The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-22 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
hoped the house would adopt the suggestion of his
right hon friend (Sir J. Pakington), for if he was not able
to bring forward the navy estimates on Friday next, he
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer) should not be able to
bring forward the measure of which he had given notice
on Monday next. Ho would ask the house to give him
some other day for that measure, and he thought it would
be the most expedient course if the Government were
allowed to make their statement on the subject of Parlia-
mentary Reform without delay. (Hear, hoar.) Ho
hoped, therefore, that the hon. member for Birmingham,
and other hon. members who had notices of motions
for Friday next would not press them on that day, and en-
able him to introduce his bill on Monday. (Hear.)
Lord PALMER.STON considered it was rather unfair
for the Government to ask hon. gentlemen to postpone
their motions, to enable to them bring forward their measures.
When the late government were in office they certainly
did not adopt such a course, and frequently Government
business was postponed by the interposition of 'notions by
private members.
The motion was agreed to.
CHURCH RATES.
The orders of the day having been postponed in order
that the Secretary of State for the Home Department might
have an opportunity of explaining the measure which the
Government wished to introduce with respect to church-
rates.
Mr. WALPOLE rose and said,—I am sure that any-
body who has had to bring forward a question which has
long agitated the public mind must necessarily feel, under
any circumstance, great anxiety and hesitation. I feel,
then, in no ordinary degree upon the present occasion, for
on the part of the Government I am about to propose what
at all times would have been a very difficult task, and what
I fear I must any, after what has occurred, will, unless I
receive forbearance and indulgence, be almost an impossible
task, and I am about to propose on the part of the Govern-
ment what I believe will be a just, moderate, and reason-
able settlement of a question which has hitherto baffled,
and, except for the assistance I freely acknowledge we have
received from others, might have continued to baffle, the
united eftbrts of statesmen and Parliament. But with that
assistance, I do not despair of some settlement being come to
which at the same time will prove satisfactory to the Cburch
and the Dissenters. The settlement of this question is so
obligatory on the Government to undertake, that nearly 25
years ago the greatest Minister of modern times said, even
then, it admitted of no delay ; that it required an immediate
and practical adjustment ; that, for the satisfaction of the
great body of the people, for the interests of the Church,

ARRIVALS AT LINCOLN.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]

Indifference, Pescatore (2 yrs), Grillade, Argyll (2 yrs),
Captain Wedderburn, Mushroom, Miss Deans (2 yrs),
Buttercup (2 yrs), Queen of Scots, Spicebox (2 yrs), Nose-
gay, Speaker, Earl of Essex (2 yrs), Mr. Sykes, Ladywell,
Bel Esperanza, Tame Deer, Norma, Minster, The Earl,
Little Wonder, Tease, Hop Merchant, Greek, Ochiltree,
Vault, Anatis, Queen Bess, Abron, Rattagoon, nalf-Caste,
Abd-el-Kader, Alfred the Great, Macbeth, Apollo, Verona,
Contract, Lass of Richmond Hill, Clemanthe, Broadlands,
Rosanne, Skipjack, Weasal, Layton, Appendix, Willie
Wright, Jeannie Deans, Maid of the Tweed, and Northum-
berland Duchess.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(THIS EVENING).

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
PRE-PAYMENT OF LETTERS.

The Duke of ARGYLL called the attention of the house
to the recent order of the Postmaster-General rendering
the pre-payment of letters compulsory, and providing
that in case of non-payment all such letters should be
opened and returned to the sender. He was of opinion that
the new rule was in the highest degree unsatisfactory and
inexpedient. The principle was one which, if carried out
to the fullest extent, must necessarily be extended to letters
insufficiently paid, and could only lead to inconvenience.
Ho therefore wished to ask his noble friend what were
the advantages the Government supposed would result
from the now regulation?
Lord COLCHESTER said he was glad the question had
been asked, because it would afford him an opportunity of
explaining certain misapprehensions that had got abroad.
The greatest number of unpaid letters were, generally
speaking, valentines and:circulars sent by tradesmen puffing
their own goods, which were only productive of annoyance
to the persons to whom such letters were addressed. Since
1847 the arrangement of prepayment of colonial
and registered letters had been carried out. The
present system had long been in action in
other countries, and he did not think any great
inconvenience would arise by the prepayment of letters ;
but, on the contrary, when it became general much good
would arise.
Jute Imre at .tclutituviN mougnt that unpaiu letters
ought to be subject to an increased charge ; but he could
not see the benefit that was expected to arise from the new
regulation. Ho trusted the noble lord the Postmaster-
General would reconsider his determination. _

Earl GRANVILLE had the strongest objection to the
new regulation, and he never yet heard a single person ex-
press himself pleased with the new plan. In the country
on Sundays it was impossible to obtain postage stamps, se
that if the writer did not happen to have them, he would
be prevented from posting his letters for many hours. lie
thought no good would result from the order.
Lord CAMPBELL said so far as he was concerned he
was in favour of the order. All the writs from
the Court of Queen's Bench were issued in
the form of letters, signed John, Lord Campbell,
and as it was supposed that he was the sender, he
received an immense number of answers, which greatly
annoyed him. (Rear, hear.) The public convenience
was, however, of much snore importance, and he entirely
concurred in the observations of the noble duke who had
called their attention to the matter.

The subject then dropped.
POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH AMERICA.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said, in the absence
of his noble friend Lord Clanricarde, from indisposition, he
begged to move that the motion which stood on the paper
for that evening in his name, relative to the communication
with America via Galway, be discharged.
The Earl of DERBY, with reference to the question,
said he could not say that the Government had entered into
any distinct contract for the conveyance of the mails via
Galway; but the Treasury was now in negotiation on the
subject with the Galway Company, and the result, of
course, would depend upon the inclination of the company
to submit to the regulations and conditions they would be
required to sign.
The motion was agreed to.
REGISTRATION OF TITLES.

•
Lord ST. LEONARDS drew the attention of the house
to the report of the Commissioners on Registration of
Titles made in the year 1857, with reference to the sale and
purchase of land.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(TIIIS EVENING).
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock,

The following bilis were read a second time and ordered
to be committed :—Falkirk Police and Improvement ;
North London, Paddington, Richmond, Hampton Court,
and Kingston Railway; Red Sea and India Telegraph
Company (No. 2) ; Sirhowy Tratnroad ; Victoria Station
and North Western and Great Western Junction Railway

LONDON GAZETTE-(THIS EVENING)

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, FEB. 21.—
Notice is hereby given that the State apartments of
Windsor Castle will be reopened to the public on and
after Thursday next, the 24th mst., upon the usual days.