The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-10 00:00:00

ADDRESS TO TIIE QUEEN.

Mr. DISR!ELI rose to move an address of congratula-
tion to her Majesty on the occasion of the birth of a princess.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales lived so much among the people that
everything that took place within their family circle
was the subject of the greatest interest to the public at
large. He was sure he but anticipated the feeling of the
house in saying that anything that gave additional happi-
ness to the Royal Family was a subject of joy to the whole
of her Majesty's loyal and devoted subjects.

Dir. GLAD§I9NE had great plearire iu weadirig the

motion. He could not but express his gratification that a
fresh joy had been vouchsafed to one whose purity and
lofty station, as well as her gracious manner, endeared her
to the love of the people.

The motion was then put from the chair, and carried
nem. con.

MESSAGE PROM THE QUEEN-PENSION TO
SIR R. NAPIER.

Mr. DISRAELI brought up a message from the Queen
under her sign manual.

On the message being read by the SPEAKER, it was to
the effect that her Majesty, wishing to mark her esti-
mation of the bravery displayed by Sir R. Napier, late
the commander-in-chief of the forces in Abyssinia, asked
tho house to make provision for her granting to General
Sir R. Napier and his next male issuo a pension of £2,000
per annum.

Mr. DISRAELI said to-ram-row ha should mova that
her Majosty's most gracious massage b.: taken iota con-
sideration.

THE CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT.

Mr. DISRAELI having referred to the decision come to
the otter evening in committee with resp2ct to this Lill,
said it still appeared possible, he thought, to legislate cn
this subject during the prosaut s.lss'on, and that tso iu
conformity with the resolution of the committee.
(clear, hear.) After the fullest consideration li
Majesty's Government proposed to insert provisions in the
bill calling upon the judges of each of tho three courts of
common law at Michaelmas term to form a rota, when one
of the judges would be selected to try election petitions—
(hear, hear) —and each of the judges performing such
duty should receive the sum of five hundred pounds,
such sum not to be taken into consideration when the
question of pensions should be considered. They pro-
posed that the three chiefs of each of the courts should be
exempted from such service, and also that three additional
puisne judges should be appointed who should assist in
the Divorce or either of the other courts. As the whole
matter was an experiment, the bill would also state that
no vacancy that might arise in the judgeships should be
filled up without Parliament being consulted. Ho hoped
to be allowed to proceed with the consideration of the bill,
if agreeable to the house, at a morning sitting to-morrow.
(Hear, hear.)
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE (SCOT-
LAND) BILL.

The house then proceeded to take into consideration the
Lords' amendments to this bill.
Mr. M'LAREN called attention to the fact that vari-
ous parties who had the right to vote at elections were
by the bill prevented from being placed on the rate-
book until next year. As that was an injustice, he moved
an amendment, by which the right to vote at the next
election should be irrespective of rating.
The LORD-ADVOCATE opposed the amendment, and
the house divided, when there appeared—

For the amendment .. 124
Against it
Majority -20
The other amendments having been considered the bill
was returned to the House of Peers.

The customary discussion arose on the motion for going
into committee of supply. The topics raised were of a
purely military character, the gentlemen who participated
in the talk belonged almost exclusively to that branch of
the service, and the attendance for some hours varied only
from 20 to 30 members. At length the house got into com-
mittee on the Army Estimates.

Major ANSON moved to reduce the vote for military
store departments by the sum of £13,442, the amount re-
quired for new machinery. He supported his proposition
by his often advanced argument in favour of employing
private firms.

The motion was strongly opposed by Sir J. Pakington,
and upon a division it was negatived by 100 to 31.
The vote was then agreed to, as also were the sums for
military education, Ordnance survey, administration of the
army, rewards for distinguished service, and pay to gene-
ral officers. At 25 minutes to 1 progress was reported, and
the house resumed.

The remaining orders of the day were disposed of, and
the house adjourned.

11IE ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.

The British Medical Journal describes this week
the interior arrangements of this hospital. There
are only four wards in use ; the walls of rough
limewashed brick ; the furniture scanty and broken ;
much of the linen torn and tattered ; the accommo-
dation for the head nurses very bad ; the under-
nurses bivouacking behind screens in one of the
large empty wards. In most of the details there
are apparent negligence, untidiness, and want of
order and comfort. The matron and steward are
mother and son. They consider it no part of their
duty to visit the wards. The latter was unaware
that in the accident ward the patients who are able
to sit and move about have no table, but sit on
their lockers and dine off their beds. The
matron rarely goes into the wards, or
supervises them ; but, if anything is wanted,
the nurses come to her. The steward, her
son, was till lately 4‘ in the building trade."
'Thy butcher's bill for 85 patients is as high as that
of other hospitals for double the number. There
is no system of contracts and estimates. There is
a drug committee for the dispensary, alai no inde-
pendent check upon the prices and qualities. One
sub-committee of investigation lately recommended
that " the powders given to patients should be dis-
pensed separately, and not en bloc ;" and that esti-
mates and contracts should be obtained for drugs.
The report containing these mild suggestions was
rejected. The operating-room is a very big, very
bare room, without water laid on, or any proper
stock of instruments or ordinary conveniences.
The times and mode of consultation, visitation,
and operation, are irregular and unsatisfactory.
This is mainly attributable to the fact that
the board have not authorised the formation of a
medical committee. The staff have had to buy for
the patients such things as extra bread and milk,
owing to the unsatisfactory dietary arrangements.
Although the patients are, by the theory of the hos-
pital, supposed to be " homeless and destitute," they
are compelled to buy for themselves tea, sugar, and
butter. The surgical appliances are scanty and in-
sufficient ; and it is altogether astonishing by what
extremity of mismanagement so large a sum can
possibly be spent on so small a number of beds, so
ill-found, and on an establishment bearing about it
such unseemly marks of poverty and neglect. The
reporters of the British Medical Journal forbear
making any comments upon the supposed duties
of the gentleman called " general superintendent,"
because, since they have commenced their labours,
he has resigned."

RAILWAY _INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

The gross traffic receipts on this company's lines
for the four weeks ending 20th June amounted to
£116,641, from which was deducted £2,925, the
cost of collecting and delivering, goods, &c., leav-
ing £113,716. To this was added £3,062 for rents
and sundries, and £4,731 for steam packet service ;
total, £121,509. The expenditure, including rates,
taxes, tolls, Government duty, and expenses of
steam-packet service, amounted to £51,619, leav-
ing the net receipts £69,890. The total receipts
for the 20 weeks and one day ending as above
amounted to £518,401, and the expenditure to
£260,911, leaving the net receipts £257,490.