The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-12 00:00:00

.SECONDARY PUNISHBIEN'N.

The Marquis of SALISBURY rose —to move
for the appointment of a select committee to
consider the question of secondary punish.cents. The
noble earl entered at some length into the subject, and
concluded by moving the appointment of the committee
of which he had given notice.
Earl GRANVILLE said he did not think the noble
earl had made out a case for the appointment of a com-
mittee. The subject of the employment of convicts in
Government works would not be lost sight of. It was
now under the consideration of the Government, who
would give it their most serious consideration. He
trusted the noble earl would not press for the appoint-
ment of the committee.

(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(This Evening.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Cork and Bandon Railway Bill was read a second
time.

NEW MEMBERS.
Sir W. CODRINGTON took the oaths and his seat for
Greenwich.

Mr. WEGuELIN took the oaths and his seat for South
ampton.

Mr. KENNAIRD took the oaths and his seat for New-
port (Isle of Wight).
CHARITABLE TRUSTS ACC.
Mr. MOWBRAY asked the Chancellor of the Duchy
of Lancaster whether it was the intention of the Govern-
ment to bring in any bill to amend the act of 1853, for
the better administration of charitable trusts ; and also
Whether they intended to reintroduce the bills for giving
legislative sanction to various schemes of the Charity
Commissioners which the Government abandoned last
session.
Mr. BAINES said it was not the intention of the Go-
vernment to introduce any bill this session ; and, as re-
garded the latter part of the question, that the bills
would be introduced before Easter.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Secretary to 'the
Treasury when the next report of the Civil Service Com-
missioners was likely to be presented ?
Mr. WILSON said the report was ready and would
" be shortly laid upon the table of the house.
POSTAL COMMUNICATION WITH DUBLIN.
In answer to a question from Mr. GRoGAN,
Mr. WILSON enttred into an explanation of what
had been done in reference to this matter, and said that
the evidence given before a committee had been found
difficult of carrying out. Nothing could be gained unless
the letters leaving London in the morning should reach
the provinces in the evening, and those leaving in the
evening should reach the provinces in the morning. In
consequence of the disappointment experienced Govern-
ment Was trying other plans than those suggested before
113! committee; and the railways and the postoffice autho-
"" were eudeavouring to do all they possibly could
towards carrying it out, and Government were ready to
ay a
handsomelY for it. He hoped shortly to be able to
y modified:plan before the house that would attain
the object desired.
BANKR.UPTCY WINDING UP.
Mr. BUTLER asked the Attorney-General whether
he intended to introduce any measure to facilitate the
winding-up of bankrupt companies,
to render speedy
assistance to creditors, and to prevent the serious ex peoses and loss to the creditors and shareholders which
exist under the present condition of the law.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he pro
a posed
to bring in a bill to prevent the scandal that had
arisen
With reference to the Royal British Bank, should the
Lord Chancellor's bill be not sufficiently comprehensive.
CHINA.
Mr. COBDEN gave notice that on this day fortnight
he should move that this house had beard with concern

ess'es7reaseeseeeeeeereeseseeerevereeteeeeemse
the dioneict between tae Chieeee authorities and this
country in the Canton river, and that, without express-
ing an opinion as to the course of complaint in not
having fulfilled the Treaty of 1842, this hon=e considers
the pap& re laid on the table of the house as unsatisfac-
tory, and that a select committee of the house be ap
pointed to consider our relations with China. (Cheers.)
THE NELSON MONUMENT.
Mr. WARREN asked the Fitst Commissioner of
Works whether any and what steps remained to be
taken by her Majesty's Government to complete the
monument to Lord Nelson, in Trafalgar square.; and, if
so, when the completion may be expected ?
Sir B. MALL said that a general impression was
abroad that the erection of the column was undertaken
by the Government. In 1840 some naval gentlemen
desired to erect a monument to the memory of Lord
Nelson, and relied a sum of 20,000/. They appeared to
have undertaken the work without having sufficiently
considered the cost. In May, 1844, Sir Gs Cockburn,
the chairman of the fund, wrote to the Government for
the assistance of 12,000/. with which to finish it.
The Government requested Sir George to have the esti-
mates revised, and an estimate was sent, stating that
14,805/. would be required, and that sum was voted
by Parliament. It was found, however, not to be suffi-
cient, and that a further sum of 4,000/. or 5,000/. was
required, with which to finish it. That could not be
done without a vote of Parliament, and it was not in-
tended to ask Parliament for that sum.
BRITISH GUIANA.
Mr. LIDDELL asked for information in reference to
the penal settlement situated upon the Massarooni River
in British Guiana,-Ist. When it was established ; 2d.
Whether for imperial or colonial purposes ; 31 Whether
it is still in use ; if not, what causes have led to its aban-
donment.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the penal settlement
referred to was established in 1842 for purely colonial
purposes; and so far from abandoning it, it had been so
successful in its operation that it was under consideration
to send convicts there from other ports of the West
Indies.
SIR R. PEEL AND HIS LATE SPEECH.
Mr. STAFFORD asked flea right hon. baronet the
member for Tamworth whether the report of a speech
delivered by him on the 7th January, at Saltby, near
Birmingham, and reported in The San newspaper, was
correct, especially those which referred to the Grand
Duke Constantine of Russia, M. de Morny, and Prince
de Ligne?
Sir R. PEEL said he did not think that that house
was a proper tribunal at which he ought to be called to
account for the speech referred to, but at the same time
he expressed his readiness to give the most correct in-
formation that could be obtained on this most important
subject. (Laughter.) The speech in question was de-
livered without preparation at a meeting at the request
of the member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Ad-
derley) ; and although ho (Sir Robert Peel) was
not in the habit of reading his speeches after their de-
livery he was content to rest with confidence on the re-
port, knowing the ability and correctness with which
speeches were reported in this journal. It was
impossible at this time to recollect the precise
expression ttat he used on that occasion, especially as
he spoke for a a hour and a half without notes of any
kind ; but still he'was willing to take the responsibility
of that speech. He expressed regret that the remarks
he used on t tat occasion had been tortured from their true
meaning, and assured the house that it was far from his
wish—nay, his nature, to give accidental or unnecessary
pain to any one. (Loud cheers.) The sentence
referring to Count Morney, that he was "le plus
grand speculateur of Europe," had been im-
properly twisted, and what he said or meant to convey
of Count Morey was no more than what one gentleman
might say of another, and that person his friend ; and he
assured the house be had no intention of attacking
Count Morny's character by that expression. (Cheers.)
As regarded the Grand Duke Constantine, that was
another matter. (Laughter.) Ho did say that the Grand
Duke Constantine did not impress one with the feeling
"of a frank, open-hearted seaman." (Laughter.) These
words were not his (Sir R. Peel's), but those of a gallant
admiral's. (Laughter.) He did not say in that speech,
nor did he wish to say, one word against the
Grand D eke Constantine or any member of
the Russian Royal family. He said that the Grand
Duke's mind gavo him an impression that ho was
a man of great grasp of powers of mind—(laughter)--
of a man who looked into things ; and that was what
he meant, and that he was not a simple sailor. (Loud
laughter.) lie regretted that he should have said
anything that should have caused any unpleasant
feeling with regard to the Prince de Ligne. He cer-
tainly did say, talking in a familiar way, that the prince
impressed him as being " stiff and starched as the frill of
Queen Elizabeth." (Laughter.) He appealed to his hon.
friend opporite (Mr. Adderley) who was present when he
delivered the speech, if a single word escaped his (Sir It.
Peel's) lips that might not have found at the time an echo
in his breast, or that he said anything that might have
offended the " most staight laced gentleman in that
house." (Laughter.) His speech was but an attempt
at the time and on the instant to paint a humorous
sketch, and " hold the mirror up to nature," and " catch
the shadows as they fly." ...To err was human," mad
if he had erred he very much regretted it ; and if he had
given any one pain he must amply apologise for it, and
he trusted that would be taken as the most fitting
"ameeide honorable" he could make. (Loud cheers.)
THE SECRET TREATY.
Lord PALMERSTON rose and said, that in reference
to the convention entered into with France and England
and Austria with reference to Austria's Ita!ian posses-
sions, he found that he had labobred under a mietake on
a former occasion, (Rear.) He stated on that occasion
thatthat itt whecacselvention was not signed. He had since found
(apposition cheers)---but that as it partook
more of a 'unitary than a political convention, his im-
pression on a former occasion was that it was not signed.
He had since found that it was signed, tut that it was
not acted on, because Austria declined to declare war
against nivsia.
Mr. DISRAELI reiterated his former assertion, that
there was a secret treaty, and taunted the noble lord
with not being aware before this that the treaty had
been signed.
Lord PALMERSTON said that Mr. D;sraeli, in
order to cover an ignominious retreat, had misre-
presented what was said on a former occasior; The
right hon. gentleman on a termer occasion said the
secret treaty was signed at the instigation of this
c,witiy. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. DIIsIRAE Ll—No—instance. (Hoar and cheers.)
Lord PALMERSTON said he was certain the right
hon. geet;einan said instigate. (Laud cries of " Hear,'
and " No, no.") Tue noble lord then precee led to state
that the right hen. gentleman bad been imposed on, and
that what he (Lord Palmerston) had stated was a correct
statement of the facts, (Cheers.)
[LEFT SITTING.]

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY.