The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-08 00:00:00

cussions.

In the House of Commons the morning sitting
was devoted to the Public Schools Bill, and five
hours were taken up by the discussions of the com-
mittee. Mr. AYRTON engaged himself in another
criticism on the inefficiency of our Public Schools,
in general, but he did not seem to meet with favour,
for a proposition he made was not supported, and a
clause he moved to provide for the admission of old
boys to the great public schools was rejected by a
majority of 56. Mr. LOWE withdrew his clause, to
the effect that the boys admitted at these schools
should be annually examined by one of the Privy
Council inspectors, and at first sight this seems ad-
visable, but it was objected that to do so would be
displeasing to the schools, and if not satisfactory the
Government could do nothing. In the evening sit-
ting some remarks were made on the Metropolitan
Foreign Cattle Market Bill. After it had been
said that the Government did not care for the bill
being passed, Mr. DISRAELI spoke very strongly,
and declared that he would prolong the session in
order to pass it. There was a good deal of truth
in the remarks of Colonel NORTH, that the Opposi-
tion were in fault by their system of talking out
the measure. The Premier has wisely ceded to
give an evening sitting to the discussion of the bill,
since the mornings already devoted to the purpose
have passed so unsatisfactory. Some other measures
were discussed, and Mr. Lo WE said that there was not
sufficient room in the British Museum, and Mr.
SCLATER-BOOTH gave some explanations on the
postal arrangements, which were satisfactory. The
House of Commons was certainly more cool and
collected yesterday than the_" other place" can be
said to have been, and but for the episode of the
Cattle Bill its proceedings would have been very
quiet. On the whole, the work of the session is
progressing favourably, and there is every prospect
of it speedily terminating after having transacted
all business that is absolutely necessary.

We are not surprised that the motion brought
forward by Lord STRA.TIIEDEN, on Monday night,
in the House of Lords, should have produced a
long debate. The Confederation of the British 1
North American Provinces is a matter of such im-
portance that it would ill become the English Par-
liament to slight or set aside any communications
concerning it. It is only comparatively of late
years that the public has at all begun to appreciate
the extent and the value of the British
possessions on the American continent. The
wealth of the vast tracts of land which are
nominally under British rule is as yet un-
developed, but there is good reason to believe
that the natural resources of the country, cereal,
mineral, animal, and maritime, are in the highest
degree important. Canadian timber, or " lumber"
as it is termed, is well known in American markets,
and British Columbia has taught us that veritable
gold lies hidden in parts of the richly favoured soil.
There can be no doubt that many of the rich tracts
of land yet uncultivated in various parts would
supply almost measureless wealth to the agriculturist
both in crops and pasture, and Hudson's Bay Com-
pany has proved that even the waste districts have
their natural wealth in furs. if we look in another
direction we find Nova Scotia and Newfoundland
possessing a fishing trade of great value, and their
hardy seafaring populations only require to be re-