The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-01 00:00:00

JAMAICA GOVERNMENT BILL.

On tho motion for the third reading of this bill,
Mr. CAVE made a few observations relative to the state
of labour in Jamaica.

Mr. MILLS hoped that something would be done to
reform the present state of ecclesiastical endowments.
Mr. CARDWELL thought it would be premature to
state the alteration which it was proposed to effect in the
state of matters in the island. They were now laying the
foundation of a new state of things, and he hoped at pre-
sent that they would confine themselves to that step, in
order that they might build upon an edifice of future pro-
sperity.

,The bill was then read a third time and passed.
PRINCESS HELENA'S ANNUITY BILL.

This bill was read a second time.
PRINCE ALFRED'S ANNUITY BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,

Mr. HADFIELD hoped that the annuity would be
made inalienable, and fixed for his royal highness's enjoy-
ment.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
money voted by the bill was a grant to tho Crown, and
not to Prince Alfred. The bill left it to her Majesty to
decide upon the form in which it was to be conferred. He,
however, was of opinion that the annuity could not stand
as assignable property.

The bill was then read a second time.
The house then adjourned.

National Rifle Association.

Yesterday the annual general meeting of the
members of the National Rifle Association was held
at Willis's Rooms, under the Presidency of the
Duke of Cambridge. His Royal Highness, in
opening the proceedings, said that this year there
would be a Belgian prize, out of compliment to the
Belgians who had so well received our
English Volunteers. He announced that Cap-
tain Martin had given another prize in addi-
tion to the £4OO which he had previously contri-
buted. The report which has already been issued
was adopted. A long discussion took place on
matters of detail, and a successful meeting at
Wimbledon in July next was anticipated. Lord Bury
and other gentlemen simply condemned the con-
duct of the Birmingham Small Arms Company, who
had inflicted a penalty of £6OO upon the Association
for a mere clerical error. A resolution on the sub-
ject was moved, but it was withdrawn. A very
stormy discussion arose on the election of members
of council. Ultimately the members of the old
council were re-elected, with the addition of Colonel
Lloyd Lindsay.

THE TESTS ABOLITION (OXFORD) BILL.—ThC
following is the bill brought in the House of Commons,
by Mr. Coleridge and Mr. Grant Duff, to provide for the
abolition of religious tests in connection with academical
degrees and offices in the University of Oxford :
" Whereas it is expedient that provision should be made
for enabling her Majesty's subjects to take degrees other
than degrees in divinity in the University of Oxford, and
to hold public professorships, readerships, and other
academical offices which are or may be tenable by lay-
men therein, without requiring from them religious
tests :—Be it enacted by the Queen's most excellent Ma-
jesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same,
as follows :—From and after the passing of this act, no
person shall be required, upon taking, or to enable him to
take, any degree (other than a degree of divinity) within
the said University of Oxford, or as a condition of exer-
cising or enjoying any of the privileges and rights which
may heretofore have been or may hereafter be exercised
and enjoyed by graduates thereof, to subscribe any article
or formulary of faith, or to make any declaration or take
any oath respecting his religious belief or profession or to
conform to any religious observance, anything in the 44th
section in the act passed in the session of Parliament hold
in the 17th and 18th years of her present Majesty, chapter
81, or any other act of Parliament or statute of the said
University, to the contrary notwithstanding--provided
always that in case any such degree shall be tendered as a
qualification for any office now tenable only by a member
of tho United Church of England and Ireland for which
such degree as heretofore constituted one of the necessary
qualifications, being other than an office within the said
University or any of the colleges or halls thereof, the per-
son or persons appointing or electing to such office shall re-
quire the person so tendering such degree as aforesaid to
subscribe such formularies or to make such declaration as
he would have been required to subscribe or make on tak-
ing the degree of master of arts in the said University if
this act had not passed. From and after the
passing of this
act, no person shall be required, as a qualification for, as a
condition of, holding any public professorship, readership,
or other academical office which is or may be tenable by a
layman within the said University, to subscribe any ar-
ticle or formulary of faith, or to make any declaration or
take any oath respecting his religious belief or profession,
or to conform to any religious observance, anything in the
Bth, 9th, and 10th sec. of the act passed in the session of
Parliament held in the 13th and 14th years of King Charles
11. chap. 4, or in any other act of Parliament or statute
of the said University, to the contrary notwithstanding.
Provided always that nothing in this act contained shall
be taken to apply to any headship or fellowship, or any
office of or in any college, house, or hall within the said
University, not being a fellowship or other endowment in
such college, house, or hall attached to some public pro-
fessorship, readership, or other academical office in the said
Vniveriity, and held by virtue thereof."