The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-02 00:00:00

THIRD EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIs EVENING.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

CHURCH RATES.
Earl Powis and the Bishop of RIPON presented peti-
tions against the abolition of church rates.

BANKRUPTCY 'BILL.
Lord CHELMSFORD presented a petition from
Mr. Whitmore, of 'the Court. of Bankrupt4y, com-
plaining that the 38th clause would deprive
him of half his salary, and praying in' 'the event
of the act Passing_ that compensation might
be awarded him, as he had filled his office for upwards of
40 years.

PO RATES. -
The Earl of DERBY O
pßresented petitions in favour of an
equalisation of the poor rates.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PAUPERS.
Th© Nonnu EARL also presented a petition, praying
that Roman Catholic paupere might be allowed the free
The Marquis of Vid.Pll4
A ND Yprese nted similar petitions.
The Duke of ARGYLL
Presented . had received a copy of
inquiry into the compLintes
the petition
noble earl, and had made
the petitioner. He
found that by the rules the ministers of any persuasion
professed by an inmate of a workheeuree
access at any hour of the day. The 94 were allowed free
in which the rule had been infringed Was
easea he knew of
where the inmates not belonging to the Eaabl'illaPedoraluortiscri
were allowed to go out to attend their own Place of worship.
With respect to the rules for the religious education of
the pauper children, he thought they were good, provided
that they were fully and fairly carried out. The noble
lord read a number of rep•ltts from workhouses where com-
plaints .had been made with reference to the subject com-
plained of, and said he was of opinion that no substantial
grievance existed, and that there was no necessity for any
alteration in the law with reference to the subject.
The Earl of WICKLOW said the complaints were not
against the law or the commissioners, but against the guar.
diens of the poor who prevented the education of the chil-
dren.
Earl GRANVILLE said a committee of the House of
Commons was sitting, and th&t was one of the points under
their consideration.
The subject 'then dropped.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Shrewsbury and Welchpool Railway Bill was read
a third time and passed.
MARRIAGE LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill.
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN asked why it was that
clergymen of the Established Church were net to celebrate
marriages in Ireland after 12 o'clock, and Roman Catholics
were permitted to perform the ceremony up to two o'clock.
(Laughter.)
The Lord CHANCELLOR said he had consented to
this clause in order that wedding breakfasts might be post-
poned a little later than usual. (Laughter.)
The bill passed through committee.
LEASES, &c,, BY INCUMBENTS RESTRICTION
BILL.
This bill passed through committee, and was ordered to
be reported on Monday.
QUEEN'S PRISON BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
TRE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT.
The Marquis of NORMANBY asked her Majesty's
Government whether they had any objection to give a copy
or extract of any despatch from Sir J. Hudson forwarding
the report made to the Parliament now sitting at Turin as
to:the numbers of electors qualified to vote at the late election,
and of those who gave their suffrages to the present sitting
members, and of those who voted for other candidates.
The noble marquis said, as the Sardinian Chambers had
given the information to the public, the Government would
not refuse to give copies of the papers he asked for.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(Tars EVENING.)
Mr. MASSEY, in the absence:of the Speaker through in-
disposition, took the chair at four:o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Barnsley Coal Railway, Birmingham Canal Naviga-
tions, Kingston-upon-Hull •Docks, Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway (Now Line, &c.) Liverpool Im-
provement, Middleton and Tonge Improvement, Mon-
mouthshire Railway and Canal (Lease, &c.), Mon-
mouthshire Railway and Canal (New Lines, &c.),
Newcastle-under-Lyme Marsh Lands, Oswestry, Elles-
mere, and Whitchurch Railway, Parsonstown and Por-
tumna Bridge Railway, South Yorkshire (Keadby Exten-
sion), Sowerby Bridge Gas, and Thorne Moor Drainage,
&c.

The Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway
(Additional Works) Bill was considered, and ordered for
third reading.

WESTMINSTER IMPROVEMENTS BILL.
On the motion for the consideration of this bill,
Mr. A. SMITH said that the objects contemplated
by the original bill, namely, improvements of West-
minster, were never brought tamer the consideration
of the Commission, as the subject had been re-
ferred to the bondholders. That bill contemplated
the making of Victoria-street, and the opening
of the Abbey to public view. If, however, the plans of the
bill were carried out, and the buildings as proposed erected
opposite Westminster Hotel, the effect would be to shut out
from view the Abbey front. He moved that the bill be re-
ferred back to a select committee.
Mr. BAILLIE opposed the amendment, and did not think
the house was called upon to enter into the question as to
whether the commission had performed their duty. The
company had for a long time been in an insolvent state, and
they could not carry out their proposed improvements.
The great object of this bill was to give them power to
wind up their affairs.
After some further discussion the amendment was with-
drawn, and the bill was considered and ordered for third
reading.

PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented against the repeal of the
paper duty ; in favour of the removal of the duty on tea
and sugar ; in favour of the free exercise of the Roman Ca-
tholic worship in workhouses; against the Poor-law Removal
Act; in favour of the budget, &c. A few petitions were
presented in favour of the repeal of the paper duty, but the
early part of the evening was occupied in the presentation
of petitions from different parts of the country, and from
all classes, against the repeal of that duty, as being un-
called for and dangerous, and praying that if any remis-
sion of taxation could be effected, that on tea and sugar
should be substituted.
SHANNON IMPROVEMENT WORKS (IRELAND).
Col. FRENCH moved for copies of all memorials and
letters addressed to the Irish Government, the Lords Com-
missioners of her Majesty's Treasury, and the Commis-
sioners of Public Works in Ireland, by proprietors of land
adjacent to the River Shannon, in the counties of Galway,
Kings, Roscommon; and Westmeath, complaining of inun-
dations caused by imperfect or injudicious works; and, of
all correspondence between those departments in reference
to such representations, and of all answers to the several
complainants respectively during the ten years ended the
31st day of March, 1861.—Ordered.

EAST INDIA (COURTS MARTIAL).
Mr. FREELAND moved an address for copy of the
General Order issued by the Commander-in-Chia-fin India,
in reference to courts martial appointed for the trial of
officers charged with insulting Mahometans while engaged
in religious worship in Egypt.—Ordered.
THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

Air. hin reply to Mr. Tite,iTaid that Mr. Gil-
bert prepared a new elevation of the plans and designs
for the Foreign and Indian offices, which would be sub-
mitted to the inspection of the house before the works were
proceeded with.
GREENWICH HOSPITAL AND SCHOOLS.
In reply to Mr. LIDDELL,
Lord C. PAGET said that there had been some altera-
tions both with respect to Greenwich school and the com-
fort of the pensioners. The allowance to the latter wax
now 55., 45., and 3s. a-week.
THE WESTMORELAND POET.
In reply to Mr. STIRLING,
Lord PALMERSTON said it was quite true that, ac-
. cording to his advice, heriMajesty had granted a pension of ,
£5O a year to Mi. Close, the Westmoreland poet. That
- advice was given in accordance with a recommendation in
a petition signed by Lord Carlisle, Lord Lonsdale, and a large
number of clergymen and gentlemen. Mr. Close was one
of those who had raised himself by his genius and
literary abilities from a humble station of life,
and no doubt ho would consider the mark of distinction
from her Majesty with the greatest pride. He was not.
aware that Mr. Close enjoyed the distinction of being Poet
Laureate to the sable warrior alluded to, but he feared that
he would not receive from him a butt of sack. (Laughter.).
HOUSE .
Mr. HODGKINSON askedAGENTS the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, whether he would so modify the ninthxesolution
intended to be proposed in committee of Ways and MniTl
(the resolution relating to house agents) as to exemp from
who were
let for a
its operation all persons letting and receivingthe rents of
be would
unfurnished houses only ; and, if not, wesahetlierbe
consent to exempt from its operation those ner
agents only for houses none of which -
higher rent than £25 per annum ?
were the agents of
ExhCHEQUER
year.
FACTORIES
Secretary of State for the
The CHANCELLOR of the
herthan a
o £2s
proposed to exempt those pe
trhaseotn
hssii:
CH WORKS.
be had anyinte
previousnti ontot
houses which were not valued _LE
FACTORIES AND I,
Major EDWARDS asked
the. pass-
o increase
tors of factories in
the number of sub.inspoc
into forcethe event of the
Bleach Works Bill coming Homo Department whether
ed Government Lace Works
Bill ?
ing of the propos ,
Nvir S said that he had
g, Sir G.
C. Lu' but he not yet received any
report on this subject, considered that some alteration
t stem had been rendered
in the presennecessary.
PRIvATEERING IN •
AMERICA.
In answer tb Mr. J. EWART
Lord J. RUSSELL said tha't
a
ployed in the Gulf of Mexico naval force had been em-
British interests inth for the purpose of protecting
in; that part of the world. He took that
opportunity of stating that the Government
overnment continued to re-
ceive most lamentable act,
war in America. Some of'ants oftthe progress of the civil
nations arising out of this questionsnraetlea ti ngstatteo toll!) kiwn
gosf
were so novel that it had been thought necessary by her
_Majesty's Government to apply for advice to the law officers
before sending out instructions to the British squadron.
Her Majesty's Government felt it to be their duty to avoid
taking any part in the lamentable conflict that was being
Parried on in America, but it was their imperative duty to
protect British interesis. He thanked God that, up to the
present time, they were in no way committed in reference
to the civil war, and ho hoped that would continue to be
the case. (Hear, hear.)
THE BUDGET.
On the motion for going into committee of ways and
moans,
Mr. HUBBARD moved as an amendment, " That it is
not expedient to remit taxation to such an extent, that the
annual produce of the remitted taxes shall exceed the esti-
mated surplus revenue, in the budget for the current
financial year.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A BANKER'S
CLERK.—Prom inquiries made at 'Westminster Hospital
respecting Thcakstone, the banker's clerk, it is ascertained
that he is extremely weak from loss of blood, bat progres-
sing most favourably, with every prospect of recovery.
A new undertaking, with a proposed capital of
£200,000, is in course of formation, to be called "the China
River Steam Navigation Company.",