The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-19 00:00:00

COUNTY OF SOMERSET.

The Bishop of BATH and WELLS moved for a return
of the parishes in the county of Somerset, with a population
less than 600, which receive Government aid for tho schools
therein.

After some remarks from the Duke of NEWCASTLE,
Tho motion was withdrawn, and their lordships adjourned
a few minutes past eight eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-YESTERDAY.

The SPEAKER was in attendance at 12 o'clock, but a
house was not formed until Fome time afterwards.

SUPPLY.

The house went into committee of supply,

The following votes were agreed to ::£110,098 to com-
plete a sum of £125,028 for the Treasury chest, £5,000 for
the Zambesi expedition, £5,000 to complete a sum of
£7,000 for the Niger expedition, £2,000 for the exploration
of the North-Western province of Australia, £21,400 to
complete the sum of £50,000 for the support of captured
SON
negrocE.
On the vote for consuls at inland towns in Europe,
Mr. DO
ra
regardr
fot
to the , D
thought that the consuls at Leipsic,
Fnk
Ghent, and Seville ought to be abolished, and
with
consul at Paris that they should adopt
the
as
courseenre
ta
which they pursued, at Madrid, by ap-
pointingry to the Legation. He thought also
that as the consulate at
should Lord be
J. donnue aswsaEyLwi
jithsa.
id
it
was
ss
in: :6,
ideverdee
t 01
i sinecure,abolish th i et
consulate at Ghent. It was intended to
at Paris at the ens of the term of the Presentt coensulae to
consulate
the librarian of the embassy, who would continue attachedt
to the embassy. He reminded. the house that generally
speaking they could not receive complete or satisfactory
accounts, with regard to the affairs of the continent, with-
out the assistance of diplomatic agents, and that being the
case the services rendered by consuls and vice.consuls be-
came of the greatest importance. The consul at Mos3ow
supplied the Government with valuable intelligence in re-
spect to central Russia, and the same remark applied to the
consul at Warsaw. The consul at Milan was not intended
to be made a permanent officer, but considering the changes
that had recently taken place in Italy it was not expedient
that the office should be done away with at present. As
regarded Seville, the consulate there was not considered by
the Government necessary, and would accordingly be abo-
lished on the first opportunity that presented itself. With
regard to Turkey, hon. members should recollect that all
the Powers in Europe had consuls in that country, who
exercised political functions. Us might here observe that
the less the consuls interfered in the political affairs of that
country the more desirable it would be. He would remark
generally that the retrenchment in regard to consulates
might prove the very worst economy.
Mr. WHITE considered that the explanation of the
noble lord was not satisfactory. The establishment of these
consulates was a reflection on the efficiency of the diplo-
matic corps which had furnished some of the most valuable
reports. He advocated the reduction of consulates, and
pointed to Germany as offering a field for that purpose, as
well as for retrenchment in the ambassadorial service.
Lord H. VANE said that he agreed with the last speaker
as to the efficiency of the diplomatic corps ; but it should
be remembered that they derived a great deal of their in-
formation from the consuls. (Hear, hear.) He would not
appreye of increase ill Warier or of teas establishments, i