The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-12 00:00:00

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Lord HOUGHTON asked Government whether they
intended to introduce any measure respecting the adminis-
tration of the British Museum and the disposition of its
contents. He alluded to the rumours relative to the prin-
cipal librarian, and said his resignation must necessarily lead
the great alterations in regard to this great national insti-
tution. There were also rumours of proposals having been
made to her Majesty as regarded alterations in the present
constitution of the governing body of the British Museum.
He did not wish to cast any aspersion on the trustees, who,
he believed, were a most honourable body, but at the same
time it could not be denied that the present administration
of the British Museum was not popular, and therefore
it
was desirable that there should be some modification of the
existing arrangements so as to meet the requirements of
the public in a more satisfactory manner an
at present.
Earl RUSSELL said that some suggestions . had been
made to the trustees of the British Museum, with a view
to the introduction of improvements, but 4 wasinot the.m-
tendon of Government to introduce any bill on the subject
at present. the resent
Lord TATJN
libtarian. 'I TIN expressed his approval of p
Other noble lords expilsod themselves to the effect that
the subject should receive the 111ost careful attention.
The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMM"ONS.—s EVENING.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Mr. SCOURFIELD called the attention of the house to
the mode of transacting and the amount of private busi-
ness before the house at the present moment. He thought
it absolutely necessary that some improvement in the
machinery of the house was required.
Mr. WILSON-PA TTEN said the great event was the
number of continuation bills which were presented this
session, but he did not think private bills ought to be
dealt with in any other than the usual manner. There
were 633 private bills to deal with, and therefore he
thought the Court of Referees ought to be strengthened.
If an additional Court of Referees was appointed, he
thought it would be highly advantageous, as two Courts
could sit at the same time instead of only ono as at pro-
sent.
UNDUE RETURN.

A petition was presented complaining of an undue re-
am for Maidstone.
REGISTERED VOTERS.

Mr. BAINES moved for returns of the number of per-
sons on the last register as voters in the represented cities
and boroughs of England and Wales in the right of being
freemen, scot and lot voters, or of other ancient rights, who
occupy premises of the gross estimated rental of £6 and
under 47 ; of £7 and under £8; of £8 and under £9 ; of £9
and under £lO a year ; and of the same class of voters
who occupy premises at £lO gross estimated rental and
upwards, and those who occupy premises below the gross
estimated rental of £6 a year.—Ordered.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILLS.
Mr.. LOCKE KING moved that the undermentioned
bills be reprinted, viz., " A Bill to extend the right of
Voting for members o Parliament, and toAmend the Laws
relating to the Representation of the People in Parliament,
1852 ;' "A Bill further to Amend theiLaws relating to the
Representation of the People in England and Wales, 1854;"
" A Bill to Amend the Laws relating to the Representation
of the People in England and Wales, and to facilitate the
Registration and Voting of Electors, 1859;" and "A Bill
further to improve the Laws relating to the Representation
of the People in England and Wales, 1860." Ordered.

CATTLE PLAGUE.
Mr. AYRTON moved for a copy of the report of com-
MiliS/QA ordered by the Government of Bengal to inquire

~~

into the cattle plague which broke out in Calcutta in 1864
—Ordered.

METROPOLITAN ASSESSMENTS.
Mr. LOCKE moved for returns from each parish and
extra-parochial place within the Metropolitan area under
the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works, of the
assessment upon which such parishes and places were
assessed to the property tax, schedule (A), police rate,
county rate, and poor's rate, for the years ending Lady-
day 1864 and 1865 ; and, from the city of London of the
assessment upon which such city was assessed to the pro-
perty tax, schedule (A), and the consolidated rate, for the
same years (in continuation of Parliamentary paper, No.
321, of session 1864). Ordered.