The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

ARMY BEFORE SEBISTOPOL.

Lord PANMURE laid two letters on their lordships'
table, one from Lord Lucan and the other from Lord
Cardigan, relative to the charges brought against them
in the report of the Cnnturssioners of Inquiry on the
state of the army before Sebastopol, and on the motion
of the noble lord they were ordered to be printed,

Their lordships adjourned at a quarter past 7 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)

The SrEAKEII took the chair at the usual hour.
The Sheriffs of London and Middlesex appeared at
the bar, and presented a ptition from the Corporation
of London, praying for the abolition of the Oath of Ab-
juration.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills ware severally read a second time,
and ordered to be committed :—Cannnck Mineral
Railway, Grand Junction Water, Lands Improvement
Company of Scotland, North Staffordshire Railway
(Liverpool Extension), North Staffordshire Railway
(Samlbach to Warrington). Norwich Union Life Insur-
ance Society, and Severn Valley Railway.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AND TO WN BILL.
Oa the motion. that this bill be read a second time,
Mr. FEN WICK rose and moved that the bi 11
be read a .econd time that day six months.

Mr. WIGRA.M was in favour of the second reading
of this bill.

After a few words from S. ADAIR and Mr. STAFFORD
the bill was read a second time.

A great number of petitions were presented by several
hon. members against the opening of the Crystal Palace,
British Museum, and National Gallery on Sundays.
Mr. CAIRNS asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether there were any letters or papers illustrative of
Vile probable effect of the late convention with the Em-
peror of Japan on the trade of this country ; and whether
the Government would lay on the table ()vies of such
letters or papers ? _

Lord PALMERSTON said the only thing that could
he laid. on the table was the despatch of Admiral Stir-
ling. He had no objection to the production of that
document.
Mr. CAIRNS asked whether there will not some
letters in the Foreiszn-office and the Board of Trade ?
Lord PALMERSTON said the letters referred to
were inter official papers, and it was not usual to pro-
duce those documents.
Mr. HEADLAM asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether be would direct that the warrant under
which the value of the commissions of officers killed in
action is paid to their relatives might be laid upon the.
table of the house ?

Lord PALMERSTON said he bad no object!ea to
the production of the warrant.
Mr. A. PELLATT asked whether the Sultan's recent •
edicts, granting civil and religious equality to all his
subjects, abolished the penalty of death upon a Mussul-
man becoming a Christian ; and, if not,
whether Go-
vernment would exert its diplomatic influence to repeal
that law ?
Lord PALMERSTON said the Government were
aware that such edicts had been signed, but as they bad
not yet arrived in this country their contents were
unknown. Her Majesty's Government
.had for many
years urged the importance of the subject, and hon.
members might rest assured that no exertion on their part
would be wanting to effect the object; desired by the
hon. member. At the same time it w.ould be admitted
that the religious matters of other countries were very
delicate things to handle.
Mr. PALK asked whether it was the intention of her
Majesty's Government to take any steps to ascertain
the correctness of the allegations reflecting on the con-
duct of certain officers in Sir J. 'McNeill's report ?
Mr. F. pEEL said answers had been received from
Lord Cardigan and Lard Lucau, which he would lay on
the table during the evening,
Mr. PALK said, under the circumstances, he should,
on an early day, move that the report of the Commis-
sion of Inquiry be referred to a select committee, in
Grier to see if the charges made by it were borne out by
the facts it contained.
THE CRIMEAN COMNINSTON.
Mr, LAYARD said he found that; it would not be
convenient to bring on his motion on 4 the evening he
had hat night fixed on. He, therefore, hoped, as his
motion was essentially a G?overnmen t one, the noble
lord at the head of the Government would give him a
day for bringing forward the same.
Lord PALMERSTON said an a)!lpeal would have
been fair when one day only was ope or to independent
members, but as they had now t aro days of the
week, and the session had but Just commenced,
he could not grant the hon. metnberi'e request. He
begged to recommend to his hon. friend (which he
trusted he might call him) to try h's luck again, and
attain that by right which he was mow asking as a
favour. (Laughter.)
An HoN. MEMBER hoped that the startle facility would
be given to those persons animadrertod upon in the

Crimean repurt who were not members of the Legisla-
ture as wari given those who had seats in Parliament.
Mr. F. PEEL said be had received a statement from
the Quartermaster• General, which he would lay on the
table of the house.