The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-15 00:00:00

NAVY.

Lord CLAUD HAMILTON asked the Secretary to the
Admiralty whether the attention of the Board had been
directed to the quality of the wine supplied to the navy for
medical purposes, it having been described as unfit for the
use of invalids, although exempt from duty; and also,
whether he could give an assurance to the house that the
drugs supplied to the navy were not of an equally adulte-
rated and deleterious description?
Lord C. PAGET said that the drugs supplied to the
Royal Navy were purchased at Apothecaries Hall. and
therefore were of the best quality. No complaint had been
made as to the description of wines which had, up to the
present time, been furnished to the Royal .t\ avy, but in
consequence of the statement made to the house by his
right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer respect-
ing foreign vintage, the Board of Admiralty might be in-
duced to make some enquiries relative to the wines in future
to be supplied to the Royal Navy. (Laughter.)

THE FRENCH ARMY IN ITALY.
Mr. GRIFFITH asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether preparations had been made for placing the
French army in Northern Italy in a state ready for imme-
diate active service, and a military intendant and staff sent
to Tuscany to prepare for the arrival of French troops
there; and whether such preparations were made with the
intention of occupying any part of Central Italy by French
troops, in order to "protect the voting" should fresh elec-
tions be resorted to, or for any other ostensible object ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said he had hoard nothing with re-
gard to any such preparations in reference to placing the
French army in Northern Italy in a state of readiness for
active and immediate service. In respect to the socond
part of the question, the Government had received no inti-
mation on the subject, and therefore he was not in a posi-
tion to reply to the hon. member on that point. As related
to the last part of the question, he was not in possession of
any information that would enable him to give a satisfac-
tory answer.
THE TREATY WITH FRANCE.

Mr. EWART asked the President of the Board of
Trade, whether, in the Treaty of Commerce with France,
the English or the French was understood to be the correct
version of Article 10, " the privileges, favours, or advan-
tages granted to national vessels" being stated in the
English version to be granted " generally," while in the
French they are stated to be granted " sans exception."
Mr. M. GIBSON said he believed it was understood that
the meaning in the two versions was just the same. There
would be no disadvantageous effect produced by the terms
of the treaty on the privileges enjoyed by the shipping in-
terest of this country. (Hear, hear.)
LUNATIC POOR (IRELAND).
Colonel GREVILLE asked the Chief Secretary for Ire-
land if it was the intention of the Government to introduce
a measure to consolidate and amend the law relating to the
lunatic poor in Ireland ?
Mr. CARDWELL said that it was necessary to institute
some further inquiries before adopting any legislative mea-
sure, and Government did not at present propose to intro-
duce any bill on the subject.
Mr. SMOLLETT asked the Secretary of State for India,
whether application had been made on behalf of a London
Joint Stock Company, called " The Madras Irrigation and
Canal Company," for the guarantee of a minimum interest
of 5 per cent. per annum, payable from the Indian revenues,
upon a capital of two millions sterling, for the alleged pur-
pose of enabling the said company to prosecute certain irri-
gation schemes in Cuttack and in other districts of Orissa ;
and whether it was intended to accede to this proposal ?
Mr. I'. G. BARING said that facilities had been afforded
for the guarantee In question, but they weto not intended
to be availed of.

CHINA.
Sir M. SEYMOUR moved for copies of letter from the
Secretary to the Admiralty, No. 336, dated the 9th day of
August, 1858, respecting affairs in China, inclosing letter
from the Foreign Office, dated the 16th day of July, a lB-8
inclosing letter from the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine
t°
the Earl of Clarendon, No. 91, dated her Majesty's ship
Furious, Gulf of Pechele, the 23d day of April, 18;8 : of
letter from the Earl of Elgin of Kincardine, No. 101, dated
her Majesty's ship Furious, Gulf of Pechele, the
29th day of April, 1858, to the Earl of Clarendon.
of letter from Sir Michael Seymour acknowledging
receipt of same, No. 326, dated her Majesty's
ship Calcutta, Hung Kong, the 27th day of September
1858, with its enclosuriNeisa,yvi72-1,, leitBtseBr,fraonmdthleettEerarlfroofnElgin
ens
Admiraltyjiily6, to Sir 1858 ;
and Kincardine to Sir Michael Seymour, dated her
the
ami; 1( Ma-
jesty'sirlooff gpe
fromrs uait.iid()u;ts",:i Kincardine, c asredei dated Secretary
y ien
to
the
Michael Seymour, No. 542, dated Nov. 23, ISSB, and from
the Secretary to the Admiralty to G. Hammond, Esq.,
dated Foreign-office, Nov. 23, 1858.—Ordered.
MAYNOO'FII COLLEGE.
Mr. SPOONER moved that this house do resolve itself
into a committee to consider the Acts for the endowment
of the Collog,e of Maynooth, with a view to the withdrawal
of any endowment out of the consolidated fund,
due regard being had to vested rights and in-
terests. The hon. member, amid much laughter,
contended that recent circumstances in Ireland and different
parts of the continent justified the policy of withdrawing
the grant to the College of Maynooth, which was a seminar),
for the propagation of seditious feeling and heretical doc-
trine. In support of this position he cited speeches
recently delivered in Ireland by members of the Ronma
Catholic hierarchy and clergy, and also the do3trinea
tamed in Den's theology, the text-book of Catholic divines.