The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-03 00:00:00

POOR RATES.

The Earl of DERBY presented petitions in favour of an
equalisation of the poor rates.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PAUPERS.
The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition, praying
that Roman Catholic paupers might be allowed the free
exercise of their religion.
The Marquis of NORMAN BY presented similar petitions.
The Duke of ARGYLL said he had received a copy of
the petition presented by the noble earl, and had made
inquiry into the complaints of the petitioner. He
found that by the rules the ministers of any persuasion
professed by
anyan inmate of a workhouse were allowed free
access
hou of the day. The only case he knew of
at
in which the rule had been infringed was at a poor-house
where the inmates not belonging to theEstabl;shed Church
were allowed to go out to attend their own place of worship.
With respect to the rules for the religious education of
the pauper children, he thought they were good, provided
that they were fully and fairly carried out. The noble
lord read a number of reports from workhouses where com-
plaints had been made with reference to the subject coin_
plained of, and said he was of opinion that no substantial
grievance existed, and that there was no necessity for any
alteration in the law with reference to the subject.
The Earl of WICKLOW said the complaints were not
against the law or the commissioners, but against the guar.
Cans of the poor who prevented the education of the ohil,
dren.

Earl GRANVTLLE said a committee of the House of
Commons was sitting, and that was one of the points under
thoir oonoidoration.

The subject then dropped.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
__ _

The Shrewsbury and Welchpool Railway Bill was read
a third time and passed.

MARRIAGE LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill.
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN asked why it was that
clergymen of the Established Church were not to celebrate
marriages in Ireland after 12 o'clock, and Roman Catholics
were permitted to perform the ceremony up to two o'clock.
(Laughter.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR said he had consented to
this clause in order that wedding breakfasts might be post-
poned a little later than usual. (Laughter.)
The bill passed through committee.

LEASES, &c., BY INCUMBENTS RESTRICTION
BILL.
This bill passed through committee, and was ordered to
be reported on Monday.
QUEEN'S PRISON BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

TIIE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT.
The Marquis of NORMANBY asked her Majesty's
Government whether they had any objection to give a copy
or extract of any despatch from Sir J. Hudson forwarding
the report made to the Parliament now sitting at Turin as
to the numbers of electors qualified to vote at the late election,
and of those who gave their suffrages to the present sitting
members, and of those who voted for other candidates.
Tho noble marquis said, as the Sardinian Chambers had
given the information to the public, the Government would
not refuse to give copies of the papers he asked for. •
Lord WODEHOUSA said no such despatch had been
received. He was, however, assured that the Parliament
of Turin was a fair exponent of the feeling of the Italian
people.
The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--YESTERDAY.
Mr. MnssEY, in the absence:of the Speaker through in-
disposition, took the chair at four.o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed:—
Barnsley Coal Railway, Birmingham Canal Naviga-
tions, ,'Kingston-upon-Hull Docks, Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway (New Line, &c.) Liverpool Im-
provement, Middleton and Tonge Improvement, Mon-
mouthshire Railway and Canal (Lease, &c.), Mon-
mouthshire Railway and Canal (New Lines, &c.),
Newcastle-under-Lyme -Marsh Lands, Oawestry, Elles-
mere, and Whitchurch Railway, Parsmultown and Por-
tunina Bridge Railway, South Yorkshire (Keadby Exten-
sion), Sowerby Bridge Gas, and Thorne Moor Drainage,
&e.

The Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway
(Additional Works) Bill was considered, and ordered fur
third reading.

WESTMINSTER TATPROVEMENTS BILL.

On the motion for the consideration
Mr. A. SMITH said that the objects contempkted
by the original bill, namely, improvelnents of West-
minster, were never brought under the consideration
of the Commission, as the subject had been re-
ferred to Lthe bondholders. That bill contemplated
the making of Victoria-street, and the opening
of the Abbey to public view. If, however, the plans of the
bill were carried out, and the buildings as proposed erected
opposite Westminster Hotel, the effect would be to shut out
from view the Abbey front. He moved that the bill be re-
ferred back to a select committee.

Mr. BAILLIE opposed the amendment, and did not think
the house was called upon to enter into the question as to
whether the commission had performed their duty. The
company had for a long time been in an insolvent state, and
they oould not carry out their proposed improvements.
The great object of this bill was to give them power to
wind up their affairs.

After some further discussion the amendment was with-
drawn, and the bill was considered and ordered for third
reading.

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented against the repeal of the
paper duty; in favour of the removal of the duty on tea
and sugar ; in favour of the free exercise of the Roman Ca-
tholic worship in workhouses; against the Poor-law Removal
Act; in favour of the budget, Btc. A few petitions were
presented in favour of the repeal of the paper duty, but the
early part of the evening was occupied in the presentation
of petitions from different parts of the country, and from
all classes, against the repeal of that duty, as being un-
called for and dangerous, and praying that if any remis-
sion of taxation could be effected, that on tea and sugar
should be substituted.

SHANNON IMPROVEMENT WORKS (IRELAND).
Col. FRENCH moved for copies of all memorials and
letters addressed to the Irish Government, the Lords Com-
missioners of her Majesty's Treasury, and the Commis-
sioners of Public 'Works in Ireland, by proprietors of land
adjacent to the River Shannon, in the counties of Galway,
Kings, Roscommon, and Westmeath, complaining of inun-
dations caused by imperfect or injudicious works ; and, of
all correspondence between those departments in reference
to such representations, and of all answers to the several
complainants respeotively during the ten years ended the
31st day of March, 1861.—Ordered.
EAST INDIA (COURTS MARTIAL).
Mr. FREELAND moved an address for copy of the
General Order issued by the Commander-in-Chief in India,
in reference to courts martial appointed for the trial of
officers charged with insulting Mahometana while engaged
in religious worship in Egypt.—Ordered.