The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-30 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Several peAitions were presented praying for Par liamen-
till, reform, in favour of tip budget, and reduction in the
national expenditure ; for the appointment of Roman
Catholic chaplains in workhouses, and for improved educa-
tion of Roman Catholics in Ireland ; for the sale of a single
bottle of spirits or wine by wholesale dealers.

THE CONFEDERATED S PATES OF AMERICA.
Mr. W. E. FORSTER asked the hon. member for Gal-
Vajr (Mr. Gregory) whether, after the news which had
been received in this country from America, he intended
to persist in the motion of which he had given notice for a
recognition of the confederated States.
Air. GREGORY said that he had received a letter from
the noble lord the Foreign Secretary stating that it would
be inconvenient to the public service if he brought forward
his motion as he proposed to do to-morrow. He begged to
say that he would postpone it fora fortnight. (Hear.)

NEW WRIT.
On the motion of C.l. TAYLOR, a new writ was ordered
for Montgomery, vacant by the decease of the late member,
kr. Pugh.

THE BRIBERY AT BERWICK-PERSONAL

EXPLANATIONS.

Mr. HODGSON asked the Attorney-General if the Go-
vernment had formed ajudgment on the report of the com.-
Mission appointed to inquire into the alleged corrupt prac-
ices at Berwick-on-Tweed election. He had been reported
guilty of bribery at that election, because he had subscribed
£6O to enable those sitting members to collect evidence to
defend their seats. The hon. member entered into some
further explanation, and concluded by repeating his
question.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that this morning
he had received a letter and a pamphlet from the hon.
Member (Mr. Hodgson), and if the hon. member wished
him to read these before he answered him he would repeat
Ilia question to-morrow. (Laughter.) The Government
gives no direction on these subjects, and it would be on his
own responsibility that any prosecution would be instituted,
find if he did not prosecute it would be his (the Attorney-
General's) fault. (Laughter.) Ho referred to the report,
Which he had carefully analysed, and he found that the
alleged bribery of the hon. member rested upon the evi-
dence of a witness who had absconded, and who, if he could
be found, he (the Attorney-General) could not make him
speak. (Laughter.) The next ground of accusation
against the hon. member was the statements made by him-
self to the commissioners ; but he could assure the hon.
member that as he had no expectation of obtaining a con-
viction against him, he should abstain from any prosecu-
tion. (Renewed Laughter )

" THE WARRIOR."
Sir F. SMITH asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
When he would lay upon the table of the house a copy of
the correspondence that may have taken place between the
Admiralty and the contractors who built the Warrior, in
reference to the non-fulfilment of the contract within the
stipulated time, such copy having been ordered by the house
on the 18th of March ?
Lord C. PAGET said that her Majesty's Government
proposed to lay the correspondence on the table that evening.
WAYS AND MEANS.—ADJOURNED DEBATE.
Mr. HORSMAN, in resuming the adjourned debate on
the motion for going into committee of ways and means,
said that the budget of the present year had a feature simi-
lar to that of last year, as it contained a proposition that
Was agreeable only to a small section of the house, but
which was not acceptable to the majority, or in accordance
with the feeling of the community. Besides, in reference
to that proposition for the remission of the duty on paper,
they had the decision of the House of Lords against it,
and there was no urgency in regard to the repeal
of this tax that would justify the government in supposing
that the House of Lords would be induced to come so sud-
denly to the adpption of what they had rejected in so
marked a manner last year. He objected to the conclusions
as to the surplus of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when
he recollected the unfortunate surplus promised last year.
They were promised the latter by the reduction of the ex-
Pease in respect to China, and the surplus for the present
Year was to be obtained by means of an indemnity of
£750,000 from China, which he believed they would never
receive. (Hear, hear.) In considered that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer had been guilty of a fatal error in re-
peating an experiment that hail been admitted last year to
be a mistake, in which the feelings of the country
had not been consulted, and another opposition with
the House of Lords was to be apprehended. (Hear, hear.)
described the proposed repeal of the paper duty as a
Mere link counectin Dirizipgll4l;tl ?d1 Tivatton, die alto'