The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-26 00:00:00

small sums of money claimed by him for Easter offerings ;
and to ask if it was his intention to take any steps to allay
the excitement and prevent its recurrence ? The hon. gen-
tleman then moved for copies of any correspondence that
had taken place on the subject. He entered into some de-
tails of the hardships and cruelty that had been inflicted
upon poor families in consequence of their goods having
' been seized and sold for these offerings.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said he had received a communication
on the subject referred to, from which it appeared that there
was some dispute as to the legality of Easter offerings in
the parish of Accrington, and if that were so, it was a ques-
tion that could be decided by appeal to the usual legal tri-
bunals, and one in which the executive Government had
no power to interfere. His conviction was that Easter offer-
ings were in the nature of a voluntary gift, but he could not
see that there was any ground for interference on the part
of the Government.
AFFAIRS OF POLAND.

Mr. HENNESSY asked whether there was any objec-
tion to produce a certain despatch written by Lord Palmer-
ston, on the subject of Poland, in which it was stated that
tho " rights of the Czar were incontestable ?"
Lord PALMERSTON said he had looked to the de-
spatches in question. There was no expression in them
such as had been stated by the hon. member, and there
could be no objection whatever to produce the despatch
asked for.

DISTRICT ECCLESIASTICAL REGISTRARS.
Mr. H. SEYMOUR moved for a series of voluminous
returns connected with the registrars and the officers em-
ployed under them, in the different towns of England and
Wales, together with the amount of fees received in the
various consistorial and other courts. The hon. member
complained of the nature of many of these appointments
which were made, and hoped that the Government would
not withhold the information which he sought to obtain.
Sir G. LEWIS said there was great difficulty in obtain-
ing the information which was asked for, and he had last
year tried to obtain it from the bishops, and in reply to the
circulars which were sent he received remonstranceq com-
plaining that to supply the information would involve great
expense, and they declined to furnish it unless those who
prepared the returns were to be remunerated for their la-
bour. He was, therefore, unable to agree with the motion.
Mr. SEYMOUR asked if the Government would con-
sent to grant a committee next year on the subject ?
Sir G. LEWIS said the Government could not give any
pledge on such a subject. It would be a matter for the house
to decide when the motion was made.
Mr. B. OSBORNE thought it was rather unfair to ask
the right hon. gentleman, who was in that transition state
of being half a Minister of peace and half of war, and consi-
dered that the right hon. baronet who was to be the Home
Secretary would be the best qualified to give an answer to
the question.
Mr. DISRAELI protested againstitsbeingsupposed that
the Government had any power to pledge the house to
granting a committee. That was a matter entirely for the
consideration of the house, and the practice of inducing the
Government to give pledges of such a nature ought not to
be indulged in;