The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-13 00:00:00

UNIVERSAL PEACE SOCIETY.

Mr. HINDLEY presented a petition from the
members of the Universal Peace Society, in which
they stated they regretted to hear that a statement
was male in her Majesty's Speech advising an in-
crease in the naval force of the country. They
thought it unnecessary, and, instead of an augmenta-
tion, a reduction ought to take place. The practice
of war they believed was contrary to the spirit of
Christianity, and entirely unnecessary. They desired
the Government to appeal to reason, and use the
power of arbitration, in order to settle any dispute
that might arise between this country and foreign
nations. The Hon. Member said he heartily con-
curred in the prayer of the petition.
APOTHECARIES' ACT. _

Mr. HASTIE presented a petition from the sur-
geons of Scotland, praying the House to abolish the
Apothecaries' Act.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
Mr. WALLACE gave notice that, on the 25th
inst., he would cal the attention of the House to the
report of the Commissioners appointed last year to
inquire into the frauds committed in the port of
London.

PRIVILEGE.
The Sergeant-at-Arms appeared at the bar of the
House, and stated that an action of trespass having
been commenced against him on the 19th of
January in the prev4idp year, by a Mr. Thomas
lloward, he had nclll, to state that a declara-
tion disclosing the cause of action was filed
against him on the 23d of December, 1844. Under
the advice of the law-officers of the Crown an appli-
cation was made to a judge in chambers on the 24th
of December, 1844, and two months further time to
plead obtained.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that, in con-
sequence of the information that had been received
from the Sergeant-at-Arms, he thought it would he
better to pursue the course that had been pursued in
1843. when a similar communication was made. He
should propose to have the paper printed with the
votes, and he we uld now give notice of a motion on
the subject of those proceedings for to-morrow.
DORCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON RAIL-
WAY.

On the motion that the House resolve itself into a
Committee of Supply,
Captain HARRIS said that he wished to address a
few words to the House on a subject which reflected on
himself and a noble relative of his in the other House
(the Earl of Malmesbury) with regard to the Dorches-
ter and Southampton Railway. Certain rumours had
gone abroad that his noble relative hail influenced
the Board of Trade with regard to this line, and that
rumour had been strengthened by what had fallen
from the Hon. Member for Dorsetshire. He did not
believe that the Board of Trade could be influenced
in their decisions by any person ; and he would not
have said a word on the subject were it not for what
had been said in the House with respect to it. The
company who undertook the formation of the
railway between Dorchester and Southampton
communicated with his noble relative and him-
self on the subject, and they both saw
the great importance it would be both in a
local and national point of view ; it would place the
defences of the country along the coast on a more
secure footing, for, in case of invasion, cavalry could
be conveyed with the greatest expedition, and the
disembarkation of hostile troops at any point along
the line could best be prevented by cavalry. On
public grounds, therefore, as well as on private ones,
they supported the line. A meeting was held on the
sultject in the month of May, at which his noble re-
lative and himself attended, when subscriptions were
raised to defray the engineering expenses. A
second meeting was held at Dorchester in July.
Certain resolutions were agreed to, and it was laid
down as the rule that every member should take
shares to the value of 5001. Several meetings were
held in the autumn, and his noble relative having
obtained an interview with Lord Dalhousie, the latter
declined to come to any decision at that time, stating
that he must be guided entirely by the public service.
He had said so much both to vindicate himself and
his noble relative, as he bad ever found that the
House was ready to listen w;th indulgence on such
subject's a- these.—(Bear, hear )