The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-16 00:00:00

THE SLAVE TRADE.

Lord BROTJ(HAM, in the early part of the evening,
postponed the presentation of a petition which he had been
entrusted with from Jamaica, in consequence of the absence
of the Bishop of Oxford. Shortly before six the rev. pre-
late entered the house, and the noble and learned lord
rose to present the petition. It was intimated to his
lordship that the standing orders of the house prevented
him pursuing such a course, but after referring to the par;
ticular order, it was agreed that the noble lord should,pro4.
cced. His lordship said the petition he held in his hand
had been agreed to at a meeting held at Spanish-town,
which was chiefly attended by tree negroes, and they
prayed that immediate steps might be taken to put a stop
to the Cuban slave trade.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following piivate bills were read a second time and
ordered to be committed :—Burton-upon-Trent Rail--
way ; Cowes and Newport (Isle of Wight) Railway
Hooton and Neston Railway' ; London and North Wes;
tern Railway (Arrangements) • Malden and Sheen Valley
Drainage ; North Eastern and Bedale and Leyburn Rail-
way Companies Amalgamation ; Ringwood, Christchurch;
and Bournemouth Railway; Sevenoaks Railway ; Stock-
ton and Darlington Railway ; Tyne Improvement ; Wang-
beck Railway; Bridport Railway; and Carmarthen and
Cardigan Railway ; Hertford, Luton, and Dunstable Rail-
way ;Isle of Wight Ferry; Leominster and Kington
Railway; Lymington Railway; Red Sea and Indian Tele-
graph Company; and Richmond Improvement.
CITY OF LONDON UNION BILL.
_ _ _

Mr. CRAWFORD moved the second reading of this bill,
the object of which, he stated, was to make the 89 parishes
of the City of London supply the defalcations that had
taken place in certain city parishes instead of those being
borne by a few pat:shes.
Alderman COPELAND moved the second reading of the
bill that day six months. He considered that if there were
any legislation os the subject, it should be by a general
measure, and not one limited to London. He was of
opinion also that the collectors and tradesmen in the neigh-
bor7hood were equally responsible for the defalcations of
the officers.

The house divided, and the numbers were— -
For the second reading
Against it B9
Majority —32
The motion was accordingly negatived.
MERSEY DOCK AND HARBOUR BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill, an
amendment was moved that it be read a second time this
day week.
After some discussion, the house divided, and the num-
bers were—
For the motion
Against it
Majority . —79
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.
INDIAN AND AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPH
COMPANY.

Mr. C. FORSTER moved that the order for the second
reading of the Indian and Australian Telegraph Company
Bill be read, and discharged ; and that the bill be 'withdrawn.
Also, that leave be given to bring in a bill " for incorporat-
ing and regulating the India, Australia, and China Tele-
graph Company, and other purposes :"—that Sir James
Duke and Captain Mangles do prepare and bring is the
bill.—Agreed to.
RED SEA AND INDIA TELEGRAPH' COMPANY
BILL.

Mr. C. FORSTER moved that the order for the second
reading of this bill be read and discharged, and that the
bill be withdrawn ; also, that leave be given to bring
in a bill "to incorporate the Red Sea and India
Telegraph Company, and to enable the company to establish
and work telegraphs between Great Britain and India and
other countries ; and for other purposes connected there-
with." That Mr. Kinnaird and Mr. Gregson do prepare
and bring in the bill.

Agreed to.
Several private bills were•read a first time.
THE CURRENCY,
Mr. GREER gave notice that this day fortnight he
would ask whether there had been any depreciation in the
value of gold, or whether such was likely to take place ;
and also whether any means had been adopted to prevent a
depreciation in the value of the current coin of the realm.
COMMUNICATION WITH IRELAND.
Mr. 0. GORE gave notice that to-morrow he would
move for rat/Las of any arrangements that had been
adopted for improving the postal communication with Ire-
land.
ARMY ESTIMATES.
General PEEL laid the army estimates on the table.

THE DESPATCH OF LORD CANNING TO THE

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COURT OF DIRECTORS.
Sir DE LACY EVANS asked the Secretary of %tate for
India whether he would lay on the table of the house
a copy of this despatch dated the 6th July, 1858, ost the
subject of certain assertions publicly made in this country,
act.er of the members of Lord Can-
Lord STANLEY said he had no objection to produce
nininijupsous to
Councilt y
the documents in question.
e'inchlnaradi
BLOWING MUTINEERS FROM GUNS.
Mr. RICHARDSON asked the Secretary of State for
India whether orders had been given for the discontinuance
in the British service of the practice of blowing human
beings from guns ?
Lord STANLEY said that he hoped the time had
arrived for the cessation of these punishments, but there
were no orders at present on the subject.
MR. HIGGINS, THE MASTER IN LUNACY.
Mr. CLIVE, in repeating the question which he put to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer last night, said that he
had not an opportunity of seeing the Secretary of State
this day.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had received a communication from the Lord Chancellor
on this subject. He said he would not have appointed Mr.
Higgins to the office unless he was convinced of his being
fully qualified for the office. (Oh, oh.) It was quite un-
necessary to enter into any enquiry into the merits
of that gentleman, who had instantly and spontane-
ously resigned the office as soon as he heard what had
occurred last night in the House of Commons, not because
he did not feel himself qualified to discharge its duties,
but because, after an expression of public opinion it
was not desirable that- he should retain the office. From
what he hal heard respecting that gentleman from those
who had known him for years, he believed that in tender-
, jug his resignation he was acting only consistently with
his character.
RATING OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.
Kr, WILSON asked whether the Attcutiou v the Go-