The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-15 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented from members of the
Roman Catholic religion, in favour of an alteration of the
laws relating to the registration of births, deaths, and mar-
riages ; from the inhabitants of Southwark in favour of and
against Sunday trading—(laughter) ; from different sects
of dissenters praying for as alteration in the 4th clause of
the Census Act; against the continuance of the opium
trade with China, &c.

ANNUITY TAX ABOLITION (EDINBURGH)

BILL.

On the motion of the LORD ADVOCATE, the house
went into committee on this bill.

Mr. MURE moved the following :—" That upon the
death or removal of any of the present ministers of any of
the above-mentioned thirteen churches, the successor or
successors of such minister or ministers shall not be
entitled to a salary or stipend of more than £550 ler annum
until such time as the Commissioners named in this Act
shall have made such provisions as they may deem expe •
dient for payment of a salary or stipend, amounting
to not more than £55) per annum, to the ministers
to be nominated by them to the Tolbooth Church
and the Old Church under the powers by
this Act conferred upon the said Commissioners.
The hon. and learned member said that the object of his
amendment was to give the commissioners the power to
deal with the salaries of the successors of the present in-
cumbents of the two churches in question.
After a few words from the LORD ADVOCATE,
The clause and the amendment, with some verbal altera-
tions, were agreed to.
Clause 15 was agreed to wit'aout discussion. and clause 16
was postponed after some remarks from Mr. Blackburn, the
Lord-Advocate, Mr. Ellice, Mr. Black, Mr. Hadfield, Sir
Graham Montgomery, Mr. C. Bruce, and Mr. Mure.
Clause 17, with some alterations, was agreed to, as well
as clause 18‘.

On Clause 19,
The LORD-ADVOCATE moved some verbal omissions,
and the clause was agreed to, and also clause 20.
Clause 21 was postponed.
Clauses 22, 23, and 24 were agreed to.

On clause 25,
The LORD A nVO CATE moved the following addition :
—Page 12, line 7, after " acts," insert " and the right in
security created by this act in avour of the creditors in the
said annuities are hereby declared to be postponed to the
rights in security created by the recited acts, in so far as
relates to the property thereby disponed or assigned for the
security of the said creditors of the city, and the rights of
the said creditors in relation thereto."
The clause, as amended, was agreed to.
Clauses 26 and 27 were agreed to.
Some discussion took place on clause 28, which has re-
ference to the payment of the second minister of the
church of Montrose, in the course of which,
Mr. C. BRUCE proposed that the stipend of the clergy-
men should be £3lO, instead of £250 a year, and proposed
an amendment to that effect.
Mr. BAXTER contended that so far from the income of
the minister in question being reduced, it would be con-
siderably. augmented. He suggested that the amendment
should be withdrawn.
Mr. C. BRUCE declined acceding to the suggestion of
the hon. member, as he thought his proposal was fair and
reasonable.
After a few remarks from Sir G. Trelawny, Mr. Mare,
and the Lord Advocate, the committee divided, and there
appeared—
For the amendment 42
Against it
Majority —2B

The amendment was accordingly lost.
Sir J. TR ELA.WNEY considered that a certain amount
of accommodation should be provided, and suggested the
introduction in the clause of a provision to that effect. If
such were not agreed to, the poor in Edinburgh would be
deprived of the means of attending divine worship in the
same way as they were in different parts of this country.
The clause was agreed to.
Some clauses were added to the bill, and the preamble
was agreed to. The chairman reported progress, and the
house resumed, but adjourned at a quarter to 4 o'clock.

The house resumed at 6 o'clock, and was
[LEFT SITTING.]

LONDON GAZETTE-(THIS EVENING).

BY THE QUEEN—A PROCLAMATION.
For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for the
preventing and punishing of Vice, Profaneness, and
Immorality.
VICTORIA R.—We most seriously and religiously con-
sidering that it is our indispensable duty to be careful
above all other things, to preserve and advance the honour
and service of Almighty God, and to discourage and sup-
press all vice, profaneness, debauchery, lad immorality,
which are so highly displeasing to God, and so great a re-
proach to our religion and Government : To the intent
therefore, that religion, piety, and good manners may
flourish and increase under our administration and govern-
ment, we have thought fit, by the advice of our Privy
Council, to issue this our Royal Proclamation, and do hereby
declare our royal purpose and resolution to discountenance
and punish all manner of vice, profaneness, and
immorality, in all persons of whatsoever degree
or quality within this our realm : And we 'do
expect and require, that all persons of honour, or
in place of authority, will give good example by
their own virtue and piety, and to their utmost contribute
to the discountenancing persons of dissolute and immoral
lives : and we do hereby strictly enjoin and prohibit all
our loving subjects, of what degree or quality soever, from
playing, on the Lord's Day, at dice, cards, or any other
game whatsoever, either in public or private houses, or
other plao3 or places whatsoever : and we do hereby re-
quire and command them, and every of them, decently
and reverently to attend the worship of God on every
Lord's Day. Our further pleasure is, and we do hereby
strictly charge and command all our judges, mayors, she-
riffs, justices of the peace, and all other our officers and
Ministers, both ecclesiastical and civil, and all other our
sub:Acts whom it may concern, to be very vigilant and strict
in the discovery and the effectual prosecution and punish-.
ment of all persons who shall be guilty of dissolute, immo-
ral, or disorderly practices; and that they takecare also effec-
tually to suppress all public gaming houses and places, and
lewd and other disorderly houses ; and also to suppress and
prevent all gaming whatsoever, in public or private houses,
on the Lord's-day; and likewise that they take effectual
care to prevent all persons keeping taverns, or other public
houses whatsoever, from selling wine, beer, or other
`liquors, or receiving or permitting guests to be or re-
main in 81,141 their houses, in the time of Divine ser-
.