The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-23 00:00:00

another week elapsed the settlement would be made, and
then he would lay the papers relating to it on the table.
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY.
Lord HOTHAM asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
for an explanation of the following paragraph in the
report of the trustees of the National Portrait Gal.
lery to the Lords of the Treasury, dated 15th April, 1859 :
" Her Majesty's Government have offered to the collection,
and the trastees have, with thanks, accepted the great pic-
tore of the House of Commons at theopenmg. of thefirst Re-
formed Parliament in Tannery, 1833, as painted by Sir 1
George Hayter, and as recently secured to the nation by a
vote of the House of Commons."
Mr. LAING entered into an explanation, from which it
appeared that the purchase of the picture had been agreed
on by their predecessors in office, and therefore he could
not strike it out of the estimates. When the item came
before the house it could be discussed with more propriety.
Mr. DISRAELI said that the picture had been recom-
mended by two-thirds of the members of the House of
Commons, and the memorial presented stated that it was
considered a work of great historical interest, and that the
house was anxious to possess it.
MAGISTRATES AT GREAT YARMOUTH.
Mr. MELLOR called the attention of the house to the
recent appointment of justices of the peace for the borough
of Great Yarmouth; and inquired of her Majesty's Mi-
nisters whether it was their intention to introduce anymea-
sure for regulating the appointment of justices of the peace
for the boroughs inEngland and Wales. He complained that
the appointments of the late Government to the magistracy
of Great Yarmouth were influenced by political feeling, and
most unjust to the community at large.
Sir H. STACEY denied that on examination it would
be found there was any ground for complaint in the appoint-
ments alluded to.
Sir G. GREY said that it was not the intention
of Government to propose any measure ch
as that referred to. He agreed that nothing
would be more prejudicial to the just and impartial
administration of justice if appointments to the magistracy
were made solely on the ground of political sentiments.
He beli4ed that in some cases appointments had
been made with reference to the wants of a locality,
or the number of its inhabitants. He believed also that
an unnecessary number of magistrates had been appointed
in Lancashire, and the selections in that county were
vested in the Chancellor of the Duchy, who was a political
officer, and not in the lord-lieutenant of the county.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO THE POOR-LAW
BOARD.
Mr. E. P. BOUVERIE asked whether it was proposed
to fill up the office of assistant secretary to the Poor-law
Board. He considered it was quite unnecessary to fill up
the office, and an opportunity was now afforded of making
a step in the right direction, that of retrenchment, though
in a comparatively small matter.
Sir J. -TROLLOPE agreed with the hon. gentleman.
Mr. VILLIERS said that when he acceded to office he
found the situation in question vacant, and applied to the
Earl of Devon and the hon. member for Wiltshire, as well
as other parties best informed and without any interest, and
they unanimously recommended the continuance of the ap-
pointment.

ROYAL ENGINEERS.

Captain VERNON called the attention of the house to
an order issued from the Horse Guards materially affecting
the organisation. of the Corps of Royal Engineers, and to
move for all correspondence respecting the same.
Mr. S. HERBERT said that there was a select commit-
tee on the subject under the presidency of the right hon.
member for Carlisle ; and he thought, therefore, that it
would be most inconvenient to enter on the question at pre-
sent.

FOREIGN DESPATCHES.
Mr. B. COCHRANE said that after the statement of
the noble lord the Foreign Secretary that he would make an
explanation on Thursday, he would not ask the question of
which he had given notice, namely, whether he would lay
on the table of the house copies of the despatches which have
passed between the noble lord and Lord Cowley and Sir
James Hudson since the announcement of the armistice
between France and Austria.
HARBOURS OF REFUGE.
Mr. PEASE asked the First Lord of the Treasury, whe-
ther it is the intention of the Government to propose to the
house, during the present session, any measure with a view
to the encouragement of the formation of harbours of re •
fuge on the coasts of the kingdom, in conformity with the
report of the Royal Commission oilast year upon this sub-
ject ?
Lord PALMERSTO N said that everybody must be
aware of the importance of this subject, but according to
the calculations that had been made, the cost of erecting
these harbours would bo £4,000,000. However, any per-
son acquainted with the subject must be aware that
the expense of such work generally exceeded the estimates,
and the Government did not intend to make any provision
this session for the formation of these harbours.