The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-27 00:00:00

pendent of the affirmation which I have already made—
that the application, which was to be made to me in writ-
ing was then received, and that the answer which was to
be given by me in writing had not been given at all, and
could not have been given, for I had had no opportunity of
consulting my colleagues. I might appeal to the witnesses
who were present. (Cries of "No, no.") I thank the
house for that expression. In justice to a most able mem-
ber of the League, whose writings are known to many
members of this house, I must say that, infinitely to his
credit, he voluntarily came to my office this day to make a
statement on the matter. He could not see me, for I was
so much engaged that I could not see him, but he saw my
private secretary, who immediately afterwards told me
what he said, and I said it was so important that I desired
him immediately to write it down. He did so, and I believe
that what I am about to read to the house is correct. It
is to the effect that, " Mr. Holyoake said ho had come to
repudiate in the strongest terms Mr. Beales's proclamation,
and that he perfectly understood Mr. Walpole to decline
to sanction any meeting in the park, and to ask that any
application for that should be made in writing, and that he
spoke to many Liberal members, and also to Mr. Beales,
when that proclamation was being made." I have only to
add that I regret this unfortunate misconception, however
it occurred, and I hear that Mr. Beales regrets it also. To
complete the statement I think it r:ght that I should now
give the answer I sent him this afternoon " Sir—l have
laid your letter of the 25th July before my colleagues,
and I beg to state that, pending the judicial decision,
every facility for obtaining which will he afforded by
the Government, as to the legal right of the people
to hold meetings in the royal parks, no permission for
such meetings can be given. In the event of its being
desired to hold any open-air meeting on the subject of
reform, no objection will be made on the part of her Ma-
jesty's Government to such meeting being held on Prim-
rose-hill." The only other observation I have to make is
this, that after what has occurred I really do trust that those
who desire to promote these meetings, with a view of set-
tling this question, w'll not think it necessary to assert that
right by means like those which were had recovese to on
Monday. 1 further hope that on whatever side of the
house gentlemen may sit they Nv'll ad us in the maint- •
nance of those rights and pl ivileges which her Majesty's
Government believe belong to the Crown. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. S. MILL —My object in rising is to make a stetn-
ment which I believe w:11 be satisfactory to the whole of
the house. I have just had an inteniew with Mr. Beales
and several leading members of the Reform League, ,n-
-eluding the whole of those who were present at what rely
be called the recond interview with the Home Secretary,
and to which he has referred, and I have full authority
from them to say that so far as they are concerned there
has been no council of the League held, and they are not in
a position to si eak for the Lea2,ae. (Laughter.) Do hon.
members suppose that the members of the Reform League
do not mean what they say ? I tell them that they do.
What I have to say is this: that the a gentlemen them-
selves regret extremely that the misunderstanding should
have occurred with regard to the communication made to
them by the right hon. gentleman. They are certain that
the misunderstanding is in no way imputable to him.
Their interview with him left on them a most favourable
impression of his character, and disposition, and feelings
—(cheers)—and there is nothing which they would more
regret than to say any thing in the slightest degree offensive
to him. This being the case, it is unnecessary to enter
into the circumstances, though I might state some which
might account for the misunderstanding. The very same
motives which induced them to exert themselves to
prevent last night what they firmly believed would have
resulted in bloodshed besides other honors—these same
motives preclude them from taking any advantage of or
acting on wirat is now shown to be a misconcep-
tion. Whether they will accept the offer of Primrose-
hill, or consider that at present it is better to abstain
from any meeting altogether, I am not authorised to
state, and perhaps they do not themselves feel autho-
rised to give a decision on that offer without consulting
the council of the Reform League ; but so far as the influ-
ence of those gentlemen goes nothing will be done that can
possibly cause any danger to the public peace. (Cheers.)
The subject then dropped.

Lord NAAS, in answer to Mr. OSBORNE, said it would be
necessary to introduce a bill as soon as possible to prolong
the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland.
The adjourned debate on the Helston Election was re-
sumed, and on a division Mr. Lowe's resolution, which
affirms that when the votes are equal the returning officers
ought to return all the candidates, was carried by 135 to 6.
Major JERVIS moved an address for the appointment of
a royal commission to inquire into the condition of the rail-
ways in this country, particularly as to their ability to fulfil
their engagements to the public, having due regard to the
interests of all parties concerned.
'After some remarks from Mr. Childers (who insisted on
the necessity of providing some means for winding-up
English railway companies), from Mr. Selwyn, Mr. Whal-
ley, Mr. Scourfield, and Mr. Goldney,
Sir S. NORTHCOTE pointed out that the Board of
Trade had already power to institute an inquiry into the
material condition of any railway, and promised that it
should be exercised on due complaint being made. He de-
clined to appo,nt a commission, but engaged in the recess
to consider the expediency of introducing a bill for the
winding-up of English railways.
The motion was withdrawn, and the house went into
committee of supply.
A vote was agreed to of £4,970 for the purchase of gun
metal to be employed in the construction of the Prince
Consort's Memorial.

Mr. LOWE moved the British Museum estimate, amount-
ing to £102,704, being an increase of £4,580 on last year's
estimate. This increase, he explained, occurred in the
items of salaries, house expenses, and purchases, and the
increase in salaries was caused chiefly by the superannua-
tion of Mr. Panizzi, who, after 34 years' service, had re-
tired on full salary. After mentioning some of the prin-
cipal acquisitions made during the last year, Mr. Lowe in-
sisted strongly on the necessity of enlarging the Museum,
showing how inadequate the present accommodation was
for the display of the collections.

After a brief conversation, embracing the topics usually
discussed on those occasions—the necessity of enlarging
the Museum, the separation of the collections, and the
expediency of opening the Museum in the evening, &c.—
the vote was agreed to.

The remainder of the votes in Class IV., relating to
Education, Science, and Art, and a large number of
Supplementary Civil Service Estimates, including a vote
of £2,000 for Lord Paltnerston's monument, were also
agreed to.
Various orders were forwarded a stage, and the house
adjourned at half-past two o'clock.

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton Aug. 19.
Ditto, via Marseilles Aug. 13.
Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet ...... Aug. 5.
Ditto, by French packet
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Aug. 21.
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Soutbamptuu Aug 3.
Ditto, via Marseilles July 23
Faikland Islands

Gibraltar, via Southampton July 28.
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Aug. 3.
Ditto, via Marseilles
India (Bombay), via Southampton July S.

_
Ditto, via Marseilles .. Aug. 6
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton July.2B.
Ditto, via Marseilles July 28.
Mauritius, via Southampton
Ditto, via Marseilles. Aug. 13
Newfoundland

Portugal .....Aug 5.

Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon
United States and British North America, by Bri-
tish packet Aug. 1.
Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp-
ton

Ditto, via Cork O • •
Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry ..July 27.
West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe ...,Aug. tO.
West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and
Honduras) July 3).
Cuba and Mexico
Bahamas, via New York. Aug 15.
Bermuda, via Halifax ...

Bank of England Returns,- Last Evening.

Au Account, pursuant to t:
cap. 32, for the week ending 1

the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
Wednesday, July 25, 186 G.

NKR DEPARTMENT.
Notes issued ..,..£27,893,125 Governmt. Debt X 11,015,100
Other Securities 3,981,900
Gold Ooin and
Bullion
, ,
Silver Bullion

'A27,893,125