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

IRISH PRISONERS.

Mr. BLAKE called attention to the returns presented
relative to the treatment of prisoners confined in the gaol
of Waterford under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act,
and the correspondence on the subject; and moved that
was the opinion of this houso that it would be
desirable that Government should take measures to
prevent untried prisoners from being subjected to illegal
and unnecessary restrictions, similar to those which ap-
pear to have been imposed on the political prisoners at
Waterford, from Feb. 21 to March 16.

THE NATIONAL DEBT.

In reply to Sir F. KELLY,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that if
the principle contained in the resolution for the conversion
of the national debt was not challenged it would not be
necessary to postpone it for any length of time. He there-
fore proposed to take the resolutions on Monday, to report
them on Tuesday, and then to fix a night for any general
discussion. The resolutions being allowed to pass with-
out discussion would not be taken to imply general assent.
It would be for the convenience of the house that the dis-
cussion should be taken on the bill founded on the resolu-
tions.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for Ireland, in reply to
Lord J. Browne, admitted that the.law was unsatisfactory,
and expressed his readiness to advise the Government to
bring in a bill to make these limn He gave ex-
planations as to treatment of the Fenian admit-
tingsen which
that at first precautions might havne Lthriinntaekr
all the leniency
were unnecessarily strict, and assuring
the future they would be treated with house that for
compatible with their safe custody.
Mr. MAGUIRE expressed an opinion that unnecessary
and indiscriminate arrests had given a great stimulus to
emigration.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE explained that no arrest had been
made without the most careful previous inquiry, and every
application for release had been carefully considered. The
arrests had produced a very beneficial effect, but he as-
sured the Irish peasantry that if they kept clear of this un-
happy conspiracy, or, having got involved in it, would
abandon it and return to the pursuits of honest industry,
they were perfectly safe from the exercise of these extra-
ordinary powers.
Sir L. PALK called the attention of the Government to
the recent shipwrecks and loss of life and property in Tor-
bay, and to the petition of the inhabitants of the neigh-
bourhood, praying
there. for the erection of a harbour of refuge

Mr. MILNER GIBSON
pointed out that the site was
one of those recommended by the committee who inquired
into the whole subject
sothat works protecting themes. years ago. While admitting
he
maintsionecahorage at Torbay would be
of great service,
thatase they ought to be con-
btructed out of local funds, and lined to hold out any
hope of an imperial grant for the p:ll:Pl3i:ice of the house
Mr. GOLDNEY brought under
the necessity for a measure to estendeand settle the
rboun-
daries of the boroughs mentioned in schedules
the Municipal Reform Bill, as had been edules A and B of
the Commission of 1837. After giving various omraeed by
nd
of the anomalies of the present state of thing s:
he sug-instances
gested that power should be given to the Queen in Coua
cil to take the necessary steps on application and after de-

inquiry.
Sir G. GREY admitted the necessity and the advan-
tages of an arrang,ernent such as that suggested by mr.
Gehthey, and expressed a hope that a bill would be shortly
introduced.
After some remarks from Mr. BAXTER on the large
sums spent out of the poor rates in Scotland on litigation,
to which the Lord Advocate replied,
Mr. D. GRIFFITH (who was interrup:;ed by a vain
attempt to count out the house) expressed his views on
the present critical state of affairs on the Continent.
Mr. WHITE, in speaking on the same subject, traced
the presnt risk of war back to Lord Hussein; reful to
go into a Congress on the iuvitation of the Emperor
Napoleon.
The house was counted out'at five minutes past eight
o'clock, while Mr. Watkin was bringing under its notice
the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty.