The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-21 00:00:00

POSTAGE TO AMERICA.

Mr. BAXTER asked the Secretary to the Treasury if
t was true that the Government had already given notice

to the Government of the United States to terminate the
Postal Treaty between the two countries which had only
been in operation a few weeks ; and, if so, what were the
reasons for adopting so unusual a course ?
Mr. HUNT said the hon. member had been rightly

informed about the termination of the postal convention
with America. When the Post-office put it into operation
it was found it required revision, and in order that that
revision might take place, it was necessary to give notice
of its termination. Negociations were going on which he
had no doubt would terminate in an improved conven-
tion being agreed to.
BANKRUPTCY BILL.

—.—
Mr. MOFFATT asked the Attorney General when he
intended to bring in the Bankruptcy Bill.
The AT TORNEY-GENERAL could not state the precise
day the bill would be brought in, but it would be intro-
duced in the other house shortly. .
• THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

Mr. WHALLEY asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, with reference to the Abyssinian expedition, whether
the estimate of the probable expenditure, presented to the
house in November last, whoa the expedition was sauc-

tioued,- was likely to be exceeded? and, if so, whether he
was prepared to state to what extent, and what are the
circumstances which account for the Caine ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had
no reason to believe) that the estimates for the Abyssinian
expedition had been exceeded.

INDIA IRRIGATION.
Mr. SMOLLETT asked the Secretary of State for India
if, having failed to obtain the consent of the East India
Canal Company for the sale of their stock at par, he had
agreed to advance them money, and on what terms?
Sir S. NURTHCOTE said the company had two
branches of works, and had the proposals of the Govern-
ment been declined the Government offered to purchase
the branchupon which little money had been laid out, and
if that was agreed to, to advance them money to complete
their Orissa works. He hoped in a few days to be able to
make a definite communication to the house.

COAST DEFENCES.
Mr. O'BEIRNE asked the Secretary of State for War,
as he had informed the house that the experiments or-
dered to test the principles upon which the Plymouth
Breakwater aloft was now being constructed were not
to be under the control of the committee ap-
pointed to superintend the trials of the Malta and
Gibraltar shields, whether he would state under whose
supervision the proposed experiments were to be con-
ducted, and by whom the results were to be reported to the
house ?

Sir J. PAKINGTON said he should have had no objec-
tion to refer the trial of the Plymouth shield to those who
had examined the Bermuda and Media shields, but one of
the Lords of the Admiralty, who had presided over the
experiments, not being able by his official duties to con-
tinue that post, it had become necessary to appoint some
other body to judge of the experiments. As the trial
would not take place for a month or six weeks, he could
not state at that moment what the composition of the body
would be, but it would most certainly be one in which
the greatest confidence might be placed.