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 a
second
and
Stockport Railway Bills were, severally read

time.
The following bills were read a third time and passed
—Macclesfield and Chapel-in-leFrith Road Railway
Ebbw Vale, Beaufort, Sze., Water Bill ; Merrybent
Darlington Railway ; and Nelson Local Board.

PUBLIC 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
thi..4 subject. The bill which he now called upon the house
to ad.opt was the same that had come from a select com-
mittee of their lordships' house, and:the 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 wasp roposed to transfer the
power vested in the existing governing body to the special
commissioners, and the machinery by which the adminis-
trative functions were to be exercised were such as would
insure efficiency in the practical operation. The noble
lord then adverted to the constitution 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 founda-
tion schools, admitted that in many respects they were
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 amongst a
large class of the community bribery was looked upon as
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. Ire
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. Ho had no wish to throw obstacles in the
way of the Government, but he would suggest a short ad-
journment of the discussion to enable :them to consider
whether a more practical course could not be adopted,
whilst 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 bcen 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 ly3 disfranchised. He had no
objection to the adjournment of the debate until Friday

week neat.
Tbe.debate was then adjourned.
Several bills were read a first time.
Then lordships then adjourned.