The Sun. — London, England, 1860-03-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY•) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack lit the usual hour. NEW PEER. The Earl of DEVON (late Lord Courtenay) took the oaths lind his seat. Petitions were presented against the abolition of church sates by the Earl of Derby, L or d Chelmsford, and seve rs' other peers. THE BALLOT. Lord TEYNHAM presented a petition from Torquay in favour of vote by ballot. PRIVATE BUSINESS. d : The following biPs were read a third time and passe the Commercial Dock Acts Amendment, a nd the Sheffield Cutlers' Company Bill. SAVOY AND NICE. Lord WODEHOUSE laid on the table the papers rela tive to Savoy and Nfee. ALTERATION OF THE LITURGY. a Vi scoun t DUNGANNON presented a petitionagainst any alteration in the Liturgy from some of the clergy in the county of Durham. The petition was ordered to lie on the table. THE YEOMANRY. Earl POWIS begged to ask the noble earl the Under -Secretary for War whether the Government intended to assemble the yeomanry either for permanent duty, or for training, or for' exercise during the present year, Earl DE GREY and RIPON said it.was plain, from the estimates on the table of the other house, that it a-as not he intention of the Government to call out the yeomanry, ither for duty or training, during the present year. There was no feeng of enmity with respect to the yeomanry. wo years h ago the yeomanry were not calk I out, and the anzie steps that were adopted on that occasion would be followed at the present moment. The force on that occasion did not deteriorate, and he had no reason to expect that would take place after the present decision. The sole reason for not calling the yeomanry out was a desire to keep down the army estimates. The Earl of CORK felt great pleasure in hearing the assurance just given by the noble earl that there was no feeling of enmity towards the yeomanry. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl had stated that the yeomanry was in a state of efficiency, but he thought the present decision was not the way to keep it in the same state. The arms the Govern ment put in the hands of the yeomanry were of the worst description, snd it was only after great persuasion that the force consented to use them. As to kiting a mark with them that was quite impossible. The Earl of MALMESBURY and the Earl of DARNLEY both expressed their regret that the yeomanry was ' ot to be called out during the present year. The subject then dropped. PROBATE AND BILL ADMINISTRATION (JURORS) . This bill was read a third time and passed. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.) The SPEAICER took the chair at four o'clock. PETITIONS Several petitions were presented in favour of and against the treaty with France; against the Highways Bill; from 10,000 inhabitants of Edinburgh against the Lord Advo cate's Annuity Tax Bill; against the system proposed for licensing eating-houses, &c. CORONERS' INQUESTS. Mr. FENWICE. moved an address for returns from the clerks of peace for the number of inquests held in each county of England and Wales ;n each of the several years beginning the 29th day of September, 1849, and ending the 29th day of September, 1859 ; of the number of inquests in which the coroners' fees had been disallowed in each of the said years ;of the amount paid for coroners' in q uests in each of the said years ; and, like return from cities and boroughs having a separate court of quarter sessiors of the peace,—Ordered. SAVOY AND NICE. Lord J. RUSSELL brought up papers by command of her Majesty containing the correspondence respecting the proposed annexation of Savoy and Nice to France. (Hear.) Sir H. VERNEY wished to ask the noble lord whether he had any information to communicate upon this subject. He wished to know whether the Emperor of the French did intend either by force or intrigue to obtain possession of Savoy and Nice, or whether he intended to submit the ques tion to the four great Powers, and if so, whether the fact of one or more of them dissenting from Fs view would prevent him carrying out his object ? (Hear.) Mr. B, COCHRANE said before the noble lord answered the question he wished to ask him whether he was prepared to fix a day for the discussion of the subject refereed to in those papers ? (Hear, hear.) Sir 3. WALSH remarked that, before the noble lord replied to those questions, he wished to ask whether he had any information to communicate as to the existence of any treaty or arrangement between Sardinia and France in re spect to the proposed annexation? (Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL—I think the best course for me to pursue will be that of moving the adjournment of the house until Monday. And in making that motion, I will take the opportunity of replying 'to the questions that have been put to me. With respect to the last question asked me, as to whether there existed any treaty between France and Sar dinia in relation to the annexation of Savoy, I can only say that I have no knowledge of any such treaty, nor do I be lieve in the existence of any such treaty. (Hear, hear.) I stated on a former occasion that the Emperor of the French had said—and that fact will appear by the papers just pro duced—that he will not take any steps towards the annexe tionof Savoy without consulting the great powers of Europe. I think it will be as well that I should read what the Em peror himself has said in his speech, because we have no other knowledge than a telegram, and the Emperor of course must be the best interpreter of his own views on the subject; He first speaks of the contingency of Piedmont becoming a great country, and that it contains now 9,000,000 inhabi tants. " Having in view this transformation of Northern Italy, which gives to a powerful state all the passes of the Alps, it was my duty, for the safety of our frontiers, to claim the French side of the mountains. In this reclamation of a territory of small extent there is nothing to alarm Eu rope, or to belie the disinterested policy which I have more than once proclaimed. France, however, will not acquire this aggrandisement, small as it is, either by a military occupation, or by exciting an insurrection, or by secret in trigues, but in frankly stating the question to the great Powers. Their equity will doubtless induce them to recog nise, as France would certainly do with regard to them in the like circumstances, that the important territorial change which is about to take place gives us the right to a guaran tee indicated by nature itself." Now, what I understand, and what appears by the correspondence that has taken place on this subject, is that it is the opinion of the Empe ror's Government, and it appears to be the opinion certainly of a great portion of the French people, that the creation of a State in Northern and Central Italy, with a popula tion of 9,000,000, or even of 11,000,000 or' 12,000,000 of souls, is a change for the worse for France ; that, instead of having a small State on the frontiers towards the Alps, she would have a considerable State. In case of war, supposing that Sardinia' had combined with another power, she would have the means of placing considerable armaments on the frontiers, and of invading France by the side of Savoy as well as by the side of Nice ; that, in con sequence of France having contributed by her arms in the war of last year in Italy to make the situation, which situa tion, the French contend, would be worse for themselves — that under such circumstances it is but fair and equitable to ask for a more secure frontier on this sidethe Alps. This I believe I stated in substance upon a former occasion. But it appears that, upon entering into a conversation on the subject at Paris, the Emperor declared that he did not mean to enter upon such-annexation without consulting the great Powers of Europe. My hon. friend now asks me whether, or by what means, the Emperor will proceed to effect this annexation in the event of any or all of the great Powers disapproving of such a step. It is obvious that I cannot precisely answer that question. I cannot gobeyond what the Emperor and his Government have declared— namely, that they would not persist in this course of annexa tion without consulting the. great Powers cf Europe. But I should infer myself, without the authority, of course, of the French Government, that if that opinion was general and unanimous among the great Powers of Europe, that France did not require that annexation for her security, and that such annexation would occasion alarm and disquietude to other Powers—if that were, I say, the unanimous opinion of the great Powers, I should infer that the Emperor would not proceed to such annexation. (Hear, hear.) At all events, it is declared that it is a matter which will be discussed by the great Powers of Europe, that France is not going—as some hon. gentlemen seemed to suppose— to establish a military occupation of Savoy; but to rely upon what she called the equitable consideration of the case by the great Powers of Europe. (Hear, hear.) I do not know that I can give the house any further infor mation on the subject. I can only repeat what I have said—that I understand, if the opinion is general on tha part of the great Powers against that annexation, That that annexation would not take place. If, on the contrary, it was declared by them that the proposition on the part of France was a fair one, then France would proceed to annex Savoy. With regard to the views of her Majesty's Go vernment on the subject, they are contained in the papers I have just laid upon the table. An hon. gentleman has asked me upon what day do I propose to take the discussion upon those papers. I can only say that it is not usual, un less Government has some measure to bring forward in con nection with it, to fix a day for mere discussion upon the subject. The hon. gentleman will not suppose that I shall i nvite a vote of censure upon the Government. (Hear, tad: laugh.) O n th e o th er hand, Ido not intend to ask vote of approbation. These papers will be distributed among members, and if the house should think it neces sary to bring them under discussion, any hon. member may propose such a motion if he thinks it necessary to name a day for that Purpo ( s i e rea i r t , hisei The noble lord concluded not fur us to fix any day for xuch discussion. by inoving that the h ouse at hear.) rising should adjourn to I MeAday. CAPTAIN AIT LI Sir F. BARING asked the fi NT t:lu e rd K Of the Treasury Government with regard to what were the intentions of the Gov rß e crew of the dis any reward to Captain M'Clintoek and covery ship, Fox ? The right hon. baronet said that the t question had not been suggested to him by loCk, or any of those gallant officers. He could e n at l ' l' v Ci tT e houso that the last thing which these distinguishiesdf oxyected would be any pecuniary reward for the great niseern vices they krad rendered. With regard to the expedition Nei,' there was no one in the kingdom, from the Queen t o the nvost humble of her subjects, who did not feel an in terest in. the results. He believed that this expedition was on every- ground entitled to the favourable consideration of the count ry. did not think that every person had a sbme promises held out by the U overi? right to put his hand in. the public purse, ro bu e t ut 'mere were wished to put forward in his present application. ff . An 1850 a proclamation was issued by the it x OO t o , ," tins re wards in three cases ; first, a reward of L 20,000 J any party etn.hteocfrethwesAofdmb:rralmtya, je sh ew ou) s a s d b i . stover and who, effoot in la li t the e ips Erebus and Terror • secondly, a reward of £10,0"00 to any person relieve dgm who should any of the crew of those sivips, or con vey such intelligence as should lead to the relic); f of such crew or any of them. There were, he need scarce ly say, no claimants for either of those rewards. Lastly, tt Lem was a reward of £lO,OOO to any party who, in the judge lent of the Admiralty, in virtue of their efforts, should firs' t succeed in ascertaining the fate of those crews. It was to the last he meant to call attention. Let him in the firs'. /lace remove any confusion which might exist in the minds of those who were unacquainted with the facts. With regard to the reward to Captain M'Clure the sum of money granted to him had not been granted under any of the conditions of the- proclamation of 1850. It was for an altogelsher different matter; and after an investigation of Captain M‘Clure's claim by a committee of this house, it was given to him as being the first to discover the North-West passage, and had no reference whatever to the question he was about to bring them. In 1856, Dr. Rae made a claim for a reward, and the Admiralty gave him the £lO,OOO pro • raised under the third condition. lie did not blame in the least the Board of Admiralty for the liberal and generous view they had taken, but when they came to look at what had subsequently taken place—when they saw the disco very made by the gallant crew of the Fox, what they had done and how they had fulfilled to the letter every condi tion in the proclamation—he thought he might almost ar gue it as a claim—he would not say as a legal claim-Lat least that the good faith of this country was pledged that those brave men should not go unrewarded. He asked his noble mend to colder the claim in that generous spirit with which he felt sis`te the country would wish such a claim to be considered, for .I'4 d id not put it as a legel claim, as he bad already stated. C oa word as to what had been done a nd crew of the Fox. They had by the commander, officers', le of Eng landbeen trying to effect—they had btnlved for the peep done in a small ship that whjch this country had foryears anxiety ; ,and it was no small satisfaction to feel that that that question about which the yad been the deepe was the last time this subject was likely to come before that house. lie did not know what the feelings of any other hon. gentleman might be, but he knew that when he came to the conelusion of Capt. M'Clintoas's narrative—that aim ple and painful narrative—the last few pages struck him with deep pain. When he read the heavy enemies of the expedition, and when ho perceived upon whom those ex penses had fallen—(hear, hear)—he had no right i,•.`S use — in point of fact he believed it was against the wish of LaVIY Franklin in any shape to introduce the name ; but he did not think it was for Lady Franklin, but for the house to say, the expenses should not fall upon her, but upon the country. There was a celebrated monument of one of the best generals in the Austrian service who fell dyeing the seven years' war, who after the narrative of his services concluded with a few words which he should repeat to the house, " Non pat la, nen imperator sect conjux posuit.” (Cheers.) It was not the country that he had served, it was not the imperial master whose battles he had fought, but it was the widow who had raised the monument. Having spent so much money in searching for Sir John Fran'-'in and his companions, the country ought not to let the ex pense of the last mark of its respect for those gallant and distinguished men fall on Lady Franklin, but the country should claim it as its right to pay them. (Hear, and eheers.) He knew well that she had her reward, and if perchance, as he feared was the case, her exertions had weakened her means and diminished her comforts for the remainder of her life, everybody who knew her would feel that she would re joice in any sacrifice incurred in the noble task which it had been the great effort of . her life to accomplish. The house perhaps permit him to call to their minds who Sir John Franklin was. They knew him as a navigator of the Arctic regions. In early ltfe he was a gallant sailor, who had fought at Copenhagen, who had fought at Trafalgar, who had distinguished himself as a volunteer on board an East India ship in the celebrated defence of Capt. Dance in beating off a squadron. He subsequently served Ms country in a civil capacity, and when his services were afterwards required he did not shrink from giving them, though he was of an age and in a position which world have fairly entitled him not again to engage in laborious work—he did not shrink from facing those dangers whibh he knew so well, nor from meeting that death which he had found. Such men as those did honour to their country, they honoured it fully as much as those who fell in the battle-field and to whom a grateful country raised monuments in that place where the greatand the good were laid. (Cheers.) Ho died in the execution of his duty, obedient to the orders he had received, and at that very moment when he lead seen— he could not exactly say he had made the discovery of the north-west passage, if passage it could be called—what he had been sent out of the country to discover. In speaking of their chief, let him not forget the conduct of those who served under hits—of Crozier, Fitzjames, and many gal lant and younger officers, who if their lives had been spared would have been ornaments of the profession. The conduct of such men raised the character of England, and the cha racter of the flag under which they served. (Cheers.) Ho did not ask his noble Mend any specific question. He was anxious to leave the matter in his hands; and he knew no body in whose hands he would be more ready to leave a case of this kind, which required not more delicate discre tion than generous and gentlemanly feeling. He was ashamed of having so long trespassed on their attention, but the manner in which he had been received proved that he dealt with a subject in which the feerngs of the house were warmly interested. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WHITESIDE hoped the house would allow him to say a few words on the subject, in consequence of the inte rest he had taken in it, and of his personal friendship for the gallant commander of the Fox. In June, 1857, his right hon. friend, Mr. Napier, moved that the Government of the day should fit out anotheri Arctic expeditionto endeavour to discover what had been the fate of that brave sailor and his comrades. That motion was not resisted by the Government from any desire to oppose the wish of Lady Franklin, but, as it was truly expressed by the right hon. gentleinan then at the head of the Admiralty s because they believed it would be a fruitless enterprise, and that it would probably cost the sacrifice of life. After that motion some persons contributed to an expedition, but she greater part of the expenses of the last voyage were borne by Lady Franklin. Capt. M'Clintock did not undertake the command of the ship in a spirit of a rccklessadventurer, for he (Mr.Whitside) happened to know from a scientific gentleman that Capt. M'Cliutock had care fully and clearly studied the whole question, and believed that if he were enabled to reach the Polar regions he could discover what had become of Sir J. Franklin and his•com panions. He went in a ship the smallest by which such a voyage had ever been undertaken, and with a small crew. He sailed in July; in September his ship was embedded in the ice; they were not released until the April following, during which interval they had drifted 180 miles. The day they were releas4d, instead of returning to England, they only became the more determined to prosecute their enter prise and achieve the object of their voyage. He must say the simple narrative possessed almost a romantic interest, one of the most interesting and useful portions of it being the sledge travelling, and what could be accomplished by means of it. The mystery of Arctic voyages had been cleared up by 25 brave and gallant men, whose merits—he spoke this with all deference—were equal to any achievement on the battle field. There was the soldier's death or a joyful victory ; but here there were required more enduring- spirit, loftier reso lution, greater qualities of mind and body than in any other enterpr me. (Cheer..-.) He happened to know Capt. M'Clure, and to him he must say that the noble lord at the head of the Government behaved with the utmost generosity. (Hear.) He (Mr. Whiteside) had told Capt. M'Clure that there was no assembly in the world which was more ready to reward con spicuousmerit than the House of Commons. Lady Franklin had declined to accept auypecuniaryreward from the Government of this country—her hopes and wishes h id been that her husbond might be recognised as the true dis coverer of the North-West passage, as many men of science said he was. He was of opinion that a national monument, or some other such public recognition of the services of Sir" John Franklin would be just gore the country, but he was content to leave it to the generous nature of the noble viscount how that object might be best effected. It could not be in better hands ; and to the noble lord he (Mr. Whiteside) begged to return his sincere thanks for that mark of distinc tion already conferred on his friend and countryman, Cap tain M'Clinbock. (Loud cheers.), THE BRITISH MUSEUM. Mr. LOCKE asked the noble lord at the head of the Go vernment if it was in contemplation to remove the natural history collection from the British Museum; and if so, to what place it was proposed to remove it ? After a few words from Mr. CONINGHA3f, Lord PALMERSTON rose to reply to the several ques tions which had been put to him. Ho said—l will first answer the question put to me by the hon. gentleman op posite regarding the selection of designs for public offices. I have to say that no decision has yet been come to with regard to the designs best adapted for the purpose. When ever a selection shall be made the designs shall be submitted in the way in which the designs were last year, to members of the house, who will have an opportunity of seeing them. With regard to the question of my hon. ft:end who spoke lest but one, there have been two meetings of the trustees of the British Museum at which the question was consi dered whether the ea. ;sting buildings wer e sufficient in point of space to accommo d a t e no t on l y th e ex i s ti ng c ollection, tut the annually incrcasingnumber of these collections, and if not, whether it would be desirable to iacreaee the space by adding to the buildings of the British Museum, or whether it was better torez o va to some other place some portion of the collection in opi nion of the trustees was th a t it would British bMuseume bettert. o remove T he t portion of them to some other a building place where • lding could be obtained at a comparati ve l y go to the east of purchasing lanToderate expense than to the British Museum, in order to immediately adjoining erect upon it adequate buildings. They were further of opinion that if m any por tion of the collections were to be reoved th tory collection was that wh easilyich'was moste natural his and advan tageously removable. No decision has, however, yet been come to as to the spot to be chosen, but Government will ' further consider the matter and the best way of dealing with th e collection, the matter standing over for th e present, but the trustees have agreed at tbe meeting that the books and other articles of the kind shall remain where they are. An hon. member below the gangway has asked me whether I have received a memorial front certain Irish Catholic peers and commoners bearing on the arrangements now going forward in Italy, and respecting the temporal dorairions of the Pope. I beg to answer that I did receive a memorial being numerously and respectably signed, the object of which was to request the Government to encourage and concur in any arrangement which would tend to ma'ntain the integrity, independence, an d neutrality of the Papal dominions. The only answer I could give to that memorial was to acknowledge its receipt—(a laugh)—and state that we would take it into consideration. If we had gone into any answer, I sin afraid there are matters in that memorial in which my opinion is not exactly in accordance with the memorialists, and it appeared to me better not to enter into any explanations. It is well known that it , is the wish of her Majesty's Government to leave the Italians to settle. their own affairs, and that their Zona the Bt itish Government would not exert themselves in doing anything which should prevent the Italians from taking their own affairs into their own hands. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the point to which try right hon. friend has adverted, and which I am sure is a subject which engages the sympathy and attentjen not only of the house, but the whole country, it is impossible to speak too highly of the courage and de votion manifested by Sir Leopold M'Clintock and hisbrave companions in the expedition which they undertook in search ofthe remains of Sir J. Franklin. It is quite true, as stated by the right hon. and learned gentleman, that those services were not less honourable when performed in so distinguished a manner than those performed on the field of battle, and • that they manifested in as high a degree the qualities which adorned the soldier and the sailor, and upon no occasion were , those qualities mote honourably developed than by that brave man in his iseovery of, the remains of the Franklin • •' expedition. At the same time it is due to say that there were though they did not who, though not equally successful, where the Franklinnot in the same manner arrive at the spot rem • less display all th ose h igh ams were found, they did neverthes qualities which were manifested THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 3, 1864, by the last expedition. Those services must not be for gotten when we are acknowledging the services of those who were successful. It is said by the right hon. and learned gentleman that a motion was made in this house to induce the Government to send out, at the public expense, an ex pedition in search of the late it John Franklin. ,t.s (Hear.) I must carless I never acted more at variance with my own personal feelings—(hear, hear)—than when, from higher considerations, the Government declined to undertake that expedition at the public expense. At the same time we felt ' that it would not be justifiable in the Government to order or send out, at the public expense, men upon a search which appeared at_the time hopeless, and accompanied by dangers and such hardships as would not justify the Government in exposing men to. (Hear, hear.) I believe, Sir Leopold M'Clintock succeeded without any loss of life—or scarcely any, in accomplishing the object which that noble lady who senc him out had so long and frequently attempted. Now it was known that anybody who should ascertain the fate of the Franklin expedition, and bring any traces of the relics should receive a reward of £lO,OOO. The whole of that sum was awarded to Dr. Rae, and therefore there is not at present any sum applicable, which has been voted by Parliament, for the purpose of rewarding Sir Leopold M'Clintock and his brave companions. (Hear, hear.) . _At the same time I am ready to say, if it should be the opinion of Parliament, that this was a fitting occasion upon which to make any grant, over and above that which has been already sanctioned, within a moderate limit, that the Go vernment will not make any opposition or stand in the way of the generous feelings of the House of Commons. With respect to the other topic, undoubtedly it would be fitting that we should not follow the example of that monument to which my Tight hon. friend adverted—that it.should not be a monument recording that it was not the country— that it was not the sovereign, but the widow, who erected it to the memory of those noble end gallant men. It would be more fitting that there should be a record to show that the country, the sovereign, and the widow had all united to erect a memorial to commemorate the sell ices of the distinguished Sir J. Franklin. (Hear, hear.) The expense of such a monument would net, I think, be considerable in comparison with the gratification which I am sure it would afford the whole of the country, and particularly that noble lady who I am told disclaims receiving any remuneration for the great expense which she has incurred. (Hear.) But it will no doubt be highly gratifying to her feelings if the Government and Parlia ment were to concur in erecting some memorial to the memory of her deceased husband. I think we may fairly say that the husband and wife were worthy of each other, and I am persuaded it will be gratifying to the country if ah the consent of Parliament some monument were erected which shall record not only the services of the hus band but the devotion of the wife. '(Hear, hear.) Mr. DISRAELI said the announcement of the noble vi:, , count on the part of the Government would be most gratifying to the country. No one could have read the narrative of Sir Leopold M'Clintock, or have watched the proceedings of the singular expedition, without feeling that it formed a heroic chapter in the annals of the mariners of the country. With respect to that noble lady, to whose energies and perseverance the late satisfactory result was accomplished, I feel as all must feel, the intelligence and high enduring spirit with which Lady Franklin had prosecuted those researches had made her name illustrious among the daughters of England, and I am quite sure MAI the resolution at which the Government h ave arr i v ed will afford very great gratification among all her Majesty's subjects. (Hear, hear.) THE BRITISH MUSEUM. Mr. GRECIOIiY, in withdrawing a notice which he had placed on the pin= in reference to Irish railways, said that before he sat down he wished to advert to the statement made by the noble viscount as to the decision come to by the trustees of the British Museum. He trusted that silence on this occasion would not be construed into an acquies cence that these collections on natural history might be re • moved to a place difficult of aceess to the inhabitants of London, He thought that before anything was done there ought to be some inquiry into the feelings and opinions of than persons who were in the habit of visiting the museum, and it should be remembered that in removing these col lections to another place it would be necessary to provide books of reference, which could not be done under great ex pense, while at present there was under the same roof the best library in the world. COLLISIONS IN THE CHANNEL. Sir J. PAKINGTON said that he desired, before put ting a question to the noble lord the Secretary to the Admi ralty, to advert to the subject of Captain M'Clintock. He could not refrain from expressing his great satisfaction with the observations of the right hon. baronet the member for Portsmouth (Sir F. Baring). The noble viscount had alluded to the conduct of Lady Franklin herself, and ha could not help expreecing his coneurrenee: with that pa, t of the subject. He hoped she would not be forgotten by the noble viscount, and he thought that something more was due to her than what had been mentioned by the noble viscount, The right hon, baronet then called attention to a reported collision in the Channel—off the Lizard—between the ships of the fleet, and he wished to ask whether the Board of Admiralty had had any account of the reported version of this collision of the fleet off the Lizard, and the eircumstances of the damage done to the ships, He should like to inquire whether this was to be considered as the unavoidable result of the late gale, or whether any blame was to be imputed to the officers of the squadron There was a still more im portant question, and it was this. The paragraph to which he referred stated that the casualties which had happened to the Diadem, the Algiers, and the Mersey, had all been reported to the Admiralty. He wished to know whether these casualties which had happened to these magnificent ships occurred by coming into collision in the open Channel. He understood the Diadem and the Queen ran foul of each other, and that the Algiers and the Mersey also ran foul of each other. The fact of these splendid ships coming into collision in the open Channel was a matter of serious im port, and one which the attention of the Admiralty ought to be directed to. It must, in addition, carne a large and serious expense. How did this matter occur ? He under stood that in both cases they were caused by the ships sail ing in two lines, and backing in succession. If that was the case, ono of two inferences must follow : either the sailing orders under which the fleet were mancouvering must be of a defective and unsafe character, or that there was a want of seamanship among the officers. He should be glad to have these impressions removed, if it could be done. (Hear, hear.) THE " FRIEND OF CHINA"—IMPRISONMENT service. He must say that he did not consider it to be one of the duties of the police to set a watch and to maintain a guard during the performance of divine service. Such a state of things would necessitate a law similar to that which applied to disturbed districts in Ireland, where a rate for such a purpose could be levied on the whole district. He hoped that the instructions which had been given would be found effectual in preserving the peace. sonal recriminations, or by representing that any member really had a desire that the peace of Europe should be dis turbed. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that when they came to the consideration of this question they would remember there were two elements which had been strangely left out of sight, namely, the relation of this question to the general arrange ment of Italian affairs, and the re-establishment of that great nation to which they were all looking forward with impatient and interested eyes. The question of Sardinia only came before them incidentally in relation to the great ques tion of the nationality of Italy. In his opinion the people of Savoy had always represented the opinions of the govern. ment of France, and had been opposed to every principle of civil and religious liberty in the Piedmontese Parliament. They had v. ry little sympathy with the struggles in which the people of Italy were engaged, and his belief was that they would prefer to join a country which was more in ac -cordancs with their notions of religion and politics. This certainly could be done without in any degree disturbing the peace of Europe. The annexation of s avoy would be no unjust compensation to France for the 50,000 lives she had sacrificed and the millions of money she had expended in the cause of Italy. (Hear, hear.) What had we done for Italy which could for a moment compare with what France had done for her ? (Hear, hear.) He had not approached this question as a member representing the interests of France. (A laugh.) He trusted none of them were repro sentativesaither of Sardinia or France, but that they only represented English interests and English honour. (Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, I cannot allow this discussion to close without answering the question put by the noble lord the member for Leicestershire (Lord J. Manners), and also making some observations upon the remarks which have been addressed by other hon. members to the house. The noble lord asks whether I understand that the Emperor of the French means merely to explain the case for the annexa tion of Savoy, or whether he means to consult the great powers of Europe and to learn their opinion. After reading the speech of the Emperor of the French, and hearing the explanation which the ambassador of France has given me of it to-day, I cannot doubt that the intention of the Em peror of the French is to consult the great powers of Europe with respect to that annexation. (Cheers.) I beg the house to consider that it cannot be a matter of indifference to any ruler of France what is the opinion of Europe generally, and of the great powers, upon his position. In this very speech the Emperor of the French states that he is not going to an nex Savoy by way of military conquest. What does that mean ? It means that he is not ready to encounter the general disapprobation and distrust of Europe, but that he believes that his Government can lay such statements be fore the different powers of Europe as would enable him, without reproach and with their consent, to make this an nexation of Savoy. I differ from the Government of France in these sentiments. (Hear, hear.) I, as belonging to one of the powers of Europe concerned, not being in the situa tion ee either France or Sardinia. conceive that the annexa tion of Savoy and the occupation of the passes of the Alps would be'more threatening to Italy than the present situa tion of affairs is threatening to Franee. (Hoar, hear.) At the same time, I must beg, to impress on this house this further consideration. The powers of Europe are to be con sulted—but England is a power which does not merely con sist of the Executive Government but also of the Crown and the Parliament of the United Kingdom; therefore I should be far from wishing that on this matter the Peril ment of England should not hold and pronounce its opinion; but there is this to be said, that if we are to raise, as I think the hon. member for Tamworth seemed disposed to do, angry discussions on the subject —if we are to take mere assertions in the place of truth, and to suppose bad motives on the . part of a friendly sovereign, the only effect of de bates carried on in such a temper would be to excite pas sionate feelings, not only between the Executive Govern ment of France and the Government of England, but between the people of France and the people of England— (hear)—and I cannot conceive, however much the noble lord opposite may vaunt his own patriotism as opposed to that of the hon. member for Birmingham, that a man could render a worse service to England than endeavour to raise feelings which would necessarily lead to sentiments of sus picion and hostility on the part of both countries. (Hear.) It is from such feelings that ruptures arise. I have already said that I think the Emperor of the French is wrong on this subject, and that he has proposed an annexation which he was not justified in asking for—(hear)—but I say that this is a question to be fairly considered, and there can be no advantage to this country or to Europe in making it a question of anger, and not of calm consideration in respect to all the reasons that can be alleged on the one side and on the other. (Cheers.) I have stated that the Emperor of the French had declared that after consulting with the great Powers of Europe, and obtaining likewise the consent of the people of Savoy, he wished to make this addition to his dominions; and upon M. Thouvenel being applied to, in consequence of the Emperor's speech not mentioning the consent of tl2e people of Savoy, with the view of its being ascertained whether the Emperor of the French had ahanged his determination on this point, M. Thouvenel gave the as surance that no change had taken place, and that the Em peror was as determined as before not to attempt the an nexation without the consent of the people of Savoy. I must say that I heard with concern the speech of the hon. baronet, and I should not be conveying my impression of the discussion if I did not add that I also heard with great concern the speech ,of the hon. member for Birmingham. (Cheers.) I believe that these questions ate mixed up with the general relations of the Powers of Europe to each other ; that they have an important bearing on the confidence which one State is disposed to place in another; and that the independence of the different States does constitute that security in Europe without which neithet- trade nor com merce nor social intercourse can subsist. (Cheers.) A `riot aiange lies amen tirought about in fluty. That change, while it will be, I trust, for the benefit of the people of Italy, breaks off old relations, establishes new ties, and cannot be accomplished without the risk of further dis turbance and of further collision between Powers which are now to be separated by new boundaries, awl which, at the same time, are animated by old hatreds and by old animosities. (Hear, hear.) Sir, it appears to me that it is the duty of the English Government, and, I will, add, it is the duty of the English House of Commons, to con sider in this state of affairs how best the peace of Europe can be maintained and consolidated, to give -no reason for an increase of suspicion and animosity towards us on the part of other Powers, and, above all, not by premature dis cussion, while the papers on this subject are yet unread, come to conclusions which may be unwarranted, and to form judgments upon the conduct of foreign Powers which afterwards when the full evidence is before you, you may find to be inconsistent with the position of this country and unfair towards the ruler of a country like France, with whom it is our interest to keep on terms of friendship and alliance. (Cheers.) Sir R. PEE L, in explanation, said that nothing was farther from his intention than the wish to raise angry discussions upon the relative position of this country with France. He adhered warmly to the French alliance, and would be the last man to sow such seeds of dissension as would endanger its further continuance. (Hear.) He begged also to assure the hon. member for Birmingham that in advocating the interests of Savoy he had reason to believe that he was representing the opinions of a very large number of the people of that country. Lord J. RUSSELL—I omitted to notice the question asked by the hon. baronet as to the versions of the gm peror's speech which appear in different newspapers. We have only got a telegram, which may be incorrect, end I don't think the house can judge which is the correct ver sions of the speech until it appears in the Moniteur, which I think will not have taken plane until this morning. THE CUOMS' DEPARTMENT. Mr. MAGUIRE faked the Chancellor of the Exche quer, whether, with a view to the interests of the public service, the Treasury contemplated, in the revision of the Customs department which must necessarily take place con sequent upon the alterations in the tariff; placing those offi cers on the superannuation or redundant list, who had hitherto been found unworthy of reward or unfit for promo tion ; and, further, whether any provision would be made for the purpose of bringing forward those officers, without regard to the ncere routine system of promotion, from their knowledge of commercial matters, and possessing the con fidence of tho mercantile world, were more likely to carry out the new arrangement to the satisfaction of the public. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said be entirely sympathised with the spirit in which this question was put, but the promotion ix question hail for many years been not in the hands of the political advisers of the Crown but had rested with the heads of the departments them selves. This plan had worked well. The hon. gentleman in his question had given a just view of the principle on which promotion should proceed, viz., that persons who were inferior, or whose efficiency was declining on account of age, should be succeeded by persons promoted net in the spirit of routine, but with the view of improving what was admitted to be a well-regulated department. CUSTOMS ACTS—SILKS. On the bringing up of the report, Mr. NE WDE GATE moved an amendment on resolution 3, " That the present duties on silk manufactures imported into the United Kingdom be retained until the Ist day of October, 1861." He said—l think the house will agree with me that I am justified in saying that there is a sc h oo l in this house whose attachment to free trade is greater than their attachment to free institutions. We have heard one hon. gentle nan exclaim " Perish Savoy I " and— Mr. SPEAKER—Order, order I You roust not refer to a past debate. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Mr. NEWDEGATE contended that the hon. gentleman (Mr. Bright) richly deserved the imputation, and said that the motion he was about to submit would merely give to those connected with the silk manufactures the seine jus tice which was extended to those who were engaged in the manufacture of glass and corks, and that they would, notwithstanding all that might have been said against the prudence of the late Sir R. Peel, in his °Lenges in the tariff; imitate that statesman—who was valued not less for his caution than for his other groat qualities—imattempt hig to mitigate the effect of these changes. By the privent arrangement he would be virtually enacting a prohibition against the admission of our goods into France, and at the same time losing something like a million sterling. He hoped, therefore, the house would prevail on the Govern ment to delay the carrying into effect this treaty until the time when France would be able to act with reciprocity. The Clerk of the house then proceeded to real the peso• luaons. Having arrived at the article " cork," Mr. VANCE said he had been requested by the Dublin cork-cutters to use his best efforts to prevent the proposed arrangement with respect to "corks." Mr. BLAKE stated that his constituents had also in formed him (hat the change would operate in a manner ex ceeding'y injurious to many families in Waterford engaged in cork. cutting. If the time could be extended for eighteen month, tir even a year, it would pr event serious injury, in asmuch as it would give young lads engaged in the trade en opportunity of turning their attention to some other in. dustrial pursuits. (Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he would propose that corks squared for rounding should be admitted free of duty for the accommodation of the trade, and to ract the views of the hen. member (Hr. D1111(41411)6) with reference to Catalonia, there Was a portion of that province in which the greater portion of the population were mak:cutters, and, as far as he could learn, there was no law in Spain to prevent the exportation of corks bit there was a municipal regulation to that Keet to, piemt exportation, through a ffearthiit . PIO `lie ribbed a 6F - MR. TARRANII. Mr. E. TAMES thc. of conga ae4k re...a—ceee tary of State for the Colonies to the case of Mr. Tarrant, the editor of the Friend of China, who after conviction for a libel had been sentenced to be imprisoned in the felons' gaol at Hong Kong for a period of 12 calendar months. The hon. and learned member,said this was a case of extreme severity inflicted upon a British subject. Ho was convicted upon the 29th of September of a libel upon Colonel King. Mr. Tar rant was a gentleman and a scholar. He had made a posi tion in the colony for himself, end he afterwards became the editor of the Friend of China. In that paper there were some disclosures of disagreeable proceedings which were pre valent among certain officials in the colony, and Sir J. Bow -1 ing himself had been obliged to admit that great corruption existed in that colony. Mr. Tarrant was, in the absence of the Chief Justice, tried by Mr. Adams, the acting judge, and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment in the felons' gaol; but it reflected great credit upon the conduct of Mr. Adams that, after he discovered the state of that gaol and its wretched condition, he remonstrated with the governor and endeavoured to obtain a commutation of the sentence, or the removal of Mr. Tarrant from the criminal side of the gaol to the debtors' side. The whole of the jury which con victed Mr. Tarrant joined in the petition to the governor, urging him to order the removal to the class of misdemean ants ; but he understood that nothing had been done. He could state that Mr. Tarrant had endured the greatest pri vation and misery from his association with criminals in that wretched place. His health suffered, and he was re moved to the hospital, but afterwards sent back again among the felons. Ho thought Mr. Tarrant was entitled to some leniency, as justice had been sufficiently N;ndicated. (Hear, hear.) Mr. C. FORT ESCUE said that the ircormation which he had received differed from that received by the hon. and learned member. He understood that from the first much leniency had been shown to Mr. Tarrant, and in November last the visiting justices revised the roles of the prison so as to enable his being removed from the _quarters of other cii minals. No doubt the gao l o f Hong Bong was different to those in England. The gaol required enlarging and im proving, and that operation was in the course of being car ried out. With res - ect to Mr. Tarrant himself, the quee tion was one of disci alien with the governor * - 1 carrying the sentence, which was not an easy matter, as the effect of these personal libels in the newspapers of Hong Kong had reached a point scarcely credible—to such an extent indeed as to render it necessary that no excessive leniency should be shown to a person who had thus exposed himself to punishment. He would mention that the noble drize the Secretary for the Colonies sent a despatch, directing that upon its receipt, if Mr. Tarrant's elth was serien - sly suf fering or in danger of suffering, he was to be removed from the criminal part of the gaol to the debtors' side ; end the instructions further went on to say, that whether his health should be suffering or not, at the end of s'e months he must be removed to thedebtors' side of the prison; and the de spatch ended thus—" It has been urged upon me by some who disavow the slightest sympathy with Mr. Tarrant's writings, that the latter part of the sentence shov'd be altogher remitted, and that he should be discharged from prison. I must leave to your judgment how far such an act of leniency is advisable." And the noble duke added that he would not allow anytleieg to weigh against the p soner ; but he thought persons must be protected from libels which poisoned the atmosphere of that colony. (Hear.) In conclusion the lion. member thanked the house f,r the commendations which had been passed on Sir Leopold 'M'Clintock and his brave band. Both Sir Leopold and Mr. Hopkins were natives of the country to which he (Mr. For tescue) bad the honour to belong. '- Lord C. PAGET having also, as a naval officer, thanked the house for the eulogium which had been passed on the Polar officers and men, e - id remarked that Captain Engledue, of the Isabel, had also acted in a manner to entitle him to all praise, proceeded to reply to thouestion of the right hon. baronet opposite with re-pect to ecent collisions amongst the ships of the Channel fleet. Undoubtedly there had been a very serious collision, inasmuch as it had resulted in the loss of bowsprit to a very fine frigate, the Diadem. As to the statement weich the right hon. baronet had read from the Times, it looked uncommonly like what sailors call " a mid shipman's yarn," for neither he (Lord Clarence) nor his col leagues covid make anr hing of it. The fleet started from Portland and went down until they came into the meridian of the Needles, when the signal was made for the ships to tack in succession. The Diadem was the sternmost ship of the weather line, end the Queen fell for' of her and carried away her bowsprit. The Admiralty had received a de'ailed ( t n h , t damage. on whenever A report -e •om the captain of the Diadem, but none from the doubt sto mismanagement captain of the oth er s hi p. Th e o th er co lli s i on t oo k pl ace be tweenii, the Algiers a n d th e M ersey , an d h a d occas i one d b u t sm tw an o a v g e e s m se e l n s t e o a n m b e oa i r n d to eotheslqiiusaiodn dsr there must have been mismanagement on the one side or on the other, generally on both, but at present he could not apportion the blame in young fleet, this case. In the case of a fleet, commanded by young e , officers and with raw crews, and in such weather, accidents would sometimes happen, but that only proved how necehsory it was to keep the squadron always at sea. (Hear.) Sir C. NAPIER said that the Liame Lay in sentlinm a fleet to sea in the equinoctial gales, without having been first properly exercised. Every sailor knew that the ship on the part tack shouhi give way to the ship on the star board tack, and therefore whichever ship was on the port tack her officers were to blame. He supposed there was not an officer in the Channel fleet who had ever sailed in a fleet before. DISTURBANCES IN ST. GEORGE'S-IN-THE `) EAST. Mr. LYGON asked a question as to what instruction had been given to the police with a view to 'the suppression of the disturbances iu St. George's-in-the-East. He feared there was a great want of harmony between the police, the rector, and the churchwardens. (A l au g h.) Sir G. C. LEWIS was afraid the Government would find it a difficult task to maintain a good understanding between the rector of St. George's-in-the-East and the police, or the churchwardens, or any of his parishioners. (Laughter.) Pk had been the object of the police to take efficient means for the preservation of thepeace during the celebration of divine __..._,_~... •s-s~i ANNEXATION OF SAVOY. Sir R. PEEL said he had a question to ask, which, as it was one of great subtlety and nicety, might perhaps claim the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (A laugh) Everyone in that house had, he was sure, read the recently published speech of the Emperor of the French with the deepest emotion and concern, for it was, quite evident from that speech that his Majesty meant to avail himself of the present position of affairs, and to take Savoy. He hoped, however, they should have further opportunities of discuss ing the matter, as he was informed that the discussionwhich had already taken placehad produced considerable effect even in Paris ; in fact he was informed the Emperor had said that after all the sacrifices he had made for the preservation of the English alliance, he had no supporter in England but his esteemed friend Monsieur Milnes. (Loud laughter.) Now the question he had to ask referred to the copies of the im perial speech which appeared in the Times, The Sun, and Horning Post. The last named paper was understood to represent the policy of the Tuileries, and its transcript of the speech differed in an important point from the other two papers. The Emperor was made to say in the Post—" 11 etait mon devoir pour la surete de nos frontiZtres, de revendiquer les versants Francais des montagnes." The Emperor went on to say, " Cette reven dication d'un territoire de peu d'etendue n'a rien que doit alarmer l'Europe." Now, the difference between the two words " reclamation" and "revendication" was most im portant, and it was necessary that the proper interpretation should at once be put upon the pb*stse. It was important, because in 1792 the Republic took Savoy, and it was most important to know whether it was "revendication" or " re clamation" which the Emperor now contemplated. He thought that net a moment should be lost in ascertaining the fact. In the last century Poland was absorbed, and now a similar act was contemplated with respect to Savoy, every inhabitant of which was most violently opposed to annexation with France. They wished to maintain their connection with Piedmont, but if that were not possible, then they wished to unite their destinies with the free and noble Swiss people. He trusted that the house would per mit the Roble lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to an swer this question, because it was of vital importance to know whether France claimed Savoy in consequence of the act of the Republic in 1792, or whether she appeals to Europe to protect her against a powerful Italian nation of nine millions, by permitting her to extend her frontier to the Alps. (Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. BRlGHT—Before thenoble lord answered the ques tion, he wished to know what the hon. baronet proposed himself. For after all it was a were Ming or time—(" No, no," from the Opposition)—and also tending to produce greater complications, if, there being no policy which the house or the Government could adopt, these discussions were to be constantly repeated. They were not the Par liament of France, nor of Savoy, nor of Europe—they were the Parliament of England ; and unless it could be shown that this country had a direct interest in these foreign ques tions, they were only making themselves an absurd spec tacle in the sight of Europe by such discussions. Nothing could be more extravagant than the language in which the hon. baronet addressed himself to this question. One would suppose that not only England, but all Europe, was on fire, and the hon. baronet came down nightly to the house, not to extinguish but to increase the conflagration. Let them examine this question. It would perhaps be better if all the States of Europe were content with their respective frontiers, and should make no attempt to extend their boun daries ; bat that was not the state of things, nor could they expect it. Our own Government, supported by a large party in the country, were consenting parties to an alteration in the boundaries of several of the States of Italy, and it was quite possible that if the right hon. member for Bucks now sat on the Ministerial benches he would be an acquiescing party in those changes. The hon. baronet talked of the treaty of Vienna as if it were a settlement, whilst it was nothing but an unsettlement. Holland had been separated from Belgium, and now the French Emperor was to be attacked because he did not respect the treaty of Vienna in the case of Savoy. What was the treaty of Vienna to him but a monument of the degradation of his family ? And he could only regard with pleasure the crumbling away of an edifice which never should have been erected. He agreed that it would have been much better if this question had not been raise l, not only here but also in Paris. He saw no special advantage to France by the addition of the population of that mountainous region. He did not believe Sardinia would be sensibly weakened or changed if the transfer took place. (Oh, oh, and hear,, hear.) He doubted extremely whether any disadvantageous effects would re sult to the people of Savoy. The right hon. baronet the mem ber for Tamworth argued upon the supposition that they were about to be transferred by some forcible means from a state of freedom to a state of servitude. That supposition was certainly not very complimentary to the French people, who might be quite as well pleased with their institutions as we were with ours—(hear, hear)—and who might be satis fied with a social liberty which we had not, and might pre fer it to a political liberty which we had. (Hear, hear.) But he had heard from persons of high authority that the inhabitants of Savoy had not only no objection to the trans fer, but would prefer being annexed to France. (Oh, oh, and Hear.) The best authority he had been able to consult on the matter had assnred him that the ar-iesation of Savoy to France would go far to double the value of the landed property in that country. For his own part he would not give much for the loyalty of some people in other countries Oavoy it no coma F . owtse mem to tumble tne value of the landed property of their country. (Cries of " Oh, 1 oh.") But ha was told that the labouring population in Savoy were well aware that the annexation would add greatly to the value of their labour. Lyons was not more than two or three hours from Chamounie. The ma nufacturers of Lyons, with their capital, their looms, and their industry, would immediately spread through the val leys of that province, and an immediate advance would be given to the value of everything now existing in Savoy. (Hear, hear.) He did not wish the Government to give the slightest countenance to the transaction, but on the other hand he would not ask them to offer it the slightest opposition, because such opposition would be futile, and they coOld not possibly prevent the annexation d Savoy, although they might embroil England with France. Rather than this should happen he would say, perish Savoy. (Cries of " Oh. oh s ") But Savoy would not perish, or even suffer He had found, unfortunately, that the more remote a ques tion appeared to be from our owa interest the more it seemed to absorb the sympathies of some hon. gentlemen of that house. (Hear, hear.) For generations past we had been endeavouring to settle the map of Europe, and spending our biood and treasure for that object, but had we not utterly and ignominiously failed in every attempt we had made ? In the name of common sense, and in the interest of the people of England, we ought to judge this question with calmßess and dispassionateness as a matter which really concerned only the kingdom of France, the kingdom of Sardinia, and the people of Savoy ; and if those two kingdoms were agreed to the transfer, and the people of Savoy themselves were for it, it certainly was contrary to the interests of England, and contrary to the honour of the English Government, to pro ceed to interpose against a transaction which, although he (Mr. Bright) would never have recommended it, yet he was quite sure was not worth the expenditure of a single tax on the part of Englishmen, or the expenditure of a drop of blood for one single moment to prevent. (Hear, hear.) Lord J. MANNERS said he was glad to hear from the hon. gentleman that this was the Parliament of England and not the Parliament of France. (Hear, hear.) But he thought they had made this discovery from the hon. mem ber's speech, that ; 4 : this was the Parliament of England, at any rate France was not unrepresented in their body. (Op position cheers.) There had been suspicions created through out England as to the reasons which had induced the hen. gentleman to show such a marked attachment, and 'even affection, towards certain treaties and engagements which had recently formed the subject of discussion in that house, but they now knew there was no price the hon. member would be unwilling to pay rather than the treaty should not be carried into effect. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the hon. gentleman did not speak the sentiments of her Majesty's Go vernment on this occasion. Certainly he did net speak the sentiments of the people of England. (Cheers.) They now knew the measure of the loyalty of the hon. member. When he was given 4d., where he had previously only got 2d., he did not hesitate to tell them that that transferred his loyalty and allegiance. (Opposition cheers.) He did not attribute to the hon. member such overweening vanity as to suppose that, when he said there were great masses who would not hesitate to transfer their loyalty if their incomes were doubled—he did not attribute to him the vanity of suppos ing that he meant to say he was above such considera tions himself. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman spoke no doubt from an intimate knowledge of his own heart and sentiments. (Hear, hear.) But he trusted the Govern ment did not synrpatl•ise with the sentiments of the hon member, who had said" perish Savoy." The hon. gentle man might also have said perish freedom of the press, perish constitutional government, perish everything which stood in the way of the realisation of the treaty with France. The hon. gentleman went so far as to say that it was nothing to him whether France =sexed this or that coun try. It was natural that Savoy should be annexed because the hon. member had received private information that the people of that province were in favour of it. If Belgium were to be annexed, no doubt the hon. gentleman would be able to inform the house that he had - information in his pocket to the effect that the people wished it—(hear, hear) —and ;f the Emperor went so far as to wish to annex the Rhine provinces of Prussia, the hon. gentleman would up hold the transfer on the same ground. (Hear, hear.) Was this the language of an English member of Parliament? Did such language represent the sentiments of the people of England ? Was the determination of the hon. gentleman the determination of the house ? He was confident the hon member stood alone in the expression of those opinions. (Cheers.) He (Lord J. Manners) wished to ask one ques tit,' of the noble lord the member for the city of London. The noble lord, at the outset of this somewhat irreguler dis cussion, stated, very correctly, that a short time ago he was enabled to inform the house that the Government of the Emperor of the French had informed him that the Empe ror would not proCeed to annex Savoy without consulting the great pewees of Europe. That afternoon the noble lord had read a statement, in the speech of the Emperor of France, to the effect that the latter did not wish to proceed with this annexation by military occupancy, but by frankly explaining the question to the great powers. He wished to know whether, in the opinion of the Government, theme was any divergence in trh• language of a fortnight ego and the language now used, or whether the Government were of opinion that when the Emperor of the French said he intended to explain the question to the great powers, he was still inclined to consult them previously to proceeding with this annexation. Mr. M. MILNES said he could not believe that in a question of great European interest of this kind they were doing justice to themselves or to their country by any per- the raw material. But this prohibition was not a matter of importance to the British cork trade, and for this reason that the Catalonians were superior corkcutters to the Eng lish, and these corks were of so high a price as to prevent their being exported to England. Now, so far from the act of '42 being injurious to the corkcutters in this coun try, its effect had been the reverse, for their numbers had increased from that period, when there were only 1,200 in the trade, and now there were about 2,000. The demand here for corks at present could not be supplied, and British merchants were actually importing French and Spanish corkcutters into this country, and probably some hon. gen tlemen would be of opinion that there should be a duty laid upon such importation. (A lau g h.) The Spanish cork cutters received higher wages here than the English, be cause they were better workmen and made less waste of the material. The hon. gentleman here exhibited to the house specimens of both kinds of corks. The Catalonian cork, he said, being a perfect cylinder, while the English had corners all round. But the real difficulty which beset the trade in this country, he contended, was unions, and strikes, and societies which distracted the usual course of labour. Perfect freedom of trade was required not merely for the benefit of the country, but for the benefit of the workmen themselves. (Hear.) , After a few remarks from Mr. POTTS and Mr. CLAY, the amendment was negatived without a division, On the article silk, The SPEAKER put the amendment moved by Mr. Newdegate in Resolution No. 3—" That the present duties on silk manufactures imported into the United Kingdom be retained until the let day of October, 1861." Mr. E LLICE had a great respect for the opinions of the hon. member for North Warwickshire, but he thought the motion he now brought forward would do more harm than good to the silk trade. He believed, in the first instance, that no treaty with France would be entered into, and in that case he would be prepared to admit French silks into English markets at a reduced rate of duty. He voted for a repeal of the Corn-laws in 1818, and was willing to admit that since that repeal took place the condition of the silk trade at Coventry had materially improved. But the quarrel he had with his right hon. friend was, that if he entered into treaties of commerce he ought at least to get an equivalent in favour of his own country men, and the parties who so suffered had aright to complain of it. He hoped therefore he would do his endeavours to have the duty taken off altogether, and then there would be something like reciprocity to the silk merchants and silk weavers. Free trade, no doubt, was a right principle to establish the commercial relations of a country, but there were exceptions. When they talked of the duty on import ing silk in this country being an absolute protection he de nied it altogether, and certainly, in his opinion, it was the last that should be removed from the permanent taxes of this country. Mr. BOLT approved of the amendment of his hon. friend and believing that the delay of a few months would be meat beneficial to the 200,000 English people who would be af fected by the treaty, he should support the amendment. Mr. BASS thought the request made to grant delay in this matter was most reasonable. He certainly agreed that silks should not be made an exception, and that as gloves and other articles were not so dealt with, the delay asked for ought to be granted. (Hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER begged to say that he had very great respect for the appeal which had been made to him by those hon. gentlemen sitting in the House of Commons who were connected with the silk trade, namely, the right hon. gentleman the member for Coventry and his colleague. The appeal of his right hon. friend, and of the hon. gentleman who had just sat down, was to give to the silk manufacturers a remission of duties on goods in their trade. He assured his hon. friends that nothing could be more gratifying to him than to comply with their request if in his power. He did not venture to predict the degree of success which might attend the treaty ; but he felt that France had taken such a step as would throw her markets open to the great mass of the English people, and that they ought in this country to encourage the movement. Henceforth, if this policy were carried out, they would stand in a different position to what they had hitherto done in relation to France. For instance, there was a fallacy- that free trade was a scheme by which this country wished to rob all the rest of the world, and until they got rid of that fallacy, free trade with other countries would not make progress. The hon. and learned gentleman, Mr. Rolt, said that silk was made an exception; but the reason why silk was made an exception was that they all looked upon it as a whole, and looking upon it as a whole, it ought to be dealt with immediately, and the course which the Government were taking was not an adverse course. Mr. NEWDEGATE, in reply, said, while this country, under the operation of free trade, exported only 124 per cent., the trade of Belgium, with protection, exported. 200 per cent. The house then divided— For the amendment of Mr. Newdegate 51 Against it Majority against ---128 The remaining resolutions and the report were agreed to, and the house went into committee on CUSTOMS ACTS, resuming at the following article :—" Goods being either in part or wholly manufactured, and not being enumerated or described, nor otherwise charged with duty, and not pro tected, to be imported into or used in Great Britain or Ire land ; but if any such good, shall be composed of any article liable to duty, as a part of the ingredient thereof, then such goods shall be chargeable with the full duty payable onsuch article, or if composed of more than one article liable to duty, then with the full duty payable on the article charged with the highest rate of duty." Mr. AYRTON wished that the Chancellor of the Ex chequer would explain how wood used in the manufacture of furniture would be affected by this article. The duty was paid on the wood as imported, but there was, of course, a certain amount of waste in making it up, and there ought to be an allowance for that waste, as in the case of timber partially worked up, where there was an al lowance of 2d. per foot. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that at present no duty was levied upon wood used for making furniture. It was intended to propose a uniform duty, and that would be the proper time to discuss the question raised by the Len. member. WINE LICENCES. In answer to E. JANIEs, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he hoped to be cue to lay th. MO wan rerence to wine licen ces on the table in the oourse of three or four days. The resolution with respect to corks was agreed to, with the omission, on the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Ex- CHEQUER, of the words, " squared for rounding." The other part of the resolution, fixing the duty on chip and haKae hair hats and bonnets at ls. 3d. a lb. was also agreed to. On the resolution having reference to the duty on gloves, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he wished to make an explanation. The Government had been led to believe that the trade were anxious that the new scale of duty should not come into operation within a short period, and therefore they had in the resolution fixed the time for the Ist February, 1861. The object of the trade, he understood, was to save the present season, which would close for them on the Ist of August this year, and he had received from Yeovil a memorial, numerously signed by those engaged in the trade, asking that the duty should come into operation at an earlier period ; he therefore gave notice that on the bringing up of the report on this resolu tion, he would move that the words, " Ist of August, 1860," be substituted for the words, " Ist of February, 1861." The resolution was then agreed to, On the articles, paper as denominated in the tariff after the Ist of July, 1860, and pasteboard after the Ist of July, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it had baen arranged with respect to those two articles to vote in terms of the treaty. lie did not mean to enter now upon the discussion of the Excise duty on paper, which ought to be deferred until they should Ile better prepared to con sider it. But there were two questions upon which he would ask the house to give a preliminary vote, it being un derstood that the discussion should be revived if the decision of the house on the paper duty should render it necessary. The duty which they proposed on paper hangings would still leave it a protective duty, and pastebNird was also a particular case depending on the paper duty. A report on the subject had been prepared, and he asked the house to consider the resolution in reference to the two articles named, with the understanding of returning to them if the decision of the house on the paper duty should render it necessary, Sir F. KELLY wished to ask when an opportunity would be afforded of dealing with the general question. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had addressed a letter to the hon. baronet the member for Somersetshire to say to him that the form in which the paper-duty question would be raised would be that of a bill, and that as it would be open to him to oppose that bill at any stage, he wished him to say at what stage it would be convenient for him to take the sense of the house. As yet he had had no reply to that communication. Mr, BRIGHT suggested that the hon. and learntd gen tleman the member for East Suffolk could name a day for the hon. baronet, un th i e cat S in ir g F w . i i( th E t l ee Y ho s n ai . convenience of the h ouse . d b h a e r o h n a e d t n i n o o s opportunityc n o o f c t oo msuit In reply to a question from Mr. PvLLAR, tee were got through that if tTbheereCslolluAtNionepiLnLeoonißmoifl th e EXCHEQUER said that, even ing, he would on Monday move an address to the Crown approving of the treaty. The resolution was then agreed to. THE SPIRIT DUTIES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the following resolution :--- "That, in lieu of the duties of customs now charged on articles undermentioned, the following duties shall be charged thereon, on importation into Great Britain and Ireland, viz.: s. d. Spirits or strong waters not being sweetened or mixed with any article so that the degree of strength thereof cannot be ascertained by Sykes' Hydrometer, for every gallon of the strength of proof by such Hydrometer, and so on in propor dm for any greater or less strength than the strength of proof, and for any greater or less quantity than a gallon the gallon 8 6 Of and from a British p ossession in America or the Island of Mauritius, and rum of and from any British possession within the limits of the East India Company's charter, in regard to which the conditions of the Act 4 Vic. c. 8, have or shall have been fulfilled the gallon 8 3 Rum shrub, liqueurs, and cordials of and from a British p ossess i on in Aerica or the Island of Mauritius, or a British possession within the limits of the East India Company's charter, qualified as aforesaid . ...... Rum of a th e ga ll on 8 3 nd from any foreign country, being the Country of its production Tafia, of and from any colony of Prance...the gallon 8 3 Other spirits, being sweetened or mixed so that the degree of strength cannot be ascertained as afore said, and p er f umed spirits to be used as perfumery nly the gallon 12 0 Kin Spirits om or strong wat2.rs, imported into ngredient the 'United darn mixed with any i, and, although ' thereby coming under some denomina tion, except varnish, shall nevertheless be deemed to be spirits or strong waters, and be subject to duty as such, Water, Cologne, the flask (30 of such flasks con taining not more than one gallon) each 0 5 Water, Cologne, hen not in flasks, as perfumed spirits Air, T. DUNCOMBE moved as amendment, that the duty on unsweetened spirits be 9s. instead of Bs. Gd. The hon. gentleman s% id that unless this change was made in the proposition of the Government, great injustice would be done to the- rectifying distiller, foreign wine would be made a vehicle for smuggling, and the doors would be th rown open w id e f or f rau d . Mr. BASS said the committee had been, he feared, quite misled. The question they were considering was one be tween the rectifiers and the importers of foreign spirits The Proposed alteration of duty from Bs. 2d. to Bs. Gd of the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be quite inadequate and he believed that if the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposition were persevered. witUs the trade of the rectifying [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills area truly ad mirable remedy for most of the diseases prevalent in India. All classes of society here when affected by the climate may resort to these Pills with perfect confidence, for they purify the blood, restore a healthy action to the internal organs, and give strength to the whole system when all other Me dicines fail. The ladies of India, whether European or Native, have found them admirably suited to their sex at all ages. Though so powerful in their effects they are pe culiarly mild and safe in their action, and may be taken freely and safely by persons of the most delicate constitu tion. They require no interruption of the patient's ordi nary habits, pursuits, or pleasures, while taking a course. distillers would be utterly annihilated, while a great ad vantage, fully 6s. 6d. per gallon, would accrue to the French producer. Unless the duty were increased, he thought, looking to the result of previous reductions of duty, from 1845 down, that a large diminution of the re venue would follow, and that certainly was not a satisfac tory state of things. Sir E. GROGAN thought they ought to learn what was the reciprocity part of the treaty. Up to this time they had heard nothing on the subject. If the (Mies were to be low ered as was proposed, it was only fair that a corresponding advantage should be given to British distillers. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, with respect to what had fallen from the hon. gentleman oppo site (Sir E. Grogan), he saw every reason to suppose that there would be a disposition to admit spirits liberally into France on fair terms, because she was a large exporter her self, and had no reason to fear the result. There had been r no decision come to in respect to allowing the drawback on foreign grain in distilleries, and the question was open to consideration. It was hardly possible, however, to discuss that subject intelligibly in a popular assembly. He had never found any trade more satisfactory to deal with than those concerned in the spirit trade, whether in England, Scotland, or Ireland. They were gentlemen of large capi tal and intelligence, and stated their views with great mo deration. He did not deny that a gentleman had been sent over to Paris, as the hon. gentleman the member for Fins bury had stated, but itwas not in any way connected with the hon. gentleman's amcndment. With regard to the duty being aitered to Bs. 2d., as stated by the hon. member for Finsbury, he denied the allegation of the hon, gentleman, that this was done without consu lti ng th e C us t oms an ds Excise. No step had been taken in this matter without the cognisance of the Excise. He was bound to say, and especially as regarded the Board of Inland Revenue—the department most concerned in the arrangement—they could never havo arrived at it except in concerting with thee:, departments. The basin upon which they had enterer! into negotiations with France was with a view to a perc,eet free dom of trade. The right hon. gentleman the:, sa id th at after considering the q ues ti on o f a 10 s . duty upon the im portation of foreign spirits, with the C , z ia t ama an d E xc i se authorities, it was ultimately agreed l'Jetween them that the proposal which he had submitted to the committee was the best which could be devised. As to rum, it was in rather an anomalous position, but being the produce of tropical countries, British distillers exhibited no jealousy of its being admitted at the ordinary colonial rate. He had only to add, that the Government proposed these arrangements to Parliament as being, upon the whole, well suited to meet what he admitted was a very complicated question, yet as tending to solve the whole in the fairest manner possible. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE replied, and said that if a com mittee were granted to him he would prove that the Excise and Customs authorities had not been consulted with re spect to this proposed arrangement by the Government. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER assured the hon. gentleman that the heads of the authorities at the Excise and Customs had been consulted by him, and everything he had done had their concurrence. After a few words from Mr. BLACK, The committee divided, when there appeared— For the amendment ................ 48 Against it 191 Majority against .... —l43 The amendment was thertiore lost, and the resolution was agreed to. Mr. BYNG gave notice that, on Monday next, after the resolutions were reported, it was his intention to move a humble address to her Majesty, expressing the concurrence and approval of that house of the Commercial Treaty. which had been entered into between her Majesty and the Em peror of the French. Mr. AYRTON said his hon. friend the member for Sun derland was going to move an amendment on this address, and would like, therefore, to be made acquainted with its terms as early as possible. Mr, LYNG promised that the hon. gentleman should have a copy of the address as early as possible on Monday morning. DUTY, Mr. MILES sa THE id this biII PAPER bill would be introdneed early in the week, and he should move his amendment on the second reading, which was fixed for Friday next. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the bill would be introduced on Monday, and on that evening they would finally . fix and announce the day appointed for the second reading. THE TRUANT MEMBER. Mr. J. POPE HENNESSY appeared in his place and rose to make an explanation as to his absence from a Rail way Committee, on which he had been duly appointed. He expressed his deep regret that the fact of his appointment on the committee in question had altogether escaped his attention, several days having elapsed between his receiv ing the order from the committee and his leaving town. Colonel WILSON PATTEN said as the hon. member had expressed his regret, he would simply move that he be directed to attend in his place at the committee in question, and which was now sitting, on Monday next at twelve o' clock. This motion was then put, and having been unanimously agreed to , the subject dr o pp e d. The Qualification for Officers Abolition Bill was read a third time and passed. The house adjourned at twenty-three minutes to one o'clock. COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—MARciI 2. At our market this day there was a slow sale in wheat, without any material change in. prices. Oats were quite as dear. Egyptian beans were more plentiful, but holders generally refused to accept less money. Barley and peas unaltered. Oatmeal quite as saleable. The flour trade quite as lifeless. WAKEFIELD-MARCH 2. A better supply of grain, and fair arrivals of vessels. Wheat not active, but last week's prices were maintained. Fine barley steady. Other sorts dull. Beans quite as dear. Oats id per stone and shelling is per load dearer. Wheat, per qr. of 8 bushels 601 b., Essex, Suffolk, and Kent, white, old, 48s to 51s ; new, 48s to 51s ; ditto, red, old, 42s to 44s ; new, 42s to 44. ; Lincolnshire and York. bnii. white, its ri , thim to 50s ; red, 41s to 445. - Averages for the week : Wheat 3,699 qrs., at .43s 3d Peas .. 163 „ 383 9J Beans Barley.... . 1 .... 58 „ 36s lid Oat; I,r 53 „ 23s 3d Rye ~ —3 Od EXETER-MARCH 2. The business to-day was dull at the following prises : Wneat, white.. 5s 9d to Gs 3d I Barley.. 4s Od t o 4 s 6d Ditto red 5s 3d to 5s 6d Oats 3s Od to 3s 61 Flour, fine, 32s to 338; seconds, 30s to 31s per sack. CATTLE. The attendance was fair, and the market was supplied well with fat bullocks and barreners, but sheep were few. A good supply of pork carcases. Fat beef, p score,losod to lls Ewes, per lb ....Sid to Od Pork carcases,do 9s Od to 9s9d Wethers, d 0.... . . 7d to 7id Sheep, per lb. Rough fat, 4id per lb. BRISTOL SUGAR—MAncH 2. - We. have not any improvement to notice in our market, which continues dull ; and as the refiners still find the greatest difficulty in effecting sales of their manufacture, even at the present unremunerative rates, they are indis posed to increase their stocks of the raw material, excepting at lower prices than importers will submit to. Rum meets with a steady demand, particularly Demeraras, which are still saleable at 2s to 2s Id per proof gallon, according to quality. FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. En the following table E signifies that letters are despatched by evening mails from London, and 31 by m orn i ng mans. Next DESTINATIONS. Despatch Port of Mail - of ails. Despatch. due. ------- ----- Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton Mar. 12,M Southamp. Mar. 11 Ditto, via Marseilles Ma 19 , E March 5 Bahamas and Havana via New York liar. 16, E Liverpool.. Mar. 15 Canada, &c. (by Canada. pckt ) E Liverpool.. Feb. 29 C.pe of Good Hope, Ascen sion and St. Helena Th and s y nga Mar. 5, E Devenport April 1 ampton .., Mar. 3M g Southamp. Mar. 3 China,. p] poirtet„v r vi a e l ansaonucr Marseilles 'Mar.10, Gibraltar, via Southampton.. Mar. 3,M Southamp. overdue Ek Honduras and Blewfields .... Mar. 17, M Southamp. Mar. 16 India ',Calcutta) and Ceylon, via Southampton Mar. '3 , M Sonthamp. Mar. 3 Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via South ampton Mar. 12, M Southamp. overdue Ditto, via Marseilles Lisbon, Brazils, Buenos Ayres, and P. Islands Mar. 9, 11 Southamp. Mar. 5 Lisbon, Vigo, and Orto Mar. 7, M Southamp. March 1 Malta, Egypt, and Aldes, via Southampton Mar. 3. M Southamp. overdue Ditto, via Marseilles Mexico and Havana Newfoundland Mar. 2,:E Liverpool.. United States and British N America (by British packet) Mar. 2, E Liverpool.. Mar. 7 Ditto (by U. S. packet) West Coast of Africa, Ma deira, and Tenerilfe Mar. 23 E Liverpool.. Mar. 10 West India, California, Vene zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey town, New Granada, &c Mar. 2, ILSouthamp. Mar. I , BIRTHS. CLARKE.—On the 2d inst., at Hatfield, Mrs. Seymour Clarke, of a daughter. WELCH.—On the Ist inst ,at 31, Dover-street, Piccadilly, the wife Of H. T. Welch, Esq., of Leck Hall, North Lan cashire, of a son and heir. M ARRIAGES. MACAULAY — STOKES.—On the 21th ult., - at Trinity Church, Sloane-street, James Macaulay, M.A., son of Dr. Alex. Macaulay, Edinburgh, to Fanny, daughter of the Rev. George Stokes, B.D. Voss —LuxuAm.--On the Ist inst., at Trinity Church, Matlock, Bath, M arcus H . Voss, sq., of Lower Nor wood, to Margaret, eldest daughter of James Lunhaan, Esq., of 231, Borough, and Upper Norwood. DEATHS. BRIDGES.—On the 29th Feb., at Parkstone, D orse t s hi re , Lieut. G. L. Bridges, R.N., aged 24. BROUGII.—On the 29th ult., at his apartments, Charles street, St. James's, Major-General Redmond William Brough, aged 68. RODIVELL—On the 25th ult., William Rodwell Esq., 0 f 6, Agnes Villas,'Bayswater, and of the Stock Echange, aged 57. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Th 4 Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of Middlesex, Saturday, March 3, 1860.