The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-22 00:00:00

ROYAL ASSENT.

Sir A. Clifford, Usher of the Black Rod, appeared at
the table of the house and summoned the Speaker and
Commons to attend the House of Peers and hear the
Royal Commission read, giving the assent of the Crown
to the following bills passed this session :—Lady Have-
lock and Sir 11. Havelock's Annuity Bill and the East
India Loan Bill.

MARRIAGE TO A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.

Numerous petitions were presented in favour of
legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister, also
against it.

THE PASSPORT SYSTEM.

Mr. M. MILNES moved for a copy of the correspon-
dence relative to the passport system between her Ma-
jesty's Government and the Government of France.

THE CAGLIARI.

Mr. D. GRIFFITHS gave notice that he should, on
the 25th Marcb, aek her Majesty's Government whether,
if in the opinion of the law officers of the Crown the cap-
ture of the Cagl►ari was illegal ab initio, they would be
prepared to demand full and ample compensation for
Watt and Parks I (Hear, hear.)

THE MILITIA.
Mr. MACKINNON asked the Secretary for War,
whether any additional regiments of militia were
to be embodied. Also, whether those regiments
which were not intended to be embodied were to be
called out fora month's chid ; and, if called out, whe-
her it would be in the spring or autumn
General PEEL -aid it was not the intention of the
Government to embody any more regiments cif
nor at present to call out any more for training.
THE LICENSING SYSTEM-.
Mr. NICOLL asked the Secretary for the Home
Department if it was the intention of Government to
Introduce during this session a bill to alter the existing
system for licensing places intended for public enter-
tainment ?
Mr. WALPOLE said that a great many applications
had been made to him on this subject since he had
accepted office, and on Friday next he was to receive a
large deputation, who were
,atriliceoironenf sotrhet:
ideuetbcaitleiincetthateislirltavattiietnewgr
othnetnhpeipniroenseonft tsliyestesystem.
Governmentiie
he bad received that deputation.

THE ITALIAN CONFERENCE.
Mr. BOWYER asked the Secretary for the Home
Department whether it was true that a body of dele-
gates from all parrs of Italy had been lately holding
meetings in London for the formation of au Itroiao Na-
ttonal League, and to bring about great political changes
in Italy, and what information her Majesty's Govern-
ment had on the subject
Mr. WALPOLE said he was really bardly able tee
answer the question. (Hear) Since the notice of the

question had been given he had made inquiries, to se .
certain if there was any truth in the statement implied
by the question- but all be could say was that no
such meeting of delegates had taken place. (Hear.) He be-
lieved Italian refugees met privately in this country, and
considered privately on matters of politcal interest with-
out violation of our laws. (Cheers.) With regard to
the meeting referred to be believed the hon. and learned
gentleman knew more of it than he (Mr. Secretary Wal-
pole) did. He, however, believed that the person at
the head of this matter was not an Italian, brit an Irish-
man. (Loud laughter.)
REGISTER OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, duo.
In answer to Mr. WARREN,
Mr. WALPOLE said he would to-morrow or next
day bring in a bill on the sabject.
ENDOWED SCHOOLS (IRELAND.)
Mr. KIRK asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
when the report of the Commissioners of Endowed
Schools (Ireland), which wan presented to the house on
the 26th day of February last, and which it was under-
stood was printed at the time, would be distributed
to members ?
Lerd NAGS said it was not the practioe to distribute
these voluminous reports to members, There were,
however, 250 of them at the office for the sale of Par-
liaueentary papers, which would be delivered to hon.
membe:s on applying for them.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT.
Mr. REPTON asked the Vice-President of the Com-
mitee of Council on Education whether it was the in-
tention of Government to proceed with the Public
Health Act (1848) Amendment Bill daring the present
session of Parliament I
Mr. ADDERLEY said he should to-morrow move
that on Friday the order in reference to the Board of
Health bill be discharged.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS (SCOTLAND).
Sir A. AGINEW asked the President of the Board of
Trade, whether her Majesty's Government intend to
make any arrangement for the collection of Agricultural
Statistics in Scotland during the present year ?
Mr. HENLEY said he could give no positive answer
to the question. He would, however give it, his best
consideration.
THE CASE OF WATT AND PARKS.
In answer to a question from Mr. KIEGLAKE,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be
received an intimation two days since that, in conse-
quence of the representations of Mr. Lyons, the King
of Naples had, unconditionally, released Watt, who, be
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer) believed, was on his
way home. (Hear.) Orders had also been given that
the trial of Parks should commence immediately. He
had that morning received a deepatch from Mr. Lyons,
dated March 16, stating that the trial of Parks bad
commenced. Mr. Lyons had spoken to Parks in court
and said that the trial was going on with great deco-
rum, propriety, and impartiality. Parks was now well
lodged, clothed, and fed, and he was in good heart and
spirits, animated by the feeling that he was not forgotten •
by his country. (Cheers.) Instructions had been given
to Mr. Lyons not to leave Parks. He was sanguine
that the result would be favourable to Parks, a
feeling in which oar unfortunate countryman fully
shared. The papers relative to the affair were very
voluminous, and as soon as they were ready he would
lay them on the table of the house.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, AND ADJOURN.
MENT OF THE HOUSE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER an-
nounced that on Friday next he should ask for leave to
introduce a bill fur transferring the government of India
to the Crown ; and if the debate concluded that evening
he should then move the adjournment of the house for
the Easter recces till the 12th of Apr L
THE LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND AND
THE ORANGE SOCIETY. •
Mr. B. OSBORNE explained a mistake be made on
a former occasion. He stated in a former debate that
the present Lord Chancellor for Ireland drew np the
rules of tl-e Orange Society in Ireland, but he had since
f eund that he was in error on that point ; the fact being
that the rules were laid before the hon. and letraed gen-
tleman, as a barrister, for his opinion. He am sincerely
sorry he bad fallen into tha-, error. (Hear, bear )
The Consolidated Fund (10,000 0001.) 8.11 was read
a third time and passe t.
The Con-oddated Fund (500,000/.) Bill was read a
third time and p4s,ed.
The Customs Acts report was brought up and agreed

to.
The Mutiny 811 was read a third time and passed.
The General Board of Health (Skepton, Ike.) Bill
was read a third time and passed.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY MATRICULATION

AND DEGREES BELL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
OATHS BILL.

On the motion that the report be considered,

Mr. COCKBURN, in the absence of Mr. Deasy,
moved the omission fro u clause 1 the following words
" And I do declare that no foreign prince, prelate,
state, or potentate bath, or ought to have, any
jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence, or
authority, ecclesiastical cr spiritual, directly or in-
directly, within this realm. ' lle moved the omis-
sion on the ground that the words were repugnant to
Roman Catholic members and unnecessary.
Mr. WALPOLE hoped the house would reject the
amendment.

Lord J. RUSSELL wished to see one oath for all
members in that house, but he saw no possibility of such
a change being made at present.
Mr. COLLINS sapported the amendment.
Mr. M. CIBiON thought it was beat not to ask for
too much at a time. Ile had n dce'nt if they passed
the bill they would ultimately give what alt
sired. Ile thought it was enough for them now to
amancipattk the Jews, And consider the Roman Catholic
grievances hereafter. lie considered Roman Catholics
had the best of swearing in that hou-c—(laughter)—and
he should be ready to comprorni:e the three oaths he
and Protestants were called upon to take for the one
taken by Roman Catholic members. Protestants were
called on to al jore the descendants of James the First;
none existed, but the Roman Catholics were relieved at
that grievance.
Mr. PALK called upon the house not to pass this
bill. In the other house noble lords refused the admis-
sion of a member on a life peerage as being contrary to
their privileges, and if the House of Commons had the
right of seating Baron Rothschild without altering the
forms of the oath, why did they fear to exercise that
right. It was a waste of time to go on trying to legislate
on this subjct, and the best course the house could
pursue was to seat Baron Rithschild by resolution, and
so preserve the Christianity of the house.
Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD said the question now
before the house was relative to the oath taken by
Roman Catholics, and he called upon the Government
to state their views on the motion before the house.
Rather than peril the admission of the Jews, he would
call on his friends not to support the amendment, but
believing that he should be advancing the cause of the
Roman Catholics, and not retarding the cause of the
Jews, he should support the amendment.
(MT SPEAKING.)

SCOTTISH NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. —The
half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Ffaday,,
at Aberdeen—Mr. Stirling, i f Sippendavie, the chairman
of the company presiding. The report for the half-year
bowed tbai the revenu- iund amounted to 93,7381., and
the expenditure to 45,3371., leaving a balance of 48,4001
divisible a" follows i—T,i Aberdeen to revenu- account,
33.800/4 to Scotti-b Midland revenue acoinnt, 144201.
Atter deducting interest and all preference charges, the
balance available for dividend in Aberdeen capital stock
for the liaq-y- ar i-, with a former surplus; 12,903/. ; and
after giving dividends due on the 6 and 31 per cent.
et cke respectively, a balance is carried to next half-year
of 8,1001. The report states that the hal-year's revenue
shows an increase over the corresponding half-year of
3,854/ , and that the surplus on the half-year applicable as
dividend on Scattish Midland stock is 11,9011. The chair-
man this was the most satisfactory report they bad ever
presented to their shareholders. The time had now come,
though it. had been long in coming, when they were able
to pay 4 per cent. on the Scottish Midland stock, and he
hoped they would go on to increase. So far as the Aber-
d. Gm shareholders' stock was concerned, it was gratify-
ing to be able to announce that they were in a position .
to pay the whole of the preference dividend from this
1 time forward. They were justified in making this an-
nouncement from the gradual increase of traffic on their
own line, r.nd she prospect of a speedy opening of rail-
way communication through to Inverness. The chairman
concluded by moving resolutions approving of the report
and providing for the payment of dividends—namely,
at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum on the Scottish Mid-
land stock, and 6 per cent. and 31 per cent. on two
classes of Aberdeen stock. Major Christie seconded the
resolutions, which were passed. The meeting then re-
solved itself into a special meeting, when the
chairman moved a resolution to the effect that from and.
after this date the sums owing for arrears of interest on
the Aberdeen 7 per cent. preference capital stock,
amounting to 63, 6f2ts,eorls.u,Ecbehebe. t
e, convertedltoB6eon2ianttlteoththeaeapb roevfeer
holdersertaltct:e.
stock, to be called. Aberdeen 31 per cent. preference
after
seconded by Mr. Nicol, The
capitaln
htee es
resolution
stock
thereon
wo
I and agreed
to. A. vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
business.

RAILWAY RBOEI2TE4.—The traffic returns of railways
in the United Kingdom for the wesk ending March 13,
amounted tg 345,859/., and for the corresponding week
of last year to 380,6401 , showing a decrease of 34,7901.
The gross receipts of the eight railways having
mini in the metropolis amounted for the week ending as
above to 142 0051., and for the corresponding week of
last year, 161,2987., showing a
decrease of 19,2931. The
their ter-
mini
on
nn
the
decrease on the Eastern Counties Railway amounted to
1,993/.; on the Great Northern to 5,4361.; on the Great
and on the
;i n tstail
n, t
ao
itshlaeb,oo7.uvOen/c;tle9429zi
n. 0
drohn
le
VV astern to 3,059/.; on the London and North-Western
tL004n,d9.7n1,/. ,• o-i
Brighton`the L oannddo nsoauntdhßelaocak,
twtaol 1
rLeoeSouth-Easternidpot s' andou tet
olt, 2h South-Western
2er9 1
i.
amounted to 203,8451., and for the corresponding
perioe of 1857 to 219,342/., showing a decrease of
15,497/. in the receipts of tsiose lines, which, added to the
decrease on the rueirc,
p)litan lines, makes the total de-
crease 31,790/., as compared with the corresponding
week of 1857.
OTAGO, NEW ZULAND.—On Wedr,esday last the A/
ship Three Beil. 649 reeisttr, left the Clyde for
athilsarcoge-
lolly with upwara.. of 270 emtgrants.. es!
d Brabledensomber of
body il suitat,lo agriochuri,,ts,
A NEW FIELD FOB EMIGEA
tnechanic4 have had a.sist -d
hf thel ;
first vessel despatched
Bride if 1,457 tons,
withbeic emigrants under the auspices of
pa ssage°eniliafinateedshtiop
Gthiepmey.
the co
Mersey,
400 lonists of the Cepe of 7
country
rood Hope, saifed from the
n Saturday, with upwards of
Scotch emigrants from the r Astotal districts.
this
sfor Cape Town, o
from i