The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-14 00:00:00

THE REFORM BILL.

Lord R. MONTAGU asked the Chancellor of the Es,
chequer whether the Government would endeavour, es
early as possible in this session, to bring in a bill wljch
would carry out whatever resolutions might be passed by
the committee, on the Act 2 and 3 William IV., c. 45?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
hon. member for Nottingham (Mr. Osborne) had a ques-
tion relating to the same circumstance, therefore he would
answer them beth. The inquiry of the hon. member for
Nottingham was founded on a misconception. The main
object of the Government, by the resolutions they had
submitted to the house, was to obtain the sanction of the
house to the principles upon which the bill, which he
hoped to have the honour of introducing in the event of
the resolutions being agreed to, would be founded. He
was not prepared at that time to enter into details of the
resolutions, but in case they were passed the Govrnment
were prepared at once to introduce a bill founded
thereon. The intentions of the Government for proceed_
big, as he had indicated, was that the house might come
to some general understanding as to the principle of the
bill, and he did not contemplate being called upon
to enter into details. What the Government
wished was that the principles involved in the resolu-
tions should be sanctioned, and then the Government
would at once introduce the bill. That was the answer he
had to give to both questions. If, after the house had
adopted the resolutions, Government were not prepared
with a bill, he should consider that to be trifling with the
House of Commons. (Cheers.)
Lord R. MONTAGLE reminded tho right hon. gentle-
man that he had not stated whether the Government
would bring in a bill founded on the resolutions passed by
the house•, whatever they might be.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, if the
house agreed to i esolutions which the Government could not,
carry out, he presumed they were entitled to the privilege'
of free men, and decline to proceed. The resolutions the
Government proposed were the basis of the bill. The Go-
vernment did not suppose that in passing these resolutions
would be looked upon as tantamount to passing the bill.'
Mr. OSBORNE asked the right hon. gentleman when he
would name the exact sum at which ho proposed to adopt,
as the qualification for boroughs and counties. (Hoar,
hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said—lf,
the house agreed to the resolution stating that it was ad-
visable that the qualification for the franchise should be
lowered, and also those others in connection therewith, a,
bill would at once be introduced, and then he would enter
into the whole details of the measure. (Hear, hear, and
laughter.) The Government were desirous of proceeding
as speedily as possible. They were not at all in favour of
delay. (Hear, hear.)
ARMS IN CHESTER CASTLE.

Mr. OWEN STANLEY asked the Secretary of State
for War what was the amount of military force in Chester
Castle on Friday, the Bth February ?
General PEEL said there was a company 01 the 54th
Regiment and also a company of militia. It was proposed
on the return of the Guards to London to place a regiment
of infantry in a convenient spot rerdy for a future emer-
gency. There were 9,000 guns, 4,000 swords, 900,000
rounds of ammimition, and a large store of gunpowder.
He had received no reports of the resistance of Fenians
against the troops in that part of the country, and he did
not believe that such existed. (Hear hear.)
THE SUGAR DUTIES.
The resolutions proposed by the Government for the
reduction of the sugar duties, in conformity with the con-
vention with France and other countries, were agreed to.
[LEFT SPEAKING.I

Bank of England Returns.—This Evening.