The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-26 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS EVENING.)
The LORD CUANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock.
CONVEYANCE OF TROOPS.
Tho Earl of AIRLIE asked the Under Secretary for
War whether it was truo that the 2d battalion of the Rifle
Brigade, on their return from the Mediterranean, were
landed at Portsmouth and sent thence by special train to
Plymouth? and said that this transport had cost some-
thing like, according to newspaper reports, £l,OOO.
Lord LONGFORD said that the noble earl was perfectly
right, that representations had been frequently made to
the Transport Relief, but that they insisted upon making
Portsmouth the port of entry, and therefore the War-
office had to retransport them to their destination. It was
a very objectionable proceeding.
The subject then dropped, and the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS (Tills EVENING.)
The SPEAKER to3k the chair ut four o'clock.
RATING MINES.

Mr. P. WYNDHAM gave notice of his intention to
bring in a bill for the rating of mines.
ADMIRALTY JURISDIGTMN BILL.

Mr. NORWOOD asked the Vice-President of the
Board of Trade whether it was the intention of the Go-
vernment to re-introduce the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill
of last session, or a measure of a similar purport ?
Mr. CAVE said it was not intended to re-introduce that
bill at present, but it was thought that certain clauses
might be introducA into a measure which was to be
brought forward for consolidating the acts relating to
merchant shipping.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

Mr. HIBBEIfT asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether it was his intention to intro-
duce the Capital Punishment within Prisons Bill during
the present s:!ssi)n ?
Mr. IiAIiDY said it was intended to re-introduce that
bill.

- -
INCOME-TAX COLLECTION.
Mr. IL B. SHERIDAN asked the Secretary to the Trea-
sury whether he had received any information as to the
great dissatisfaction prevailing in Dudley in consequence
of the mode in which the income-tax had been levied for
some time past, and as to the effects of the system of sur-
charging manufacturers and others in Dudley; and whe-
ther there would be any objection to produce the corre-
spondence which had taken place in reference to this
vase ?

Mr. nuNT said that in December last a meeting was
held at Dudley on the subject, and a copy of the resolu-
tions passed at that meeting was left at the Treasury by
the right hen. gentleman (Mr. Sheridan). Those resolutions
were transmitted to Somerset House, from whence a person
was immediately sent down to Dudley to report ou the
matter. On that report being received it did not at all
confirm the statements contained iu. the resolutions. He
had no objection to produce correspondence ou that sub-
ject, but with that which was connected with another
branch of the question the Treasury had no control.
Mr. SHERIDAN gave notice of his intention to move
for its production.

THE LIBEL BILL.

In reply to Mr. NEWDEGATE7
Sir 0. O'LOGHLEN said as tho bill was identically the
same as that considered by the house last year, ho could
not consent to postpone it.

Mr. NEWD2'GAVE then gavo notice that he should, on
the motion for its second reading, move its postponement
for a fortnight.
___

KING THEODORE.
Sir 11. VERNEY asked the Secretary of State for Fo-
reign Affairs whether Captain Cameron had ever been re-
ceived and recognised as British Consul by King Theodore.
Lord STANLEY said there was no doubt about Capt.
Cameron being received by King Theodore as a represen-
tative of her Majesty.
POItTLAND PRISON.
Captain VIVIAN asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether his attention had been drawn
to the fact that the cells in the wooden prison at Portland
are lighted with candles, so that each convict in that
prison has an unprotected candle under his control for
some hours during every night of the winter months;
whether it was the intention of Government to take any
steps to put an end to so dangerous a system ; and whether
any attempts had been made by the prisoners to set fire to
the prison

M. HARDY said he was not aware that any attempt
had been made to lire the prison by persons confined
there. On the contrary, on the occasion of a fire breaking
out none worked harder than the convicts them-
selves. Steps, however, were being taken to i mprove the
lighting of the cells from without.
'IHE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.
Colonel SYKES asked the Secretary of State for India
whether there was any and what foundation for the state-
ment in the letter of the correspondent of the Times, dated
Bombay, Oat. 14, and in the Madras Times, dated Oct. 8,
that Illjor-Gen.Nztpier had made a requisition to the Ma-
dras Government for European subaltern officers to be at-
tached to the native regiments proceeding with the expe-
dition to Abyssinia, and was told that the Madras Govern-
ment had not any subaltern officers to spare; and whether
ho would lay upon the table a return of the number of
European officers with each native regiment i❑ the expe-
dition, and the strength in native commissioned and non-
commissioned officers and men of each regiment?
Sir STAFFORD NORTHOOTE said he had no infor-
mation on the subject either public or private. If the
return was moved for it should be produced without the
least delay.

Sir P. O'BRIEN asked the Secretary of State for Itidia
whether the undertaking contaiced in a letter of the
Rev. Ur. ICrapp (one of the dragomen to the Abyssinian
Expedition), dated the 20th September last,.and expressed
in the following terms: —" I think Sir Stafford's mind will
be fully satisfied and tranquillised if I say that, as a leading
rule of conduct, I must consider the object of the
expedition to he the primary point, to which every oth,)r
private concern must bend ; bat that, on the other hand
I must not be expected to suppress my individual feeling if a
case should appear in practice where I should have any oc-
casion or be requested to enter on religious discussion "—was
to be taken as referring alone to the reverend gentleman's
course of conduct as regards Abyssinian Christians, or was
to be considered as likewise referring to the Made° and
MuFsulinan troops and to the Roman Catholic soldiers in
her Majesty's regiments serving on the expedition ?
Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE said, in engaging the
gentleman referred to, he had in viewa cominunication with
the natives of Abyssinia, and certainly not with a view of
proselytising or interfering with the religious belief of the
soldiers serving on the expedition.

SUPPLY-THE VOTE OF CREDIT.

The house then went into Committee of supply, when

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to
move a vote of credit for the expedition. The right hon.
gentleman, in doing this, gave a brief history of
matters that had led to the necessity of sending forth the
expedition. Consul Cameron, a British subject, had now
been in captivity for three years, and after all attempts
had been made diplomatically to effect his release it was
thought expedient to send a special envoy to the
King of Abyssinia for the purpose of obtaining the
release of Consul Cameron. Unfortunately, however,
instead of that mission turning out successful, notwith-
standing that Her Majesty's Envoy was received by
the King with magnificence' achange came over him, and,
instead of treatieg him with that respect he was entitled to,
the King seized upon his person and cast him into prison.
There might be a difference of opinion on the opposite side
of the House upon some of the bearings of the question,
and which he hoped the discussion would tend to remove ;
yet be felt quite sure that the seizure of her Majesty's envoy
was a most distressing proceeding, and one which was not
to be borne with quietness and patience. It now became
known that a number of other persons were also in cap-
tivity, and it appeared to be a rule in that rude country
that those strangers who entered it never left it—there
was no returning footsteps. Ultimately one of the prisoners
was allowed to come to England on a mission to her Majesty,
King Theodore taking as hostage for the messenger returning
his wife and children. This gentleman on his arrival iu
England was received by her Majesty, and the nature of
his mission having been mode known it was at once
granted, although it was of a very peculiar na-
ture. King Theodore wished that certain machinery
and 'artisans shout $1 be sent out to him, and
it, having been thought that such a proceeding would in-
sure the liberation, and accordingly the greatest care was
taken to comply with the wishes of the King. The ma-
chinery and artisans were atone() sent out, but on its arrival
at Massowah, it was discovered that a change had come over
the wishes of the king, and it was thought inexpedient to
proceed, and the artisans returned to England. All diplo-
matic means having failed, and Consul Cameron and his
companions being still in captivity, it had been determined
to endeavour to effect their liberation by force. England
had throughout the matter acted with the greatest magna-
ui mity, and, beyond that, it is impossible to go, and if any
hesitation occurred after that it would savour of timidity,
and as every other means had failed, an expedition was at
once decided upon. The Government thought that
nothing could be so disastrous as failure, therefore the
greatest me had been taken to avoid diSaster and to en-
sure success. The right hon. gentleman having referred
in very complimentary terms to the conduct of the Go-
vernment of Bombay, went on to state the probable
cost of the war. Assuming, he said, the war was
commenced at once, and carried up to the end of
April, when it would be expedient for our troops to leave
the country, the probable cost up to that time would, ac-
cording to the most careful calculation, amount to three
millions and a-half. No doubt there would be an in-
crease if vw were called upon to replace the troops which
had been lent to us by the Indian Government, and this
had been put down at 300,000, making in all 3,800,0000,
but the most prudent course would be to set the whole sum
down at four millions. He believed that General Napier
would have his troops ready for active service at a cost
under £2,000,000, and as that sum would now become pay-
able at the end of the financial year, March 31, 1868, the
resolution he had to put into the hands of the chairman was
that £2,000,000 be granted to her Majesty to defray the
cost of the expedition to Abyssinia.. It was hoped by some
that the horrors of war would yet be avoided; he hoped
it would, but he could not allow such a hope to impede
the steps to effect the liberation of our suffering fellow-
subj ects.
The vote having been read from the chair,
Mr. LOWE rose and condemned the Government for
declaring war without first consulting the House of Com-
mons.

rLEFT SPEAKING.]

MANCHESTER ELECTION,-THIS DAY.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

CLOSE OF THE POLL.

Bright 8,264

Bennett

Henry 643

111ARKETS—(This Day.)

HAY.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 50s Od to 80s ; clover, 60s to
105 s ; and straw, 30s to 36s per load. Trade quiet.
CUMBERLAND. —Meadow hay, 50s Ocl. to 84s ; clover, 60s
to 105 s ; and straw, 308 to 36s por load. Demand inactive.
WHITECRAPIiL.—Meadow hay, 50s to 80s Od ; clover, 603
to 105 s; mid straw, 30s to 36s per load. A slow trade.

COLONIAL.
TEA•—A very limited amount of business has been
transacted, and prices have remained without change of
importance. A small quantity of Assam is announced for
public competition to-day.
SUGAR.—OnIy a moderate inquiry has prevailed, and
the few sales effected have been at about previous rates.
In the refined market there has been a fair demand, and a
rise of about 3d por cwt has boon established in dried
oods.

COFFEE.—The demand for colonial descriptions has
been moderately active, and prices have shown an upward
tendency. The stocks on hand, however, are a shade
smaller, being about 1,700 tons loss than at the correspond-
ing period of last year.
MlCE.—Very little business has been done, and prices
remain without change of importance.
TALLOW.—The Tallow Market has been quiet during
the past week, and the report that all the tallow shipped
had got away from Croustadt caused a decline of about 9d.
per cwt. in all positions. From St. Petersburgh we learn
that 48 sil. ro. is demandod.for next August delivery with
hand-money; the exchange was 331- More the market
is steady, at 42e. 9d. on the spot; 425. Gd. buyers for
Decomb3r, 435. January and March, 435. Gd. March, 455.
South American, 435. 3d. Australian beef, 425. Gd. town
tallow, nett cash.

COAL MARKET.
Price per Ton at the Close.

s dl s d
Original Hartlepool .. 22 0 Brancepeth Cannel 18 6
Walbottle Hartley._ 16 0 Tees
Hartlepool
Helton Lyons 19 9 Triindon Grange 2O 6
Russell's Hutton_ ... 20 3
Shlp3 at mark

I,ls—sold, 14.

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKEI—This Day.

The market opens weak.
Sales probably 8,000 bales.

Prices very irregular.