The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-22 00:00:00

THIRD READINGS

The following bill.i were read a third time :—Here-
ird Cathedral Re toration, Great Western and Brad-
ord Rail a ay, and Exeter and Exmouth Railway.
,TOE G LIEAT WROUGHT IRON GUN.

1,-;r1 ItIVENSWORTki inquired of the Secretary

of State for War whether it was the intention of the
Government to send the monster gun, cast in the Mer-
sey Iron Works, to China, in fulfilment of a promise
which bad been given that it should be used against the
enemy ; and al,o why a contract had been entere.! into
with an American gentleman for the manufacture of
several guns of large calibre in that country, instead of
the contract beinz placed in the hands of an English firm?
L PANAIURE said that experiments with tie
gun. had been made which fully proved its great
value and power, but he thought there was
no necessity for conveying a piece of ordnance of such
enormous weight and calibre to China. He was not
prepared to give a pledge that the gun should he used
in China. The reason the gun was not sent out during
the late war iu Russia wag, that before the car-
riage and other nec,isaries were completed, the
war was happily brought to a close. With regard to
the second question, a gentleman of the name of East-
man had discovered certain improvements, which he bad
patented, in the manufacture of guns of large size, and
submitted them to the. Government. The subject bad
been referred to a committee, who reported so favour.
ably of the invention, that Mr. Eastman received
orders from her M:jesty's Government for six
guns. The guns had been received, and be be-
lieved that the principle upon which they were constructed
was generally approved. The guns could undoubtedly
have been c.st in th's country, but as Mr. Eastman
possessed a patent, he had a perfect right to oast tLe
eons where he thought fit.
[LEFT BITTING.]

HOUSF, OF COMMONS—(This Evening.)
The took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MENIBER.
Mr. PUGH took the oaths and hts seat for Carmarthen,
in the room of Mr. Davies, deceased.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The East Kent Railway (Extension to Dover), Herne
Bay and Faversham Railway, Keith and Dufitown Rail-
way (No. 2), Metropolitan New Streets and Improve.
ments, Portado wn and Dungannon Railway, Portsmouth
Water, South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway,
and \Veit Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Bills, were
read a third time and passed.
The Bury Gas ; Cannock Mineral Railway (No. 1) ;
Deeside Extension Railway ; Langport, Somerton, and
Castle Cary Roads ; Manchester Corporation ; Monk-
land Rail s ays ; Slaney River Improvement ;
Stamford and Essendine Railway, Stockton New Gas
and Stockton Gas Consumers' Companies, Victoria Gas,
Victoria (London) Docks, and Sittaigbaurne and Sheer-
ness Railways Tills were further considered, and ordered
to be read a third time.
Ley's divorce; Smith's divorce, and Westminster
Improvements bills were read a second time.
PETITIONS.
Petitions were presented is favour of the exemption
of literary society buildings from local rating; against the
Superannuation Civil Service Act ; from medical officers
of unions praying for relief of their grievances ; in
favour of the ballot ; against the trading of opium with
China ; in favour of Mr. Headlam's, and against Lord
Eleho's Medical Profession Bill. ; Scc. Ikc.
ROCHDALE ELECTION PEFITION.
Colonel FRENCH called the attention of the house
to the closing of the committee room by the Rochdale
Election Committee, on Saturday last, against members
of that house. He was not aware that committees of the
house had greater powers than the house itself possessed of
excluding members from its proceedings. He alluded
to the two modes of electing committees, viz., general
and select, and he proceeded to refer to the course adopted
by the Rochdale committee in excluding members. He
denied their right to exclude honourable members,
but he thought it better to defer to the wishes
of the committee, and put a question to-night
as to the privilege of members, He asked
the Speaker whether the committee bad power di-
rectly or indirectly to constitute itself into a secret
tribunal (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HENLEY, as chairman of the committee, de•
fended the course adopted by them as the one most likely
to attain the objects of the house. The gallant colonel
was informed that the committee had no wish to exclude
hon. members of that house, but members themselves
gave a remarkable confirmation of the propriety of the
decision of the committee by asbtaining from entering
the room. The object the committee had in view on
Sunday had been attained, and the committee was now
open for hon. members.
The SPEAKER said that the rule had been distinctly
laid down that members could not be excluded from the
committee except on application to the house.
ORDER OF VALOUR.
In answer to a question from Colonel FRENCH,
Sir B. HALL said that be made provisions for pro-
viding as much accommodation as possible for the
distribution of the order of valour by the
There Queen on
Friday next in Hyde-park.
would booaecree centre
compartment for the Queen, and two
th
the corps
the right and on the left to accommodatettast end present,
diplomatique, the officers of !a
distinguished laymen, and militarey pofficers, including
the relations of those who were to receive the deco-
ration. Independant of that there would be two wings or
open CO 1/3 partments north and south capable of
holding 7,000 or 8,000 pers .
.ons The admission would be
by ticket tobe applied for at the Quartermaster General's
office, Horse Guards. Any peer or member of Parlia-
ment desirous of attending,
must make application be-
fore Wednesday evening. Independent of the accommo-
dation he had mentioned there would be a large space
devoted to the public.
In answer to a question from an hon. MEMBER,
Sir B. HALL said the accommodation would he the
same for ladies as gentlemen. Any gentleman desirous
of taking a female friend—(laughter)—or any female
member of his family, had only to make that intimation
to the Quartermaster-General, and he had no doubt
tickets would be forwarded him.
CONVICTS, &c. (IRELAND),
Mr. MACARTNEY moved for returns of all convicts
sentenced to transportation or penal servitude, confined
in the several county gaols in Ireland on the Ist day of
Nov., 1856 ; specifying the date of conviction, age, and
period of sentence of
each convict : of all other pri-
soners convicted by a jury and undergoing punishment
in the several county gaols in Ireland on the Ist JAY of