The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-14 00:00:00

JULY.

Chelmsford
Worcoster Sunmo
Kingsbury and litmdou 6
Radcliffe
Carlisle - 7
Newmarket July 7
Hungerford
Pontefract
Down Royal Corp l4 I
Reading
Spilsby

Liverpool July AL ...... 10
Odihain .... 16
Statuford ..... 16
lluutiugdou 2l
Nuttiughtun July
Chesterfield 23
Kautoford 23
Southamptuu
SudlYury and &ling
Goodwood .... 2B

AUGUST.

Deauville
Leek
Brighton
Brighton Club 6 1 Son-borough
~.. 24
Lowes Summer
Wolverhampton ll 1 Great Yarmouth .....,.. 25
Stockton
Plymouth
Windsor August l3 Ipswich
Egha.m l7 Lichfield
Hastings
York August
Oxford

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENX

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TEsTERDAY.

The SPEAKER took tho Chair at 12 o'clock.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (11.12.TR1C SYSTEM)

BILL.

Mr. E WART moved the second reading of this bill,
the object of which was to legalise the metric system in
weights and measures. The hon. member referred to the
bills that had bawl introduced and considered in former
sessions of Parliament, and said that whenever inquiry had
been made relative to the desirability of adopting an uni-
form system of weights and measures for cummercial-pur-
poses, the unanimous opinion was invariably in favour of
the metric system of decimals and subdivisions. It had
been urged that the great inconvenience which would
result from any extensive change in.the present system of
weights and measures was a sufficient reason not to adopt
the metric system, but he thought such an objection was
not sufficient. A slight inconvenience no doubt would for
a short time take place, but the groat result would be au
enormous extension of the trade of this country. The
metric system was in full force in upwards of 20 countries,
where it gave universal satisfaction.

Mr. GRAVES seconded the motion. He was one who
was fully convinced of the absurdity of the present plan
of weights and measures in use in England, and
the simplicity and beauty of the metric system. It
would be a matter of tho greatest importance
to this country with respect to the extension
of its commerce if one uniform system was adopted. Tba
system was now in full operation in various countries, ace
it worked with an ease and clearness that spoke highly fu,
its favour. It had been adopted by the Govurn-
tuent of France in their various official de-
partments, and America was • now only 'waiting
for this country to make the change, in order that that
great and extensiv) country might follow our example.
Mr. B. HOPE opposed the motion. H►e said the
house was now asked to adopt a plan of weights and
measures, called the metric system, without a clear
description and definition having been given to the house
as to what the system really was. The bill proposed to
abolish a system which everybody clearly understood, and
to substitute in its place one of a complicated Bytom of deci-
mals. It was, he did not deny, one for facilitating calculation,
but applied to the purposes of eve►yday life of the poor
man, he would be baffled and more deceived than he was
at present. It might be all very well for the merchant
princes of Liverpool and other great towns who could
afford to keep clerks to attend to their accounts, but to
make it penal for a poor man because he did ned., know the
value of a decigramme was going too far. He moved
that the bill be read a second time that day six months.

Mr. P. URQUHART supported the second reading of
the bill.

lir. CAVE agreed that it would not forcibly alter the
system of weights and measures. Although the change
from the old system to that of the new could not be made
suddenly and at once, yet he did not soa how a double
standard could work ill during the time the other was in
process, becoming familiar to the public at large. Before
any final change was decided upon a great deal of
thought and consideration would bz required, and
therefore he shoul I not feel dispos3d to give his as-
sent to tht second reading of the bill upon the understand-
ing that it would not go into committee until a spacial
report had been made, which of course could not be
during the present session.

Mr. M. GIBSON having spoken iu favour of the adop-.
tion of the metric system,
. _

The house divided, when there appeared—
Fur the second reading
Against it
Majority —452
OXFORD AND OAMURIDGE UNIVERSITY BILL.

Mr. COLERIDGE moved the second reading of this
bill, the object of which was to place Dissenters and all
persons professing the Christian faith on the same footing
as members of the Church of England in regard to fellow.
ships and educational benefits of the Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge. The hon. member entered into a lengthened
argument to show the justice of his proposal, which could
not but be of benefit to all classes of her Majesty's subjects,
as well as to further the influence and heighten the respect
in which the ancient universities were at present held.
Mr. WALPOLE, as an amendment, moved that the bill
be read a second time that day six months. The colleges
had always been in connection with the Church of Eng-
land, and a greater blow could nut be given to them than
to pass the bill brought forward by the hon. and learned
gentleman.

Mr. IVI.NTERBOT TOM said the alteration in the pre-
sent bill proposed iu the Act of Uniformity was merely
an act of justice to Dissenters, and nothing more. Ho
hoped the House would give the bill a second reading.;
Sir W. I.IEATIICOTE strongly condemned the bill.

Mr. HUBBARD also opposed the bill, the passing of
which would be prejudicial to the established faith of the

country,

Mr. POWELL was speaking in opposition to the bill at
a quarter to six, at which hour the debate ceased in ac-
cordance with the standing order.

The Jurors' Affirmation (Scotland) Bill was read a
second time.

The Customs and income Tax Bill passed through com-
mittee, and was reported without amendments.
THE IRISH CHURCH.

Mr. GLADSTONE moved for leave to introduce
a bill to prevent for a limited time appointments
to the Church of Ireland, and to restrain for the same
period the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Com-
missioners. for Ireland. (Cheers.)
Mr. NEWDEGATE and Col. KNox rose together,
the latter gave way, and the hon. member for
Warwickshire said I feel it my duty to object to
the right hon. member bringing in a bill at this
particular hour, especially as it is one of the
nature referred to in her Majesty's answer to the
address of the house.

The SPEAKER, said, if the hon. member objects
the right hon. gentleman must, by the rules of the,
house, apply fur leave to-morrow.
The house then adjourned.

Foreign lail racket List.

MAILS DUE.

&wanlia, and New Zealand, via Bonthamptos.....May 23.
Ditto, via Marseilles
Ditto, via Panama ....... ........ —.May 2).
Small, Buenos Lyres, awl Monte Video ..........June 4.
Ditto, by French packet .... . ....... Mt), 2
Uspe Verde, by Brasil packet ....... . ..... June 4.
,:spe of Good Elope. Aiseenalon, and St. Lielens....June 12.
Ohba*, Penang. and Singapore. via 130'"hamP"1—Alay 23.
Ditto, via Marseilles........ ...... . ..• • May 13.
Faikland Islands ...... June I.
May M.
I bral t ar, via Southampton ..........
May 30
India, via Southampton .• ••• -•• • • ••••
. May 2S
Ditto, via Mansell es ...... .•...
Malta, tl:gypt, ....... .• • .•.... nay 16.
and Natal, via
Ditto, Alarsellies May
Southampton .......................
• • •
Intl I, May 18
Citaipem.l,4ll Hope,
..'elvtonadiar
count` .• • •
Do, bi pf to ship to Oporto
Ditto • -tto to Lisbon
!Waited States, anada, California, &e., by British
p acacet
Ditto,. by 1. tilted States packet
Ditto ditto New York.
Ditto ditto New York)
Ditto dittk (Baltimore)

111-Ay 16

Ditto, by Canadian packet . • .........M y 15.
West Coast pi Air!Ls, Madeira, and Teneriffe ......may 17,
West Indies and Pazitio (exoept..slexiso and Balla-

mas)
Cuba and Mexico May 29.
Lisha.nae, via New Y May 20.
Bermuda. Vta ....... „ „ „ Juin 9.