The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-20 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS

Mr. AYRTON gave notice that he would draw the atten-
tion of the house to the circumstance of several important
bills having been left unconsidered this session, and to ask
what course would be adopted by Government in regard to
these measures being taken up early next session.
COMPANIES' BILL.
In reply to Mr. E. JAMES, •
Mr. GIBSON said that on Monday next he would state
what course Government would adopt with regard to this
bill.

SALARY OF THE DEAN OF YORK.—THE
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION.
In reply to Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,
Sir G. LEWIS said that a short time ago an inquiry had
been instituted by direction of the Treasury into the esta-
blishment of the Ecclesiastical Commission, but he was not
in a position to state what were the powers of the Home-
office in respect to the Treasury. However, if the hon-
ourable member repeated his question next week he would
receive a reply. It appeared that the business of the Eccle-
siastical Commission had increased largely of late years.
Mr. CONINGHAM gave notice that on bringing up the
report of committee of Supply, he would move the rejection
of the vote for the Ecclesiastical Commission.

REFORM.
Mr. WARNER said that a question would be asked by
the country with regard to the Reform Bill, and he thought
Government should give some intimation as to the course
they proposed to pursue with reference to a Reform Bill.
He thought that much unjust censure had been thrown on
the Government in regard to the Reform Bill which they
had introduced this session.
SUPPLY.
The house then went into committee of "apply, and tb.
following votes were agreed to --
£17,000 for Lighthouses;
£4,260 for the Orange Expedition;
£27,000 for British Caffraria ;
£34,442 for Treasury Chests, &c.
On the vote of £20,000 for submarine telegraphs, some
discussion took place.
Mr. LAING stated that the Mediterranean telegraph
and the Channel Islands telegraph were not in an efficient
condition. 'With regard to the Red Sea telegraph there
was an absolute contract, and they had no rgraedy.
Mr. AYRTON moved the omission of the item oi
£7,200 for the Mediterranean telegraph, and £l,BOO for the
Channel Islands telegraph.
Sir G. LE WIS stated that he was responsible for the
first contract, the:ltem for which it was proposed to omit.
He considered that under the circumstances, although the
contract has not teen fully carried out, that this itern could
not properly be disallowed. As regards a Channe;l Island
telegraph, it was but the communication.
Mr. B. OSBORNE accused the Government of having
forced different items of expenditure on 'ale house,
and complained of their being called on to pay for contracts
when they had not been carried out.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended
the conduct of the Government, contending that they
would not have been justified in not end:devouring to pro-
vide a communication with Malta.
Mr. WHITE considered that it war, very tinfair to take
exception to this vote, when the Government, in making
the contracts, had done all in their power with regard to a
matter of considerable importance, and he hoped the
amendment would not be presse,l
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY contended that the necessary
judgment and discretion in respect to packet and telegraph
contracts, which involved. a large expenditure, had not
been displayed by Government, and hoped that in future
these contracts would not be decided without being pre-
viously discussed in this house.
After some conversation the amendment was negatived
without a division, and the vote was agreed to.
The following votes were also agreed to :
£7,000 for the Niger Expedition.
£11,500 for the Zambese Expedition.
£2,500 for Inspectors of Burial Grounds.
On the vote of £2OOO for the formation of a gallery'of his-
torical portraits,
Mr. SPOONER objected to this vote, as the object to
which it was to be applied was neither beneficial to art or
calculated to improve public morals. He concluded by
moving the rejection of the vote.
After some conversation the house divided—
For the vote
Against 8
Majority
Some minor votes for the civil service in Ireland were
agreed to without discussion.
On the vote of £1,914 for the purchase of old. gun. :metal
for the bas-reliefs of the Wellington Testimonial in Mona
Park, Dublin, &c.,
Mr. B. OSBORNE demurred to the vote, and. asserted
that the monument in question was hideous.
Lord PALMERSTON supported the vote, and con-
tended that the statue in question was very ornamental.
The vote was agreed to, as were £1,680 for the Fizi
Island Enquiry, £2,500 for the drawings of Old Masters,
£5,000 for a National IGallery in Ireland ; £5,000 for an
Industrial Museum at Edinburgh ; £2,660 for a Guard-
room at Windsor Castle.
On the vote of £15,000 for increasing the accommodation
for painting and sculpture in the National Gallery, Trafal-
gar-square,
Lord H. LEN NOX said that he agreed with the
noble lord at the heal of the Government, who had stated on
a former occasion that the hall in which the sculpture was
exhibited was quite unsuited for the purpose. He con-
tended that the Royal Academy, with large funds at their
disposal, should provide not only a gallery for its pictures,
but also for its sculpture. He would not press the com-
mittee to a division at present, but would introduce the
subject again when the report was brought ap.
Mr. COWPER said it had beenOadmitted by all parties
that the Nationel Gallery was insufficient to accommodate
the pictures and sculpture collected in it. Until it was
known what was to be done with regard to the
British Museum, it would not be competent for
the Government to decide respecting Burlington
House, oe any other building for the reception of the
collection in question, but they were anxious to do all in
their power to set this subjeci; satisfac:mily at rest. As he
had previously stated, it was proposed to make a central
hall in the interior, which would not in the slightest degree
interfere with the interior walls, and would promote the
ultimate object of giving up the building entirely to the
National Gallery for its own collection. It would he neces-
sary to construct a facade, and ultimately it relight be
necessary to purchase St. Martin's workhouse at. the back
of the building.
Mr. B. OSBORNE expressed his thanks tel the noble
lord who had brought the subject forward, and he did not
consider the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Cowpor) had given
a lucid statement or one calculated to satisfy the public or
the house. He called on the few members present to sup-
port the noble lord in his views on this subject.
Mr. CONINGHAM called on the representatives of the
public to withhold any further expenditure for the purpose.
The Gallery originally cost £lOO,OOO, and when the Royal
Academy was admitted within its walls, it was with the
understanding that the space allotted to it should be re-
sumed when it was required for the purposes of the Na-
tional Gallery. He contended that the time had now
arrived, as the National Gallery was compelled to refuse
valuable bequests of pictures for want of space.
Mr. E. JAMES opposed the vote, and said they wars
about to plunge into an indefinite expense, and the cost of
purchasing St. Martin's Workhouse would be £60,000 or
£7O 000.
Mr. MONSELL also opposed the vote.
Mr. COWPER said that he supposed he had not made
himself intelligible, for if his proposal were agreed to it
would render unnecessary at present any enlargement of
the National Gallery, which it would make adequate for its
pictures fer eight or 10 years without additional expense.
Mr. P. O'BRIEN objected to the vote on the ground
that it would not accomplish the object of making the Na-
tional Gallery spitable to the purpose for Well it woes in-
tended.

Lord PALMERSTON defended the vote from e lonotr;-
cal considerations. The fact was there were two mites of
rooms placed at different ell rerr';ies of the build g, and a
chasm between them which it was proposed to connect
and thus make a large central saloon that would afford
ample space for the pictures. They had sculptors who
equal'ed the most eminent artists on the continent„ and yet
they had no place at present to exhibit their productions
but a cellar, of which ho always felt ashamed when he
entered it.
After some further discussion,
Lord PALMERSTON said that he appeared to bo mis-
understood. The alteration proposed, while it wort ld afford
increased accommodation for the exhibition of se topture,
would prove permanently useful for the exhibition of 1 pictures.
Besides, there were several very valuable pictures a which
had been left to the country on the condition ti tat they
were to be exhibited in the National Gallery. Ii t would,
no doubt, be very desirable that the nor al Aca-
demy should be removed to Bening ton House , but as
they could occupy only a portion of the site wlh rich had
been secured, it was not desirable to build there it ntil they
had agreed on some general plan that would afford l accom-
modation for some other body.
The house divided, and the numbers were—
For the vote '3l
Against
Majority
On the vote of £lO,OOO for temporary accommoi lation for
the Foreign Office, some discussion ensued, bi it it was
agreed to.
Tho following votes were also agreed to :
LlB,OOO for the site of the proposed new Fireigt a-office.
£38,170 toward defraying the expenses of new liVestmin.-
eter-bridge.
£BO,OOO for the approaches to the same.
£1,500 for repairing and maintaining Carisbrook Castle.
£87,000 for the expenses of telegraphic commiLmication
between Rangoon and Singapore.
£l,OOO grant to Professor Hansen, of Gotha.
£5,000 for Sheriffs' Court-houses, Scotland.
£6,000 for the :expedition under Captain Psilisier, for
exploring in British North America.
£7,000 as a reward for the services of Captain 111'Clini°,°.k
and his officers and crew in tracing the fate of the Freni7L
expedition, and for the erection of a monument to
memory of Sir J. Franklin and his companions.
£75,000 was granted to her Majesty toward,'
g
the expenses of the civil contingencies.
theus voteedile nf:awY 127
Yt step to colossal
Other sums were also voted to her %ski
On the Tote of L 17,000 for the Kensington ""-
discussion took place as to the adTiuseaedhfilltorls.
ch
it was contended would be only t
w" BF)ll.3coswipoorknsertineultre(l4 nd,
item
expenditure, but the vote
On the vote of £80,117 for public
of 11£12r;0H00EfNorNaEmSoSdYel movedsc the
school in Cork, which he a aid was a
fraud on the inhabitants.
The
Fhoorustehed divided,
amendmentand the numbers were-
-3
Against 4O
Majority
—37
The vote, which is the last on the estimates, we agreed
to, and the chairman was ordered to report the resolutions.
'The house resumed.
WAYS AND MEANS.
The house
motion of
committee on ways and means'
OTnthe
xtlausclußwl
£1,712,000 to make up a surplus of ways an
voted.

SUPPLY 4
The report of supply en the vote of 22,000,000 for Ex-
chequer Bonds and other votes were brougb t up and
agreed to.
The house acljourned at 20 othautem past 6 o'clpt

EAST INDIA LOAN BILL.
The bill Was then road a third time and Paned •
WAYS AND ES*,
The report of Ways and Means iraa urought t up la
agreed to.