The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-01 00:00:00

EXPLANATIONS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
stated after the division on Friday night, or it would be
literally more correct, on Saturday morning, that he
would make known the course the Government in-
tended to pursue with respect to the order of public
business. Of course, after such a decision, the Govern-
ment have not seen any reason or warrant for desisting
from passing into law the measure brought forward by her
Majesty's Government for the amendment of the represen-
tation of the people. It was clearly to be understood
from the tone of the debate that one moiety of the house
was in favour of proceeding with the measure as proposed
by the Government, and the other moiety did not declare
itself unwilling to enter into the consideration of the
question of Reform. The important condition however was
that before it did so it desired to have the whole of the in-
tentions of the Government not only on the representa-
tion of the people, but with respect to boundaries and mea-
sures of reform from Ireland and Scotland. Therefore, it
appeared to him that the whole house was agreed to
take the subject into their consideration when in
possession of the requisite information, and in order to
lose no time the Government intended to place the bill
for the redistribution of seats on the table of the
house as early as possible. It could not be done on
Thursday next, because he had already announced that
the first Government night after the second reading of
the Representation of the People Bill would be the finan-
cial statement, and there were important commercial rea-,
sons why that statement should be made as originally an-
nounced. On Monday, therefore, he proposed to intro-
duce the bill for the redistribution of seats, and also to fix
a time for going into committee on the Reform Bill.
With respect to the Budget, the old practice had been for
hon. members at the conclusion of the statement to put
questions where further information was required, so that a
completeness was given to the subject,but of late a practice
had sprung up of raising a general debate on the subject.
He thought the old practice the one best suited to the
purpose, and he therefore respectfully suggested
that it might, as far as possible, be adopted
when ha should have the honour of making
his statement. With respect to the subject of church
rates, he was not yet in a position to make any positive
announcement, but he hoped he should be better prepared
on Monday next.
Mr. H. BAILLIE asked whether the Government pro-
posed to take the bills together or separately.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
should proceed conformably with the notice he had
already given. Until the bill for the redistribution of
seats was produced he did not desire to say anything to
fetter the discretion of the Government or the private
members.

Mr. WHITESIDE asked whether the Irish Reform
measure would embrace a bill for tho redistribution of
seats.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said as
far as related to Ireland the bill to be brought in for Ire-
land would be a complete measure. (Laughter.)
Sir L. PALK asked whether they would take the second
reading of the Redistribution of Seats Bill before going
into committee on the Reform Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
could not bind himself to any plan until the Redistribution
of Seats Bill was before the house.
Sir J. FERGUSON asked when the bill for Scotland
would be introduced ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his
hon. friend the Lord Advocate would on Monday next
introduce the bill. (Hear.)
Mr. BOUVERIE, in order to put himself in order, rose
to move the adjournment of the house. He said he con-
un-
sidered the course the Government intended to pursue
der the circumstances right and' proper, and he trusted
that no obstruction or delay would be attempted by hon.
gentlemen opposite. It appeared that all were agreed that
somereform wan required, and, under ouch circuuvtaucep,

ho hoped they would all unite to produce a good and ell
cient bill.

Mr. WHITE said he should have thought that after the
miserable majority of the Government they would have
resigned. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) But they had heard
so much about standing and falling that he should like to
know, supposing in committee the .£7 qualification was in-
creased to £B, they (the Government) would consider that
a fatal amendment to the bill, and that they would fall
with it--(hear, hear, and laughter)—as a necessary conse-
quence. (Laughter.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, as
long as the bill stands, the Government would
stand—(laughter)—and when it fell they (the Govern-
ment) would fall. He had made no announcement with
respect to amendments that might be made in committee,
and until those amendments had been proposed he could
not be supposed to know the course the Government would
adopt.

The motion for the adjournment of the house was then
withdrawn, and the house proceeded to consider the orders
of the day.

During the time the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
addressing the house it presented a very animated ap-
pearance. The different portions of it were crowded to
excess and the greatest interest was manifested to hear the
determination of the Government. On the conclusion of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer's remarks four-fifths
of the members quitted the house, leaving the
rest listening to the speech of Mr. O'Reilly, who
had a notice on the paper to call the attention of
the house to the propriety of extending the Saturday
half holiday to those branches of the Civil Service who
did not yet enjoy it.

Mr. CHll,lsERSentered at length into the particulars
of the Commissioners on of the case, in order to show that, notwithstanding the re-
portn
tothe subject, it had, up to
Sir G. GREY moved a resolution now, been found impracticableo grant the desired favour.
00:troviding that mem-
bersany time during the sitting of thehhaodusheee
might take and subscribe the required
before
the by law
orders at
,but nondeehnatered upon,
of the day and notices of motions
or after they had been disposed of
August,
ness should be interrupted for that purpose. Heteor busi-
ness also pro-
posed that the standing order of the 15th day 0
1860, relative to the swearing of persons professing
the
Jewish religion, be read and repealed.
These propositions were agreed to.
A brief conversation arose on the subject of the Irish
Militia, and the reasons which had induced the Govern-
ment to doubt the expediency of calling out that force
during the present year.
The house then went into committee of supply on the
Civil Service Estimates. The following votes were agreed
to :—.£45,000 for purchase of site for enlargement of the
National Gallery; £20,000 for the expenses of erecting a
new building for the University of London ; £7,000 for
the repair and restoration of the Chapter House at West-
minster; £25,000 for erecting and improving Sheriffs,
Courts in Scotland ; £20,000 for rates on Government pro-
. perty ; £2,509, the amount of contribution towards the
funds for the establishment and maintenaice of a fire
brigade in the metropolis; £2,000, harbours of refuge ;
£31,111, on account of the new harbours at Holyhead
and Portpatrick ; £60,663 on account of public build-
ings in Ireland; £1,571 for new Record Buildings at
the Four Courts, Dublin ; £7,000 for purchase or erec-
tion of buildings for the Queen's University in Ire-
land ; £5,000 for the restoration of the works of the
Ulster Canal; £32,160 for lighthouses abroad; £2,000
for a criminal lunatic asylum in the Isle of Man ; £.53,431
salaries and expenses of the Houses of Parliament ; £38,432
for the Treasury Office ; £19,471 for the Home Office ;
£47,840 for the Foreign Office ; £23,124 for the Colonial
Office ; £14,709 for the Privy Council ; £48,285 for the
Board of Trade; £1,538 for the Privy Seal Office; £6,007
for the Civil Service Commission ; £14,588 for the Pay-
master-General's Department ; £3,380 for the Office of the
Comptroller-General of the Exchequer ; £25,862 for Office
of Works and Public Buildings ; £20,815 for Office of
Woods, Forests, and Lands ; £15,119 for the State Paper
Office ; £222,984 for the Poor Law Commission ; together
with the whole of the salaries and expenses of the other
public departments, including the secret service money,
£32,000, and the printing and stationery votes.'.

. .
The estimates for the administration of law Lind justice
in England were also passed, and the house resumed.
The Contagious Diseases Bill was read a third time and
passed.
The adjourned debate on Sir John Gray's resolution on
the Established Church (Ireland) was postponed until the
23d of May.
The Hope Trade Bill passed through committee.
LANDLORD AND TENANT (IRELANIS)

Mr. C. FORTESCITE, in moving for leave to bring in a
bill to amend the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland,
admitted that the act passed in 1860 by Mr. Cardwell had
proved a failure, owing to the cautions and legal restric-
tions with which it was surrounded. Profiting by the ex-
perience gained since that time, it would be proposed to
alter the law in accordance with the facts of the case, in
which the tenant and not the landlord, as in Scotland and
England, effected the improvements ; and, in accordance
with natural equity, extending the term of leases for im-
provements from 21 to 31 years, and for buildings from 41
to 61 years ; to give the tenant, where there was no agree
ment to the contrary, a title to all improvements, without
notice to the landlord being required ; a lump sum, accord-
ing to the increased rental of the farm, not exceeding £5
an acre, to be settled in event of a dispute by a valuator
gent down by the Commissioners of Public Works, with
an appeal to the chairman of quarter sessions.
After some discussion, leave was given to bring in the
bill, which was read a first time, and the house then ad-
journed.

Mexico.

WHAT AN AMERICAN TRAVELLER SAP AND SAYS.

A correspondent of the New Orleans Picayune,
who left the city of Mexico on the 13th February,
furnishes some late and interesting information as
to the state of the country. The Picayune says :
" He travelled in his own private carriage to the
city of Mexico, and thence to Paso del Macho,
where he left his carriage and took the cars for
Vera Cruz. He passed through the great cities of
Queretaro, Mexico, Orizaba, Puebla, &c., and met
with no casualty whatever. The whole country
was quiet and apparently prosperous. Corn and
wheat were both up and promised excellent crops.
The corn also was everywhere rich and abundant,
as also fruits of every description. New cotton
was likewise up on the Rio Verde, and promised
well. The cotton factories in the vicinity of San
Luis Potosi, Saltillo, and San Juan de los Lagos
were all thriving, and had as much business as they
could do. Also the woollen factories of Queretaro.
The city of San Luis Potosi was very dull,
because of its being cut off from communication
with Tampico and Matamoras. The city was full,
however, and rents unacountably high. The French
kept the road clear to Saltillo and Monterey ; but
with the Mexican Gulf seaboard, or Rio Grande,
there was' no safe communication. Our friend and
informant preferred to make the entire round-about
trip to the States by way of the Capital to Vera
Cruz rather than risk the journey to Tampico or
Matamoras.

The city of Mexico he found dull, but fuller than
he had ever known it before. There were, how-
ever, but few Americans there. They had almost
all gone to Cordova, the Confederate colony.
He passed, however, between San Luis and
Cordova, many other American colonies or resi-
dences, and generally our compatriots domiciled in
that country are doing well. Agriculture especially
was very prosperous.

The mines in the vicinity of San Luis Potosi,
especially the celebrated Real Catorce mines, were
all being assiduously worked and prospering.
During the last eight months $1,500,000 of
silver was coined there. Our informant also
learned that the Real del Monte mines, near the
capital, were doing well. He brings along with him
a piece of the new imperial coinage. On one side
is the Mexican coat of arms—the eagle, the ser-
pent, and the cactus—on the other the handsome
face of Maximilian.

As to the political state of the country, our in-
formant does not think it to be yet perfectly settled,
though much better order prevails than in former
days. But the future is uncertain, and to us a
blank. He thinks there are about 30,000 French
troops and employee's in the country, and about
10,000 native Mexicans in the Imperial service.
Mejia was Maximilian s most trusted General. Of
other foreign troops—Belgians and Austrians—he
is unable to make an estimate.

THE COCK-LANE SPIRIT.--At the present time,
ppeii...stoonn:ioonfs
highof th ei n
tSepui
or iettuuaal attain list ; you
ail
attain-
ments, men of learning, professors well versed
awrheetonlydottthaaststatii;
in the-
sci„the new
,es, pious divines, and others, are disciples of
revelation. Who are you, that you should darn to
scoff at what these eminent men believe ? But Dr.
Samuel Johnson was an eminent man, intellectual, learned,
and he for a time believed '
pious, in the Cock-land Ghost.
Ghost Does anybody believe in the Cock-lane now ? I
will not venture to say that there
are not some believers
still left; for it is au
ascertained fact that in the
s
year 1851 there were everal congregations who
met to worship Godin
Southcott. It is quite the name of Joanna
disciple possible, therefore, that some of the
s of Mr. Home
believe that the Cock-lane
rappings were produced may
Fgnrty.,,....,.c,,by the spirit of the " murdered
4.4 Ow 6 AU thf Ycar Round."

SORTING INTELLIGENCE---This Days
_ _ _

ASCOT RACES.—Tms DAY.
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
A HANDICAP PLATE OF 100 SOVS,
for 3-yr-olds and upwards, added to a Sweepstakes of 5,
sous each ; winners after April 26, at 10 a.m., 51b extras,.
the second to receive 20 sous out of the stakes. Lia.)l,
mile. 18 subs.
Lord Cravan
• • •
King Christian
.
Qui Five...... . ................. `••• ... 2
......... ....... a
TATTERSALLS'—Last Evening.

Railway and other Companies.

CAPE TOWN.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the London Tavern—Mr. H.
Watson in the chair.
The report was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said the railway had performed its work
safely and well during the past half-year, but,
nniortunately, the agricultural and commercial de-
pression in the colony had caused a diminution
in the traffic, but had not affected them so seri-
ously as might have been expected. More recent
news from the colony showed that there had been
an abundant fall of rain, which had tended to re-
vive hopes that things would go on better with re-
gard to agricultural pursuits. The directors pro-
posed to issue the £lOO,OOO of unissued capital, or
some portion of it, to take the place of the tempo-
rary loans. It was expected that a considerable
portion of the extra outlay by the company would
be covered by an extension of the guarantee, when
the accounts were settled with the Government.
The docks at Cape Town were nearly completed,
and it was proposed that the company should form
tranlways from the railway to them to accommodate
the public. It was proposed by the Government to
make extension railways to Malmesbury and Wor-
cester in the Western province. The Crown agents
had been making inquiries as to what terms the
company would require for the purchase of therail-
way, but it was found the agents had no power to
treat with the company. He had only to say that
the directors would be happy to co-operate with the
Colonial Government for their mutual interests.
He concluded by moving the adoption of the report,
and that the directors be authorised to carry the sum
of £2,851, which had been expended in the past
half -ye.ar on the renewal of decayed sleepers, to a
capital suspense account.
Mr. L. BROWN seconded the motion. He ex-
plained that there had been a reduction in the expenses
of £1,020, and, that by taking off the mid-day mail
during the winter months they would save a further
sum, and be enabled to pay' the same dividends.
The total amount at foot of capital account was
£736,000, but £45,000 would have to be deducted
from it, which has been expended for another corn-
pany. It was proposed to issue the £lOO,OOO capi-
tal to the shareholders at a minimum price of 65,
and those who bid higher would have the pre-
ference.

The resolution was then carried unanimously, and
a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum was
declared for the past half year.
On the motion of Mr. DE SALTS, a resolution was
unanimously passed to the effect that, viewing the
circumstances under which the capital of the com-
pany was subscribed, the shareholders could not
entertain any offer for the purchase of their property
except on the basis of receiving back the whole of
the money expended by them.
The meeting was then made special, and the di-
rectors were authorised to issue the remainder of the
share capital of the company, or any part of it, on
such terms as they might deem advisable.