The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-30 00:00:00

THE COUNTY RATE.

Mr. WYLD asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department if her Majesty's Government would introduce
any measure to enable the inhabitants of counties who
were rated to the county rate to be represented at county
financial boards, and through their representatives to have
some control in the making and. in the expending of the
moneys raised by county rates ?

Mr. WALPOLE said it was not tho intention to intro-
duce any such measure.

ART UNIONS.

In reply to Mr. B. HOPE,

Lord It. MONTAGU could give no promise as to the
introduction of a bill to place Art Unions under the de-
partment of Science and Art, as recommended by a com-
mittee of last session.
EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND.

In reply to Mr. FORDYCE,
Mr. WALPOLE said the report of the Royal Education
Commission for Scotland was ready, and would be pre-
sented after Easter.
THE LATE MR. HUME.
In reply to Mr. EWART,

Lord JOHN MANNERS said the bust of the late Mr.
Hume, by permission of her Majesty, would very shortly
be placed in the library of the house.

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

In reply to Mr. LAI-4Lnp,

Lord STANLEY said ho had not looked through the
despatches set, but he would do so immediately. He did
not anticipate there would be any objection to their pro-
duction.

THE STATUES OF THE PLANTAGENET
KINGS.

In reply to Mr. OWEN STANLEY,

Lord STANLEY said his Majesty the Emperor
of the French had made an offer of the Plantagenet
statues at Fontevrault to her Majesty, which offer
had been graciously accepted. Circumstances had
since transpired which would necessitate legislative
measures in the French Chambers, and as the removal of
the relics had given rise to unpleasant feelings, her Majesty
had at once released the Emperor from his promise rather
than occasion the slightest inconvenience. The removal
of the relics would not now take place ; and as
the proposition of conveying them to England had given
rise suddenly to a feeling of veneration for the relics, he
had written to the French Government asking that some
better care might be taken of them than heretofore had
been the case.
THE IRISH REFORM BILL.
In reply to Mr. ESMOND;
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it
would not be possible to lay the bill on the table before
going into committee on the English bill. He would,
however, lay the bill before the house as soon aftei Easter
as possible.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Mr. FAWCETT asked the Secretary of State for the
Homo Department whether it was his intention to intro-
duce any compulsory educational clauses in the bill for
regulating the hours of labour in workshops?
Mr. WALPOLE said it was his intention when the bill
was in committee to introduce certain educational clauses,
but he thought the proper time to state the effect of them
was when the matter was being discussed.
THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG.

An HON. MEMBER asked whether the Government had
received any official information with respect to the re-
ported sale of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to
Franco ?

Lord STANLEY said he must first give notice of his
Intention to put the question.
TILE REFORM BILL.

Mr. GLADSTONE said he had a question to ask, but
as ho had not given notice of it he should not press for au
answer at that moment. It was whether the Government
intended to make any re-arrangement of the provisions of
the bill now before the House before they went into com-
mittee on the bill, and also whether there would be any ob-
jection to lay on the table certain documents relative to the
taxing franchises.

No answer was given by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, and the question was then placed on the paper for
Monday next.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
Mr. GOLDSMID called att3ntion to the competition
for the new National Gallery, and to the papers on the sub-
ject which had been laid before the house, and moved for
a copy of any further con-espondonce with the architects
and the First Commissioner of Works.
Mr. GREGORY, in referring to the competition that
had taken place in tho preparation of the plans for a new
National Gallery, said the failure of the competition was
entirely owing to want of proper instructions.
Mr. COWPER defended the cpurso that had been