The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-03 00:00:00

MERCANTILE MARINE.

Mr. O'BEIRNE asked the Vico-Peesid,ut of the Board
of Trade whether it was his intention to introduce any
measure with reference to the laws which regulate the
mercantile marine before the recess.
Mr. CAVE said there was no intention to introduce
a measure affecting that subject after the recess.

NAVAL CHAPLAINS.

Mr. EYKYN asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if

it was the intention of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty to improve the position, pay, and organisation of
the duties of the naval chaplains ?

Mr. CORRY said the matter was under consideration,
not only as affected members of the Church of England,
but also Roman Catholics and others. The subject was a
difficult one, but no determination had yet been come to.

SCOTCH CIVIL COURTS.
Mr. WALDEGRAVE-LESLIE asked the Lord Ad-
vocate whether the Government intended bringing for-
ward any measure in February, or soon after, so as to
obviate the dissatisfaction said to exist owing to the great
expense, delay, and uncertainty attending the administra-
tion of justice in the Supreme Civil Courts of Scotland ?
The LORD ADVOCATE said that certain improve-
ments had been already made, and in the event of the Scotch
business admitting of it a bill for remedying this inconve-
nience as far as possible would be introduced.
THE FORTIFICATIONS.
Mr. O'BEIRNE asked the Secretary of State for War
whether he had taken any and what steps to prevent the
erection of the shields sent to Malts and Gibraltar until the
result of the inquiry by the Committee of which he an-
nounced the appointment onMondaylast should have been
submitted to the house ; whether he could inform
the house when it was proposed that the experiments
wi th reference to the Plymouth and Bermuda forts should
take place : Whether it was true that, contrary to the cus-
tom usually observed on such occasions, the experiments
which took place at Shoeburyness on the 25th of Oct ober
last to test the Malta and Gibraltar shields was kept
strictly private, even the representatives of the Press being
excluded from the ground: Whether the shield was not
closely covered up in tarpaulins immediately after being
shot at, and by whose orders: was that strict privacy
maintained. If ho would inform the house whether
the specifications and drawings issued from the
War-office for the target intended to be shot at as
a true section of the Plymouth and Bermuda forts
were in fact identical with the specifications and
drawings issued for that fort, and if they were not identical
bf whose orders were the alterations made, and what
steps have been taken, if any, to procure a perfectly correct
section of the fort as it is being manufactured. And if he
would inform the house whether it is the intention of the
Government to observe the same degree of privacy with
reference to the experiments to be made to test the prin-
ciple upon which the Plymouth and Bermuda forts were to
be constructed.

Sir• J. PAKINGTON said he would endeavour to an-
swer the series of inquiries as near as possible. The
shields destined for Malta were sent out from this country
some time ago, and whether they were fixed or not he
could not say, and if it was necessary that any strengthen-

beg was required after the trial had been made there would
be no difficulty in effecting it. With respect to the second
ques,,ion, he could only s•ty that the target to represent
the section of the fort was being constructed under con-
tract, and it would be two months before it was delivered.
Ho (Sir J. Pakington) intended to be present when the trial
was made, and he hoped hon. gentlemen would do him the
honour to accompany him to witness the experiment.
With respect to the third inquiry he could not say the last
experiment was kept private ; although the represen-
tatives of the press were excluded, a very aced-
rate account of the matter appeared a day or two
after in one of the daily newspapers. It was quite true
that the shield was covered up immediately after the trial,
but by whose orders that was done or the cress excluded
he could not say. He was quite certain he (Sir J. Paking-
ton) had not issued any such orders. With respect to the
trial of the Bermuda shield, the experiment was intended
to be on a section identical with the original ; there was
to be nothing like unfair play in the matter. With
respect to the matter being kept private, it had
been determined that the attempt should not be
repeated. The motive of making these experiments in
an open manner, and allowing the representatives of
the press and foreign officers to witness them had been
under the consideration of the Admiralty with a view
of determining how far it was prudent to allow those gen-
tlemen being present. However, it hal been stated that
there would be more information gained by throwing these
experiments open to the public, and on application to the
proper authorities tickets of admission would be granted
to the press and others wishing to be present. (Hear.)
Mr. O'BEIRNE said the hon. gentleman had not said
whether any alteration from the identical drawing for the
original shield had been made in the one experimented
upon. He was informed that there had been a very exten-
sive alteration.

Sir J. PAKINGTON said he did not see the original
specifications, but he thought only such alterations as
wore necessary for the fixing of a section were made.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.

In reply to Mr. FOSTER,
Lord STANLEY said it was proposed on Friday to
adjourn the house entil the 13th of February.
On the motion of Lord STANLEY, the orders of the
day were taken before the other motions, in order that
the bills on the paper might be sent up to the other
house.

INCOME TAX BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.
This bill (£2,000,000) was read a third time.
TOTNESS, ece., WRITS BILL.

Mr. EGERTON said this bill was merely to prevent
the moving of writs for the election of a member for the
four boroughs.
The bill was read a second time, and the standing orders
being suspended, it passed through its other stages with-
out opposition.