The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-11 00:00:00

DYCPERIAL PARLIAMENT

•
- -
HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. Capper took the oath and his seat for Sandwich
Mr. Edwards and Mr. Eykyn for Windsor; and Sir S.
Northcote for Devon.

NEW WRIT.
On the motion of Colonel TAYLOR, a new writ was
ordered to issue for the county of Kildare, in the room of
Lord Fitzgerald, who has accepted the. office of Vice-
Chamberlain in her Majesty's Household.
_ . _

WAR DEPARTMENT:

In reply to Mr. O'REILLY,

The Marquis of HARTINGTON said it was quite true
that a department to codify and revise warrants and re-
gulations was issued by the War-office, aLd Mr.Lockyer and
other gentlemen had been applied to to discharge the fresh
duties at an expense of £350 a-year. The duties were not
part of those lately discharged by Mr. Marshall. Ile
could not state the precise economy to be gained by the
arrangement, but the saving went iuto the general fund.
He should, if it was thought desirable, be able to give a
more detailed statement on going into committee of
supply.
RATEABLE PROPERTY (IRELAND.) •

Lord J. BROWNE asked the Chief Secretary of Ire-
land whether he was able to state the estimated cost of
the revaluation of rateable property in Ireland, which it
was proposed by the Rateable Property Bill to carry out
every 14 years ?

Mr. C. FORTESCUE said the sum amounted to
£46,000.
CHARITABLE LOTTERIES.

Mr. WHALLEY, with reference to a lottery publicly
advertised to be drawn for on Saturday, the 12th inst., at
Edinburgh for the benefit of St. Vincent Roman Catholic
School, asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention
had been drawn thereto as being a violation of the laW
respecting lotteries; and what, if any, steps had been or
would be taken by him to give effect to the law in that
behalf ?

The LORD ADVOCATE said the lottery in question
was one within the power of a public informer to prose-
cute, and although the public prosecutor could undoubtedly
take action in the matter, yet it was not thought proper to
take proceedings where those lotteries were devoted to
charitable purposes, and not for private gain. The lot-
teries took place in aid of the charities of all denomina-
tions, yet in all the cases that had been brought under his
attention theßoman Catholics were the onlypai ties against
which it was asked to proceed. He did not see why
such a distinction should be made. (Hear, hear.)
LOANS (IRELAND).

Sir F. HEYGATE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether the Government intended to adopt the recom-
mendation in the report of the committee on. Irish taxation
(1865), to the effect that " the advances for land improve-
ment, &c., should not be limited to the sum of £B,OOO upon
any one estate ; that the repayment of loans should be ex-
tended over a longer period than 22 years ; and-that it
should not be compulsory, when a loan is granted for a
farm building, upon the proprietor to provide a house at a
cost of £200."

Mr. C. FORTESCITE said the Government had adopted
the first recommendation of the committee, and for the
future there would be no limit to the Lord of the Treasury
in respect to the repayment of loans. It was proposed to
extend the time to 35 years, and for the future loans would
be granted for the erection of farm houses as well as farm
buildings.

LAND TENURE (IRELAND).
Mr. CORRY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether it was the intention of the Government to proceed
with the Tenure and Improvement of Land (Ireland) Bill
before Whitsuntide ?

Mr. C. FORTESCUE said if it was possible he should
like to proceed with it before Whitsuntide.
COUNTY PRISONS (IRELAND).
Sir R. PEEL asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether the Inspectors General of Prisons had made any
representation to the Irish Government with a view to the
consolidation and amendment of the laws relating to
county prisons in Ireland; and, if so, whether the Go-
vernment proposed to legislate on the subject ?
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said such a recommendation had
been made, and a bill had been prepared on the subject.
He did not think it would be possible to pass the measure
this session, but it would- be introduced and read a first
time, so that it could be fully considered by the grand
juries before the next session of Parliament.

THE SUPPLY OF COAL.
Sir R. PEEL asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether it would not be desirable to instruct
the Director-General of the institution charged with con-
ducting the geological survey of Great Britain and Ireland, by
which mineral statistics are annually collected and published,
to collect evidence bearing on the carboniferous system o
the United Kingdom, the extent of the coal fields, tho
thickness and quality, produce, and consumption of all
beds of coal, and to report thereon ; and, if so, whether the
Government would issue tho necessary instructions ac-
cordingly ?

Sir G. GREY said the Government had anticipated the
right hon. baronet, and on the 26th of April last he had
addressed a letter to Sir R. Murchison, President of the
Geological Society, asking whether that society could for-
ward the required information. A favourable reply had
been returned, but he could not state the nature of that
communication as the matter was still pending.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
_

Mr. READ asked the Secretary of State foe the Homo
Department if it was the intention of her Majesty's Go-
vernment to allow the sale of cattle at markets, fairs, and
auctions in Great Britain after the Ist day of June.
Sir G. GREY said that three weeks had yet to elapse
before the order expired ; and therefore the Privy Council
had not yet determined upon the steps to be
taken. He thought it extremely improbable that
at the expiration of that order unrestricted sales would be
allowed to take place. What was to be done he could not
say at that moment.
BANKRUPTCY LAW AMENDMENT MIL.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second read-

ing of this bill. In doing so the hon. and learned gentle-
man referred to the present state of the law, and said that it
was in such a complicated and uncertain state that an amend-
ment was urgently required. The bill ho had now the
honour of submitting to the house proposed to abolish
altogether imprisonment for debt, but it was not proposed
to take away the power given to county court judges
whore, to their satisfaction, there was ability to pay, and
wilful non-payment. The bill would further prevent
a debtor from wilfully making himself a bankrupt; and
that no bankrupt should obtain his discharge for six
years without he has paid a dividend of 6s. 8d in the
pound, thus giving the creditors power over the bankrupt's
estate for that period.
Mr. ALOITAT T proposed, by way of amendment, that
the bill be referred to a select committee. He pointed out
the peculiarity and advantages attaching to the Scotch
system of sequestration. Ho complained of the bill, be-
cause it retained so large an array of officials, while pro-
fessing to reduce their number; and stated that it embodied
so small an alteration in the existing law that it could never
command the confidence of the commercial community. In
his opinion the only proper law of bankruptcy was one
which should induce the unfortunate debtor to declare the
fact of his insolvency to his creditors on the moment of its
discovery, and thus tend towards the preservation of the
estate.

Mr. BARNETT gave his warm support to the measure.
Mr. AYRTON ridiculed the idea of sending the bill to a
select committtee. If the house was really in earnest
about the principle of the measure, let them proceed to
the discussion of the clauses, and pass some measure on
the subject as soon as possible.
Mr. FRES lIFIELD criticised the imperfect manner in
which the bill was drawn, and suggested the establish-
ment of some other tribunal than a committee of the house
to consider measures of this class before they went for a
third reading. In the absence of such a body it would be
better to send it to a committee.

Mr. BAZLEY considered that there was nothing in the
bill which could not be dealt with in committee of the
whole house. A morning sitting might well be devoted
to the subject.
Mr. CRAWFORD supported the bill, which he con-
sidered would carry out the provisions of the report of the
select committee, and be eminently satisfactory to the mer-
cantile classes.

Mr. Alderman LUSK, as a commercial man, thanked the
Government for bringing in the bill, which he regarded as
a great improvement on the e xisting law.

-
The discussion was briefly continued by Mr. COWAN and
Mr. SAMUELSON.

Mr. LOCKE hoped the house would put confidence in
the Attorney-General, who he thought was far more cap-
able of dealing with the subject than a committee.

Mr. MOFFATT withdrew his opposition.
The bill was then read a second time.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply in a
house varying from six to ten members,
Mr. SMOLLETT drew attention to the present condi-
tion of land tenure in the Presidencies of Madras and Bom-
bay in reference to the supply of raw cotton. He drew a
most disheartening picture of the state of the peasantry in
these districts, upon whom the rearing of this staple of
commerce so largely depended. Owing to the pressure of
the land tax they were kept in the position of serfs and
paupers, unable to raise the most trifling capital, and with
neither energy nor inducement to apply themselves to the
cultivation of the soil. He suggested a system of village
rents instead of allotting farms piecemeal to individuals.
This system he had himself tried with extraordinary suc-
cess, and he advocated it, as it would lead to a permanent
settlement, based on the principlo of the Cornwallis settle-
ment in Lower Bengal in 1792. Ho concluded by moving
a resolution to the effect that the matter was deserving
immediate attention. _ _

Mr. S TANSFELD said that in 1862 a plan had been
laid down with a view to a permanent settlement of the
land tenure in these parts of India, and the result of it was
that they had a class of peasantry with whose industry no
other system could compete, for they had a personal inte-
rest in it, were daily gaining in wealth, and would soon be
is a Dot* pooiti94 than the rest of tha peanutry, who

really were serfs under the system which his friend advo-
cated. The plan now in operation avoided the admitted
defects of the Cornwallis system, which sacrificed the in-
terests of the Government and of the peasantry to those of
a few proPrietors. By uniting English capital with the
industry, self-interest, and energy of the native cultivators,
they had established a system which in future would pro-
duce untold benefits to the millions of the people of rndia.
The motion was withdrawn, and the house went into
committee on the Civil Service Estimates.

A large number of votes, including the remaining item§
ill Class 3, " Law and Justice," were agreed to. Class 4,
"EducatiOn, Science, and Art," was, at the instance of Mr.
Bentinck, postponed until a future day ; but the whole of
the votes in Class 5, " Colonial, Consulate, and other Fo-
reign Services," amounting in the aggregate to f,508,408,
were agreed to, and progress having been reported, the
house resumed.

The Fishery Piers and Harbours (Ireland) Bill passed a
second reading.
The remaining orders of the day were disposed of, an d
the house adjourned.

ELECTION COMMITTEES—This Day.

GALWAY.
The committee resumed their inquiry in reference
to the petition against the return of Sir Rowland
Blennerhasset.
Mr. Stubbin said that his counsel had decided on
not calling evidence in support of his case, but that
he did not approve of that course.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine said that, in conse-
quence of the course pursued on the other side, it
became his duty to sum up the evidence on the part
of his clients. He contended that if Sir Rowland
Blennerhassett were conscious of purity in his
electioneering proceedings, he would not have de-
clined pursuing the course adopted by gentlemen
whose seats had been disputed, and placing himself
in the witness box. It was a very curious fact that
when Sir Rowland Blennerhasset appeared in the'
borough as a candidate the " impecuniosity" of the
voters disappeared. (Laughter.) The learned counsel
then ref errred to the evidence of Duggan and the
other witnesses called.
Mr. O'Malley, Q.C., replied..

[LEFT SITTING.]

MITITARY CONFERENCE OF GERMAN
SOVEREIGNS.

DARMSTADT, Mar 10.

The reigning Sovereigns of Wirtemberg, Hesse
Darmstadt, Nassau, and Baden, and Plenipoten-
tiaries from five other German States, including
Bavaria, held a conference on the Bth inst. in the
village of Muhlacker (Wirtemberg) respecting the
concentration of their respective contingents, and
the strategic positions to be taken up by them.

Bank of England Returns,--Last Evening.

An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending Wednesday, May 9, 1866.
ISSUE DEPARTMENT.
Notes issued .....£27,294,720 Governmt. Debt X 11,015,100
Other Securities 3,984,900
Gold Coin and
Bullion
Silver Bullion

£27,294,720

£27,294,720

Proprietors' Capi-
tal £14,553,000
Rest 3,237,587
Public Deposits
(including Ex-
chequer, Sav-
ings' Banks,
Commissioners
of National
Debt, and Div
Accounts) 5,781,827
Other Deposits 13,515,537
Seven Day and
other bills 462,265

BANKING DEPARTMENT.
Governmt. Secu-
rities(including
Dead Weight
Annuity) .... £10,894,254
Other Securities 20,844,217
Notes 4,950,225
Gold and Silver
Coin ....... 861,420

£37,550,216

£37,550,216
r. MILER, Chief Cashier.

May 10, 1866.

Foreign Mail Packet List

MAILS DUE.

Australia and New Zealand. via Bouthampton......3fay 20

Ditto, via Marseilles June 14
Brazil and Cape Verdes. by British packet ..... June 4.
Ditto, by French packet
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena May •.'5.
China, Penang, and Singl.pure. via Southampton—May 20.
Ditto, via Marseilles
Faikland Islands

Gibraltar, via bouthampton May 14.
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton... May 2 )
Ditto, via Marseilles
India (Bombay), via Southampton. ••
May 14
Ditto, via uturseines May 23
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton May 14.
Ditto, via Marseilles May 14.
Mauritius, via Southampton May 4
Ditto, via Marseilie
Newfoundland
Portugal
Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon..
United btates and British North America, by Bri-
tish packet May 16
Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp-
.

ton

Ditto, via Cork

Ditto, Dy Canadian packet, via Londonderry May !1.
West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe ....May 13.
West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and
Honduras) May 14

Cuba and latXloo

THE CASE OF CHARLOTTE WINSOR.—The Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department has not yet
come to any decision in the case of this unhappy woman.
On Wednesday a memorial was forwarded to Sir G. Grey,
purporting to be from the wretched criminal herself, appeal-
ing ad misericordiam for a commutation of the sentence,
and urging, it is understood, the delays that have taken
place have caused far more mental agony than death itself,
and also setting forth that where doubt has existed so long
the clemency of the Crown might well be extended to save
her miserable life for repentance. Up to a late hour last
night no conclusion had been arrived at, but as the final de-
termination can only be a question of almost moneents now,
the decision of Sir George Grey may be almost hourly ex-
pected. The rumour that was set afloat on Monday as to,
an appeal to the House of Lords has quite subsided, and
indeed, if the power of such appeal existed, which is very
questionable, it is not at all likely that it would be at-
tempted in the face of the unanimous decision of the entire
bench of common law judges. The agent of the sheriff of
the county of Devon was at the Home-office several times
yesterday, to learn, if possible, the result of the memorial ;
but in the event of the Home Secretary declining to inter-
fere the sentence will be carried into effect at Exeter at
eight o'clock on Monday morning next, that being the day
to which theprisoner was respited to await the issue of the
appeal to the Court of Error.

- EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.—Mr. J. Humphreys,
the Middlesex coroner, held an inquiry yesterday
morning touching the death of a woman whose name is
unknown. Inspector W. H. Maskell, G division, said that
the deceased had fastened a piece of string round her neck.
She had evidently held with her left hand the end of the
twine against the left side of her neck, while with her right
hand she had wound the twine 18 times round her neck.
Every time that she twisted the string round her throat
she had pulled it tight. When found the remains of the
ball of twine were in her right hand. On the ground
near her lay a black velvet bonnet, which she had
evidently taken off in order that it might not be in
the way. Several persons who had missed female rela-
tions in London had called to view the deceased, but they
could not identify her. The deceased was about 35 years
of age. Mr. George Yarrow, AI.R.C.S., said that he found
on the body of the deceased marks of violence. There was
a wound on the left thigh, caused apparently by a kick,
which tore the flesh. There were bruises on the left arm,
extending from the shoulder to the elbow. There were
other bruises on the chest. Her left eye had been black-
ened by a blow. The jury returned a verdict " That the
deceased woman unknown was found dead, and that the
cause of her death was strangulation ; but how or under
what circumstances she became strangled there is no evi-
dence to show."
trialsrlltE
of
broken PÜBLIC
pointersa
tiOdF
par-
tridges and grouse commenced on Tueskdeany,
place.a The
large attendance
sSetPtOein•sTinNGtheD fieldnGds
was
T rhe Doan.—The
till the whole of the trials hadstaa
locale was near Stafford, and there was
present each day.
cf sporting noblemen
awarded prizes as
Viscount Combennere, the
judge,
the estate of the Earl
follows : —Dogs on partridgesk
and gentlemenhas
first prize, and Lord
entrance: Mr. Brailsforcl's oeuostof,or 16 pointers, at 3 gs.
of Shrewsbury—Lichfield Stakes
Shrewsbury Stakes for 16
Lichfield's Magic, second..
Mr. Armstrong's Duke, first
A
setter
Or
prize, and Mr.
setters, at
3 Ggris.rnesahcahw.'s Poll, second. Anson Stakes for
8 puppies, at 2 gs.: Mr. Garth's Carlo, first prize, and Mr
Stutter's Major, second. Talbot Stakes, for 8
puppies, at 2 gs. each : Mr. Walsh's Rex, first prize, and
Mr. J. Walker's Duchess second. On grouse over the
manor of the Marquis of Anglesey—The Anglesey Stakes,
for 16 pointers, at 3 gs. each : Lord Lichfield's Major, first
priz, and Mr. Garland's Bang, second. Beaudesert Stakes,
for 16 setters, at 3 gs. each : Mr. Spode's Flash, first prize,
and Mr. Darbishire's Bang second. Cannock Lhase Stakes,
for 8 pointer puppies, at 2 gs. each : Mr. Stutter's Moll,
first prize, and Lord Lichfield's Noble, second. Paget
Stakes, for 8 setter puppies, at 2 gs. each : Mr. Walsh'e
fiat prize, wasl 4tr, Ihrbiohire'o Pm/ second..