The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-05 00:00:00

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented against the abolition of
Church rates, the Parochial Assessments Bill; in support
of the Removal of Poor Bill ; by Mr. BAINES, from the
corporation of Leeds, in favour of the Borough Franchise
Bill; against the Highways Bill, &c.
Sir W. GALLWEY moved :the following, which was
agreed to :—That it be an instruction to the committee of
selection to refer the Westminster Improvement Bill to a
committee of five members.

SUITORS' FEE FUND (IRELAND).
Capt. STACPOOLE moved for returns of the amount of
the Suitors' Fee Fund in Ireland at this date, and of the
names of persons receiving salaries from that fund, and
the amount which each receives.—Ordered.
THE ELECTION RIOTS IN ABERDEEN.
In reply to Mr. MURE,

The LORD-ADVOCATE said that the party whose
death took place since these riots had, according to the
certified medical reports, died from natural causes. As re-
garded what took place on the occasion to which his hon.
and learned friend referred,the matter was undergoing judi-
cial investigation, and there was not evidence sufficient to
enable him to give an opinion, and he considered that at
present it should not form the subject of public discussion.
THE SECRETARYSHIP OF THE COMMISSION
OF LUNACY.

Mr. CONINGIIAM drew attention to the recent ap-
pointment of Lord Mon teagle's son, and asked whether that
appointment was made in consequence of the political ser-
vices rendered to the Liberal party. (A laugh.)
Lord PALMERSTON said he was not in a position to
answer that question.
Mr. WHITE gave notice that he would ask whether the
manufacture of notes which had been going on had been
brought under the notice of the Government by the Aus-
trian Government.
BELLIGERENT RIGHTS AT SEA.

Mr. HORSFALL gave notice that, on the 19th instant,
he would call the attention of the house to this question,
which was at present in a very unsatisfactory state.
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION.
Mr. C. BENTINCK moved for a return of the yearly
receipts by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England,
from the time of their possession up to Michaelmas day
last, of the revenues derived by them from the separate
estates of the Deanery of St. Paul's, London, and the
estates of the non-residentiary prebends, and of the Dean
and Chapter of the said Cathedral.—Ordered.
SOUTH AMERICA.
Mr. GREGORY gave notice that on an early day he
would call the attention of the house to the necessity of
promptly recognising the Confederacy of South America.
PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENT BILL.
In reply to Mr. BUTLER,
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that he proposed to move that
this bill be referred to a select committee.
NON-DELIVERY OF LETTERS.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE asked the Secretary to the Trea-
sury, whether a letter had been received by the Postmas-
ter-General from the Secretary to the Ballot Society com-
plaining of the non-delivery of upwards of 300 letters
addressed to electors of the city of Ripon, and posted in
London ; and whether there would be any objection to pro-
duce any reports or other communications made to the
Postmaster General on the subject.
Mr. F. PEEL said letters had been received from the
ballot society, stating that letters had been sent to the electors
of Ripon, and that these, with few exceptions, had not been
received by the parties to whom they were addressed. The
Postmaster had made an enquiry, and ascertained that the
complaint was founded merely on a statement at a public
meeting, and they could not give the names of any of the
parties who had not received the letters. The postmaster
and postman at Ripon denied that what was alleged by
the society could have occurred, and the only conclusion to
which he could coma was, that these letters had not been
sent, or, if they had been, that they had been duly deli-
vered.