justices, and the other that
which gave County Cuurt Judges power to act as jus-
tices by ♦irtue of their office. His object, in repealing
these acts and clauses was to consolidate the acts relat-
ing to this aubje.ct.
The ieotion having been ac em-idea,
Mr. DEED ES opposed the second reading of the bill:
This bill was introduced last session but withdrawn,
because Ireland objected to be introduced into the bill,
and that he thought showed the bill must be very
faulty. Ile should not divide the house on the second
reading of the bill, but reserve his opposition to certain
parts when in committee.
Sir GEORGE GREY sa!d that no doubt there were
some provisions in tbe hill which were objectionable.
The principle of the bill was that of giving a personal
property qualification as well as a real property one, and
he sax no objection to the second reading. The propo-
sition of giving a qualification to the holders of salaries
or incomes of 3001. a year he thought objectionable, and
it might be remedied in committee.
M.. VANSITTART opposed the bill on various
grounds, especially on the ground that a bill proposing
such great and important changes ought to have been
introduced by the Government, and not by a private

member. - •
Mr. K. SEYMEP, supported the bill, and said it
appeared from what had been said by the opposers
of the bill that they were not aware of the great want
of magistrates in various country districts to carry on
the ordinary business of petty sessions, and that defect
could only be remedied by an alteration of the present
qualification.
Mr. BASS approved of the principle of the bill.
Mr. DUNCOMBE wished to say ore word of this
bill, but he was afraid that one word would not
be satisfactory to the house, seeing the large
number of the "great unpaid" present. (Hear.)
The greatest and best alteration that could be
made in increasing the number of magistrates would be
to give the country a stipendiary magistrate. It often
occurred that the "great unpaid" had to decide a case
in which they were interested, especially cases of poach-
ieg.
Mr. EWAIIT reminded the house that a property
qualification was not required for Scotland.
Mr. LASLETT approved of clerical magistrates when
other gentlemen could not be found. He supported the
bill.
Mr. MUNTZ defended the conduct of the "great
unpaid," who, he thought, it would be better to retain
than appoint a stipendiary magistracy. He thought the
former were not open to the charge of partiality.
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to
be committed on l6th.
ANNUITIES BILL.

The CHA NCELLO it of the EXCHEQUER said that
doubts having been expressed as to the subscribers to
loans coming within the Contractor; Disqual►fication
Bill, he should in committee on this Lill introduce a
clause to meet that doubt, with reference to the subscri-
bers to the present loan.
CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.

The Consolidated Fund Bill (1,631,0051. jg, 3d.) was
read a second time.
EXCHEQUER BILLS FUNDING BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
After some other business, the house adjourned at two
o'clock.

PEMBROKE DOCKYARD.—i new battery is now in
course of construction at the dockyard at Pembroke. It
is situate at the western side of the establishment, and is '
intended to mount 7 very heavy guns. The contractors
are Messrs. Tregenna, who are pushing the works on, so
that it will soon be ready for mounting. In consequenci
of the great infix caused by the militia, and the nume-
rous works now in progress, the towns of Pater and Pem-
broke are quite full, and a vacant house is not to be seen.
Between 200 and 300 of the militia now stationed at
Pembroke have volunteered frr the line, and will shortly
be drafted to the various regiments.
PRICE OF GOLD.----The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 6 per mills premium (according to the last tariff),
which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 10d. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.32 ;
and, the exchange at Paris on London at short being
25.371 it follows that gold is about 0.22 per cent. dearer
in London than in Paris. By advices from Hamburg
the price of gold is 4261 k per mark, which, at the English
Mint price of 3/. 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold,
gives an exchange of 13.5$ and, the exchange at Ham-
burg on London at short being 13.71, it follows that gold
it; 0.75 per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburg.
The course of exchange at New York on London for
bills at 60 days' sight is 109 per cent , and, the
par of exchange between England and America being
109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is nomi-
nally 0.58 per cent. against England ; but, after making
allowance for charges of transport and difference of in-
terest, the present rate leaves no profit on the transmis-
si.og of gold either way between the two countries.