The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-06 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES.

In reply to Mr. WALroLE,
Mr. B. HOPE said he would withdraw his resolution for
next Wednesday, and allow a division to be taken on the
main question. In the event of its becoming necessary he
should move it on going into committee.
THE NEW REFORM BILL.
In reply to Mr. E. CRAUFORD,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
measure he should have the honour of introducing on
Monday next would affect England and Wales only. On
that day, however, he would say what was intended to be
done for Scotland and Ireland.

Mr. HUNT asked when it was likely the electoral re-
turns would be in the hands of members ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said ho
thought by Saturday morning at the latest.

THE DEVONPORT ELECTION PETITION.

Lord C. PAGET hoped to bo allowed to correct a mis-
take he bad made the other evening, when the matter of
the election petition was under the notice of the house.
He had said that the telegram directing facilities to be
given for the service of the Speaker's warrant to the
authorities at Devonport dockyard had been issued by
direction of the First Lord, the Duke of Somerset. The
order, however, issued from the Board of Admiralty, and
not from the Duke of Somerset personally.
Mr. HORSMAN said ho had been requested by Mr.
Phinn, one of the defeated candidates at the last election
for Devonport, to assure the house not only that ho was no
party to promoting the petition against the sitting mem-
bers, but had declined to have any thing to do with it, and
that the first intimation ho had received of the matter
was from the notice of motion given by Sir John
Pakington, on Tuesday the 27th of February, which ho
read in the second edition of The Sun of that day.
Further, he had declared_ more than a month ago that,
having received retainers from several members of the

house to defend their seats, it would be incompatible vvith
his duties to claim a seat for himself this session.

Sir J. PAKINGTON reiterated his opinion that the con-
duct of the Admiralty in the matter had been gravely culp-
able and improper, and expressed a hope that the trans-
action would be made the subject of inquiry by a select
committee of the house. The right hon. baronet also gave
notice that he would this day or on Thursday move the
appointment of such a committee.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained
that the words of the orders given by the board were
simply, " Telegraph to Plymouth that tho necessary faci-
lities for serving warrants may be: permitted." Inquiries
had been made on the subject, and it. had been ascertained
that a personal service of the warrant was requisite.
Letters had already been son', to Devonpoit for the pur-
pose of obtaining information, and in the course of two or
three days the answers to those communications would,
he hoped, be laid upon the table of the house. When that
had been done the right hon. baronet could judge for him-
self what was the real magnitude of the case, and the
Government would be prepared to say whether they con-
sidered that inquiry by a select committee was necessary.
Mr. W. HUNT thought the proper way to have
served the warrants was for the person in charge of them
to have stationed himself at the dockyard gates, and upon
the voters being indicated to him to have Bellied them as
they passed out to their meals. If that course had been
adopted no complaint need have been made.
The other questions discussed on the motion for supply,
were the patent of the Minister for War, the recent coup
d'etat in Roumania, and the building operations in New
Palace-yard.

The house having gone into committee,
The Marquis of HARTINGTON proposed the military
estimates for the financial year 1866-67. In doing so ho
observed that whilst no important changes were contem-
templated in the army the estimates showed a reduction
of £250,000, as compared with the previous year. This
saving was note in itself considerable, but it should be re-
membered that it was made in a year succeeding a series
of four or five years in which other reductions had
been efiected. In fact, the army estimates had been
reduced since 1862-63 by something like £2,000,000.
The principal items of increase for the new year were
in the votes for provisions at home, for the militia,
and for the volunteers. The total number of men of all
arms proposed to be voted was 138,117. No change would
take place in the artillery, cavalry, or guards ; but a small
change would be made in the military train and a material
change in -the infantry. When these had been effected
there would be 50 battalions at home and 91 abroad, in-
cluding 24 in the colonies. The total number of infantiy
would be 76,164 men against 80,574 provided for in the
estimate of the expiring year. The total diminution of
men would thus be 4,523. The reduction would affect 82
captains, but 30 unattached eolonelcies and a similar num-
ber of majorities would be created, thus providing for 60
captains. A hundred and sixty-four bubalterni would also
be reduced, and these would be provided for as soon as
possible, those unemployed continuing supernumeraries
until the opportunities arose for absorbing them. With
regard to recruiting, the Government did not propose
to augment the pay of the men ; but they intended to ap-
point a Royal commission to inquire into the whole subject ;
and especially into the operation of the Limited Enlistment
Act. Ailer noticing the progres made at Woolwich with
the improved ordnance, the manufacture of small arms, and
the general administration of the army, the noble marquis
glanced at the alleged existence of Fenianism amongst the
troops, and observed that although many recraits might
have enlisted in Ireland with the design of propagating
their political principles, neither his Royal Highness the
Commander in Chief nor Sir Hugh Rose entertained the
slightest doubt of the loyalty of the forces in Ireland. The
suspension of the Habeas Col.pus Act had al.eady pro-
duced much good, and greater facilities now existed for
obtaining evidence against soldiers who might have com-
promised themselves by joining the movement.
General PEEL, in the course of a lengthened criti-
cism of the estimates,: expressed his approval of the
intention to appoint a Royal commission to inquire into
the subject of recruiting, and the operation of the Limited
Enlistment Act. He was not prejudiced in favour of long
enlistments, but he recommended that all enlistments
should be for a uniform period of 12 yea-s.
A long discussion followed, in which the military mem-
bers of the house took the leading part, the subjects de-
bated including, later alia, the improvement of small arms
musketry training, fortifications, military education, the
reserve fund, promotions, War-office clerkships, and the
marriage of soldiers. Eventually the vote of 138,117
men for the British army was agreed to, as was also the
next vote of 178 men belonging to the native Indian army
employed in Labuan.
On the vote of £5,362,400 for the general staff, regimen-
tal pay, allowances, and charges, a long discussion took
place relative to the Hythe School of Musketry, and a
motion was made that the chairman should report pro-
gress. A division was taken thereon, hut negatived by
55 to 43 ; and the vote was then agreed to, and the house
resumed.

The Princess Helena's Annuity Bill was read a third
time and passed; the Prince Alfred's Annuity Bill was
passed through committee, and the Marine Mutiny Bill
was read a second time.

The houso adjourned at 20 minutes before one.

M. RENAN'S " VIES DES APOTEES” is reported
to be on the eve of publication.
The Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, who
has continued much in the same state during thepast week
was yesterday much worse, and no hope is now entertained
that he will long survive.

FRESH MUSIC FROM FLOTOW AND GOUNOD.—A
new opera, by M. do Flotow, " Znde," is in preparation at
the Op6ra Comique. It is high One that the composer
should have another success.—M. Gounod's " Colombo," a
trifle originally produced at Baden-Baden, is to be given at
the same theatre.

MR. MARSTON'S NEW PLAY will be first produced
by Mr. Sothern in Glasgow. The title is to be "The
Favourite of For Lune." It will be produc3d at the nay-
market immediately on Mr. Sothera's return from the pro-
Y.UCCS.

GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.—On the morning of
the.lsth ult. a great fire broke out in Broadway, Now
York, which terminated in the destruction of the American
Theatre and the City Assembly-rooms. The total amount
of damage has been estimated at $150,000.

►SINGULAR ACCIDENT.—A singular accident
occurred to a groom named Marsden, in the neighbourhood
of York, on Friday. Beadsman, the celebrated entire blood
horse, which belongs to Sir Joseph Hawley, is now stand-
ing for the season at Middlethorpe, near York. Whilst
being led about in his exercise on Friday by Marsden, the
animal suddenly seized the groom by his hand, and, start-
ing off at a gallop, dragged the poor fellow for a distance of
at least 200 yards. Marsden was dreadfully shaken, and
the hand which had boon seized was so crushed and lace-
rated that surgical assistance had to be called in. No seri-
ous results, however, are apprehended.
THE BUTTON PIT MURDER AT WIGAN.—On
Saturday morning a largo number of navvies commenced
tapping the bank of the Liverpool and Leedi Canal, so as
to let off the water between Pendlebury and Gibson's-
bridge, to enable a search to be made for the watch be-
longing to the murdered man Barton, alleged to have been
thrown into the canal near that spot on the confession of
one of the men awaiting trial at Kirkdale. There are some
150 navvies engaged, and a largo posse of police officers are
stationed there for two days.—Manchester Courier.
CHILIAN PRIVATEERS IN EUROPE.—A Chilian
privateer steamer has been fallen in with off the coast of
Norway. The Concordia (Spanish steamer), arrived in
Christiansand to land a cargo of fish for Cdiz, was spoken
by her, and fortunately escaped her by hoisting the Eng-
lish flag. Vessels in Norway are demanding higher freights
for Spain upon Northern produce. The above-named
steamer Concordia arrived at Falmouth on Feb. 25, on her
return voyage to Spain, and proceeded thence on the 27th
for her port of destination.

_
THE MURDERER OF SIXTEEN WOMEN.—The pre-
liminary examination of Philippe, the murderer of the
woman in the Rue de la Ville l'Evequer, Paris, is now ap-
proaching its termination. Crime appears to have been a
monomania with him, and the inquiry has brought to light
not less than 16 murders committed by him on women; of
these five were in Algeria, three in Italy, and eight in
France, and all by cutting their throats with a razor. He
displays a remarkable cynicism, and on first entering the
office of the examining judge expressed his astonishment
that he should not be permitted to smoke there.
THE BURGLARY AT THE DUKE OF SOMERSET'S.—
At the Warminster Town-hall, last week, a man named
eedf
Gibbons, recently apprehended at Salisbury on stuspic
the Duke
having been concerned in the recent burglar
of Somerset's, as well as in several other bunrygrleaarmiaensdinfid.oifm-
ferent parts of the county, was broughatsukpedo
for a further
the previous week. Sergeant Whitei
remand, the investigations. by
quite condoled. Some oridene thr
been given he was re-
theoir iceoconyoctonhnavecintigegbotohne
mended.
with the burglary having
B
A SKIPPER'S
n ATlON.—Captain Kitson began :
"-----
Mr Quarter-master, silence. This isno time
for crying over spilt milk. I don't wish to hurt your feel-
ings, for you're an honest man, though you sometimes
rather overdid the grog. I'm a plain man, and I mean
what I say, and what I say is this—here we are, and we
don't know whether it is berg or mainland, and no
food left—not a crumb. Now, what is to be done ?
We hear the bear growl, and the fox yelp ; but if
wo can't shoot them, that won't help us much.
We must spend all to-day in trying for the main-
land ; if we find the sea to the eastward, we must
then turn back, commit ourselves to God, who directs all
things in the heavens above and the earth beneath (you all
heard me read that on Sunday, and needn't repeat it), and
take to the raft, whatever happens. But there's one thing
I have to say, as a plain man, and that is—if any coward
hero dares even whisper the word ' cannibalism,' I'll shoot
him dead with this gun I bold in my hand, and mean to
hold day and night. We are Christian men, mind ; and no
misery shall make wild boasts of us, while I am a live cap-
tain—so mind that."—Dickenes "AU the Year Round."
• •

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

VICTORIA CLUB BETTING.—(Tms DAY.).

LIVERPOOL STEEPLECAHASE.
Bto 1 agst Alcibiade (taken)
10 to 1 agst Cortolvin (taken)
10 to 1 agst L'Africain (taken and offered)
12 to 1 agst Laura (taken freely)
12 to 1 agst Mistake (taken)
100 to 7 agst Merrimac •(taken)
15 to 1 agst Creole (taken)
20 to 1 agst Real Jam (offered)
28 to 1 agst Hall Court (taken)
30 to 1 agst Effenburg (taken)
33 to 1 agst Garotter (taken)
33 to 1 agst Salamander (taken)
33 to 1 agst The Doctor (taken and offered)
NORTHAMPTON SHIRE STAKES.
7to lon the field (offered)
THE DERBY.
500 to 10 agst Laneret (taken)

LIVERPOOL RACES—THIS DAY.
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
ARRIVED.
Persuasion, Doctor Venturesorno, Stormcock, Brighton.
Been raining and snowing all morning. Races sure to
come off.