The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-23 00:00:00

REPAYMENTS OF MONEYS BILL.

The report of amendments on this bill was brought up
and agreed to.
TRAMWAYS (IRELAND) BILL.
After a brief conversation the report was received.
EAST INDIA COUNCIL, &c., BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.
ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS (IRELAND) BILL
The report of amendments to this bill was received.
PIERS AND HARBOURS BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

TURNPIKE TRUSTS ARRANGEMENT BILL.
This bill was also read a third time and passed.
WHITE HERRING FISHERY (SCOTLAND) BILL,
The report of amendments to this bill was received.
Their lordships rose at half-past 9 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
ROYAL COMMISSION.

The Speaker was summoned by the Black Rod to attend
in the Upper House to hear the Royal assent given by com-
mission to several bills, for which see Lords' report.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Blanc Valley Railway (Lords) ; Edinburgh, Perth, and
Dundee Railway (Lords) ; and Glasgow and Milngavie
Junction Railway (Lords).
The folllowing bills were considered and ordered for thiri
reading :—Atkinson's Trust) Estate, Cornwall Railway,
Victoria Docks Gas, and West of Fife Mineral Railway aid
Charleston Railway and Harbour Companies.
AUSTRALIAN SOVEREIGNS.

Mr. Alderman 3ALOMONS asked the Chancellor of the
Exchequer if, in the trial of the pyx which had justbeen
made, Australian sovereigns coined at the branch of the
Royal Mint at Sydney were submitted for assay, an if the
quality of such sovereigns was equal to those corned at
Tower-hill ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
his hon. friend must be aware that the Australian sove-
reign was not a legal tender, and was rot a coin
of the united kingdom. That being the case thesovereign
in question did not receive the benefit, if there were any, of
the test to which the other sovereigns were subjected. How-
ever, this test was no longer necessary to establish the
value of a coin, and the Australian sovereign had under-
gone a test that proved it fully equal to the sovereign of
this country.

Alderman SALOMONS gave notice that le would draw
the attention of the house to this subject next session.
CONI ROLLERS OF CUSTCNIS.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Chancalor of the Ex-
chequer what arrangements had been madefor the discharge
in the outports of those duties which were formerly per-
formed by the Controllers, whose offices are now abolished :
And whether provision had been made for employing the
Controllers whose services had been digpensed with upon
duties as nearly as possible analogousto those which they
have previously had to perform, and frr securing to them
their fair chance of promotion to superior situations as they
may fall vacant ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
as the principal duties of the officer in question were other-
wise provided for, the office had been abolished. The
former system which had been practised had been discon-
tinued, and the consequence was that some of these officers
had been employed as collectors or clerks, and some had
received compensation. Employment could not be pro-
vided for all these officers who had been reduced, and they
were placed on the retiring pension list. He could assure the
hon. member that there was every disposition to provide
as far as possible for the reduction in the officials caused
by the alterations that had taken place in the customs.

MR, LEVER.
CONINGHAM rose to move the following of which
he gave notice :—That Ur. Irwin's petition, relating to the
Royal Atlantic Mail Steam Navigation Company, be re-
ferred to a select-committee, to inquire into the allegations
of the said petition.

laid that he
(luiurderstood there was no
The SPEAKER
charge against the hon. member Lever) since he be-
came a member, and he thought there was no precedent
for the present proceeding. Ho
would leave
tne matter in
the hands of the house.
Mr. LEVER said that as he was a mercantile man and
engaged in large works it was most desirable that the
charges against him should be investigated without delay.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said that whatever the period
might be at which the charge was made, he thought the
hon. member should have an opportunity of vindicating his
character without delay. (Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY said that ho had consulted precedents on
this point, and he found that it was only in cases where the
charge made against an hon. gentleman affected his cha-
racter as a member of this house that an inquiry of this de-
scription was granted.
Mr. LEVER, in accordance with the expressed feeling
of the house, then rose to make his explanation. He went
through the petition clause by clause, and denied the various