The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-24 00:00:00

THE DIVORCE ACT.

Lord LYNDELI7RST said he bad received several
communications from Ireland with respect to the
Divorce Aot, and be begged to ask the noble and
learned lord on the woolsack whether it was his inten-
tion t• extend this measure to that part of the country?

The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had not even
cossidered such an extension, and at the present mo- I
anent he was unable to give to the noble and learned
lord any answer to the question.
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IN POPULOUS
DISTRICTS.
The Bishop of EXETER (who was very indistinctly
heard) rose to move that a select committee of this house
be appointed to inquire into the deficiency of
rletringthe
spiritual instruction and places of divine worship_
metropolis, and in other populous districts • England
mod Wales, especially in the mining and ainnufacturing
dietricts ; and to consider the fittest means of meeting
the difficulties of the case.
After a short discussion the committee was agreed to.
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
move for copies of any con
Laid GREY begged
respondence Newfoundlande thteoSecretary of State and the Go-
rnment of and the other North
gem—Mimeo colonies,
with respect to any acts passed for
giving an exclusive right to the establishment of tele.
graphic communication between this country and North
merica to one company ; and also, copies of any cor-
respondence between her Majesty's Government and
companies proposing to establish electric telegraphs
with respect to the grant to them of exclusive privileges."
'The noble earl was understood to say that he moved fur
those returns because he had been informed that ar-
rangements had been sanctioned by her Majesty's Go-
vernment which conferred op one company a practical
monopoly in telegraphic communications between this
country and the American centinent.l If this were so,
be thought it was much to be regretted. (Hear, hear.)
The Earl of CARNARVON said there was no objec-
tion io the first portion of the noble earl's motion ; but
he would suggest its amendment by the insertion of the
words "or extracts" after the word "copies." It
was perfectly true that exclusive privileges had been
given to a certain company in relation to the projected
telegraphic communication between this country
sad the provinces of North America; but it was
right at the same time to say that the grant was
one for which her Majesty's present government were in
ao degree responsible. (Hear.) An act had been passed
by the legislature of Newfoundland by which it conferred
'upon the company the exclusive privileges in question,
It was sent home for approval, which he was sorry to
say was given to it, rather, as it would appear, by over-
sight than with any deliberate intention. At all evente
in the correspondence which he should lay before their
lordships a letter would be found from Sir G. Grey (who
was then the Colonial Secretary), in which he cautioned
the governors of the North American colonies against
granting any more exclusive privileges. In 1867 a se-
cond act was passed by the same legislature for the amal-
gamation of the old companies into that which attempted
last year to lay down the Atlantic oab'e. Tuat act was
likewise sent home for approval, and it was also, though
not without some hesitation, agreed to by Mr. Labou-
ober.. The same company applied to another local
legislature, which agreed to grant it a subsidy of 3001.
a year ; and that also had been confirms]. Acts had,
moreover, been passed in New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia. In the first case a petition had been presented
to the local legislature, praying either for a subsidy or
for exclusive privileges. Mr. Labouchere very properly
said that it was a matter that concerned the 1)cal legis-
ture, and referred it to that body ; but the company
did not procure its sanction to any exclusive privileges.
An act wag, however, passed in Nova Scotia, granting
exclusive privileges for 25 years, but it was refused by
Mr. Labouchere. The question was, however, re-opened
on the accession of his noble friend to office ; but he had
likewise declined to sanction the proposal ; and an order
in council to that effect had within the last few days
gone out to the colony. (Hear.) Considering that the
whole science of telegraphic communication was still in
its infancy, it would be most injudicious to sanction ex-
clusive privileges which might last fifty years, and which
might prove very injurious to the interests both of
this country and the colonies themselves. (Hear.)
The Earl of DERBY hoped the noble earl would not
press the latter portion of his motion, but would ac-
cept his assurance that the Government had entered
into no engagements except with two companies, the
Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and that in neither
case it had consented to grant exclusive privileges.
There might be some inconvenience with regard to
future negotiations if the correspondence was laid on
the table.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY was glad to find
that the Government bad confirmed the decision of
Mr. Laboucbere with regard to the act of the Nova
Scotia legislature, and that it had also determined
to grant ne further monopolies. With regard to the
latter part of hie noble friend's motion, he thought that
some further information should Lie given to the house.
Ile presumed that his noble friend intended to allude to
the Austrian scheme for a telegraph between Malta and
Alexandria. Now, he (Lord Stanley of Alderley)
thought we ought not to allow our telegraphic commu-
nication with India—a communication which passed
through one of our great military posts—to fall into the
hands of any foreign company, which, in the event of
hostilities breaking out, might transmit to our enemies
intelligence of the greatest importance. (Hear, hear.) ,
Supposing, however, that the Government had deter-
mined to accept the Austrian proposals, he should like
to know what answer had been returned to the Sar-
dinian projectors of a similar scheme, who had offered
terns as favourable, or more favourable, than those of
Austria I It was his opinion that before any foreign
elfer.was accepted, British capitalists should be invited
to lay down the line.
The Earl of DERBY was afraid that the late Board of
Trade was not in very close communication with the Trea-
sury, because the arrangement which had been made with
the Austrian Government was founded upon a very ela-
borate Treasury minute which had been left by the col-
leagues of the noble lord. (Laughter.) One of the stipula-
ti ois was the Government should have complete power
to lay down any further telegraphic lines between Malta
and Alexandria, and that it should have the most com-
plete control over the telegraphs. (Hear, hear.)
Lord REDESDALE thought it right to remind the
house that when the bill for the telegraph between Ire-
land and Newfoundland, both portions of her Majesty's
dominions, was before their lordships last year, he had
pointed oat that a portion of the guarantee was contri-
buted by the United Staten, and that he had suggested
whether our different North American provinces ought
not rather to be invited to make up the sum ?
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said that when
the late government left office the arrangement with the
Austrian company was not concluded, but was still a
Matter of negotiation. The same was the case with the
Sardinian company, and he was anxious to know what
answer had been given to it.
The Earl of DERBY said the advantages or disad-
vantages of the two lines bad been elaborately discussed
in the Treasury minutes of the late government, and
reasons had been shown in it why a preference should-be
given to the offer of the Austrian company.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY repeated that the
matter bad been left unsettled, and he was anxious to
know how it had been decided— a point upon which the
noble earl seemed very reluctant to satisfy him.
Th? Earl of MALMESBURY should have been glad
Co answer the question of the noble lord if he had given
him notice of it, The two rival lines which had b-en
ri,ferred to were not all the plans that might be proposed.
Only two days ago a scheme had been submitted to him
for a telegraphic line from Plymouth to Lisbon, from
Lisbon to Gibraltar, from Gibraltar to Malta and to
Alaicendria.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY was glad to hear
of that project. . •
Rai GREY had heard the explanations of the govern-

went with regard to the future granting of eiclu,ive
privileges with great satisfaction. He agreed with hie
Dar friend that the telegraphic communications with
'our colonies ought as much as possible to be kept in
British hands. He regretted the imprudent bargain
which had been made with regard to.the Atlantic Tele-
graph ; and he hoped that the government would en-
deavour to procure, if possible, some relaxation of the
exclusive rights which had been conceded to that com-
pany. He also hoped that the Mediterranean scheme
mentioned by the noble earl (Lord Malmesbury) would
be carried into effect.
The motion, amended in accordance with the sugges,
Lions of the government, was then agreed to.
THE CAGLIARI.

• The Rerl of AIR LIE postponed till Thursday the ques-
tion of which he had given notice, whether the opir.ion
of the law officers of the crown had been taken by her
Majeaty'e Government on a document dated Naples,
November 28, 1857, and intituled "The Decision of the
Commission of Prizqe and Wrecks rn the case of the
Uardinian steamer CAl;Hari ;" and if so, whether her
Majesty's Government woull ley a copy of such opinion
tta the table of the house ? Also, whether any answer
had been returned by her Majesty's Government to a
sole addressed by the Marvis d'Az.rglie to the Earl of
Mahussbury, dated March 22, 1858, and enclosin, a
cammanicatron from Count Cavour to Count Gropel
dated March 8, 18581
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--(YEsTEaDA.Y.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
ABOLITION OF CHURCH-RATES.
Mr. FULLER gave notice that he should, on Tues-
day, 37th April, move that the house, on Wednescky
the 28th, resolve itself into a committee of the whelp
house, to consider the expediency of providing for the
repair of the church and maintenance of churchyards,
otherivise than at present by church-rates.

DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.
..11fr. GLADSTONE inquired of her Majesty's Go-1
verument whether it was intended to lay papers on the
table at this period on the subject of the union of the
Daoubian Principalities, in conformity with the decla-
ration of the First British Plenipotentiary at the Coo-
. humor; of Paris in 1856 ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the