The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-23 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented a pot►
tion against the sale of intoxicating liquors on the
Sunday.
THE REFORM QUESTION.

Lord STANHOPE said that as he understood that cer-
tain statements relative to the number of voters on the
Reform Bill had been submitted last night, and were to
be so
_again to-night, ho thought that their lordships'
house ought to be enabled to obtain the same advantage.
He would ask the noble lord at the head of the Govern-
ment to supply them with the same statements as those
which had been submitted to the House of Commons.

Lord DERBY stated that there would be no difficulty
in supplying their lordships' house with the same state-
ments that had been made in the other house. (Hear.)

THE IRISH CONSTABULARY.

Lord LIFFORD gave notice that he should move rela-
tive to the Irish constabulary on Monday next.
THE CHURCHES IN THE COLONIES.

The Earl of HARROWBY presented a petition from the
bishop, clergy, and the laity of Sydney, a colony in Aus-
tralia, against any steps that might be contemplated for
the disseVering of the connection of the mother Church
from her daughters in Australia. A groat deal of
discussion relative to this matter had been en-
tered into, but he (the noble earl) believed that
there was the greatest wish on the part of the members of
the colonial churches that there should be the existing
connection between the mother Church and the other
Churches in the colonies. lie would suggest that the
question should be referred to a committee of their lord-
ships' house, whero the question might be uniformly dis-
cussed. (Hear, hear.)
The Duke of ARGYLL was of opinion that the same
position held hero by the United Churches of England and
Ireland could not be maintained in the colonies. •

Lord HARRO WRY only wished that the question might
be fairly brought before their lordships' house.
The Archbishop of C ANTERBURY said that in any
question where there was an appeal from a colonial
church they were entitled to the protection of the
Crown of England. The colonial churches were
bound by a:strong feeling of affection, and one equally
strong ono of interest to the mother Church. He, there-
fore, was in hope that the strongest connection would be
maintained between the mother Church and her daugh-
ters in the colonies.

The Earl of CARNARVON said that what he wished to
know was whether it was the object of the petition just
presented to pray that there should not be any alteration
in the consecration of bishops by the Metropolitan or
others. He could say that, as far as the bill introduced by
his right hon. predecessor was concerned, it had never
contemplated the slightest lessening of the connection
between the Mother Church and the colonial ones. Neither
he nor any other Colonial Secretary would contemplate any-
thing of the sort. With regard to the Royal supremacy
in the colonies, there was, he believed, not one point in
which it had been exercised except in the appointment of
bishops, which was a matter of i.atronage. T helt)yal supre-
m:tcy had been reduced to a shadow iu the very colony, Vic-
toria, from which he presented a pettier', and also in Canada.
We had created a great mistake. We had trained the
Colonial Church up as it were in great dependency, and
this had at last givtin way. He trusted, nevertheless, that
those bonds of spiritual union which united them wLitild
never give way. But it was quite true that through this
system you found that a mass of legislation had arisen,
which would bo perplexing to many lawyers, if not utterly
incomprehensible to any lawyer. The only measure to
take was to sweep this whole system away.
Some discussion followed with regard to the position of
the colonial Church, and the Duke of Buckingham, on
behalf of the Government, promised that a measure should
be introduced upon the subject.
The Metropolitan Poor Bill passed through committee,
and shortly after seven o'clocktheirlordshiPsadjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
THE k'COTOII REFORM BILL.

Sir R. ANSTRUTHER gave notice of his intention of
calling attention to the inconvenience of postponing tho
introduction of the Scotch Reform Bill until after the
holidays.
THE REFORM BILL.

Mr. DENMAN gave notice of his intention in com-
mittee of moving each alterations in clause 21, sec. 4, as
to confer the franchise upon women. (Loud laughter.)
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT BILL.

In reply to Alderman LAWRENCE,
Mr. AYRTON said the Metropolitan improvement Bill
was entirely in the hands of her Majesty's Government;
when they fixed a day for it, it would come on. Of course,
the notice would appear in the paper in the regular
course.
Alderman LAWRENCE said he should on Tuesday
next ask the precise day on which the bill would be
brought forward.
TOTNES ELECTION COMMISSION.

Mr. MORISON gave notice of his intention of asking on
an early day whether any proceedings were to be taken
against Mr. Senior.
CLERKS IN CONVICT PRISONS.
In reply to Alderman Lusx,

Mr. HUNT said a petition similar to that transmitted
in 1865 had been received relative to an increase of salary
of the clerks so employed. The matter was under 'con-
sideration, and he was asked whether a similar
request bad been made from other departments. Ho
should have to answer in the affirmative, as nearly
the whole of the Civil service had made such a
request. It was exceedingly inconvenient that questions
of this nature should be put in that house, because there was
a duty to the public as well as to the clerks, and the in-
quiry increased the difficulty of keeping a proper control
over the public expenditure.