The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-19 00:00:00

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(THIS EVENING.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
Lord COLVILLE of CULROSS presented a petition
against any further war with China.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented several peti-
tions from Clapham, Stepney, and other places in favour of
the Sunday Trading Bill.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Scottish Drainage and Improvement Corporation
Bill and the Manchester and Buxton Road Bill were read
a second time.
On the motion that the Galashiels, Innerleithen, and
Peebles Railway Bill be read a third time,
The Earl of EGLINTON moved that the bill be read a
third time this day six months.
The Earl of ST. GERMANS suggested to the noble
earl that he should alter his motion, so as to enable the
bill to be referred back to the committee for further consi-
deration, rather than that it should be rejected altogether.
This suggestion was assented to.
NAVAL RESERVES.

Lord LYNDHURST save notice to the First Lord of
the Admiralty, that on an early day he should call attention
to the naval reserves.
CHURCH RATES. _ _ _

The Marquis of SALISBURY presented a petition from
a place in Hertfordshire against the abolition of church
rates

THE LITURGY.
The Earl of DERBY presented a petition against any
alteration of the Liturgy.
MARRIAGES (EXTRA PAROCHIAL PLACES)
BILL.

This bill passed through committee.
NICE AND SAVOY.
Lord NORMANBY said he had promised to make some
explanation with respect to the subject of Nice and Savoy,
but in consequence of the motion of the noble earl (Grey)
he should postpone doing so until to-morrow.
REFORM BILL.
The Earl of EGLINTON said before the noble earl
brought forward his motion he suggested that Scotland and
Ireland should be included in the measure.
Earl GREY then rose to move that a select committee
be appointed to inquire what would be the probable increase
of the number of electors in the counties and boroughs of
England and Wales from a reduction of the franchise,
and whether any or what change is likely to be made
in the character of the constituencies by such increase :
and also to inquire what difference there was between large
and small constituencies in respect of the proportion of the
registered electors who usually vote in contested elections,
an into the causes of any such difference which might be
found to exist ; likewise into the moans by which elections
in very large constituencies are practically determined,
and into the expense incurred in conducting them.
The noble earl said as a bill had been introduced into the
other house for amending the representation of the people,
though the progress of the bill had not been very rapid, yet
he thought it would be advisable to appoint a committee,
whose investigations might enable their lordships to form
some opinion on the subject of the proposed measure.
Returns had been already given to show the extent of
the alterations in the constituencies by lowering the
franchise from £lO to 1(5 ; but many gentlemen capable
of forming an opinion considered those returns alto-
gether falacious. Ashton was set down in one of these re•.
turns as one of the boroughs whose constituency would
be increased in consequence of the alteration to
the extent of between 800 and 900 voters, but
a gentleman of great experience in the neighbourhood was
of opinion that the addition would be at least 2,000. With
respect to the increase of the number of voters in counties,
Government had given no information. The mere increase
of members was not the only subject which ought to occupy
their deliberations. There was no doubt the increase of
voters would be very numerous, but it was the duty of the
Legislature to see that that increase was fairly distributed.
(Hear.) It was necessary the/ efore to consider whether it was
advisable that more very large constituencies should be
formed, because we had seen that the consequence of very
large constituences was, that a great number of voters never
exercised their right of voting. The expense of contesting
in certain boroughs was very large ; as much as .£5,000 had
been spent by a single candidate, but that was not the
whole extent of the evil. The great difficulty of inducing
a larger constituency to vote was because the more
intelligent part of the constituency felt that their
influence was overpowered by numbers, and this
led trs their a‘)staining ogether from voting
and the result of such a circumstance was that the election
was practically decided by the lower class of voters. He
felt it would not be an easy task to determine how this state
of things was to be allowed, but if the committee for which
he moved was granted, some information might be elicited.
He had been much surprised by a statement which he had
seen, that if you took 100 citizens of New York by chance,
not more than five would have any idea by whom they
were represented, such was the remarkable effect
of a great multiplication, of the number of
voters in a constituency. The direct advantages to a man
from the possession of the franchise was not of any groat
moment, but it was of the utmost importance to every man
that the election of members should be pure. As far as
he (e:arl Grey) was concerned, he was decidedly of opinion
that an extension of the franchise was neither necessary or
expedient. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.)
(LEFT SPIAIiING.

perly represented in Paris by Lord Cowley, and suggested
that he should be removed. (Laughter.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said he did not understand what the
hon. member proposed by bringing forward this question at
the present time ; and he did not think the hon. member
reflected on the responsibility which he was assum-
ing by the speech ho had just delivered. He'
contended that there was not analogy in the present
case and others in which protests had been made, and that
in the former such a proceeding was unnecessary. The
question of the cessions that had been made by the Em-
peror of the French and the King of Sardinia was a matter
that rested entirely with these two sovereigns. The noble
lord alluded to the pending conference which would assem-
ble virtually to reconcile the treaty of 'Vienna with the alte-
rations that had taken place, and he assured the hon. mem-
ber that there was no disposition on the part of her Ma-
jesty's Government to deprive Switzerland of those rights
which were guaranteed by the treaty in question. He re-
pudiated the idea that in the commercial treaty the honour
of this country had been compromised and contended
that the inevitable tendency of an interchange of
commerce was to unite two countries more closely, and
to promote their mutual interest and friendly feeling. He
assured the hon. member that the conduct of the Govern-
Ment would be found in conformity with the interests of
the British people and the honour of the British statesmen.
(Cheers.) _ _ _

After a few words from Mr. CLIFFORD,
Lord PALMERSTON defended the conduct of Lord
Cowley, on whom he passed a high eulogiuni.
(LEFT SITTING.)

EPSOM RACES (TIIIS DAY).

(BY ELECTRIC FELEGAPII.)
LONDON-BRIDGE STAKES.

Avalanche
2
Weatherbound
3
Fravola
Eight ran.

CITY AND SUBURBAN.
Dead heat between Comforter and Lord Nelson.
Atolyon
Thirty-six ran.
DECIDING HEAT•
6 to 4 on Comforter.
HEATIICOTE PLATE.

Brandy Ball
3
Niger
Joyouse
Eleven ran.