The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-21 00:00:00

MILITIA

Mr. ALCOCK moved an address for a return of the full
quota of each regiment of militia ; the number of men en-
rolled in each regiment at the time it was called out for
training this year; the number of men actually present at
the training; the number whose absence is accounted for
by death, illness, or the expiring term of enlistment.
The return was ordered.
CONSTABULARY FORCE (IRELAND)
Mr. DAWSON moved for a return of the number of
county inspectors, sub-inspectors, head and other consta-
bles, by their respective ranks ; of the relative num-
ber of the different religious denominations, classed into
Protestants and Roman Catholics, at present in the force ;
of the salaries by the year of county inspectors, with their
allowance of long service pay ; allowance of extra pay and
mileage when out on duty ; allowance in lieu of forage for
their horses • also the salaries paid to their private servants,
and other details in connection with the force in question.
DEFENCE OF PORTSNIOUTIL
critAlIAM asked_the-SP-,'"E'rY of State for
War, whether h.; -aitiir-d any explanation of the state-
ment ho made, that no plan for the defence of Portsmouth,
except the Duke of Richmond's, existed at the time the.
Government land at Portsmouth was old for £B,OOO, see-
ing, that in the appendix to the report of the Defence Com-
mission it is stated that a committee which sat on this sub-
ject in 1804, recommended a plan for the defence of Ports-
mouth, at an expense of £712,000, which included four bat.
terics at Stokes Bay.
Mr. S. HERBERT said the fact was that plans had been
laid before Government from time to time, but they were not
officially adopted, and therefore could not be acted on.
CONTRACTS FOR CANNON.

Sir DE LACY EVANS asked-the Secretary of State for
War what was the extent of the contract alleged to have
been entered into by the War Department with the Low
Moor Foundry Company for cannon of large calibre, which
on trial had been found to burst in several instances ; and
whether any questions of dispute existed between the Go-
vernment. and the Low Moor Company in regard to this
contract ?

Mr. S. HERBERT said that the War Department had
entered into a contract with the company alluded to for the
supply of a certain quantity of iron for the manufacture of
(minion. That iron had been supplied, and there was no
ground for complaint a. ainst the company, who had exe-
cuted the contract in the most satisfactory manner. It was
true that five of the cannons had burst, and it was consi-
dered advisable to suspend the construction of any more for
the present.

LICENSES IN SCOTLAND.
Mr. FINLAY asked the Secretary of State for the Home•
Department, if be had any objections to My upon the table
of the house, with as little delay as possible, that part of
the report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into
the operation of the licensing system in Scotland which
had been received by the Government.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that the report to which the hon.
member referred to had been laid on the able, and presented
to both Houses of Parliament on tho 11th of the present
month.

FISHERIES IN IRELAND.
Mr. CONNOLLY gave notice that, in going into com-
mitto of supply, he would draw the attention of the house
to the interference by the Ordnance with the fisheries in
Ireland.

IRISH BILLS.
In reply to an Ilorr. MEMBER,
Mr. CARD WELL said that if the adjourned debate were
over early, he proposed to proceed this evening with the
Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill,
land) Bill. and the County Prisons (Ire-
FOREIGN AFFAIRS —ABSENCE OF MINISTERS
Sir R. PEEL complained of the absence of Ministers
from their places in the house when questions relating to
foreign affairs were to be asked. There was such a question
on the paper for that evening, and yet neither the First
Lord of the Treasury nor the noble lord the Secretary for
Foreign Affairs were in their places, notwithstanding that
the latter noble lord had stated that ho would this evening
give an explanation relative to a despatch from M.Thouve-
nel. He understood that despatch had been received, and
the Ministers were treating the country and the house very
disgracefully in absenting themselves on such occasions as
the present. (Hear, hear.)
t,ir G. C. LEWIS said what ho understood his noble
friend the Secretary for Foreign Affaits to state in the
house the other evening was that he would communicate
the contents of a despatch which was expected from M.
Thouvenel. That despatch he (Sir G. C. Lewis) believed
had not arrived in this country, and as there was no notice
on the paper relating to the subject, ho did net think his
noble friend was bound to attend merely on the supposition
that some question respecting the matter might be asked
by an hon. member.
Sir R. PEEL said that the noble lord had distinctly
stated that he was expecting a letter from M. Thouvenel,
and that he would communicate its contents to the house,
and he (Sir Robert Peel) understood from a newspaper that
morning—(Cries of " Order")
Lord J. MANNERS said that a notice had been given,
and was on the paper that evening relating to foreign
affairs.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that no notice on the present
subject had been given, and that which was on the paper
had reference to another matter.
EUROPEAN FORCES (INDIA.)

Lord STANLEY, in resuming the adjourned debate,
said he did not oppose the views of the Government in
regard to this subject merely as a member of that side of
the house, but from a conviction derived from much
consideration and some experience. He strongly advocated
a local force and a native army in India, and drew
the attention of the house to the anomalous posi-
tion of that country as compared with other depen-
dencies of the British crown, which rendered such native
forces necessary. Some persons considered that this ques-
tion involved a struggle between the Secretary for India
and the military department, but this,. he contended was a
mistake, for the question of organisation was entirely
distinct from that of patronage. The noble lord
then proceeded to argue that it was impossibl©
to do without native troops in India, inasmuch as
60,000 or 80,000 would-be a force quite inadequate in cases
of emergency that possibly might arise. lie again drew
attention to the anomalous position of India, and main•
tained that it was necessary to have an admixture
of the military and civil elements in the government of the
country, and that there could be no danger to the interests
of this country from the force which he advocated being
established.