The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-12 00:00:00

having regard to the objectionable nature of the monopoly,
as soon as the period during which they were pro-
tected by their charter expired the Government would
feel it their duty to exercise the rights of the Crown in the
matter in such a manner as the public interests might seem
to require.

THE INCOME-TAX.
Mr. BUTLER asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to introduce any measure during the present session by
which the mode of assessment and collection of the income
tax by local unpaid commissioners would be altered ; and,
if so, in what manner it would be proposed to make such
assessment and collection.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—There
neither is nor has been such an intention.
NAVAL PENSIONERS.
Sir G. B. PECHELL asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty if it was intended to enforce the re-entry into the ser-
vice of all naval pensioners, or whether special cases would
be considered of persons in receipt of very small pensions,
or whom under certain eircumstances,it might be expedient
to relieve from such compulsory service.
Lord C. PAGET said that about 600 pensioners were
called out, and that there were about a dozen who asked
for an exemption. As a general rule, the Admiralty, when
a special case for exemption was made out, were always
disposed to take a favourable view of the application. At
the present moment there were feur or five who had been
exempted.
THE ARMISTICE IN ITALY.

Mr. DISRAELI--The country heard last Friday with
gratification that an armistice had been entered into be-
tween the Allies and the Emperor of Austria. I wish now
to inquire of her Majesty's Government whether they
have received official information of the event from the
Government of France, and whether the armistice is a mere
military convention, or whether, on the other hand, the
Government can bold out to the house any prospect that
negotiatioos for peace will be prosecuted in consequence.
Lord J. RUSSELL—What I stated was that an efficial
intimation of an armistice had been received by me from
the French Ambassador, but that this official information
did not go beyond that contained in the liimiteur. I have
nothing farther to say at present, for on the face of the
armistice it appears to be only fox military purposes. At
the same time the house Nell knows that the armistice
which was signed on the Bth inst. will extend to five weeks.
I cannot but hope that this duration of five weeks implies
that the belligerent Powers will be ready to receive sugges-
tions, or will of themselves propose some terms, by which
hostilities may be put an end to. (Hear, hear.) This is
at present, however, mere conjecture, since there is nothing
on the face of the armistice which declares that, either on.
the part of the Emperor of the French or the Emperor of
Austria, there is any agreement to enter into any negotia-
tions for peace. There is a meeting to-day of the two Em-
perors at Villafranca, and I trust that we shall soon have
some intelligence on the subject of their interview.

Mr. DISRAELI—I am afraid I have very imperfectly
expressed my meaning. What I wanted to know from her
Majesty's Government was whether any further informa-
tion except the formal communication of the armistice
which the noble lord anhounced on Friday has been offici-
ally communicated by the Government of France.
Lord J. RUSSELL-4 have no further official informa-
tion, except a telegram from her Majesty's ambassador at
Paris.

CONTRACTS COMMITTEE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave no-
tice that he should postpone until to-morrow (this day) the
nomination of this committee, when he should propose that
it consist of 19 members.
SUPPLY.—REPORT.
The report of the votes agreed to on Friday night was
brought in and received.
ENTRANCE TO ST. JAMES'S PARK.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. KINNAIRD called the attention of the house to the
advisability of taking advantage of the present opportunity
of Berkeley-house having been pulled down to secure a
road for the passage of carriages and horses from Charing-
cross through Spring-gardens into St. James's-park. The
house would recollect that a great effort was made to open
a communication between Belg,rave-square and St. James's,
and the utmost difficulties were encountered. A committee
of that house had suggested that an ornamental gate
should be made near the German chapel ; instead of that
tho Government, or those who had the authority, had
built up two huge ugly walls, as though to disgust the
public as much as possible. There had been an understand-
ing that Carlton-house terrace should be completed ; the
only obstacle was the lease of Berkeley-house ; but the
owner having great Parliamentary influence, some five or six
votes, got his lease renewed, and that opportunity was lost.
Now the house was pulled dawn by the Metropolitan Board,
and he had hoped that the late Government would have taken
care to secure a public carriage road into St. James's-park.
That corner of the park, now a perfect disgrace, might be
made one of the most ornamental parts of the ground. A
committee of that house had long ago recommended an open-
ing to the park from Trafalgar-square ; and Mr. Pennithorne
had made a plan for it so long as 15 years ago. The pro-
posed opening would be a great advantage to her Majesty
herself on her way to the National Gallery, and places east-
ward of Charing-cross. He hoped to hear from the CHef
Commissioner of Works that they were prepared to carry
out this improvement.
Lord DUNCAN said there was now a great difference be-•
tween the Board of Works and the Board of Woods. (A.
laugh.) The former expended money for public improve-
ments; the latter was an office of receipt; last year its
receipts were £420,000, and the civil list, as was well known,
was only £350,000. He denied that the property referred
to was the property of the country ; it had belonged to the
Crown from before the Norman Conquest. (Hear, hear.)
If any Crown property was taken for improvonienta it must
r he paid for, and the Crown ought also to reciAve comps:a_
cation, the same as a private proprietor, The metropolis
was the wealthiest community in the world, and could well
afford to pay for improvements. Let the Metropolitan
Board apply their money to constructir_g this passage,
instead of spending .t 50,000 over lißlieey-house. He
re eider the building in
be
eoe ve
Lord
ds
jt tr. he
itt forA N
,£;
perfectly4,O
r tosofi
said
a ihAdy
,tnhei ie
iagg,
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nc s o
almost everything
that had fallen from the noblelord,
wise
iesetraonpaol
en Mr. TITS said he dt4 hot mean to be the apologist of the
prudent ardof Works, but he thought they made a
bargain on the part of the public in making
thisn
hoUse was now being pulled down,
d whenpu h
would give a light airy foot pass-
age the park of 21ft. wide and 100 ft. long. 'What his
hon. friend wanted was that there should be a carriage way as
aintorc iats Berkeley-house ro kbet4ll3l yt -4 t
well as a foot passage into the park. He thought that would
be a great convenience, particularly as a large terminus was
about to come into the neighbourhood. No great expense
would be necessary, particularly as the land belonged to the
Crown, and they would have to pay for one house only, the
lease of which would soon expire. The Board of 'Works were
at present making enormous improvements in the metro-
polis. They were making a street from *he borough through Stamford-street, which would cost £190,000 ; another to
Covent-garden, which would cost £70,000 ; and others in
the east end of the metropolis, which would cost £120,000.
All this expenditure would fall on the ratepayers, and if
the house was of opinion that the expense of this improve-
ment should also be borne by them, it ought to be tho-
roughly understood that the roadway was to be 45 feet wide.
Mr. FITZROY said that the question raised by the hon.
gentleman resolved itself into ono of finance. The hon. gen-
tleman said that this would be a great public improvement,
and that it could be effected at a small cost. Ho was at issue
with him on both points. There was now a new opening at
Marlborough-house, and this road, together with the Bird-
cage-walk road, would moire the proposed carriage way a
mere infinitesimal gain to an infinitesimal number of the
population, whilst it would interfere with that solitary nook
where so many children were in the habit of enjoying
themselves in peace and quiet. (Hear.) If the road.
way was to be made as it should be they must take
half the garden on which Sir J. S. Lefevre's house
stood and three houses. He understood that the cost
would be £53,000, and the question was whether the house
was prepared to throw so great a burden on the country.
He was of opinion they ought not to lay out any of
the public money on metropolitan improvements, except
where the health and comfort of the people were concerned.
He was not inclined to take any steps in the matter now,
but should make further inquiry as to the expense, which,
however, he did not think would be much reduced below the
amount he had mentioned.

THE SAILORS' BOUNTY.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said that before the house went
into committee, he wished to put a question to his noble
friend with regard to the announcement he made respect-
ing the retrospective extension of the bounty to seamen
in her Majesty's navy. He heard the announcement with
surprise on Friday night, and subsequent reflection had not
at all diminished the doubt and, he would add, the disap-
pointment with which ho heard that announcment. His
noble friend had not given the reasons which induced the
Government to make this change. He was the more sur-
prised at this, as on the very Friday the noble had given
this advice, the Queen issued an order in council to carry
out the change, so that they must have known the reasons
which induced them to make it.

The SPEAKER said that the house always allowed con-
siderable indulgence to speakers on the question of the
Speaker leaving the chair ; but he thought the right hon,
gentleman was passing beyond the line in replying in the
house to a debate whic took place in committee.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said he should bow to any rule
which the Speaker laid down ; and he should sit down by
asking his noble friend what he thought would be the finan-
cial result of the change.
Lord C. PAGET said the best proof he could give to the
house that he did explain to some extent the reasons which
induced the Government to extend the bounty was that the
right honourable gentleman, in a speech of some length,
bad been answering the reasons ho had given. (Laughter.)
The right hon. gentleman asked why he had not entered
into more details. The fact was, ho was not in a position to
enter into all-the details he could have wished on that occa-
sion. He was in possession of the decision of the cabinet,
but the order in council was not in his hands at the time,
and he was anxious not to state anything to the house
which could lead to a mistake. (Hear.) Ho regretted that
the right hon. gentleman had not adopted the advice he
gave him to postpone his question till he brought in the
estimates, which he should do in afew days. At the present
time it was impossible far him to state the exact amount,
as it would depend on the men accepting this county on
certain conditions. Some might accept and some might re -
fuse it. It was therefore impossible to say at present what
the exact amount was. Ho trusted that he would be ex-
cused, under these circumstances, from entering further
into the matter on that occasion, as the house would have
an opportunity of discussing it when the estimate was
before them. (Cheers.)
THE ARMY,
Colonel DICKSON wished to ask the late Secretary for
War, whether he had noticed a letter in the Times of the
Bth inst., signed an " Officer Commanding a Regiment,"
and dated Portsmouth; and whether in the statement
which he made of our forces at home on the evening of the
sth inst., he included marines ashore, recruits in readiness
for India, enrolled pensioners, and Irish police ?
General PEEL thought it was a great misfortune that
the time of the !house should be occupied in answering
questions arising out of anonymous publications. For his
part, he always treated letters of that sort with the greatest
possible contempt. (Hear, hear.) He was glad, however,
that the question had boot asked, as it was desirable that
answer to the Lou. member for Surre a few evenings ago,
y,
he had stated the disposable force as 110,000 men ; in that
the country should know the exact state of the army, In
ho Lad not included the marines., or the enrolled pensioners
although he believed they Wore rtt for mucht,better service
than the writer sta4,i,l, nor had he included the Irish con-
stabulary, er. the recruits for India, He held in his hand
ti,e lass return showing the state of the British army on
,
the Ist of June. It appears,the cumbers on that day were--
Horse Artillery, L 740 ; Foot Artillery, 12,669 ; Royal En-
o:mos, 1,851; Military Train, 1,861; Medical Staff Corps,
Cavalry, 11,698 ; Foot Guards, 6 184 ; infantry, 50,032 ;