The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-20 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.--(YESTERDAY.)
The LoRD CH,OICIILLOR took hie seat on the woolsack
at five o'cleck.
The Earl of WICKLOW gave notice that in the event
of the Oaths Bill being read a second time, he should
move the omission of the clause which denies that any
foreign potentate bath, or ought to have, temporal or
spiritual jurisdiction in this realm.
THE SEIZURE OF THE CAGLIA.RI.
Lord WENSLEYDALE inquired whether, in the pre-
sent state of the question arising out of the capture of
the Cagliari, the Government would have any objection
to adopt the course he had recommended before the re-
cess, namely, to take the opinion of the Privy Council
OD the subject
The Earl of MALMESBURY said be was obliged to
the noble and learned lord for asking the question, as
it gave him an opportunity of stating how the case at
present stands. The case divides itself into two parts—
the first part, with respect to the detention of the
two engineers who happened to be on board at the time
the ship was captured. The law officers of the Crown
who were consulted by the present Government on the
legality or lillegality of the detention of the two
men were unanimously of opinion that suchdetention was
illegal, and on account of the hardships endured by the
men her Majesty's Government might demand cornpen•
aation from the Government of Naples, and acting on
that suggestion he had addressed a communication to
M. Carafa, inal:ing that demand for the suffering en-
dured by the men during their captivity. With respect
to tie second part of the question, viz., the legality or
illegality of the capture of the Cagliari, he had only
Within the last few hours received the report of the gen-
tlemen to whom the question had been referred. Two
...,re‘of opinion that the capture was illegal, and the
_L thought the capture legal. Under these cir-
31;:astances the Government felt it impossible to take those
1Z Ong measures desirable on that part of the question.
iithout pledging himself to anything, he considered the
suggestion of the noble and learned lord worthy of the
most attentive consideration ; and, under all the circum-
he was precluded from giving a decided answer.
stances,
The law officers consulted by the present Government
with respect to the legality of the confiscation of the
steamer, had declared that such a step would be
illegal. He was not then in a position to say whether
any official notice of the condemnation had been sent to
the Government of Sardinia.
E tri GRANVILLE asked whether there would be
any objection to lay on the table a copy of the com•
munication sent to M. Carafal

The Earl of MALMESBURY said the subject was
at present under consideration, and the production of
the documents would be unusual.
SALE OF POISONS.

Lori CAMPBELL asked the intention of the Go.
vernment with respect to the introduction of a bill for
regulating the sale of poison !
The Earl of DERBY said if the Government saw the
slightest chance of passing such a measure they would
introduce a bill.
THE PATI?,TOTIC FUND.
The Duke of NORFOLK then rose to move for a
number of returns connected with the administration of
the Patriotic Fund. These returns, which were very
voluminous embraced the correspondence of the council
th.4;..rtes of persons who had been relieved, and the
whose proceedings connected with the administration cf
the it.nd. The noble duke made a short statement in
moving for these returns, and said that his object was
to bring the question before the house on a future occa-
sion. _ .

Lord COLCHESTER explained that the origin of the
motio❑ was a belief or suspicion that an attempt at pro-
selytism had been made in connection with the adminis-
tration of the fund. He repudiated, on the part of the
commissioner., all 'such suspicion.
The Earl of DERBY said there was no objection to
give the noble duke all the iuf )rmation he required. He
would, however, suggest to the noble duke to go person-
ally to the office and inspect fur himself. The returns
which the noble duke had moved for would make five or
six volumes.
Earl GRANVILLE advised the noble duke to yield
to this appeal.
The Duke of NEWCAS'FLIC ale) recommended the
noble duke to go to the office and inspect the books and
proceedings himself. He defended the administration
of the commissioners.
Lord ST. LEONARDS also defended the commis-
sioners. He said there was not a single Roman Catholic
child in a school that it ought not to be in. He knew
that Protestant children had been sent to Roman Catho-
lic schools. The attack on the commissioners by Arch•
bishop Cullen had been amply answered and refuted.
Even Mr. Ball, one 0' the commissioners, who was a
Roman Catholic said there was no foundation fir them.

The Duke of NORFOLK said he would go personally
to the offices, and it he convinced himself that every-
thing was right, he would be the first to apologise.
A portion of the rr tarns was then ordered.
CUSTOMS BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
The house adjourned at 25 minutes past sir.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKEZ took the chair at 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following private were read a third time and
passed —A berdeen Water, Folkestone Water, Liverpool
Exchange, Lidteard and Looe Union Canal Company's
Itaiway, Merthyr Tydfil Water, and Selkirk and Gala-
shiels Rail% ay.
The following private bills were read a second time :
Acton's Naturalization Act Amendment and Limerick
and Foynes Rail way.
CO NIMISSIONS IN THE ARMY.

Mr. LAURIE asked 9e Secretary for War, whether
the officers of the army ought to be subjected to pay-
ment of a tax upon their commissions granted by her
Majesty ?
General PEEL said there was no tax on the commis
lions, but there was a stamp.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. LEPROT took the oaths and seat for the Uni-
♦ersity of Dublin i❑ the room of the Right Hon. Joseph
Napier, elevated to the Lori Chancellorship of Ireland.
TELEGRAPH COMMUNICATION FROM
INDIA.

Sir W. FRAZER gave notice that he should, on an
early day, call attention to the &fictive information
conveyed from India by the electric telegraph, especially
wi.b reference to the names of officers and others killed
in action, t‘c.
REAL PROPERTY COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. HEADLAM asked the Secretary for the Home
DTartment whether it was the intention of the Govern-
ment, during this cession, to introduce a bill to carry
into eff ct the recommendations of the Real Property
Commi“sioners
Mr. WALPOLE said he shculd take occasion on as
early day to state the views of the Government thereon.
THE BUDGET.

The house having resolved itself into a committee of
ways and means, Mr. FITZROY in the chair,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to
make his financial statement. He said,—Sir, since the
right hon. gentleman the member for Radnor explained
in committee the ways and means he intended to pro-
vide for the service of the year just terminated a very
great change has taken place in the condition of this
country, and I am sorry to say also in the well-being of
the people. At the commencement of the year 1857, and
indeed during all the preceding years, our exports had
continually and considerably increased. The returns of
our exports were favourable—l might say highly favour-
able—and, although a high rate of discount prevailed
generally at that period, it was no obstacle to the com-
mercial enterprise of the country. But towards the e nd
of the year 1857 this prospect of continued prosperity
was clouded and disturbed. The American panic acted
very distressingly upon our own commercial condition.
At that time there was a monetary and mercantile crisis
which, whether we look at the number of those who
failed or the amount for which they failed, has not in se-
verity been exceeded in even our commercial history.
The minimum rate of discount in the month of Novena
her was 10 per cent. That rate prevailedalmost through-
out December. At the very close of the year the rate
Was 8 per coot. ; at -the end of January 4 per cent. When
I acceded to office the rate was that which now prevails
—3 per cent. The effect of this commercial disturbance
and distress was very great upon the revenue. It is a
Very significant circumstance that at the end of the first
three quarters of the financial year—viz., the 31st of
Dec. last—the judicious and temperate estimate of my
right 'non. predecessor was not even fulfilled, but strange
to say, during the last quarter of the financial year, from
the 31st of Dec. to the eed of March—in the great items
of Customs, Excise, and Stamps it was not only fulfilled
but exceeded by (speaking in round numbers)l,soo,ooo/.
I am extremely unwilling on these occasions to trouble
the committee unnecessarily with statistical details; but
I have here ma slight memorandum of the efLct of
the monetary crisis upon the income of the country,
which they will perhaps permit me to real. The quarter
ending the 31st Dec., 1857, compared with the similar
quarters of the preceding year, shows a total ilscrea,e
is Customs, Excise, and Stamps, of 766 0001 ; but the
quarter ending the 31st March, 1858, shows a very dif-
ferent result compared with the corresponding quarter of
the
pr!cediug year, namely, as increase of 1,144,0001. it:
tlaoGe stems% Ai I aril upon this topic, perhaps the com-
mittee will think teis the best opportunity to state th
offect is of the inontaL.,,t.i.et,7isii uponi our expert trade. Ex-
pert. altnost
1857. In the nine moet'leg I off in the last quarter of
leelnding the 30th Septembi r,
1857, the increase in the declared value of our exports, compared with the corresponding period of the preceding year, was 12!, per cent. In the 10'
w enithsiending the 31st
of OctOr2er that increase bad deei?
cant. 1:71 the 11 months ending thc, IsoxitaZtlYberl our
exports, had decreased 8 per cent., and in the 12 months
ending the 31st December they were 5!, per cent, below
those of the preceding year at that period. Although it
is not advisable to load financial statements witwithstativ
Oust! details, the committee will, I tbink (xpect, and dean;
it convenient, that I should place before them the general
result of our exports, imports, trade, and navigation. I
'will, in doing' so, avail myself of a brief, but very im-
portant statement which I have drawn up. It is, I be-
lieve, the only document of the kind with which I need
trouble the committee. It is a statement of the export.,
and imports of the Uuited Kingdom, and of the tonna e
of British anti foreign vessels in different years. I will ,