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

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. Ho 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
advise
eilaw was unsatisfactory,
a
and expressed his readiness to Government to
bring in a bill to make these licences final. 13e gave ex-
planations as to treatment of the Fenian
P taken which
prisoners, admit-
ting that at first precautions might have been
were unnecessarily strict, and assuring the househat for
the futnre they would be treated with all the leniency
compatible with their safe custody.
Mr. lAGUIBE expressed an opinion that unneeessary
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 exorcise of these extra-
ordinary powers.
Sir
L. PALE called the attention of the Government to
the recent ,
and shipwrecks and loss of life and property in Tor-
baybourhood to al
e petition of the inhabitants of the neigh-
there. ' praying for the erection of a harbour of refuge

Mr. MILNER GIBBON
one of those recommended— pointed out that the site was
into the wholo subject some the committee who inquired
that works protecting the eanyears ago. While admitting
of great service, he maintained that
at Torbay would be
that they ought to be con-
structed out of localfunds, and
atnd declined to hold out any
hope of an imperial grant
for
Ptullrianoet:ice of the house
Mr. GOLD:.•iEY brought under
the necessity for a measure to extendeacahnd settle the boun-
enne;l:les A and 13 of
&tries of the boroughs mentioned in
variouscomme.nded by
the, Municipal Reform Bill, as had b
the Commission of 1837. After giving
of the anomalies of the present state of things,instances
ted that power should ho given to the Q he sug-
gested neon in CO
eil to tato the necessary steps on application and after due

inquiry-
Sir G. GREY admitted the necessity and the advan
tages of an arrangement such as that suggested by xi;
Goldney, 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
his
attempt to count out the house) expressed views on
the present critical state of affairs on the Continent.
Mr. WHITE, in speaking on the same subject, traced
th presnt risk of war back to Lord Russell's refusil to
goo into a Congress on the invitation of the Emperor
Napoleon.
The house was counted out at five minutes past eight
while Mr. Watkin was bringing under its notice
the termination of the Reciprocity Treaty.