The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-14 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented against the abolition
of church-rates; in favour of Parliamentary reform ;
against legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister ;
against the London Corporation Reform Bill, Are.
LYME REGIS ELECTION.

The petition against the return of the member for Lyme
Regis was withdrawn.
TELEGRAPHIC CONTRACTS.

Mr. SMITH gave notice that on the 28th inst. he would
draw the attention of the house to this subject, with the
view of founding a motion on tho same.

TOTE BY BALLOT.

Mr. H. BERKELEY gave notice of his intention to
introduce a bill for the better prote.:tion of voters at glee-
ions for members of Parliament.
THE SPANISH DEBT.

Lord BURGHLEY asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, what was the exact amount that Spain had
agreed to repay to this country ; and whether she had
consented to do so spontaneously, or at the request of the
present or the late Government.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the amount in question was
over £483,000, and that the Spanish Government had acted
in regard to the transaction with the most honourable feel-
ings. (hear, hear.)
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

Mr. E. JAMES asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs to what period he intended to postpone the intro-
duction of the Bill for Reform of the Representation of the
People in Parliament.

Lord J. RUSSELL said that, according to his present
arrangoments, he proposed to bring forward his bill for
Parliamentary Reform on the Ist March. (Hear, hear.)

WINE AND MEDICINES FOR TIIE ROYAL

N AVY.

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 fur 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
by
tin
consequence of the statement his
present time, beenfurnis
madehedtothe Royal
to
right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer respect•
ytahle .1%
houseavy,
ing foreign vintage, the Board of Admiralty might Le in-
duced to make some enquiries relative to the wines in future
to bo 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 second
part of the question, the Government had received no inti-
mationlpyatrot
othfethheognu.
emateimonb,erheonwtahaantoptoiinntposAsesaraetolanteodf
on the subject, and therefore he was not in a posi-
d
ttio°llthteolraespt
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. (Hoar, hoar.)
LUNATIC POOR (IRELAND).

Colonel GREVILLE asked the Chief SecT;tary 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 neoessary 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 6 par 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. T. G. BARING said that facilities had been afforded
for the guarantee in question, but they were not intended
to be availed of.

CHINA.
o f
in
hdiantae,d
inclosing
09s
it
nh
gdla:;er
t
Sir M. SEYMOUR moved for copies of letter from the
Secretary to the Admiralty, No.
e
336,
August, 1858, affairsrespecting
from the Foreign Office, dated the 16th day of July, 1858,
inclosing letter from the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine to
the Earl of Clarendon, No. 91, dated her Majesty's ship
Furious, Gulf of Pechele, the 23d day of April, 18% : 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 /slajesty'a
ship Calcutta, Hung Kong, the 27th day of September
1858, with its enclosures, viz., letter from the Earl of Elgin
and Kincardine to Sir Michael Seymour, dated her Ma-
jesty's ship Furious, May 21, 1858, and letter from the
Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, dated Tiensen, July 6, 1858 ;
and of letters from the Secretary to the Admiralty to Sir
Michael Seymour, No. 542, dated Nov. 23, 1858, and from