The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-04 00:00:00

PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX.

Mr. STANSFELD, in reply to Mr. Pollard-Urquhart
said a tenant or occupier could not deduct any payment
of income tax from the landlord's rent before the tax had
been actually paid. They could only be deducted after
the amount had boon actually paid, and then the whole
sum so paid could be deducted from the next payment he
was called upon to pay his landlord.
THE CONVIOT O'DONOVAN 110 S tl.

Mr. BRUCE said he was very much obliged to Sir
John Gray in giving him the opportunity of making
a statement relative to the treatment of the treason
felony convict O'Donovan Rosa, who, it had been stated,
had been treated with undue severity by Laving his hands
manacled for 30 days and nights,and that he had been com-
pelled, to escape starvation, actually to take his food like
a beast of the field, on all fours. (Laughter.) It was
most important that if the statement was true that it
should be explained, and if false that it should be
denied. The O'Donovan Rosa was convicted of treason
felony in 1865, and in usual cases convicts were generally
sent to Pentonville, but in these particular cases it was
thought best for the health of the prisoners that they
should be at once sent to Portland, which was, if he might
use the term, one of the most pleasant of the convict
prisons, but in April, 1866, his conduct bL•camo so
violent, and had such a bad effect upon the
other prisoners, that it was thought advisable
to send him back to Millbank. Messrs. Knox and Pol-
lock had reported that Rosa was one of the most dan-
gerous of men, and that it was not safe to leave him un-
guarded for a moment ; as a day never passed without his
being guilty of some act of insubordination. Since Rosar's
removal the conduct of the treason-felony prisoners at
Portland had greatly improved. After he had been kept
12 months at Millbank he was sant to Chatham in the year
1868, and then he began to repeat the conduct be
had been guilty of at Portland ; ou the Ist of June he was
reported for refusing to clean his cell, which was then in
a very filthy condition; on the sth of June he was
again reported for insubordination and wilfully de-
stroying the prison property ; on the 9th of June
he was again reported as refractory and insulting
conduct towards the Governor of the prison, but on the
15th of June, on the Governor visiting him in his cell,
Rosa threw the foul contents of his cell utensil int o
the face of the Governor. Now, for such an act
ordinary prisoners would have been flogged, but he
was only ordered to be kept in another cell unt 1 his con-
duct could be brought before the directors of the prison
A person at this period obtained an interview with the
prisoner on the sh)win,g that ho was about to defend
his claim in some law suit ; and it was thus that
the statement about his being confined for 35 days in
manacles, which it was stated were never removed day
nor night, and that ho had been kept in a dark cell for a
number of days and his food given to him as though he
were a dog. Now, it was not the fact that he had
been kept for 35 days in a dark cell, but he had been so
confined for part of a day iu consequence of his outrageous
conduct. With respect to the manacles being kept on
the whole of the lung period beth night and day, the truth
w..s that the handcuffs were removed always to allow Rosa
to take his food, and that they were never kept on at
night ; and instead of its Wing true, as had been stated,
that Rosa was broken down in bodily health in con-
sequence of the inhuman treatment to which ho
had been subjected to, he had actually increased in weight
very sensibly since his ad nission to the prison. (Hear,
hear.) • He could not imagine that any one, excepting an
Irish member of Parliament—(liughter)—could believe that
such tr.•;.tinent as ha I b.:eu stated by the writer of the letter
upon which the hon. baronet had evidently founded his
question. Rosa had nobody but himself to blame fur the
hardships he had had to undergo, but he had the satis-'
faction of stating that he had improved in his conduct
which had formerly exercised such a baneful influence
upon his fallow prisoners.
THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT.

Mr. OT WAY, in reply to Mr. Dalglish, said he could
not say what course the Portuguese Government proposed
to pursue with respect to the claims upon it. in one
case Mr. Lindsay, who had formerly been a member of that
house had a claim upon it, and a proposal had been made
for its liquidation. Sir G. Murray had been instructed to
urgo the settlement of those claims, but with what effect
he could not yet say.
THE STATUTE LAW.

Mr. HADFIELD then called the attention of the house
to the condition of the statute law, which he said was in a
most objectionable state.
Mr. GLADSTONE said all the attention that at that
period could be given would be given to take steps for a
revision of the statute law.

rLEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF COMNIONS.—LAsT EVENING.
THE NEW LAW COURTS.

Mr. LAYARD, in reply to Mr. C. Bentiuck, said
the sketch of Mr. Street now iu the library of the house
was very b •autiful, but as it was a mere sketch ho did not
think it necessary to say whether it had received the ap-
proval of the Government or not. If the Courts should
be placed on the Thames Embankment he would take
care that a proper medal should be made out and placed
in the library, so that there might be an expression
of opinion on the subject. (Bear, hear. (What
he had suggested was the style best adapted
to the purpose would be Gothic, but not ecclesiastical
Gothic. With respect to the three principle towers in the
sketch ho could not at that moment say for what purpose
they were intended.

THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill, which
fixed the miniminn for bankruptcy at .£5O owing, while
the bankrupt would be liable to all the penalties of the act
if he made any false statements or reservation.
Clauses to 28 inclusive were agreed to.
_

The further consideration of the Bill was adjouroed till
a two o'clock morning sitting on Tuesday.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY STATUTES BILL.

This Bill passed through Committee, and was read a
third time and passed.
The house then adjourned.