The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-13 00:00:00

CHINA.

The Earl of DERBY gave notice that when the
papers relative to China were laid upon the table of
the house, he should make a substantive motion
thereon. Of course, until the papers were produced,
he could not state the nature of such motion.

THE BANK CHARTER.
The Noble EARL also expressed his regret at hear-
ing that the Government intended proposing a mea-
sure for the renewal of the Bank Charter. He supposed
it was not intended to move the appointment of a com-
mittee of that house to inquire into the subject, nor was
he dispoied to ask them to do so. In the years 1348-9
a committee sat upon the subject of tho commercial dis-
tress that then existed, and made a vaNnable report,
which was Atli in the possession of the house. If it was
not the intention of her Majesty's Government to appoint
a committee of that house previous to the consideration
of the renewal of the bank charter, he wished to know
whether there would be any objection to printing a li-
mited number of copies cf that report for the use of their
lordships.
Earl GRANVILLE said there would not be the
slightest objection to reprinting the report to which the
noble earl alluded.

ENCUMBERED ESTATES COURT.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE asked the inten-
tions of her Majesty's Government respecting the En-
cumbered Estates Court in Ireland ; and also 'moved
for a return of the number of abstracts of title in the
office of the late Chief Commissioner of the said
court not investigated at the time of the retirement
from that office of the learned baron ; and of the
number of cases in which estates had been sold but the
proceeds of the sale not distributed at the same date ;
also, fur a copy of a late communication from the com-
missioners to her Msj2sty's Government upon the state
of business in their court.

The LORD CHANCELLOR said the vacancy caused
by the appointment of Baron Richards to a 6 uperior
office would no doubt be filled up. It was at first
thought that two commissioners would be sufficient
for the business of the court, but that being found
not to be the case a new commissioner would be imme-
diately appointed. He had &ready Ex p resu d his opinion
that the Encumbered Estates Curt ought to be a per-
manent est& ham-tent. A commission, consisting partly
of English and Lich member 3, bad bee❑ appointed to
inquire into the subject, who recommended that the Curt
should be connected iu some way with that unpopultr
court the Court of Caancery. Ail he could say on the
present occasion was that Government would give their
serous attention to the subject, with a view to apply a
remedy to the evils of which the noble marquis com-
plained. _ _

The returns were then ordered.
RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN.

Lord BROUGHAM rose to call the attention of the
house to the rights of property of married women. The
noble lord commenced by referring to the anomalous
state of the present law, by which the whole of the earn-
inks of women who had distinguished themselves in the
arts might be swept away by a dissolute husband.
Ile knew of a case where a wife, who had been deserted
by her husband, commenced business as a shoemaker,
and succeeded to such an extent that it came to the
knowledge of her husband, who left for a time the
paramour with whom he was living, returned to
Lis wife, and not only sold the stock up, but
collected the whole of her debts, then ag Lin returned
to his mistress, and his lawful wife was lift to starve.
The noble and learned I)rd then detailed a number of
similar instances to show the unjustifiableneas of the law
as it at present stood.

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(This Evening.)
The SPEAKER t 4ok the chair at four o'clock.
NEW ME 11 BEN.
The Hon. S. WORTLET, her Majesty's Solicitor Ge-
neral, took the oaths and his seat on his re-election for
Butesbire.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following private hilts were read a second time :
—l3ristol, South Wa'es, and Southampton Union Rail-
way ; Nens Valley Drainage and Navigation Improve-
ment ; Tilbury, Malden, and Colchester Railway ; Tyne
Imprcvernent ; and Pulteney Town Harbour.

• INCOME TAX.
Mr. PIGOTT presented a petition from Reading
against the continuance of the income tax..

✓Various petitions were presentel from other places to
the same effect.

PERCUSSION CAPS FOR THE ARNIY,
Lord BURGHLEY asked the Under Secretary of
State for War whether it was the intention of her Ma-
jesty's Government to adopt for the artily, inmtea 1 of the
present regulation copper caps, Ehy's elastic waterproof
percussion caps

- Mr. F. PEEL sail that description of caps bad been
ordered, but machinery had to be purposely got up
or it.

ARCTIC MEDAL.

Mr. VERNON asked the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty, whether the design of the arctic medal had been
decided upon ; how soon the medal would probably be
issued ; and, whether it wai to be conferred upon any
foreign as well as British officers aad men who have
been engaged in Arctic Discovery Service,
Sir C. WOOD said that the Gazdte of thin day fort-
night gave every infor,nation respecting it, and how the
medal was to he distributed. lie read the notification
from the Gazette. The medal woul f be ready Lr deli-
very about the end of the month.