The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-30 00:00:00

INDIAN OFFICERS.

Viscount LIFFORD presented petitions from different
officers in the Indian Army, complaining of the non-fulfil-
ment of the promise given in favour of their claims, and
praying for redress.
INNOVATIONS IN THE CHURCH RITUAL.
The Marquis of - WESTMEATH gave notice that on
Tuesday next he would call attention to the innovations
in the Church commenced in the dioceses of London, Exe-
ter, Durham, Chester, and other places, and asked the
right rev. prelates questions in reference to the same.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lynvi Valley Railway, the Lynvi Valley Railway
and Ogmore Valley Railway, and the Manchester and
Stockport Railway Bills were severally read a second

time.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Macclesfield and Chapel-in-le-Frith Road Railway ;
Ebbw Vale, Beaufort, &c., Water Bill ; Merry
bent and
Darlington Railway ; and Nelson Local Board.
PUBLIO- SCHOOLS BILL.
Earl CLARENDON, on moving
the second reading of
this bill, said that it was admitted that reform was impe-
ratively required in the national schools. The fact was
that the system adopted in some of our schools was de-
fective and demanded Parliamentary influence. The
report of the commissioners would furnish valuable sug-
gestions, and would be of great advantage in dealing with
this subject. The bill which he now called upon the house
to adopt was the same that had come from a select com-
mittee of their lordships' house, andithe object of it was to
infuse new life and give extended powers to those
intrusted with the administration of national edu-
cation in the country. With a view to carry
Out the object contemplated it was proposed to transfer the
power vested in the existing governing body to the special
C012:MiS8j01110fS, and the machinery by which the adminis-
tratils functions were to be exercised were such as would
insure efficiency in the practical operation. The noble
lord then adverted to the costitution of the body of
special commissioners as a guarantee of the able manner in
which the duties of their office would be discharged.
The Earl of DERBY, without taking so strong a view
as other noble lords did of the shortcomings of the founia-
adreltted that in many respects they were
tion schools,
capable of being improved, and he would offer no opposi-
tion to the bill in its present stage, but would suggest
that a special commission should be appointed to report
thereon.
Lord HOUGHTON complained that art and science
were not represented on a special commission.
The Earl of CLARENDON was ready to accept Earl
Derby's suggestions.
The bill was read a second time and ordered to be com-
mitted on Tuesday next.
Earl RUSSELL moved that the house concur in an
address to the Crown for an inquiry into the alleged pre-
valence of bribery in the borough of Lancaster proposed
by the House of Commons. The noble lord said the sub-
ject was a very difficult one to deal -with, for a
looked amongstas
large class of the community bribery was
a venial offence, like poaching or smuggling. The object
of the address was to institute inquiries specially reported
by the committees in the House of Commons. He inti-
mated his opinion that it was desirable to disfranchise
places notorious for corruption and bribery.
Earl GREY moved, as an amendment., a series of re-
solutions to the effect that inquiries had already been in-
stituted into the prevalence of corrupt practices at elec-
tions, and it was found that bribery was extensively car-
ried on in various boroughs in England and Ireland. He
-was therefore desirous that there should be a general in-
quiry into election proceedings throughout the country by
means of a Royal Commission.
The Earl of HARROWBY thought the best way of
dealing with the matter was by disfranchising the per-
sons found guilty of bribery, and not the places.
The Earl of DERBY said the question was one of great
difficulty and delicacy, and required, therefore, much
serious consideration. Their lordships were placed in a
very embarrassing position, for they must either reject the
request of the Commons, which was chiefly interested in
the matter, or agree to a resolution which they must feel,
was useless. He had no wish to throw obstacles in the
way of the Government, but ho would suggest a short ad-
journment of the discussion to enable :them to consider
whether a more practical course could not be adopted,
vibilst the opinion of the Commons on the subject was
undoubtedly entitled to the utmost respect.
Earl RUSSELL, in consenting to this suggestion, inti-
mated that his opinion on the matter remained unchanged.
The failure of the law did not arise from any defect in it,
but from neglecting to follow up the recommendations of
the various commissions, which had faithfully discharged
their duty. The remedy of disfranchisement applied to
St. Alban's and Sudbury had been most effectual, and he
hoped that either the places where corrupt practices were
reported to prevail, or the classes of electors who were
proved to be guilty, would be disfranchised. He had no.
objection to the adjournment of the debate until Friday
-week next.
The debate was then adjourned.
• Several bills were read a first time.
Thai' lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COADIONS—LAsr EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Great Yarmouth Fish Wharves and Tramways Bill
WAS read a third time and passed.

LONDON GAS BILL.

On the motion for the third reading of this bill,

Mr. AYRTON moved that the third reading be post-
poned for a fortnight, or until the evidence taken before
the committee was printed and in the hands of members,
who would then have an opportunity of judging of the
mei-its of the bill.
Alderman LTJSK. supported the proposition.
Mr. .DODSON saki the bill was one simply for raising
additional capital, and that being the case it would be un-
fair to object to the third reading of the bill, especially as
it passed through committee as an unopposed bill.
The motion was then withdrawn, ant the bill read a
third time.