The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-16 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER,
Mr. Ewma took the oats and his seat for Paisley, in
the room of the late Mr. A. Hastie.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The followi2g private bills were read a second time :
Aberdeen, Peterhead, and Fraserburgh Railway ;
Athenry and Tuam Railway ; Ayr and Dalm,lrington
Railway ; Ballymena, Ballyinou,?.y, Coleraine, and Port-
rush Junction Railway ; Barnstaple New Waterworks ;
Belfast and County Down Railway; Breutford' and
Richinoni Railway; BrentforJ Gas; Burgbead Harbour;
Caledonian Railway (Branch to Port Carlisle Railway);
Caledonian Railway (I).4!marnock Brancb) ; Crowford
and High Peak Railway ; Clyde Naeigation ; Crystal
Palace District Gas; Dean Forest Turnpike Trust; Edin-
burgh andGlasgo w andStir!ing and D unferinlineßail ways;
Filkestone Water ; Gosport Water ; Haslingden and
Rawtenstall Water ; Isle of Wight Poor ; Lancaster and
Carlisle Railway ; London and South-Western Rail-
way ; Luton, Dunstable, and Welwyn Junction and
Hertford and Welwyn Junction Railway Com-
panies Amalgamation ; Manchester Corporation Water ;
Manche-ter Improvement; Mid-Kent Railway (Bromley
to St. Mary Cray) ; Newport, Abergavenny, and Here-
ford Railway ; North British Railway (Consolidation,
icc.); North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway; Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway ; Plymouth
Great Western Docks ' • South Devon and Tavistook
Railway ; Staines, Wokingham, and Woking
Railway ; Stokes Bay Railway and Pier; Suf-
ferance Wharves, Port of Landon ; Symington,
Biggar, and Broughton Railway ; Tramore Embank.
ment ; Waterford GAS ; Windsor New Road; Worcester
and Hereford Railway.
BELFAST (TOWN) IMPROVEMENT BILL.
Oa the motion for this second reading of this bill,
Mr. M‘MAIION objected to the second reading. It
was not such a bill as should be sent to a select com-
mittee. The object of the bill was to relieve the corpora-
tion of Belfast for money to the extent 0f134,0001, and
throw it on the ratepayers improperly. An injunction
had been filed in the Irish Court of Chancery to prevent
a further waste of money by those gentlemen, and the
Lord Chancellor of Ireland had decided that the corpora.
tion had powers to tho extent of 150,0001., that
they the corporation) had no right to exceed that
cum to the extent of 130,000/., as they had done, and
which they uow sought by this bill to be indemnified
from. He mov,:d the second reading of the bill be
postponed for three months.
Mr. CAIRNS supported the second reading of the
bill. It was such a bill as ought to be sent to a select
committee, when the charges made by the hon. and
learned member could be fully and fairly investigated.
He hoped the house would not accede to the amend-
ment of the hon. and learned member. It was iden-
tical to a similar bill which the house last session allowed
to be read a second time.
Mr. FITZROY urged that this was a bill that ought
to be submitted to a committee. It was true the corpo-
ration had expended this money, but it had been ex-
pended legitimately in improving the town of Belfast.
It would be injustice to those who had lent the money
if the bill was nut read a second time and sent to a own-
inittee for investigation. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WINIAHON withdrew his amendment, and the
bill was read a second time.
HUDSON'S BAY.
Mr. LABOUCHERE corrected a mistake that bad
occurred in reference to his answer relative to the
orted to have said
thlautd sGo
on
v'se
rßnamye Cm.nto
inptaennyde d lietwaakeereimp immediate steps to
take possession of the Hudson's Bay territory. What
he said was, that immediate steps were being taken by
her .'Majesty's Government to bring it undefthe Govern-
merit of the Crown.
THE FRENCH EMPEROR.
Mr. D. GRIFFITHS gave notice that he intended
to-morrow to ask the Government if steps had been
taken to induce the French Government to publish in
the 4foniteur the Emperor's expression of regret of the
addresses of the army that had been published, contain.
ing expressions of offence to the English Government.
TENANT RIGHT.
Mr. MAGUIRE gave notice of the introduction of a
Lill relative to Tenant Right (Irelanl).
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Mr. M'CANN gave notice of an introduction on an
early day of a bill for the uniformity of weights and
measures throughout the United Kingdom. (Hear.)
ESTIMATES.
Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY gave notice that when the
e.t mates came before the house, he should ask why a
sum of 516,000/, had been spent without any authority
from this house. (Hear, hear.)
THE NATIONAL GALLERY.
Mr. WISE gave notice that he should, when the
Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward his motion
for a select committee to inquire into the site of a
national picture gallery and the enlargement of the
British Museum, move that the Royal Commissioners
having presented a report thereon, nu further inuiry
was necessary. (Hear.) q
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
hiwhich
e o
r f
Majestyßo s
Mr. COWPER brought up her Majesty's reply to an
address of the house for the
appointment
Commission into this subject, in
starationted
the Royal Corumission would issue for the pur-
pose required.

SEWAGE OF TOWNS.
Mr. ROTJPELL asked the President of the General
Board of Health when the commissioners appointed to
inquire into the disposal of the sewage of towns would be
prepared to present their report, and whether it was
the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce
any measure this session based upon their reoommenda.
Lions ?

Mr. COWPER said the report of the commissioner•
was now being printed, and he was unable to say at
present whether or not the Government would intro.
duce a measure based upon their recommendation.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS (IRELAND).
Mr, COLLINS asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether the Royal Commissioners, having reported
that " for a long period corrupt practices have prevailed
at contested elections for members of Parliament for
the county of the town of Galway," it, was the intention
of the Government to intrc,duce any bill founded on
this report ?
Mr. H. HERBERT said the question was answered
on a former night.
PROCTORS, &c., OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL

COURTS.
Mr. 11. FOLEY asked the Chancellor of the Ex'
chequer what mode he proposed to adopt for ascertain-
ng the incomes of the proctors and other °Moors of the
Ecclesiastical Courts, entitled to compensation under
the act of last session, whether by their own returns for
incoo.e tax or otherwise
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
act only
thatlycam shorteinto time
ractliaoinnioanh
had
been l l th
received Januaryanuary
from
.
During
60 gentlemen for compensation, and it was anticipated
that 500 at least would make clairas for compensation
under the act. Under these circumstances, it was not
possible for the Government to come to & decision on

IMPE3IAL PAR LIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wooliaok
at 5 o'clock.

SHREWSBURY PEERAGE.
In reply to Lord WENSLEYDALE,
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he:intended, if It
met with the approbation of their ler&hipg, to more
that the house resolve itself into a committee of privilege
the first week after the }3lster recess, for the purpose of
pre ending with the hearinz of the further ali,UWellti in
the Shrewsbury peerage case.

THE INDIAN AI iTTINE ERS,
i'u
to India with
Lord ELLEAOROUGII, seeing the noble earl op-
-"niel.Ye whether
any
is; ‘-yi t e, b
instructionsegeed to ahsakdh
beenim a
transmittedquest
respect to the punishment of the mutineers ? He was
induced to ask the question, from the circumstance that
he had read in the papers of t,:-day, a telegraphicdespatek
dated 13th of January, at a place the name of which it
War, of course, impossible to recognise, that Sir Hugh
Rove had tried, condemned, and executed no less than
149 mutineer?. Now, be did not question the justice
of inflicting the extreme penalty of death upon the
mutineers, because he to -ked upon mutiny as a crime of
deepest horror ; but he questioned very much thepolicy
and expediency of too frequently inflicting that punish.
meat, because he believed that the effect would be US
induce the natives of India to take part in the mutiny
rather than help to put it down. He thought that if, in.
stead of inflicting the extreme penalty in every instance,
the authorities were to inflict flogging or transportation
the best results would follow. He found that ever since
the capture of Delhi six or seven executions took place
daily, and that inetsad of tending towards the re-estab-
lishment of civil law in India, it would produce a blood
feud. He hoped the Government would give the subs
pet the most serious consideration.
Earl GRANVILLE said the Government had for-
warded no final instructions to India with respect to
the punishment of the mutineers. He considered, with
the noble earl, that the frequency of iuflictieg the
punishteent of death would not be desirable, and the
Governor-General cf Lelia had already sent out an
expedition to the Andaman Islands for the purpose
cf ascer.aining the possibility of founding there a penal
settlement. With respect to flogging, without it was
carried nut with severity it would answer no good pur-
pose. On the other band, if it was so carried out, it
was likely to enlist the sympathy of some persons on
the side of tboae upon whom it was inifiett'cl. The noble
earl might rest assured the subject would receive the
greatest consid,rati .n.
GENERAL WINDHAM.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE said, after what had
taken place at Cawnpore, he had been expecting in-
formation fr ma that quarter with the greatest anxiety.
which would have the effect of clearing up the conflicting
Ntatereente with respect to officers in command there.
(Hear, hear.) Their lordships would be glad to hear that
that day I e had received a letter from the Commanders
in-Chief, Sir Colin Campbell, entirely exonerating Gee.
Windham from all blame. (Hear, hear.) Blame is
attributed to other quarter?, bat lie would rather not
mention where at that moment. It was gratifying that
Gen. Windham was entirely exonerated, and Sir Colin
was on the look-out to center upon that gallant officer
some important command, (Hear, hear.)
BANKRUPT COURTS,
Lord BROUGHAM moved for returns of the number
of days in which the commissionera of the courts of bank.
ruptcy have sat in their courts during the last year, the
111133ber of their adjurations, and-also fora return show.
ing the names and addresses of the commissioners, the
official asdgnees, and other officers of the court—
agreed to.
Their lordships then adjourned.