The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-01 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented fromdiderent dissenting congre-
gations, praying for the admission of dissenters to the trus-
teeship of endowed schools and other charitable foundations;
for the adoption of vote by ballot; in favour of officials in
provincial post-offices being placed in respect to superannua-
tion on the same footing as those engaged in the London
post-office ; in favour of Parliamentary Reform ; for the
unconditional abolition of chureh rates ; praying that
beershops and publichouses should be placed under
the control of the magistrates • (by Mr. Bright) from
Jamaica, praying that the inhabitants might not be taxed
to pay for the cost of the introduction of Coolies into the
island, in order to compete with native labour, &c.

NEW WRITS.
On the motion of Sir W. JOLLIFFE, the following writs
were ordered:--For Bury St. Edmunds, in the room of the
Earl Jermyrt, called to the Upper House • for North Wilt.
shire, in the room of Mr. Sotheron Estcotirt, who had ac-
cepted the office of one of her Majesty's Principal Secre-
taries of State ; for the Western Division of Sussex, in room
of the Earl of March, who had accepted office at the Poor
Law Board ' • for the Northern Division of Lincolnshire, in
the room of Lord Lovaine, who has accepted office under
Government ; and for Tewkesbury, vacant by Mr. Lygon
having accepted office as one of the Lords of the Admiralty:

ANNUITY TAX IN SCOTLAND.
Mr. BLACK asked the Lord Advocate if he was prepared
to bring in a bill to relieve the towns of Scotland now sub-
ject to the annuity tax for payment of the stipends of the
ministers of the Established Church. If he would provide
the same relief for Scotland as the Secretary of State for the
Home Department proposed to give to England in the case
of church rates, viz., " that when the rate had been
imposed • 'the collector should take round certain
papers, one of•which should contain a form wherein a per-
son may simply declaKe that he conscientiously objected to
the payment of this rate; and whoever made. that declara-
tion should be exempted and from that time free from the
obligation of paying the charge, and should consequently
take no part in vestry meetings until he consented to pay
some rate ?"

The LORD ADVOCATE said that he had already
answered one part of the question, and stated that while
the subject was under the consideration of Government they
were not prepared to bring in any bill at present; and with
reference to the second part of the question, he was not pre-
pared to introduce any measure in reference to the matter
alluded to.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Mr. C. CLIFFORD asked the Under-Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether his attention had been
called to a case brought before the bench of magistrates in
Hampshire, concerning the torture of a fox, and whether in
his opinion it would not be advisable to extend the provi-
sions of the Act 12 and 13 Vic. c. 92, by making penal the
torturing of other animals besides domestic animals.
Mr. HARDY said that his attention had been drawn to
the subject, but it was not at present intended to bring in
any bill on this subject.
CONSULAR OFFICIALS IN JAPAN.
Mr. M. MILNES asked her Majesty's Government
whether, for the future, persons appointed to consular
offices in Japan would be submitted to the ordinary exa-
mination by the Civil Service Commissioners, or to a spe-
cial training similar to that now in practice in the consular
establishment in China ? And, when they would be prepared
to lay on the table of the house the revised scale of con-
sular salaries recommended by the committee of last year ?
Mr. S. FITZGERALD said that a special training was
adopted for those about to be appointed to the offices in
question. They were instructed in Japanese and Dutch,
but not in Chinese.

MR. WALPOLE AND PARLIAMENTARY

REFORM.

Mr. WALPOLE, who on rising was received with
cheers, said that he must trespass on the indulgence
of the house in reference to a matter personal to
himself. It was perceived that yesterday evening he did
not take his usual place in the house, and he could
not act otherwise, as he was opposed to the mea-'
sure of Parliamentary Reform introduced by his
right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
It was with some reluctance he took office under Lord
Derby, and he had done his best to support the general
policy of the noble lord, and to discharge his duty to Par-
liament and the country. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
The measure in question had been finally decided
on the 25th of January, and he communicated to the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer his intention of withdrawing from
the Government, but he consented to retain office until the
introduction of the measure, and to support the genera
policy of the Cabinet. When he accepted office it was with
the distinct understanding that he would not assent to any
bill such as that which had been brought before the house
last night, because he could not agree to the identity
of franchise between borough and county voters, for
he considered it would be placing a fluctuating body on the
same footing as persons possessed of property and intelli-
gence. The right hon. gentleman read a letter to Lord
Derby, embodying his views, and tendering his resigna-
tion.

;Ur. HENLEY said that he also must trespass on the
indulgence of the house, and make a personal explanation.
HO was placed in the same position as the hon. gentleman
who had just addressed them, both with regard to the
lo' vering of the franchise, which he considered was opening
the door to revolution, and retaining office to aid Ministers in
their general policy. He differed, however, from that hon.
gentleman, because, when he accepted office, it was with
the understanding that the subject of Parliamentary Re-
fel 1:11 was to be dealt with by the Government, as it could
no longer be delayed ; but with his feelings he never could
coyasent to the proposed equalisation of the franchise.
The hon. member went into some further explanation
in vindication of the course he had adopted, and resumed
seat amid loud cheers from both sides of the house.