The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS-THIS EVENING.

This afternoon Lori REDESDALE, in the absence of the
Lord Chtucallor, took his scat on the woolsack at 4 o'clock.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BILL.

With regard to the committee's reasons disagreeing with
the Lords' amendment to this bill, it was resolved that the
house do not insist upon their amendment.
DISTRICT CEUROII TITHES ACT.
THE POOR RELIEF BILL AND THE SALMON
FISHERIES BILL.
With regard to the Commons' amendments these bil:s
were agreed to with the ex.:eption of one clause in the first
bill.

The following bills ware read a third time :—lnland
Revenue, Election Petition, Danube Works Loan, and
Colonial Governors' Suspension Act Amendment Bills.
A message was then brought up from the Commons to
the effect that the House of Commons did not insist on
their amendments to the Election Petitions Bill and Dis-
trict Church Tithes Act.
The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Tars EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
CIRCULAR DELIVERY.

Mr. M'LAREN asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether the Treasury had yet decided in favour of allow-
ing the Post-office to carry printed matter not exceeding
one ounce in weight for one halfpenny ; and whether the
Treasury would give orders not to take any further legal
proceedings to impede the action of circular delivery com-
panies until after the meeting of the new Parliament ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that as
regarded the first question the subject was under conside-
ration. He promised that no further prosecution should
take place to impede the action of the Circular Delivery
Company.

- -
MINES ASSESSMENT BILL.
This bill was withdrawn.
CHURCH RATES REGULATION BILL.

This bill was also withdrawn, as was also the Church
Rates Commutation Bill.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Mr. T. HUGHES called attention to the inaccurate
state of the standard of weights and measures, and to the
present system of enforcing the law, whereby half the
penalties were paid to the informer. He hoped the Govern-
ment would take the subject into consideration, and he
thought the verification of weights and measures should
take place more frequently, and that some mark should be
affixed to the person convicted of using false weights.
Mr. S. CAVE said a great deal of the difficulty was
occasioned by circumstances over which there was no con-
trol. The atmosphere had a great effect upon them, and,
with respect to the more frequent verification, that
would entail increased expense on the staff of
the office ; and with respect to marking the shops
of dishonest traders as was done in France—where the
traders had to pay for the making a tablet stating the
offence of which he had been convicted and the sentence
passed—he thought that such a measure, although he
should like to see it done, was too strong for this country.
However, he would see that the matter was strictly looked
into, and if the hon. member for Lambeth would favour
him with any suggestions he would take care they were
laid before the committee on the next sitting.
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE said if the convictions in
a particular district had amounted to 1,200, the number of
offences no doubt amounted to 12,000. The law, he thought,
was too lenient on the subject, and he was afraid that
the House looked upon it in the same light
as they did bribery, as no offence at all. However, as
they had determined to put down one, he hoped they
would succeed in doing the same with the other.
The law was too tender with regard to rogues.
(Hear, hear.) He was the director of a large
company, who suffered very severely from the rascality of
the public—(hear, hear)—and it now appeared that to
post up a description of the offence, with the
name of the patty committing it, was contrary to the
law, and that the person so treated might indict the per-
sons doing it for libel. He thought if they could brand
the man it would be a good thing, because
no one would trust a man with the letter "R" on his
forehead. (Laughter.)
Colonel S YKJS hoped some steps would be made to
assimilate the law of this country with respect to weights
and measures to that of other countries.
THE CASE OF MR. EDMUNDS.

Mr BENTINCE then called the attention of the house
to the case of Mr. Edmuads, who at one time held the
office of clerk to the Patent-office. Mr. Edmunds had
been accused of peculation of the publio moneys,
but when the case was argued before the Vice-
Chancellor, his honour decreed that he had com-
pletely cleared his character, but directed an ac-
count to be taken. Proceedings, notwithstanding, were
still going on in the Court of Chancery, and he begged to
ask whether, under the circumstances, all proceedings
should not be stayed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the case referred
to was still under consideration, and he could not as a
servant of the Crown state what would be the advice he
should give it. His recommendation would be made known
in a few days, and the hon. member might depend it would
be framed so that justice would be dealt to all.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. S. BOOTH then moved that the house at its rising
adjourn until Friday next at half-past one.—Agreed to.
The house shortly afterwards adjourned.

TEA LICENCES. _According to a return published
yesterday the number of licenses to sell tea issued in the
United Kingdom in the year ending the 31st of I.lfArch
last, was 104,798 at 11s. Gid. the year, and 72,914 at
12s. Gd. the year. The total amount of revenue received
was £73,443 Os. 41.
The course of exchange at New York on London for bills
at so days' sight was on the last date about 1101 per cent.
At this rate there is a small profit On the importation
gold from the United btates.