The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-14 00:00:00

PROCESS OF REFINING SUGAR,

In reply to a question from Mr. THORNELY,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
had directed an investigation to be made by experienced
chemists into the alleged deleterious effects produced
upon sugar by the present mode of refining it; but
there appeared to be considerable doubt as to whether
the presence of white lead could be detected either in the
sugar or in the treacle. He thought, under these cir-
cumstances, the best course he could pursue was to
move that the reports and correspondence should be
printed, in which case the public would be enabled to
form an opinion on the subject.
A motion for the printing of the documents was then
put from the Chair, and agreed to.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER laid on
the table a return of the general heads of expense in
building the New Houses of Parliament.
MR. O'CONNOR AND MR. HAYTER.

Mr. F. O'CONNOR asked the Speaker whether or no,
if a Minister of the Government was appointed a chair-
man of a Select Committee it was Parliamentary, honest,
or fair, that that Minister should pay a witness in at-
tendance on the Committee his expenses out of his own
pocket?
The SPEAKER complained that the Hon. Member
had given shim no notice of his question.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought it was competent for a member of a Select
Committee to pay a witness summoned to give evidence
before that Committee his expenses if he thought proper.
Mr. HAYTER—The Hon. Member—the so-called
Hon. Member.—(Loud cries of " Order, order," in the
midst of which the Hon. Member resumed his seat.)
Mr. F. O'CONNOR, with much warmth, characterised
by certain strong epithets the source from whence the
Hon. Member (Mr. Hayter) derived his information, and
was loudly called to order.
The matter then dropped.
INCOME-TAX PAID BY RAILWAY
COMPANIES.

Mr. LOCKE moved. fora return showing the amount
of income-tax paid by railway companies in England,
for the year ending the 31st day of December, 1849;
a similar return for Scotland ; and a return of the pas-
senger-tax paid by each railway company for the year
ending as aforesaid (for England and Scotland).
Agreed to.
EDUCATION (SCOTLAND).
Viscount MELGUND moved an address for return of
all sums granted, under the authority of the Committee
of Privy Council for educational purposes, in each county
in Scotland, for each of the years 1847, 1848, and 1849,
stating the names of the places in which the schools re-
ceiving aid are situated, and the religious body with
which each school is connected; and distinguishing the
parochial schools from other schools connected with the
Established Church.—Agreed to.
FOREIGN TARIFFS.

Mr. NEWDEGATE called the attention of the
House to a report, entitled Foreign Tariffs, presented
this session •.(No, 570), and pointed out a number of
changes adverse to this country, which had taken place
in the tariffs of foreign countries, and which were not to
be found in the report in question.
Mr. LABOUCHERE entirely concurred in the object
the Hon. Gentleman had in view. It certainly was most
desirous that the House and the country should have
as complete and accurate information as pos,ible with
regard to the tariffs of foreign countries, and the changes
that were made in them from time to time. With
respect to the return which the Honourable Gentleman
spoke of, the course which the Board of Trade pursued
in reference to it was this:—They requested the Fo-
reign-office to send a circular to all our Ministers and
Consuls abroad, asking them to furnish the information
required by the return. The information which they
supplied was laid upon the table as it arrived ;
but whether the inaccuracies existed as pointed
out by the Honourable Gentleman, of course
it was impossible fcr him to say. Both the Fo-
reign and Colonial Offices, however, had written to all
our representatives abroad requesting them to continue
to supply this information, or the changes that were
made from time to time. in former tariffs, and he
hoped. when all the accounts had been received
the Government would have the means of
affording full and correct information upon the subject
of foreign tariffs. The Hon. Gentleman asked him
whether or no he was ready to agree to a motion which
he was disposed to make, that each foreign tariff
as it arrived should be printed and submitted
to the House.—(Hear, hear.) Now he hoped the
Honourable Gentleman would not make that motion. He
could assure him that the Board of Trade would not
lose sight of the subject, and thus it would be their
constant desire to supply the House and the coun-
try with the information in the most coLvenieut
form, but he was not quite sure that all
the tariffs could be printed without incurring enormous
expense. Before next session, however, he would con-
sider what would be the most convenient form fur lay-
ing them on the table of the House.

-Mr. NE WDEGATE thanked the Right Hon. Gentle-
man for having in substance acceded to his request, and
he would only add that, in the event of the tariffs not be-
ing laid on the table, they would be placed, if not in the
library of the House, at least in the offices of some de-
partraeat of the Government, where the House could
have free and easy access to them.
The subject then dropped.
THE ROYAL ASSENT.

After a papa of more than half an hour, there being
no other business before the House,

The Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the
blr, and having advanced to the table, summoned the
House to attend the House of Peers to hear the Royal
Assent given by commission to several Bills which bad
passed both Houses.

The SPEAKER then left the house followed by the
whole of the Members who were present.
On his return he real the titles of the Bills to which
the Royal assent had besn given (for which see Lords'
report).

A Message was brought up from the Lords, stating
that the►r Lnrdships had aree 1 to the Security fur Ad-
vances (Ireland) act Amendment Bill, and several other
Bills without any amendment.

Colonel SIB CIIORP gave notice that early next ses-
sion he would call the attention of the Huuse to the in-
definite periods at which the House had commenced its
sittings during the present sessibt.
The House then adjourned until Half•past One to-
morrow (Thursday).