The Press. — London, England, 1857-03-21 00:00:00

270 Now, what has been done before may be done amin ; and with the advantages of the improved machinery, skill, and knowledge of the present day, and with ready access to a railroad, a shipping place, and with as smart and industrious a manager as I served under, it will, I think, be tolerably evident to the uninitiated that so far as pecuniary profit is con• earned there can be no doubt of the great advantage t) be derived from steady and commendable slave labour, over the irregular and desultory free labour to be obtained within the tropics, despite the asser tions to the contrary of non-practical men of the Russell and Grey school.—Yours, sir, Feb., 1857. AN 01.1) JAMAICA PLANTER. Vrottebings in prlianicnt. HOUSE OF CONI NIONS.—SATURDAY. The H o use of Commons held an exceptional sitting at one o'clock on Saturday last. A bill founded upon the recent resolution of the house, granting a retiring pension of 4,0001. per annum to the Speaker, was brought in and read a first time. On the motion for the second reading of the Mutiny Bill, Mr. F. PEEL, replying to Mr. Henley, stated that the bill had been so modified as to abrogate the prac tice, heretofore the source of so many complaints, of billeting soldiers upon private houses in Scotland. The bill was then read a second time; as was also the Marine Mntiny Bill. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to appeals from Mr. Sotheron Esteourt and Mr. H. Herbert, promised, if the opportunity were afforded him, to reintroduce next session the Savings-banks Bill, which had been withdrawn in consequence of the approaching dissolution. The Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill was brought in and read a first time. HOUSE OF LORDS.—MosnAY. TflE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. The Earl of DERBY, in accordance with the notice he had given, called attention to the circumstances under which her Majesty's Government had resolved upon a dissolution of Parliament. The noble earl sketched the course of legislation as far as the session has hitherto proceeded, and expressed his hope th at the new Parliament would apply itself at once to the consideration of the financial condition of the country. It appeared to him that, in 1860, there would be a deficiency of six and a half This formidable deficit required the exercise of the most vigilant economy. The noble earl then pro. ceeded at length to refer to questions of foreign policy, more especially the Persian and Chinese wars, which he condemned in no measured terms, and having reviewed the position of the country with reference to other European States, said that, if the noble lord at the head of the Government would enter upon a course of enlightened policy abroad and social improvement at home, he should have the support of the much abused and vilified Conserva tive party; but that if, on the contrary, lie adopted a course of innovation, that great party would step forward to arrest his downward progress. For the rest we must refer our readers to the Supplement, wh« re the eloquent speech of the noble earl is given at length. The noble earl spoko for rather more than two hours. and. was loudly cheered when lie resume .1 his seat. Earl GRANVILLE vindicated the policy of the Govern ment. lie admitted it was "an unfortunate contin gency " that her Majesty's Government required the support of the Conservative party to resist Mr. Locke King's motion ; but with regard to the electoral and other questions, her Majesty's Govern went had pledged themselves to " progressive improvement." Lord Granville then referred to our foreign relations, and congratulated the country upon the firm and friendly nature of the alliance with France : Then, with regard to Austria, our relations with that power were of the most friendly character; and though the Government claimed no merit on that account, it was nevertheless an agreeable coincidence that, while our re- Ivions with Austria were thus improving, the Emperor of Austria should be engaged in inaugurating a more liberal system of government in his Italian dominions. L )rd Granville then justified the interferenco with N tples, and the Persian and Chinese wars, and, co ning to the question of the " factious coalition," s►d.— In the very first week of the sessicn the leader of the Opposition and Mr. Gladstone were found in most friendly co•operation, though ➢lr. Gladstone said he could not help it if the Conservatives came to him and adopted his financial plans, and that he could not refuse their support. But this " monstrous calumny " about combination ur co operation. was not, entirely confined to the Liberal party. The artick which appeared in THE. Parss—the noble earl shakes his head. I know nothing about it, and can say .THE PRESS. nothing about it. [The Earl of Derby was understood to say that ho also knew nothing about it.] I acquit the noble earl of any connection with Tip: PaEss; bat THE PRESS, whether rightly or wrongly, does owe its circulation prin• cipally to the circumstance that it is supposed to be the organ of the party opposite, and to receive very important and semi•otficial communications from them. Well, iu THE PRESS there appeared a short time since what pur- ported to be a report of a speech made by the noble earl opposite. The noble earl here read extracts from the article published in the first edition of THE PRESS of Feb. 29tb, and also Lord Derby's denial of the autbenti city of the same report on the Monday following : Tae l'itEss, acknowledging that it was in error in kitting that the meeting took place at Lord Derby's house, pointed out that the only other inaccuracy was the statement that the noble earl said he had had no commu nications with Mr. Gladstone, whereas what he said was that be had no compact or understanding with Mr. Glad stone, though there had been political converations between them. (Hear.) I ant quite ready to accept the noble earl's declaration ; but when the public bear rumours, however unfounded, of the noble earl being in a room with Mr. Gladstone, or with a friend of that gentleman, in the House of Commons, they must have a confused nation that there is, if not combination, or concert, or coalition, still something passing, particularly when they see that the interview is tollowed by a decided vote, which puts the Government in a decided minority. The Earl of Dmitiv: Did the noble earl advert to some conversation in a room in the House of Commons? Earl GRANVILLE: I said there were rumours of that kind, to which I attached no importance whatever. The Earl of DERBY: There is not the slightest fouoda• tion for them. Earl GIut:N.II.LE : With regard to combinations, there might be combination which upon occasions might be ho. nourable to all parties concerned and useful in their ten. doncy,and I must take this opportunity of saying,with respect to a large portion of members who voted recently against the Government in the other house (not referring now to Conservative memben, who had a perfect right to vote on any party question against the Government, but to some of the most diatinglished members who adorn the House of Commons), that we—and I now speak not only for myself, but for my colleagues and the noble lord at the head of the Oovernmeut—entirely repudiate the notion that the great portion were actuated by other titan the highest and most conscientious motives. (Hear, hear.) We think, and the country, I believe, also think, that they misjudged the question ; but we should regret that honourable men, who gave a disinterested support to the Government during the war and subsequently, should be visitel with penalties too heavy for a single vote. (Hear.) In conclusion Lord Granville said that, with regard to the Government having no policy on which to appeal to the country, he .thought the question of whether the electors were willing to support the present Government was stifficient, and he believed that its result would be triumphant to Lord Pal merston's Administration. The Earl of MALSIESBURY added his denial to what had been already stated with regard to an asserted coalition or combination of parties to bring about the adverse vote in the House of Commons. The Earl of HARDWICKE expressed his deep indig nation at the general tone in which Lord Derby's explanation had been noticed by Lord Granville. It was, he thought, neither courteous nor even honourable so to act in the face of Lord Derby's solemn denial of any coalition with any party. —The bill was then read a second time. HOUSE OF CoMNIONS.—MONDAT. The Speaker's Retirement Bill. the Exclicquer bills Bill, and the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill were read a second time. The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill passed through committee. THE NAWAB OF SURAT BILL. Sir E. PERRY moved for a copy of correspondence between Mir Jafer Ali Khan and the Court of Directors, and between the same and the President, of the Board of Control, respecting the property of the late Nawab of Surat, and asked Mr. V. Smith what were the intentions of Government relating thereto. Sir F. KELLY urged that the act passed by the Indian Legislature in this matter had set aside the prerogative of the Crown and was therefore void in law. Mr. V. SMITH did not object to the production of the correspondence, and explained that ►t had already been decided by the Privy Council that no appeal would lie, but an opinion had been expressed that the Crown might direct a reference. The course which he had pursued in respect to such a reference was the only course open to him. As to the Act of the Indian Legislature of ls-18, which had been in force for ten years, if it was really invalid, recourse should be had to a court of justice in England or in India. It was open for the party claiming to contest the act in that manner, and lie thought that, under the circumstances, he (Mr. Smith) could not pro ceed further in the case. The motion was agreed to. SATURDAY,. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY. CRIMINAL BREACHES OF TRUST. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in reply to Lord St. Leon ards, stated that it was his intention to bring in a bill next session on the subject of criminal breaches of trust. CHINA. Lord HARDWICICE preQsed for the proluction of the depatches recently received from China, and wished to know whether there was any truth in the report of our defeat by the Chinese. Lord GR - INVILLE promised that the despatches should be forthcoming,—and denied the reports of our defeat. Earl GREY said it was idle to wage war without adequate forces against, an immense population like the Chinese, acquainted as they were with the use of gunpowder. The noble earl charged Sir John Bow ling with having disobeyed the instructions of suc cessive Secretaries of State, by which he would have been precluded from undertaking any warlike opera tions in China without the sanction of the Home Government. The Earl of DEnnY said that the entire responsi bility of the war must rest upon Sir John Bowring. He had repeatedly asserted that the only objection to his entering the city was on the part of the man darins, and that the Chinese population had no ob jection to it. If that were so at the commencement of these proceedings, there was the more reason to complain of his conduct in having converted a popu lation who were friendly into the most bitter and resentful enemies that this country ever had. Those were the charges against Sir J. Bowring ; and without considering the means at his disposal, and miscalculating the opposition ho was likely to meet with, and of which the admiral could know nothing, he had taken upon himself the responsibility of disobeying his positive instructions, and had plunged the country into a war the eud and cost of which no man could foretel. Lord PANMURE defended the conduct of Sir John Bowring, and stated that he had not acted without the full concurrence of the British Consul and the . British admiral, who were equally responsible with him. There was no reason to apprehend a national war in China, as the Government were informed by a private note front Admiral Seymour that the Emperor of China had instructed his subjects at the four other ports open to British commerce not to interfere with or molest her Majesty's subjects. The question, a little later in the evening, was re newed by Lord CLANItICARDE, who inquired as to the rate of pay which the troops sent to China were t' receive, and whether Indian camp followers were to be attached to them. Lord PAsmunE explained that the troops sent from this country could not receive the pay and allowances granted to troops serving in the East Indies, but that upon arrival at Hong Kong they would receive a certain colonial allowance usually granted to troops in that colony. The officers would receive a six months' field allowance. A certain number of camp followers would be furnished by the Indian Govern ment and attached to the several regiments. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH explained the uses of camp followers, and suggested that the troops should not be over-fed. He ventured also to represent the unusual expense officers leaving this country would be put to, and suggested that something beyond their ordinary indulgence should be granted to them. He then passed on to deplore French co-operation with the British arms in China. There was no pre tence for such intervention. In conclusion, Lord Ellenborough declared that much time might be saved by employing the troops set free by the Persian treaty, instead of those about to be sent. from England. The matter then dropped. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TuEsnyt. THE SOUND DUES. Her Majesty the Queen's favourable reply to Ifitf aildress of the house with regard to the servicel+ of Sir John APl'sleill and Colonel Tulloch having been brought up by Viscount Castlerosse, Mr. BRAMLEY MOORE rose to call attention to the question of the Sound dues, and asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a treaty had been signed to capi talise those dues and indemnify Denmark for giving up her reputed rights, and it it was the intention of her Majesty'.{ Government that such treaty should be acted upon before Parliament votes the money. The CHANCELLOR of the EXcHEQUER said the negc tiations which had been carried on by the principal States of Europe for the redemption of these dies (which were detrimental to the trade of this countr), not only on account of the sums levied, but of the delay and the additional charges thereby incurred) had terminated on the 14th of this month in two treaties, signed at Copenhagen,—one between Den mark, on the one part, and Russia, Prussia, France, Great Britain, and other States, on the other, con taining general stipulations ; the second was a separate treaty between Great Britain and Denmark.,