The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-20 00:00:00

WHITWORTH RIFLES.

On the motion of Major JERVIS, an address was ordered
for a return respecting the steel of which the Whitworth
rifle barrels, which have been used in the army, were made;
and copy of reports of oflieA,rs commanding regiments or
battalions to whom the Whitworth rifles were issued, re-
specting- the efficiency of these rifles for the service.
STEERING AND SAILING RULES.

Au Hex. MEMBER gave notice that on Friday he would
ask the First Lord of the Admiralty a question with re-
ference to the Admiralty Steering and Sailing R,iiles.
ANNUITY TAX ABOLITION (EDINBURGH,
PARISH OF CANONGATE) BILL.

On the order for the second reading of this bill,
An Box. MEMBER presented a petition from the church
of St. George's, Edinburgh, against the bill.

Mr. APLAREN presented a petition from the corporation
of Edinburgh, under the city seal, in favour of the
bill. The petition stated that the bill was well cal-
culated to settle the vexed question of the Annuity-tax,
and to restore peace to the city. He also presented
a petition in favour of the bill signed by 11,330
ratepayers of the city of Edinburgh, of whom
about ono half were electors, and on moving the second
reading of the bill the hon. member said it was
founded on an Act passed in 1860. That Act professed to
abolish the Annuity-tax—the ministers' money—that was
then levied in Edinburgh, and it did so, but it imposed
two other church rates in place of the Annuity-tax, which
was abolished. That bill was strongly opposed by the in-
habitants, the Corporation, and all public bodies in Edin-
burgh, and was protested against by large bodies of the
electors. After it NI as framed, another meeting was held,
with the chief magistrate in the chair, in which a solemn
protest was signed by nearly 8,000 inhabitants—of whom
4,000 were electors—declaring that they never would be
satisfied with its provisions, and that they would continue
to urge its repeal.

[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on tho woolsack at
five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills wero read a second time :--Ebbw
Vale Company, Hastings Pior, Holderness Embankment
and Reclamation, Hoylake Railway (Chester Extension),
Snailbeach Mine Company, Whitehall and Waterloo Rail-
way (Abandonment). _ _ _

Lord REDESDALE said that before the orders of the
day were gone into he would mention that he had re-
ceived last night a letter from Mr. France, which was dated
the 16th, and which had been received by him last night,
at about six o'clock. This letter contained no explanation
of the statements which had been already made, and it was
obs:ous that the latter was not intended to reach
him before ho had made his motion of last night. Un-
der those circumstances he should ask that Mr. France
should be brought to the bar of the house, and that then a
select committee should be appointed to inquire into the
charges made against the chairman and members ap-
pointed to investigate into railway bills, and that noble
lords should be appointed. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. France was then introduced and placed at the bar
of the house.

He said in answer to the Lord Chancellor that his name was
France, and that ho was a railway contractor, and the
author of a pamphlet entitled " Lord Rodezdalo and the
New Railways."

The LORD CHANCELLOR—Have you the letters con-
cerning this pamphlet?

Mr. FRANCE—I have the letters. (Tho letters were then
banded in.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR—Have you copies of tho
letters addressed to the noble lord ?

Mr. FRANCE—Yes, pluted copies of them. (Theso wore
handed in.)
Lord REDESDALE—Have you received a letter from
me addressed to you this morning at the Gresham ?
Mr. FRPiCE—No; I have not boon there to-day.
The LORD C EIANOELLOR—T he letter datod the 16th
when 'IN as it posted ?
Mr. FRANCE—Last night : but I began that letter on
the 16th, and only finished it yesterday.

Lord REDESDALE—But has not that letter boon
printed and circulated amongst members of this and pro-
bably of the other house ? _ _

Mr. FRANCE —Yes, to-day. I told you originally that I
should publish the correspondence.
It was the-1 moved that Mr. France withdraw, and a
select committee was appointed.
BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN BILL.

The Earl of CAItNARVON moved the second reading
of the North British American Bill, and said that it was
proposed that a federation should bo created amongst the
British North American provinces, and that with
rogara to the proportion of the population
they should be equally represented. This would
embrace the two Canadas, Nova Scotia, Labrador,
and Nevi Brunswick. It was for that house to
give them tho first start in their now national career.
By this bill the functions relating to the local legislature
and to the central legislature were clearly defined. Under
its provisions a Governor-General would be appointed by
the Crown, and the Lieutenant-Governors by the Gover-
nor-General in Council for a term of five years. There
would be two Legislative Chambers : the Upper to consist
of 72 members returned by the three sections of the pro-
vinces, one being Upper Canada, another Lower Canada,
and a third the maritime provinces, with power reserved to
the Crows to create six more in cases of emergency, on
the recommendation of the Governo:•-General in Council.
With regard to the Lower House the principle adopted
was to provide a fair proportion of members to each pro-
vince according to population. Tho total number of mem-
bers in the first instance would be 180, subject to fature
alterations in the proportion allotted to each province from
time to time. The main object of tho bill was to secure to
theso prov:nces comple;.e self-government with respect to
local affairs, connected wi;h which was the subject of the
Intorcolonial Railway, with reference to which nearly
every recent Administration had been more or less com-
mitted, and the construction of which was indispensable to
the successful esta.brshment of the Confederation. It might
bo urged that it would havebeen better to establish a closer
union between the provinces; but this had been found im-
practicable, on account of the jealousy entertained by the
maritime provinces of their local autonomy. The present
scheme, therefore must be considered rather as a trorty of
union between the several colonies, and he thought that
great credit was due to their representatives for the manner
which they had risen supthior to local prejudices. In con-
clusion, Lord Cauarvon expressed his firm conviction
that the proposal contained in the bill would tend to
strengthen the liberties and independence of Braish North
America, materially promote the development of its re-
sources, and cement still closer its alliance, w:th the Eng-
lish Crown.

The Marquis of Nos:►cnsilY and Viscount MONCK gavo a
warm support to the bill, which also met with the general
approval of Earl RUSSELL and Lord LYTEDEN.

The bill wus then read a second time, and their lordships
adjourned at a few m'untes past eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS--LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER, tO3k the chair at four o'clock.
LABOUR OF CHILDREN.

Mr. FAWCETT said on Friday next ho should call the
attention of the house to the necessity of extending the
provisions of the Factory Act to children employed 5n
auicul.tural labour.
THE REFORM QUESTION.
Mr. MILL gave notice that on going into committee ho
should move that in order to secure to the utmost a real
and, equal representation of the people it was expedient
that. any number of electors should have _the power of
combining with one another to elect their representative.
SUSPENSION OF THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT.
Lord NAAS gave notice that to-morrow he should move
for leave to bring in a bill for a renewal for a short time
of the suspension cf the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland.