The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-24 00:00:00

THE LETTER CARRIERS AND THE POLICE.

Mr. FAWCETT asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether he thought the Postmaster-General had come to
a just and wise decision in refusing the application which
the letter carriers made for an advance in their wages in
consequence of the rise in house rent end in the price of
provisions ; and whether these same considerations had
not induced the magistrates of many counties to raise the
salaries of the police ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was of
opinion that the decision of the Postmaster-General was
judicious, because it had not been arrived at without the
fullest inquiry. With respect to the magistrates and the
police, he did not think that it showed any conclusive I
evidence as to the course the Government ought to take
with respect to the letter carriers.
MINES IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Mr. CLIVE asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether the Government was about to bring
in any measure with reference to those mines in Great
Britain to which the Act 23 and 24 Vic. c. 151, does not
apply?

Sir G. GREY said it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to bring in such a measure.
DUTY ON COFFEE.

Mr. MARSH asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was his intention to reduce the duty on coffee
in the same proportion as the duty on tea had been re-
duced ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his
office was to decline answering questions where the Go-
vernment had not done certain acts. He did not think
there were at present any grounds for the rumour relative
to the reduction of the duty on coffee in the same propor-
tion as tea. He thought the duty on tea and coffee as nearly
equal as it was possible to make them.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
In reply to Mr. READ,
Mr. GIBSOIC said with respect to the agricultural sta-
tistics the schedule would be prepared by the Board of
Trade, the Post-office would deliver them, the offi-
cers of the Island Revenue would sum them up, and the
aggregate return would be made by the Board of
Trade.

Sir
R.
PQEUEELEeII'aS
i?OLLEGE (IRELAND.)
evening for an addreses had a motion on the paper that
praying her Majesty T'o be presented to her Majesty,
from any change she ma "AY to withhold her consent
Lbeth advised to make in the
charter and constitution
Ireland the Queen's University and
its
oranitilat house had had an
Queen's colleges in
whether such change
opportunity of expressing
was desirable to be made. It stood
iri: should rather late in the
wish
of
iheou b only beouse if he
list of motions, and he thought
acting in accordance with the
asked its permission to ask the right hen.
gentleman
whether it was not a fact that the Government had deter-
mined not to obtain the sign manual of the Sovereign tany alteration in the charter of the colleges before the
house had had an opportunity of expressing its opinion on
the advice the Government intended to offer to the

Crown ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said there
was no change in the intention of the Government with
respect to this matter. The Government would tender
certain advice to the Crown, but the house would have the
opportunity of challenging the conduct of the Govern-
ment before the Crown was committed by any formal

act.
Mr. LOWE said he was very anxious there should be
no mistake in the matter, and he should likelto knoV
whether the house would have a full opportunity of con-
sidering this matter.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
house would have a full opportunity :of discussing the
matter before any formal act of the Sovereign took place.
(Hear, hear.)
TRAVELLING ON RAILWAYS.
In reply to Sir
W. GALWET
31. GIBSQ sai •
d the Board of Trade were very

desirous that there should be a communication on railways
between passenger and guard and guard and amine driver.
He had seen the chairmen of some of the lar,re ailways,
and had impressed on them the necessity o! uch an ar-
rangement. Ho could not give an assu .ar ce that the
Government would bring in a bill with n spect to tho
matter.
DEEP SEA FISHERY.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,

Mr. S. CAVE rose to call attention to the report of the
Deep Sea Fishery Commission, and asked the President of
the Board of Trade whether her Majesty's Government
intended to carry into effect the recommendation thereof
respecting the deep sea oyster fishery.

Par. DU CANE said the subject was one of great import-
ance, and he hoped the Government would give a satisfac-
tory answer to the question.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH inquired whether the Chancellor of
the Exchequer was aware that certain railways had com-
menced carrying newspapers along the whole of their lines
by means of an adhesive stamp of the price of a half-
penny for each transmission ; and if so, whether it would
not be expedient that the charge on such arricles by the
Post-office should be reduced to the same amount.
Mr. GATHORNE HARDY drew notice to a recent de-
cision of the House of Lords on the rating of the Mersey
Docks, and asked the President of the Poor-law Board
questions as to the conduct of the Board in consequence of
that decision ; and also as to the intention of the Govern-
ment with respect to the law of rating generally, and espe-
cially as it affected charitable institution; such as schools,
hospitals, &c.
Mr. VILLIERS, in reply, justified the decision of the
law lords, which was, he said, strictly in accordance with
the provisions of the statute. The Government were not
prepared to bring forward any fresh legislation on the sub-
ject; and if relief was required in individual cases, it must
be sought in other ways.
Mr. LABOUCHERE called attention to the inadequacy
of our neutrality law to enable England to fulfil its inter-
national obligations towards foreign countries, andpointed
out cases in which inconvenience had arisen from the pre-
sent state of things.

Mr. ROEBUCK controverted the positions take up by
the last speaker, and urged that from the manner in which
the ships that had been used in the service of belligerents
towards whom England stood in the position of a neutral
had been fitted out, piece-meal, it was absolutely impos-
sible to bring them within the power of the law. The
case of America had been alluded to as one in which
this country had done much injury owing to the de-
fects of the law. Ho would only at once avow that all
his own sympathies were with the Southern States in
heir noble struggle. The Northern Power had conquered.
He wished them joy of their conquest. He begged, how-
ever, to say that tho Americans were not yet a united
people, and for his own part he hoped they never would
be so.

Mr. LAING having made a few remarks, was followed
by Mr. SANDFORD and Mr. LEFEVRE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the present
topic was one of an equally important and difficult cha-
racter. He reminded the house that some years ago the
British Government suggested to the Cabinet of the United
States that it might be advisable mutually to revise their
Foreign Enlistment Acts; but the latter threw cold water
on the idea, considering that their own enactment required
no alteration, since it was quite adequate to meet every
occasion. He maintained that the British law, as it now
stood, was equal in all its provisions to that of the United
States, and argued from that fact that there was no neces-
sity for any alteration at present. He could not help
thinking that, when all the heat and irritation of the late
struggle should have subsided, the United States Govern-
ment, and the people of that country generally, would see
in the conduct of England an earnest and an honest in-
tention to maintain her neutrality.
The topic then dropped.
General DUNNE briefly referred to the report of the
committee on Irish taxation.
Lord STANLEY said he had been struck with the
enormous number of projected metropolitan railway
schemes for the present session, which involved a capital
of no less than £20,000,000, Now it was impossible that
any committee could do justice to so vast a number of lines.
He therefore thought that there ought to be instituted, as
in a previous year, some preliminary inquiry into the sub-
ject. Tho list could then be weeded, those which were
the most urgent and important being selected, and the rest
could stand over to another session.

Mr. M. GIBSON saw no reason for any exceptional
course being pursued this session. The circumstances of
the period referred to when the list was weeded were
different to those which prevailed at present. Taking into
account the vast increase of the trade of the mighty me-
tropolis, and the number of persons absolutely driven out
of the City to live in the suburbs, no oue could be asto-
nished at the number of projectors who came forward ask-
ing not money from the State, but permission to invest
their own capital in what it was conceived would turn out
remunerative enterprises. lie would, however, be only
too happy to confer with Lord Stanley in seeing how much
could be done for the public good. Reverting to the ques-
tion of Mr. Cave, in the early part of the evening, the
right hon. gentleman complimented the Commissioners on
their Deep Sea Fishery Report. That document was now
under careful consideration, and in all probability some
measure would be introduced founded upon it. It had
been forwarded to the French Government, but it would
require careful deliberation before giving an opinion as to
the expediency of dissolving tho Convention now existing
with that power. In reference to the statement which had
gone forth that the supply of fish was rapidly decreasing,
the labours of the Commission had brought out the fact
that no human ingenuity was able to produce any appre-
ciable effect on the treasures of the deep for purposes of
food.

Mr. AYRTON having alluded to the now railway
schemes.

The SPEAKER suggested that it would be for the
convenience of the house if hon. members would debate
one of the topics before the house at a time.
Mr. 11. LEWIS desiderated the rejection of all schemes
which were only designed for the benefit of promoters and
capitalists, and the passing of all which were really
designed for the public benefit.

After a few words from Mr. -WHALLEY, the topic dropped.
Mr. WATKIN asked if any
and what representations
had been made by her Majesty's Government to the Go-
vernment of the United States in reference to the Fenian
organisation in America ; and more especially as to the
employment of United States officers, the issue of bonds
of the so-called Irish Republic, and the threats made to
levy war upon the dominions of her Majesty by that orga-
nisation ; and moved for copies of all papers relating to
the subject. The hon. gentleman quoted from documents
published in New York and in this country to prove the
terms of his question. Ho then went on to say that
Fenianism had no root in the British possessions, and that
it was largely owing to the proceedings in America that
any sympathy with the cause had been aroused in Ireland.
What he wanted to know was whether such conduct was
in accordance with the law of the United States.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—After
having, in reply to previous questions, stated that railway
companies conveying newspapers in the manner mentioned
by the hon. member for Devizes had not the expenses of
collection and distribution; and with regard to Irish rail-
ways, where a small amount of capital was invested, the
English standard would not apply—proceeded to remark
upon the question submitted by the hon. member for Stock-
port. He said, as far as we are concerned, there are few
papers on this subject that could be produced. My hon.
friend, anticipating that a reason would be asked of him
for the discussion he introduced, stated as his reason
that the people of the United States were an outspoken
people, and that we were an outspoken people also. I
entirely concur with my hon. friend, and I think that ulti-
mate publicity and free discussion, whether in this house
or elsewhere in the country, form the most characteristic
and also the most valuable and important feature of our
habits. At the same time it does appear to me that con-
siderations of time and of place, and of the order of pro-
ceeding and considerations of prudence and of policy, bear
very strongly not only against the general principle an-
nounced by my hon. friend, but on the question whether a
particular thing should or should not be said at a particular
time and place ; and I confess that if I were asked what
useful object my right hon. friend anticipates from com-
mencing the discussion of this subject at tho present mo-
ment, I should feel it difficult to give an answer. I would
ask my hon. friend to recollect, considering the tone of his
remarks, the position which England usually and habitually
stands in the eyes of foreign countries—that the proceed-
ings of English citizens are constantly the subject of com-
plaint abroad, that imputations are constantly thrown upon
the English Government of a disinclination to interfere
with these proceedings, and that we plead against these
imputations the freedom of our laws and our habits, and
the extreme inexpediency and imprudence of attempts on
the part of the Government at measures of repression en
behalf and in the interest of any foreign Government, un-
less those measures of repression are founded upon facts of
aw
thha asuccteeers
sp. e r fle
am c t
bon
uo t on
dr itoou
ss
cay I deolinloi at
ttheinbke thaetterenwdeads
in the speed of my hon. friend a sufficient amount of
allowance for those considerations on the part of the Go-
vernment of the United States. Did my hon. friend really
suppose that, making these statements from newspapers for
the first time to the public and in this house without any
previous communication to the Government, it would be
in
my power to follow him to identify the sources from
which he drew them, which i
degree, n various instances he did
nation of each of these cases, th
not state, and to show in what
upon careful exami-
eyo
the could or could not be
t
made matters of representation UniteUnite dllr Go-
vernmentoSttatemse,efr,
iar appear pfe
thaif
w e are?
to I
maintain ara bound
thefull hg
to sa ydi it s
e does
uta
l international
duties affecting not the Government alone,o but
l
se
who fill public situations in any civilised country, tr
thdo
if
there are statements to be made apparently implicatinga the
good faith of a foreign Government, it is hardly too much
to ask that these statements should first be placed in the
hands of the representatives of our own Government, in
order that they may be made the subjects of communica-
tion between the two Governments, and that either one
_ _ _

may be made responsible for declining to act upon them,
or that the Cloyenunent of which complaint is made may