The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-20 00:00:00

MARTIAL LAW IN THE COLONIES.

In answer to Mr. W. E. FORSTER,
Mr. ADDERLEY said that the instructions to be sent to
colonial governors for their guidance in cases of insurrection
would require modification, and their production must
therefore be delayed for the present; but the purport of the
instructions was, that no proclamation of martial law was to
be issued unless the insurrection were such as placed it be-
yond the ordinary power of suppression; that the proclama-
tion was to confer no extraordinary powers upon civil magis-
trates; that the commanding officer was to have entire con-
trol in the district over which the proclamation extended ;
that except in cases of urgent necessity no detachments of
troops should bo sent away unless under command of a
commissioned officer; that the power of the provost mar-
shal should be limited by written instructions; that courts-
martial, unless in cases of urgent necessity, should consist
of not loss three non-commissioned officers; that every
reasonable facility should be given to the prisoners on
trial ; and that no sentence of death should be recorded un-
less there was a majority of two-thirds of .the court in
favour of it.

_
THE SPITHEAD REVIEW.
In answer to Mr. SABITIDA, who asked why the fleet did
not go through any evolutions on Wednesday,

Mr. CORRY said that the Admiralty were most anxious
that the programme should have been gone through, but
they felt that, in the hazy state of the weather, the evo-
lutions of so many and such' large vessels must have been
attended with great risk. (Hear, hear.) Before , they
made tho signal to " annul weighing," however,
they were confirmed in this opinion by the highest
practical authorities. (Hear, hear.) The right hon.
gentleman added that when notice was given of
this question he had communicated by telegraph with the
principal officers in command on the occasion. He pro-
ceeded to read to the house extracts from the answers he
had received, which were unanimous in the opinion that,
under the circumstances, it would have been highly un-
desirable to put the fleet through the intended evolutions.
(Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY said that, as ono of those who was on
board the Tanjore, he desired to express his strong sense
of the excellence of the arrangements made by the Admi-
ralty to secure the comfort and convenience of the members
of the house. (Cheers.)
THE ENTERTAINMEN r AT THE INDIA HOUSE.
Mr. SHEEtIDAN asked a series of nine questions of the
respectinginmt at the India House,
the invitations that
hSaedcrboettet7soeinSt
out
te
ffoorrtlhnedoina tortaen
upon what principle the selections had been made, whether
the representatives of the most important places had been
chosen, &c.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE said that without any disrespect
to the hon. member, or to the house, he must decline to
answer those questions—(hear, hear)—but he must be
allowed to observe that, in the distribution of tickets, the
members of the Council had themselves each received
only ono ticket for the members of th€ir family. (Hoar,
hear.)
Mr. SHERIDAN gave notice that, as the right hon.
gentleman had refused to answer the questions, ho should
move for a return of the information he wished to ob-
tain. (Oh, oh.)
THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES BILL.
In answer to Sir M. LOPES,

Lord R. MONTAGU intimated that it was certainly his
intention to proceed with the Contagious Diseases Bill.
THE DISCONTINUANCE OF STORM WARNINGS.
Upon the order for gaing into committee of supply,
Colonel SYKES rose to call attention to the suspension
of "storm warnings" by the committee of the Royal Society,
and moved that it was inexpedient to continuo the present
arrangement with that committee in consequence of such
suspension, at au expense of £lO,OOO per annum, the ave-
rage expense of the niotoorological department of the Board
of trade having been £4,300 a year.
Mr. BASS seconded the motion.

Mr. D. NICOL trusted that the storm signals would bo
renewed.

Tho motion was eventually withdrawn.