The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL- PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.
This being Ascension Day their Lordships did not
assemble.

ROUSE OF COMMONS.—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' amendments to the South Shields Improve-
ments and Quay Bill were considered and agreed t), and
the bill was ordered for third reading. The following bills
were read a third time and passed :—Banbridge Extension
Railway ; Downpatrick and Newry Railway (aew title) ;
Great Southern and Western Railway (Extension) Bill;
Llandaff and Canton District Markets, Londonderry and
Coleraine Railway, Manchester and Milford R9.llway
(Aberystwith Branch), Stockport, Timperley, and Al-
trincham Junction Railway, Tyne Improvement, Vale of
Clywd Railway, Birkenhead Railway, London and North
Western Railway (Liverpool Lines), and Cheshire Midland
Railway. Bills were considered and ordered for third
reading.

PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented in favour of the aboli-
tion of church rates ; against the Salmon Fisheries (Scot-
land) Bill ; in favour of an alteration in regard to Roman
Catholic paupers in workhouses, so as to afford them in-
creased facilities for the free exercise of their religious

duty, and for the education of their children ; from inhabi-
tants of Western Australia, praying that transportation to
that colony might not be discontinued ; from inhabitants
of Norwich against the pressure of the poor rates under the
present Poor Law Removal Act ; in favour of the abolition

of the Annuity Tax, &c.
THE GALWAY CONTRACT.
Mr. BAXTER asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
when the papers moved for with respect to the Galway Con-
tract will be laid upon the table of the house : if it was true,
1. That even now, after all the extensions of time granted,
the Atlantic Royal Mail Company had only one new ship at
sea—the Columbia. 2. That that vessel took ten days to
steam from Galway to St. John's, Newfoundland, on her
first voyage, and afterwards was compelled to put into Hali-
fax for want of coals. 3. That another new vessel, the
Hibernia, had been condemned at Liverpool as un-
seaworthy. 4. That the Government had allowed
the company to employ on the North Atlantic
the a'arana, an old ship which has been for some
time considered unsuitable for the West India service. 5.
That it appears from the published accounts that the At-
lantic Royal Mail Company had lost three-fourths of its

capital. 6. That, under these circumstances, Government

did not intend to ask the House of Commons for the vote of

£78,000 which appeared in the estimates.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he should be very happy to give all the infor-

mation it was in his power to supply.

With regard

to the first question he had only to say that the com-
pany had only one new ship at sea, namely, the Columbia,
but they have employed others with a view to carry out
their contract. With respect to the second question, there

was no official information on the part of Government,
but it had been stated that the vessel in question
after leaving Galway did put into Halifax on her first
voyage for want of coals. The statement had been con-
firmed at Lloyds, so that he must answer the question in
the affirmative. The Hibernia had suffered damage on its
voyage from Southampton to Galway, and it had been an-
nounced at the Admiralty. With reference to the next
question he had to state that the Government had not
allowed the employment of the Parana. He could give
no answer to the other question. The right hon. gentle-
man subsequently stated that since answering these
questions he had received a report from the company in
question which he had not been able to read, and which
would be laid before the house.
PRIVATEERS.

Mr. W. FORSTER asked the Secretary of State for the

Home Department, whether it was not a criminal offence
against the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act for any
subject of her Majesty to serve on board any privateer
licensed by the person assuming, as President of the
Southern confederacy, to exercise power over a part of the
United States, or for any person within her Majesty's domi-
nions to assist in the equipment of such privateer ; and, if
so, whether he will take measures to prevent the infringe-
ment of the law, either by her Majesty's subjects or by any
agents of the President of the Southern confederacy who
are now in England, and also whether any such pri-
vateer, equipped in a part of her Majesty's dominions will
not be liable to forfeiture.

Sir G. C. LEWIS said the principle of our law was that
the subjects of her Majesty should not enter into the ser-
vice of any State at war with a State with which we were at
peace. Her Majesty's Government had considered the
case, and would adopt the steps necessary when any case
arose that would require their interposition.
ALLOWANCES TO WITNESSES.

Mr. W. EGERTON asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether he intended to bring in a bill,
during the present session, to alter the scale of allowances
to witnesses at the assizes and sessions.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said he had already stated he would
bring in a bill to amend the law on the subject.
GOVERNMENT LOANS.

Mr. R. LONG asked the First Lord of the Treasury
what proportion of the Fortifications loan the Government
proposed to borrow during the ensuing financial year.
Lord PALMERSTON said it was impossible to answer
the question at present, but if there were any alterations to
be made in the present estimates it would of necessity De
communicated to the house.
PRINCESS ALICE'S ANNUITY BILL.
This bill went through committee.
THE DISTURBANCES IN AMERICA.

On the motion for going into committee of supply on
ways and means,
Mr. BENTINCK asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether, in consequence of what was taking place in Ame-
rica, any increase in naval and military expenditure of this
country would be rendered necessary, and whether, incon-
sequence of the probable deficiency in the cotton supply,
the customs and duties would not be injuriously affected ?
Mr. CRAWFORD said he believed the panic relative
to cotton originated merely in the rumours of the c.)tton
market.

Mr. DISRAELI said that it was not intended at his side
of the house to offer any opposition to passing the resolu-
tions proposed to the house en the 7th of this month, pro.
vided an early day was found fur introducing the bill
founded on these financial resolutions.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
he proposed to bring in this bill on Monday nest.
Lord PALMERSTON said he did not consider that the
events which unfortunately were taking place in America
would necessitate any increase in the naval and military
establishments of this country. He did not think that any
diminution in the customs and excise duties by the events
alluded to would occur.
WAYS AND MEANS.

The resolutions in committee of ways and means were
reported and agreed to.
THE PAPER DUTY.
-

On the motion for going into committee of Ways and
Moans,
Sir J. NORTHCOTB strongly condemned the policy of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his proposed abolition
of the paper duty, which he contended was not justified by
the demands of the country or the state of the national
finances.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended
the proposed abolition on the same grounds which he had
already urged in support of this measure. He contended
that the opposition to the proposed abolition was based on
an entire misapprehension of the question.
Mr. DISRAELI supported the views of Sir S. Northcote,
and complained that the explanations afforded by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer were unsatisfactory
Mr. MAGUIRE asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether, before proceeding to further legislation in respect
to the customs duty on foreign paper, he would consent to
the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the
operation and effect of the system of export duties on
foreign rags upon the paper-making trade of Great Britain
and Ireland ?
_ After a few words from Mr. Nouns,
Mr. NEWDECIATE opposed the remission of this duty,
which, however beneficial it might prove in regard
to the interest of the cotton spinner, would
be merely infinitesimal as regarded the :silk trade,
which was now so much depressed. For instance, six pieces
of ribbon, of 36 yards 3 inches, would cost £8 25., and the
cost of the paper for packing it was only threepence. He
entered into different details in support of hisvioewf
thes. Hdissented from the statements of the Chancellor
Ex-
chequerofthisduentv
Y hi regard to the operation of the abolition
would utterly fail in realising the ad-
vantages which the right hoe gentleman predicted.
Mr. GIBSON said a most urgent appeal had been made
thecGovut
oevernmry
toe grant a special exempt
ion
to ; thellle timeinhabitants agoot
of nt by the mayor and some
to the people of Coventry from
Paper duty.
m r. NEwpEGATE said there tion
had been an exemption
of the duty on card paper.
Mr. GIBSON—There bad been, and that exemption
made the paper duty more unpop
T
exemptions had already been carried to aet dprinciple of
erable ex-
tent, but it was now felt that the Government could net
well grant an exemption to one trade and refuse it to an-
other. There were at present some seven or eight statutory
exemptions, and about 18 exemptions by Treasury orders.
It would be much better, in his opinion, if the duty were
t) be retained, to extend it to all. Could there be any rea.
eon for exempting books in Latin, Greek, Oriental, and
i e
Northern languages, printed at Oxford, from the tax, while
ordinary school books were subject to it ? This exemption
was made " for the encouragement of learning,"
and per-
haps it was owing to that expression that the duty was
called a tax upon knowledge. If they were to keep the
Excise duty upon British paper, and at the same time allow
free trade in foreign paper, the supply of paper from foreign
counties might increase, but the Excise duty on English
paper might assume a stationary character. It behoved the
house well to consider whether they should keep the paper
Inonufacturers of the country under the influence of Etoibe