The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-18 00:00:00

which the Chancellor of the Exchequer assented.

A discussion ensued, in the course of which Sir M.
Beach expressed an opinion that the metropolis was suffi-

ciently represented already, and objected to the City hav-
ing four members. Mr. Crawfurd and Mr. Goschon argued
that the City was fully entitled to four membars. Mr.
Nowdegate suggested that it would have been better to
have divided the county of Middlesex ; and tho Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer submitted that the City of London

was entitled by prescription to its four members, and said
that it they had proposed to divide Middlesex it would
have been said that they wished to increase the represen-
tation of the landed interest. The population of Chelsea
and Kensington was strictly urban, and the Government
thought that representation should he given to so popu-
lous and wealthy a district.
The clause was agreed to.
In clause 12, which enacts that the Tower Hamlets shall

be divided, an amendment was inserted, on the motion of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, enacting that the
boroughs of Merthyr Tydvil and Salford shall return two
members instead of ono in future Parliaments; but an
amendment by Mr. Powell to give an additional member
to Birkenhead and Swansea was negatived.
A lengthened discussion then took place on successive
motions by Mr. Beresford-Hope and Mr. Laing that the
chairman report progress, which was negatived.
On clause 15, which gives a member to the University
of London,
The CILINCELLOWof the EXCHEQUER moved an
amendment that the University of London and the Uni-
versity of Durham be one constituency.
Mr. CARDWELL and Mr. Goupsmie objected to this

1111 -

tion of the two universities.
Mr. MOWBRAY defended the amendment, on the
ground that the London University was connected with
colleges all over the world, and with every description of
belief and non-belief.
Mr. LOWE said the University of London was not en-
dowed. It did not educate at all; but it matriculated and
examined students, and its degrees had a very high repu-
tation, and it had nearly three thousand graduates, many
of them of tho medical profession. The University
of Durham was endowed by the dean and chapter of Dur-
ham, and it was entirely a Church of England institution.
Ho was one of a commission to examine it a few years
ago, and nothing could be more painful than its state.
It was insolvent ;it had only about 30 students. No insti-
tution could be more different in every respect.
Mr. Liddell, Mr. lleadlam, and Mr. Ingham advocated
the cause of Durham ; and Mr. G. Duff opposed its being
joined to the University of London.
A division was then taken on the question that the word
"university" stand part of the clause, which was negatived
by 183 to 169, which was tantamount to carrying the
amendment.

Mr. LOWE then, saying that the question was an lin-

portant one to the University of London, and that the
division had not been expected to come on so soon, moved
that the Chairman report progress, but the motion was
negatived by 196 to 111.
The discussion on adjournment was continued for some

time longer, and in the course of it Mr. Denman strongly
protested against so great an institution as the University
of London being joined to so miserable au institution as
the University of Durham. Eventually it was agreed to
report progress, and further proceeding was accordingly
adjourned until this day.

The other orders were then disposed of, and the house
adjourned at 23 minutes past one.

Medburst's Furling Apparatus.

MEDHURST'S invention for reefing and furling
topsails will be practically tried by the brigantine
Louisa, on her voyage from London to Cape Coast
Castle--a test which cannot fail to interest all nau-
tical men. The value of topsails above all other sails
is known even to landsmen. They are the first set,
the last furled ; they spread to the wind most can-
vas, and therefore mainly propel ; reduced to the
smallest dimensions, they are those in which the
sailor places his final trust. The topsails are still
conspicuous with everything set that can draw.
Studdingsails, skysails, and even royals, are mere
gimcracks, that may in fine weather help a little.
As the breeze increases, rising from its moans and
sighs in the rigging into a roar, topsails come more
prominently into play, and the gale must have
passed from a roar into a shriek, if a close reefed
rnaintopsail is not still visible.

However rotten may be the canvas of other sails,
no owner will send a ship to sea without a good set
of topsails, and no captain will approach a
stormy coast without bending his best suit.
The easiest process for reducing these sails has
tasked the brains of scientific navigators. If the
statistics of lives lost at sea were given it would be
known how largely the proportion ,was swelled by
the fall of sailors from the topsail-yard. To tie
down reef points on a dark night, the ship pitching
in a heavy sea, with hands numbed in the driving
sleet, and everything wet and s!ippery, is so dis-
agreeable and dangerous a task that landsmen won-
der how men can be found to undertake such
risks. By an American inven .on the sail was