The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-21 00:00:00

&c.) BILL.

Mr. TORRENS moved the following unopposed returns
which were agreed to :—Address for statements of the mili-
tary pay and allowances drawn by the Commander-in-Chief
in India per month, whether he is at the Presidency, or in
the Field ; and, of the pay, salary, or allowances drawn per
month as member of the Supreme Council of India, otherwise
the Council of the Governor-General of India; address for
statement of the number of months during each of the
years 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860, in which the Com-
mander-in-Chief in India was resident at the Presidency of
Fort William, or other place of assembly of the Supreme
Council of India, otherwise called the Council of the Go-
vernor-General of India.
GLOUCESTER AND WAKEFIELD.

in reply to some observation by Mr. T. DuNcomEn rela-
tive to his motion for issuing writs for these boroughs,
The SPEAKER said that since 1848 it was not the prac-
tice on mere ground of privilege to give precedence to a
motion of this kind.
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, DUBLIN.

Mr. GREGORY drew attention to these gardens not
being opened after divine service, and gave notice that he
Would move that the estimates should be reduced by the
vote for these gardens and Glasnevin.
CHURCH RATES.

Mr. CROSS gave notice that on Monday next he would
move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating
to church rates.

MR. KING HARMER.

Mr. W. LAWSON asked the Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether it was true that Mr.
King Harmer was, on the 12th of June, committed to the
House of Correction for ten days, but was liberated by a
warrant from the Home Office before the expiration of his
sentence, and contrary to the advice and opinion of the com-
mitting magistrate ; and, if so, whether the Secretary of
State for the Home Department has any objection to state
to the house the grounds on which he recommended her
Majesty to exercise her prerogative of pardon?
Sir G. C. LEWIS said it was not usual to ask questions
of this description. He would state, however, the
facts as officially communicated, from which it
appeared that Mr. Harmer was brought before a magistrate
in London, charged with having created a disturbance
at Cremorne Gardens. The magistrate refused bail, and
he was imprisoned for five days, but the magistrate
also considered that there should be an information against

him for resistance to the police arising out of the same
transaction, and he was sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment.
The police authorities differed from the magistrate, and under
the circumstances he considered the punishment Mr. Harmer
had undergone was sufficient, and he felt bound to recom-
mend the remission of the second term of imprisonment.
(Hear, hear.)

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHILDREN IN SLIGO

WORKHOUSE.

Mr. M'EVOY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether his attention had been directed to a resolution
passed by a majority of the Slige Board of Guardians res-
pec ting two children named Caulfield, in the Sligo workhouse,
and who had been registered Protestants, though their
parents were both Catholics ?

Mr. CARDWELL said he was not in possession of any
information on the subject.
CAPTAIN GRANT'S COOKING APPARATUS.

General BUCKLEY asked the Under Secretary of State
for War—the Adelaide transport took ont to China, by
order of the Secretary of State for War, Captain Grant's
cooking apparatus, isnfficient for 5,000 men, in order to
test it 3 efficieney for troops in the field ; the waggons
were never landed, though three written applications were
_ _

made by Capt. Milward, who had the charge of them—
whether the Adelaide did not take them to Hong Kong, and
whether they were in use there now ?

Mr. BARING said that the apparatus was not required
on the occasion alluded to, and he was not competent to
give an answer to the other question.

THE CONVICT THOMAS RICHARDSON.
Mr. B. STANHOPE asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department if it was the case that Thomas
Richardson, who was convicted at the winter assizes
at Lincoln of the wilful murder of Police-constable
M'Brian, there being, in the opinion of the judge,
no extenuating circumstances and no provocation,
had his punishment of death commuted to penal servitude,
the presiding judge not having been consulted by the Home
Secretary ; if it was the case that the Chief Constable for
Lincolnshire then pointed out to the quarter sessions and
to the Home Secretary the danger of this course of pro-
ceeding, and the probability of future attacks on the police ;
and, if it was the case that the chief constable had lately offi-
cially informed the Home Secretary that a police constable
had again been fired at

Sir G. C. LEWIS said it was obviously inconvenient to
make the commutation of capital punishment a subject of
discussion. The right hon. gentleman then entered into some
details respecting the reneontre betweenßichardson and the
policeman, and said that though. the latter died from the
effect of the gun wound he received, ghillie considered the
offence of firing that gun did not possess those fea-
tures which constituted the deliberation on the part
of the convict necessary to establish wilful
murder. Ho had received memorials most influentially
signed from Boston and Lincolnshire, stating that Richard-
son bore a good character for 20 years, and praying for
commutation of the sentence. He accordingly
made the recommendation to her Majesty, in
reference to Richardson. With regard to the other ques-
tions, he had received an official report from the chief con-
stable of Lincolnshire, and, as the hon. gentleman had
described, stating that stones had been thrown and pistols
fired at the windows of the residence of one of
the police constables in the neighbourhood, but it did not
appear that any injury had been inflicted on any member of
that force.
T fIE BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.
In reply to a question from Mr. VANCE,
The ATTORNEY. GENERAL said that he had not
had an opportunity of considering the amendments made
in this bill by the other house, nor of submitting them to
her Majesty's Government. He thought time should be
granted in order that proper attention might
be given to this subject. He would bring it on as early as
possible, and ho would be regulated by public opinion in
the course he should pursue in reference to the bill.