The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-08 00:00:00

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Feb. 8.

Austria has informed the Italian Government
that the officer who ordered the frigate Formidabile
to be fired upon in the waters of Gravosa has been
punished.

I IYIPE RIAL PARL lAMEN 1

HOUSE OF LORDS-THIS EVENING.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack
at 5 o'clock.
RAILWAY PROCEEDINGS.
____ . _

Lord REDESDALE made some explanations personal
to himself, in reply to a pamphlet published by Mr. France,
in reference to railway proceedings before select commit-
tees of Parliament, and declared there was not a single
word of truth in the pamphlet.
HER MAJESTY'S REPLY TO THE ADDRESS.

The Duke of MARLBOROUGH_ intimated that he had
presented the Address of the House of Lords to her Ma-
jesty, and he begged to read her Majesty's gracious reply
thereto, and to move that it be entered on the records of
the houue.

The resolution was agreed to.
THE NAVY.

The Duke of SOMERSET moved for a return of the
number of ships added to the Royal Navy (stating the
tonnage of such vessel) from 1860 to 18G5 inclusive. He
referred to the impressions conveyed by published state-
ments that the navy was left by the late Government in a
very inefficient state, and said ho believed the returns
would show thkt during the last six years they had as
many ships constructed as was usual and consistent
with circumstances. There were during the last six years
140 vessels constructed. He explained that the advances in
science, and the change in the mode of constructing ships,
had perhaps induced tho late Board of Admiralty not to
build more ships than was absolutely necessary. When he
came into office there was not a single ironclad. It was
quite clear, then, they were getting to larger guns, and as
vessels had to be built, in oonsidei ation of what guns
I they could carry.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Tms EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW

On the motion of Colonel TAYLOR a new writ was
ordered to issue for Colchester in the room of Mr.
Taverner.
____ . ____

THE ADDRESS.

The Comptroller of her Majesty's Household brought up
her Majesty's answer to the address of the house on the
opening of Parliament. Her Majesty thanked the house
for their address, and said that the house might rely upon
her co-operation in all matters to strengthen the free in-
stitutions and to promote tho welfare and prosperity of her
subjects.
THE FAMINE IN INDIA. _

Mr. KINNAIRD asked the Secretary of State for India
if ho had any objection to lay upon the table of the house
a copy of the minutes of the Chief Commissioner of Oudh
and of the Governor-General on the report of Davies, the
financial commissioner, on the rights of the ryots, and of
any orders passed by the Home Government of India on
Sir John Lawrence's decision ; and also, whether the Home
Government, as stated in the Indian journals, had called
for a report on the late famine in Bengal ; and whether
attention had been directed to the followieg points :-Ist.
The extent of country affected, and the mortality caused;
2d. The causes of the famine, and how far avoidable in
future by works of irrigation ; 3d. The amount of warning
of its approach, and how far the existing machinery of
revenue administration was adapted to give the needed
warning; 4th. The measures of precaution adopted by
the local Government of Bengal on receipt of such
warning?
Viscount CRANBORNE said no orders had been passed
on the decision of Sir J. Lawrence. A despatch would
be written, a copy of which would be laid on the table of
the house. With respect to the second question the Home
Government had ordered a commission to be issued to in-
quire into the causes of the famine and the mortality oc-
casioned thereby. The report might be looked for very
speedily. The instructions gives by the commission
were very large, and embraced nearly all the points men-
tioned by the hon. gentleman.
Mr. BRIGHT asked whether the commission was com-
posed of members of the Indian Government, or of inde-
pendent members.
Viscount CRANBORNE said the commission would
be composed of persons possessing the confidence of the
Indian community.. The president was Judge Campbell,
in whom the most
CimA Tplic TLE it reliance was reposed.
. _ _

Mr. DENT asked the Vice-President of the Committee
of Council
if ho could give the house any information as
to thecauso and extent of the recent outbreak of cattle
plague in the metropolis.
Mr. CORRY said a most searching inquiry had been
made into the matter. The number of animals slaugh-
tered had been 46, and since then no fresh case had been
reported.
INDIAN PRIZE MONEY.
Mr. 11. LEWIS asked the Secretary of State for India
when the distribution of the Central; India prize money
(Lord Strathnairn's captures) would take place, and what
was the reason of the delay in distributing the same ?
Viscount CRANBOURN said the delay had arisen in
consequence of the litigation that had taken place on the
subject, but after this was conduled the sign manual was
issued and sent to India, with the direction that the dis-
tribution of the money should take place as speedily as
possible.

UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN.
Mr. VANCE asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department if the vacancy in the professorship of the
University of Dublin had been filled up.
Mr. WALPOLE said the vacancy still remained open.
No person had been yet appointed.