The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-19 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Some petitions were presented against the unconditional
abolition of the church rates, against parochial assessment,
against the sale of intoxicating liquors in the provinces at
certain hours on Sundays, from Iluddenifield for the ap
pointment of Roman Catholic chaplains in workhouses,
for a reform of the Established Church, for the passing of
a Reform Bill without delay, &c., &c.
TIIE SHIP CROCODILE.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS moved for a return of the amount
expended on her Majesty's ship Crocodile, stationed off the
Tower ; stating the amount for repairs ; the number of
officers and their rank ; the number of the crew employed ;
the number of men enlisted fur the navy, and the total
amount of expenditure on the said ship in each of the years
1858, 1859, and 1860.—Ordered.
EAST INDIA (ARMY).
Colonel SYKES moved for address for returns, regi-
mentally, of officers of the line who proceeded to India with
their regiments between the Ist day of May, 1857, to the
Ist day of January, 1861 :—Of the number of those who re-
mained in India up to the latest return received ; of the
amount of pasage money paid annually on the outward voyage
to India for officers : of the amount of passage money paid
annually for the homeward voyage from India for officers :
and, general return, showing the number of officers
present with their regiments in India and those
absent at the latest return, in the case of absentees
distinguishing the cause of absence : viz.—Staff employ;
civil employ; colonels of regiments; depots in Great Britain
and Ireland; in transitu for exchange from regiments or
battalions in England ; furlough in India on medical certi-
ticate, or to Europe; furlough on private affairs ; absentees
from any other causes.
VOTE BY BALLOT.
Mr. H. BERKELEY gave notice of his intention to ask
this day ftnight for leave to bring in a bill for the better
protectionor of electors in voting for members of Parlia-
ment.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Mr. P. HENNESSY gave notice that on the motion
for the adjournment of the house on Friday week he would
call the attention of the house to the interference of the
Government in the affairs of Italy, and the effect of such
interference.
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA.
Mr. MARSH asked the Under Secretary for the Colo-
nies, whether it was the intention of the Government to
lay upon the table of the house the despatches of Sir Geo.
Bowen, Governor of Queensland, Australia?
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said it was not the practice to
produce such documents, but in the present case an excep-
tion would be made, and the despatches in question would
be laid on the table.
POOR LAW OFFICERS.
Mr. P. WATLINGTON asked the President of the
Poor Law Board whether it was his intention to introduce
any bill this session to provide for superannuation allow-
ances to poor law officers of unions and parishes ?
Mr. VILLIERS said that a committee had been ap-
pointed to consider all questions relating to the Poor Law,
and this amongst other subjects would be submittel to
their consideration.

DELIVERY OF IRISH LETTERS.
Mr. BRADY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his
attention had been directed to the fact that Irish letters,
arriving at the General Post-office, London, at 7 o'clock in
the morning, were there detained, and not delivered before
the second delivery (even so late as 12 o'clock, a.m.)
Mr. CARDWELL explained that the delay in question
WAS caused by the tempestuous state of the weather during
the last two months, which prevented the arrival of the
Irish mail in time to be delivered by the first post ; but,
with the exception of a few instances, Irish letters were
delivered by the second post.
COUNTY FRANCHISE.
Mr. L. KING rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to
extend the franchise in counties in England and Welles;
He said he had hoped that after the occurrences of the
eitaas
t
two years in reference to the subject of Pearelsiasamrye
for
reform, it would not hav©
been
forward on the
him to have to bring this
subject
as no Reform Bill
present occasion. However, as
tdherneo allusion to reform
entertained by Government,
in the speech from the Crown, and
thought that the present
was a fitting opportunity to bring forward his measure as
Many persons in the country
'tin instalment of reform.
think that Reform should not be attempted in the shape of
rehensiva measure, but that they should en •
a:onluPr to accomplish it in detail.
de(Hoar, hear.)
In conformity with that opinion, ho considered that it was
desirable that he should introduce the present bill for the
purpose of extending the franchise in counties to £lO
occupiers, the effect of which would be to augment largely
the existing constituency in counties, and admit to the
exercise of the franchise a class who wore competent to use the
privilege conferred on them with advantage to the consti-
tution of the country. In support of his motion, he ad-
verted to the fact that the principle en which he based his
proposed bill had been already recognised even by those
who had been formerly opposed to it, as was shown by the
measure of reform introducedby Lord Derby's Government.
That bill, however, presented the principle for which he
contended in o mutilated a form that he felt bound to
oppose it; and, in consequence of that mutilation, it asi
rejected, the noble lord (Lord Derby) was deprived of the
confidence of the country, and his party driven
out of power. Having censured the noble
lord the Foreign Secretary, for the course he had adopted in