The Sun. — London, England, 1857-03-03 00:00:00

other ports as an interpreter ; his being engaged with Sir J. Bowring, in effecting a treaty with Siam, which he ix ought to this country, and on nis retina to China was appointed consul. (Hear, hear.) Teat, he said, was the treatment these gentlemen had met with at the hand of those who ought to have sympathised with them —(hear, hear)—and it was a specimen of the fair ness with which these attacks had been made. Ile re gretted to say that a desire to depreciate the character of dose gentlemen had marked the tone of many gen tlemen who had addressed the house in support of the hon. gentleman's motion. (Hear, hear.) With regard to tb.-3 statements of the hon. gentleman with reference to the British merchants, though he had a world-wide reputation, he (Sir G. Grey) should not say anything, because he believed them to pessess a character for honesty and probity all over the wcrld, not likely to be damaged by the portrait drawn of them by the lion. gentleman. (Hear, and cheers.) He was much pamet at the remarks that had been male against Sir J. Blew ring, though he was not astonished at it when he con sidered the quarner from whence they came—(hear) — and as regarded Sir M. Seymour, he much regretted that there should be but one exception to the spirit of moderation and commendation that had been used to wards that gallant admiral. Teat exception was a gal lant admiral and a brother officer, who, above all, should have been the first to have sympathised with a brother officer when attacked in his absence—(cheers)—that was the only person whom he (Sir G. Grey) bad heard sneer at Admiral Seymour, and speak of him disparagingly as a Batish officer. (Cheers.) lie was ales much pained at the observation of the noble lord the member for Lon don, that Sir J. Bowring was a troublesome and meddle some officer—(cheers from the opposition)—which was followed in the same strain by the right honourable baronet the member for Carlisle, who said that Sir J. Bow , ing had eat with most of them in that house for a long period, which afforded a fair oppor tunity of their obtaining a just estimate of his character, which his friends probably would not consider very fa vourable, and the right hon. baronet added, with great deliberation, that the responsibility of selecting such a person as Sir J. Bowring was a grave responsibil ty. (Rees, and cheers from the Opposition.) On hearing that he (Sir G. Grey) could not help -asking himself by whom that responsiblity was incurred. (Hear.) His right hon. friend, who had eat with Sir J. Bowring in that house, who bad watched his conduct, who knew his character, and who knew his faults, would, perhaps, feel no more surprise nor plead more ignorance on the matter than the noble lord the member for London. (Hear, hear) Who was it that appointed Sir J. Bewring to his present office? (Hear, hear.) He (Sr G. Grey) would answer his right hon. friend the member fer Car lisle, who had in his lite speech directed his censure on hos , who appointed him. He found that Sir J. Bowring Was appointed consul at Canton on Jan. 10, 1844, when the noble lord the member for the city of London, was at the head of the Government. (Loud cheers.) Sir J. Bowring held teat office for seine time, and he (Sir et. Grey) supposed he must have discharged his duties satisfactorily, for he found that on the 24th Dec., 185 n, he was appointed plenipotentiary and chief super inteedent at Canton by the Government of which Lord Aberdeen was the bead, and cf which both his right hon. friend and his noble friend were members. (Cheers.) His right hon. friend row know on when the res p ons e lenity of Sir J. Bo wring's appointment rested, asd it was not the first time in his right hon. frieed's pub'ic life that he hal thought too late Of the responsibility he had in curred. (Loud cheers and laughter.) The Government felt teat they had done their duty in giving their sup port to their officers, placed in mo it difficult circure stenese. (Hear, laser ) Every day communications were being made to the Government from persons con nect d with the Caine trade and those who had visited tne csuntry approving of the conduct of the authorities at C-roton, and (ntting that no ojier c - iur: , :e was open to the authorities there than that they bad adopted. Any rely taioa of aothA`ity there vim,' I be taken as a defeat, and in Canton life would not be safe, but murder and ra pine would be perpetrated there to a large extent. He hoped the house would bear in mind the consequences that would he likely to result if they decided this case on legal technicalities, and he implore i them to decide it on the broad principles and the vast magnitude of interests at elake. (Chet re) Mr. P. ROInEitTSON said ho ft lt hound on that oc casi )n to record Lis vote iu favour of the Government, and against ihe great Conservative party of which he was a hit mine mein her. (Cheers.) As a person who had resided in China and kne w the Chinese character, he had no doubt but that the proceeding in connection with the Arrow wee meant as a determined insult. (Cheers ) A lorcha wee, in fact, a foreign vessel, and the fact of her being in Chi eese waters proved that she was admitted thereas such, and it she had no flag flying, nor any name on her, there could be no mistake that she was a foreign one. The lion. member for the West Riding praised the Chinese as inoffensive towards foreigners. Now, one of the first this es which struck him when be visited the country in 18n1 wan, that the children, when Europeans passed, ran after them them, " Paw wee," winch means, " f. , reign devils," and making signs as if to cut off their heads. The hon. member for the West Riding ,:aid it was owing to our own conduct if we were ill-treated in China. This was a mistake. When he was there, there were very few foreigners in the country, and no such cominimica- Con passed as would give encouragement to Chinese ill fe&ing. The children who had then acted were now grown up to be men, and - a child would go on in the way in which he was taught. He would show the Caine thing. In 1845 a gentleman, a partner in his own house, was batningewhen he was seized by Chinese boatmen, taken to pri on, loaded with irons, and, by way of amusement, trotted up and down a gutter, and threatened to have his head cut off. Another most melancholy instance happened on the sth Dec., 1847. Six gentlemen who went out to take a walk in the neighbourhood of Canton —where they certainly were allowed to go by the terms of the treaty—were attacked and carried off by the rab ble. As they did not come home in the evening their friends beeame alarmed. Our consul, Mr. Macgregor, on the 6th made art application on their behalf to Kehir, the governor of Canton. Kehir wrote back that before the receipt of any letter he had received intelligence that some foreigners had been seized, and he had sent orders that they should be set at liberty. This was a very pro per letter, but what was the result In the morning these men were most barbarously and coolly murdered in cold blood, after having, been tortured. The Chinese Gc vernment took no trouble about the matter, yet they ha , t proved, by putting 70,000 men to death in six months that they could show energy enough when it suited their pu Tose. He hal received a letter this morning from Sin ge; ore. The letter was dated Jan, 23. The writer said that numerous placards of an alarming nature had been posted over the town, calling on the Chinese to destr o y Ur- inhabitants, and offering $2,000 to any one who ..w:..1 kill Governor Blu , ,dell, our own governor. On the 28' :a there was to he an attempt, and his correspondent did not at all like the appearance on the part of the Chi nese. It was not Pleasant to go to bed with revolvers uraler their pillows. Ho hoped that the Government would not give way on the, matter—not that he stood up for Sir J Bowring, but a principle was at slake. The me ter should not be looked upon as a party matter, for it was no light thing to peril our position in China. He said nothing about the 10 millions aenualiy of our trade; bug as a matter of Lumanity we sherd I not stop short now. If we were to fail back there would be peril to our whole position in China, and on these grounds he should su7esort tho Government. Sir J. PAKINGTON said he had listened with atten tion to the speech of the right hon. gentleman the Sec retary of State for the Home Department, but he had heard nothing in that speech to change his views on the euelect. He was afraid that that speech, like that of the Ps reign eieeretary, was a skilful one in evading the real elevation ; the greater part had nothing to do with the matter which they were called upon to decide. The right hoe gentleman, he had no doubt, thought it right in thet speech to defend a public official abroad and at a di tepee ; but he (Sir J. Pakingtan) would say that nothing was Reid against these pubic officials in China tb et was not thrust upon them by their satire of justice. Toe right hon. gentle Man was unenece:afel in his a!- tempts to defend Sir J. Bnwring front the artacke ma le against him, From the first moment he (Sir J. Pa kiegton) had rea I the despatches at they were published in the newspapers, he had felt so deeply the extent to which the country was compromised, that he could no; consent to give a silent vote on the question Th e r i ght hon. gentleman bad deprecated party rpirit on the sub. jest; and had complained that the speeches of bon, gen tlemen opposed to Government were dictated by party feeling. His bon'. friend who had just addressed them had adverted to the same subject. The imputation was a most unjust one. There were speeches on both side.; of the house in the course of the debate, which he ,(Sir J. P. kington) had beard with great regret. The hon, mem ber for Devoneort bad stated that if the measure had pro o eded from that side of the house ho should not have given it his support ; while the hon. member for West sTrfolk h a d g i ven directly opposite views. He had said that be 'should be governed by views extraneous to the Jeet, and th at under the influence of such feelings he shoals vote aeainst the motion. that he a Mr. BENTINCK explained that what h e said wile, gr 1 eet in the t erms o f the motion, but that he ehould he guldetiNhcyjAher considerations. Sir J. PAlki N heard this with regret, and thought that it loweredwho character of that house; but to Pay that all t‘ineeart 0 agreed to Rapport the vote wore influenced buy e 047dousideretions, nothing could b' more unjust. on prove i that his own opinion a as formed previously, first reading ,of the p perS then remarked tottow(}), friends of his, who he believed were then present him, that the oafatoourse, the acts of our official were atrocious—trart a r r ee . al the G ) vernment , woul I repudiate those ae g i ie; : n on , coenvdern officials. This was the &pinion he had a.i, a r ea chat frig the despatches. He much regretted that the 16',-"a(1- went had nnt taken the cell' se of repudieting the of Sir J. Bowring. It had been given tl ere was a necessity to uphold our distant ra c i al in C dna. If our officials deserved support, he would eillei t that we ought to support them on every point ; hut, on t'e other hand, to defend The conduct of an official at a I risks was most dangerous to the interest of the ()len— tY. It had been (*petal that the right bonnerall: taronet the member for Carlif4e and the noble lord tho r. ember for London were members of the Government ix iiich Lad sent out Sir John Bowring. It was a proof of the misfortune of the ' that in sending out officiate, w e di d not eetteul cha mber of yotevar: consider so much their cha r cter ae the nu )-. that bouts. They Were th e Atti ch ' they had giyen . ion h :en so much attended to, Suffering from this having he wank! net enter into th.e claim of t the e ri i od of the b d bat in " red a British' Vessel, 'though the evideenrceehc_.,- to e : jun _ d subtle], nor whether the British flare - 1 hen there was the equesti: n as t t , ethie was it , eta; fie ing or not. ethr r she had the t o or not, thc;u;Z Rabe last reht to carry then., mast say that wee b e , )10 answer toy that becau 0 question t:.e licence had .ixpired at sea there was therefore an rx c'ee for it not ' aeiug renewed. Tice ;month in the t. vessel had been a +Yee, and on itspassage there it must have passed HOng i, ICo rig , an d he cou ld s ee 410 ATed3on why he ... . : THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 3, 1857. should have demanded her register. He found, in fact, by a despatch from Sir J. Bowring, dated Oct. 15, that it was found on inquiry at Hong Kong, that the register of the Arrow had not been presented at the office of re gistration. Here again was another proof that the Arrow was not furnished with legal authority. Into all this, how ever, he would not enter. But there was a matter con nected with the point of law adverted to by the hon. mem ber for Tavistock. He asked them what would be the effect on Europe if the British Government were to sanction such proceedings on doubtful grounds. He admired the high talent of the learned Attorney-General—he ad mitted the power and ability of his speech, and he had never been more struck than by the proof of it, as shown in the manner in which he had rivetted the a.' tention of the house on a dry legal argument on Friday night. Yet even he would not compete with the illustrious name of Lord Lyndhurst. The opinions he advocated had re ceived the support of that distinguished man, who had 1 sid down the law in a manner which commanded the at tentien of Europe. The legal authorities were, in fact, balanced on the question. Yet was it not a most dan gerous thing thus to act on a question so divided as to the views of the legal authorities ? He trusted that the House of Commons, in giving their verdict that night, would bear in mind that the eyes not only of this coun try but of Europe were upon them, and that the cha racter of their country was at stake. Our peaceful re lations with that great empire of China had been interrupted, our commerce had been endangered, an al most undefended city had been unjustly bombarded, hu man bleed had been unjustly shed, and the name and character of England bad been tarnished and impaired. This he believed to be an unexaggerated statement of facts, and he thought the House of Commons had a right to demand from her Majesty's Government a better explanation than had yet been given of the grounds on which they sanctioned measures so discreditable to the fame of this country. (Cheers.) Mr. COLLIER deprecated this constant system of eulogising our enemies at the expense of the character of our own countrymen. He contended that the legal argu ment was in favour of Sir J. Bowring, and though he would not commit himself to an approbation of all his acts, he upheld him on the general principle that repara tion ought to besought for wrongs done in China or elsewhere, and that such force must be used as was ne cessary to procure it. It that motion were carried he feared that Commissioner Yeh would insist on repara tion from us, and proceed to still further insults, and the motion which Mr. Cobden meant as the breath of peace, would be found to fan the flames of war. Sir F. THESIGER said he had not intended to ad dress the house on this question, but after ho heard the speech of his hon. and learned friend the Attorney-Gene ral, he felt it to be almost an imperative duty to express his sentiments. His hon. and learned friend appealed to them all net to allow their opinions to be swayed by party motives. Of course; he considered that he himself was p •rfectly free from any such influence, and there fore his salutary warning cool! only be intended for those who might dissent from his own views. (Laughter.) Now he (Sir F. Thesiger) will knew that the house al ways listened with impatience to a purely legal discus sion ; but the points to be considered in this case wore, alter all, not very difficult of apprehension. Tioey had to deal with a treaty which was a mere agreement between the parties, expressed in plain and intelligible terms, an f with an ordinance which, though it proceeded from the hand of Sir John Bo wring, was not more difficult to ex plain than acts of Parliament. The learned Lord Advo cate, who always spike well—(cheers)—and who had certainly made the most able speech on the Government side of this question, stated that in his opinion it was imp ,ssible to place the Chinese in the category of those nations t o whom the strict principles of international law omuld be applied. He presumed the learned lord meant teat, considering their peculiar customs and habits, and the strictly commercial character of theintercourse which they carried on with other nations, those conventional usages which wereincorporated in the intercourse between civilised nations were wholly inapplicable them. S.) far he was dispelled to agree with the learned lord ; but there were other principles of a hi t her description which were anterior to ail the laws of nations, which were inherent in our nature, and which came into action in our communi cation between states, whether civilised, semi -barbarous, or even barbarous—the principles of truth, of justice, and of humanity ; and it was not too bold a metaphor that the jurists employed when they represented states as moral ininons, and as such equally bound by the laws of hu manity with individuals. (Cheers.) The hon. and learned Attorney-General asked them to discard all these coesideratrons, aed to descend with him to the discussion of the peculiar language and structure of the documents before them ; and though it might be disagreeable to leave the higher ground, he (Sir F. Thesiger) could not refuse to follow him into the close lists which he had marked out. He was certainly rather surprised to hear his hon. and learned friend remark that in the debate thus far the ground upon which the discussion ought to turn had been entirely mistaken—(laughter)—and that instead of discussing the question on the basis of the ordinance of 1855 they must treat it as resting on the supplemental treaty of 1843. To him (Sir F. Thesiger) it was a matter of great surprise that all the able and powerful minds which had addressed themselves to the subject in the debate should have gone so completely astray, and, what was more remarkable. still, that the acuteness and subtlety of Sir John Bowring himself had been so entirely deceived, he having a mind so acute and subtle that if he had lived in the days of the scboolmen, he might, perhaps, have challenged for him self the title which one of them obtained, of " the irre fragable doctor." (Laughter,) The hon. and learned gentleman said that when a merchant ship entered the harbour of another country those who were on board were obliged to conform to the laws of that country, and that the crew of the Arrow might, undoubtedly, have been seized by the Chinese authorities if it had not been for the treaty In question. Now if he was able, as he be lieved he was, to satisfy the house that the treaty had eei,hing whatever to do with the question, the Chinese would find an unexpected advocate in her Majesty's At turney-General. (Hear.) The hon. and learned gentle-. man said, the term English merchant ship used in the supplemental treaty meant, irrespective of the manning, a ship having a British register in conformity with the treaty; and then he went on to say :-" The words Bri tish ship, or English merchant vessel, were plainly used in the supplemental treaty, not in the technical sense given to those words in the Imperial statute, but is the general universal sense of a vessel belonging to a &hints merchant; in that sense only was the term English merchant ship' in the supplemental treaty to be interpreted." He (Sir F. Thesiger) turned, of course, to the 17th article of the treaty, to see what was the context,, and on doing so he was astonished to find that the term English "merchant ship" was nowhere used. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) At first he thought he must be mistaken ; but he read the article again and again ; and he discovered that the only terms used on which the question turned were, first of all, the title of the 'article. in which British "small craft" were men tioned ; next the words " vessels belonging to the English nation ; and then the words " British schooner, cutter, lorcha." His honourable and learned friend the member for Plymouth (\lr. C. Pier) had im ported a new term into the article—the term " British built," but in the article as it before stood there was no such words, and it was a strong argument in favour of the motion, that those who argued the ease on the ether side could net de so without in , erting in the treaty words which did not exist there previously. Now let tin house consider what was the effect of this treaty. The date of it was 1834, 12 years before the new-fangled colonial registration under the ordinance of 1855. The term "British ship," British " sloop," or "lorcha," had, at the time when the treaty was signed, a deanite meaning among the Chinese ; it meant a vessel which war owned by a British natural born subject, or a person who bad been naturalised, or bad obtained letters of naturalisation, and the idea that the Chinese anticipated, when the treaty was entered into, a new description of registration commenced 12 years afterwards, which would enable them to appear under the dis.4uise of British subjects, was an idea t>u ab and to be entertained. (hear.) It was quite clear, th, re'ore, that the vessels referred to io the treaty were vessels in the strict sense o! the words. In fact, the proposition of the hon. and learned gentieman (the Attorney-General) should have been reversed, and inst e ad of raying that they must rely on the treaty, and not on the ordinance for a justification, be should have said that they must rely on the ordinance, a tb n e d ( not . on the treaty. (hear.) He would now turn to ilfr:semir)airut;:gn l a ei n zg e t eL zh l io n lhn t w li ta e hl y b e: 7o. r 1855 it was considered de e that some check should be applied to the practice o there was passed an ordinanCegt, h c in a o r w r f ied on to a very con haiolharwchasinsethdantioyoestityr preserved the distinction between British vessels and vessels of another description, it being d ec l are d t h a t a ll vessels • veal by British subjects should be at liberty to trade in case they werethe provided with a c er tifi ca t e o f mit was h ywith timperial a r in e e g n is t t . ry Ain registrationnceofownr ns r odc introduced f for a r thelia - first time, and the Chine residentswithin the ipt r colony (i)nv dtde were entitled to obtain c l in i al registration, they were registered lessees of crown landsh colony. The house should observe the distinction made between vessels which were own e d b y B ritish subjects ' and vessels of another description subj ec t to a register, ' which bad to be renewed from year to year, the register being forfeited if the conditions were not complied with, It was very questionable whether this ordinance was a legal one, whether, if enforced, it had not the effect of repelling the Merchant Stripping Act with respect to vessels of this class. It had certainly not been sanc tioned in any way at the time when the proceedi- gs with regard to the Arrow took place. But when these pro ceedinge took place there was an ordinance of question able legality, upon which alone Sir J. Bowring founded his proceedings. The house would observe the difference between the treaty registration and the ordinance regis tration, Registration under treaty could only be to Briti,h s u bj, cts, reg i stration under the ordinance might b of e to Chinese r es i dents who were also crown l es-cis rar l ande ; registration under treaty was not .tempo becaus e the register was to be delivered to the r ; n h t e ttr e t s, :f the custom-house, and returned when oarne,ri,inovnazo,e.i. yv vvl a lt s sw a a b not to sail, registration under the tin under etnhde temporary registration, renewable loatnhererefwoares, B C o l m ea e l t - h t i h n a g t dtil,etinreefifertnrian tr,l:litnrZcteY'alone.tobratardste what was connection it roust rest on the footing of the would, therefore, proceed to contidet of the orditotnefe teaneowrititehdithis subject the legal effect it not to be opposed to imperial the l ordinance assuming might confer right s as against ours; iva. , ,"ri g h ts might possibly be en titled to respect from foreign nation s but it co u ld no right whatever upon Chinese subjects as against eon t f h e e r Chinese government. Such was the opinion of Lord Lyndhurst. "Oh, hut," said the Attorney-General, " that noble and learned l eel, for whom I profess the highest respect, was under an error, and what is most remarkable, was utterly ignorant of the only authority on the subject. and that one which was decisive against him." Lori Lyndhurst—ignorant of the law. (Weer.) The ATTQRNEY-GENERAL—lwaidnosuch think. (The hon. and learned member then gave his version of what he did say, but in too low a tone to be heard in the gallery.) Sir F. THE SIGER had listened to the hon. and learned gentleman, he had also seen what appeared to him to be a correct statement of what had passed, and in that he found these words attributed to the hon. and learned member : " It was remarkable that Lord Lynd hurst did not seem to be aware of that case." (Cheers.) Now he must say that if any of them—pigmies in the law—had ventured to address Lord Lyndhurst, and say that he was ignorant of the law, the noble lord might well have answered them in the words of Sergeant May nard :—"I have forgotten more law than you ever knew." (Laughter.) The case to which the hon. and learned gentleman referred was one well known to every person in the slightest degree conversant with law. But when the hon. and learned gentleman said that that au thority was a complete answer to Lord Lyndhurst's rea soning, and, moreover, when the boo. and learned gen tleman asserted, as he did, that it was a complete autho rity to show that the superintendent at Hong Kong had a right to give a Chinese subject a register which would enable him as against the Chinese authorities to appear as a British subject, he would not venture to say that the honourable and learned gentleman was ignorant of the case, but he must say that a more complete mis apprehension of the authority of that decision was never heard. (Hear, hear.) What was the case I The house would forgive him for going into detail—(hear, hear) — but it was necessary to be precise in dealing with the hon. and learned Attorney-General. (Hear, bear.) The case was this. A person who was a native-born British sub- ject removed to the United States with his family with the intention of settling there, was denizened and became a natur.lised citizen of the American Republic. (Hear,) Under a treaty with America—a treaty confirmed by act of Parliament—the citizens of the United States were allowed to trade with the East Indies—a privilege which, as a general rule, no subject of England then enkiyed. The person to whom he had just alluded had been for a considerable time engaged in the shipping trade, was the owner of several vessels, and the question was whether he, a domiciled, naturalised citizen of the United States — (hear)—was not within the terms of the treaty and the act of Parliament —(hear)—whether he was not suffici ently clothed with the character of a citizen of America to entitle him to trade with the East Indies. There were great authorities who thought he was not entitled, but the opposite view ultimately prevailed. The house was therefore at last in possession of this authority, of which it had been said by somebody that Lord Lynd hurst was not aware, which was to be a complete refu tation of the opinion which that noble and learned lord expressed, and to establish that a parson who was e Ted in the ordinance a Chinese resident, net domic led at a'l, not naturalised, having no rights whatever as a British subject, was by this register clothed with the character of a British subject, and entitled to the privileges con ferred by the ordinance. (Cheers.) Of course the hon. and learned Attorney-General was a lawyer of consider able eminence and experience ; he (Sir F. Thesiger) could not presume him ignorant of, for he mentioned this au thority; that he had entirely misunderstood it when he put it forward might be a question, but certainly the hon, and learned gentleman was rather relying upon that which very frequently occurred in the house—that if there was only a bold assertion of law, it would pretty certainly be adopted without question. (Laughter) The hon. and learned gentleman (the Attorney-General) also referred to another authority, upon which, too, he (Sir F. Thesiger) found it necessary to correct him. The hon. and learned gentleman said—"Thera was only ono other point to which he begged to call the attention of 'toe house, viz., that the respect due to the British flag and the British papers, which were known to be possessed by this vessel, ought, independently of anything else, to have entitled it to the protection due to the British flag, without the Chinese entering into any examination of the aecuracy of those papers." And then, finding in an Admiralty report an isolated passage, the hon. and learned gentleman care fully culled it from the particulars of the case, and put it forward to the house as maintaining him in the position he had assumed. The learned gentleman said—The great est authority on that subject was Lord Stowell, who, in the case of the Vigilantia, reported in Robinson, 13, said, —" It is a known and established rule with respect to a vessel, that if she is navigating under the pass of aforeign country,she is considered as bearing the national character of that nation under whose pass she sails—she makes a part of its navigation, and is in every respect liable to be considered as a vessel of that country." This was start ling. Now, let the house urv:erstand what this case of the Vigilantia was. As the hod. and learned member for Tavistock had stated, that case was a case of war. It arose thus : There was a vessel sailing under Prussian colours which belonged to a native of Holland. We were at war with the Dutch at that time, and Prussia was a neutral state. There had been an endeavour made to give tee vessel a Prussian character, by in some way getting a certificate from the magistrates at Ewing that the owner of the vessel was a native of that city. Tons she was sailing under Prussian colours and with Prus sian papers. But when the noble lord laid down the proposition which the Attorney-General had quoted, he laid it down with a number of qualifications which were of course admitted. (Cheers.) And though L eel Sto well admitted that prima facie, of course a vessel sailing under the colour of a political state must be assumed to belong to that state, yet the papers on that oc casion having been overhauled, and having been found fraudulent, the Vigilantia, which was protected by the general proposition, was condemned as a prize. (Cheers.) Now he must say that the house had not been fairly treated. They bad had to consider a case which appeared a difficult one; they were anxious to have a guide. The hon. and learned gentleman, dignus vindice iive.s, descended amongst them to enlighten their igno ranee and dispel their doubts, and after exhibiting to their.astonished eyes a few feats of intellectual ledgerde main, he disappeared from among them in a cloud of au thorities. (Laughter.) He (Sir F. Thesiger) had endea voured to track the course of the hon. and learned gen tleman, but he would venture to ask hon. members whe- ther they were as well prepared to receive without hesi tation the propositions of law which were maintained the other night by the Attorney-General as they were at the time when they were first enunciated ? He would next proceed to consider the position in which the ques tion stood at present. Assuming that the ordinance vas a legal ordinance, suppose the register conferred upon the Chinese residents the right during its existence to have the temporary character of British subjects ; yet it was !Omitted the register had expired, and therefore all rights under it were lost. (Hear.) And this led to the most painful part of the case. Sir J. Bowring, in his let ter to Consul Parkes, said—" It appears, on examina- Lion, that the Arrow had no right to hoist the British flag; the licence to do so expired on Sept. 27, from which period she has not been entitled to protection." The hon. and learned Attorney-General had said there was no du .. plicity in that statement. Undoubtedly there was not ; but on Oct. 11 Sir J. Bowring writes to Commissioner Yell that " there is no donbt the lorcha Arrow lawfully bore the British tag." (Rear.) It was when these two statements were brought together that the duplicity of the case became apparent. He (Sir F. Thesiger) could not help thinking that this very circumstance wee a strong proof of the fact that this difficulty with the Arrow had been eagerly laid hold of as a pretext for pushing on Sir John Be wring's preconceived notions with respect to the right of entry into Canton. Had it not been for this the authorities of Hong Kong might have been satisfied with simple reparation—a junk for a junk, as had been suggested by the right hon. baronet. It appeared that the fleet had captured a junk, which was thought to be a Chinese war junk, but which turned out to be a merchant vessel. But this might have been a sufficient reparation, for the acts of both parties rested on intention, and if, alth•rogh there was no actual statement of intention to insult the British flag, the boarding of the lorcha was taken as an insult, certainly in the seizure of this vessel, an intention to insult being experienced, that intention might have been more than taken for granted. He could not say that there was much either to plead for us in the way cf humanity and forbearance. We began by attacking the distant forts, we proceeded to batter the walls, and have directed the art Very against the houses of the chief oJrninercial people. The people, it was true, had warning to get out of the way, but he thought that the firing of a single shot every five minutes must have been more dreadful than even a hot continuous fire. He was old enough, he was almost ashamed to say, to re member the bombardment of Copenhagen. A mightier armament left these shores than it was possible for the Danes to resist, but they made a feeble show of resist ance, and for two or three days endured the bombard. ment of their town. He (Sir F. Thesiger) was himself witness of that dreadful conflagration ; the loss of life was immense ; and in the midst of all that distress there came forth a voice from amongst the Danes, which, after describing the horrors of the carnage—the bodies floating on the water, the mother and child struck down together—burst out into this pathetic apostrophe, " Oh, Britain, queen of nations, how can your sons be guilty of such crimes ?" (Cheers.) He trusted they were not now about to justify similar acts. (Hear, hear.) He could not trust himself with the utterance of the sorrow, shame, and indignation which burnt within him on the perusal of these papers , which he feared would remain a lasting monument to the bad f ai t h of England ; nor could he now hope for one minute's inward peace did he not seize the opportunity afforde d by the resolution of the hon. member for the West Rio ing to express his horror of these proceedings. (Hear.) Sir W. F. WILLIAMS said that after the volumi nous arguments he had heard he should have been con tented to give a silent vote on this question, but that he felt he had a duty to perform to his country and himself —to his country because he was going to make explana tions which he was sure both sides of the house would receive with pleasure, and to himself because for 26 years he had served his country in that portion of the east that lay between the Bosphorus and the waters of Chine. Before the late war he had seen the Chinese at our colo nies of Malacca, Singapore, and Penang, where they enriched themselves rapidly, and received the greatest possible kindness and protection from the English. But during all that time they were at home Practising all those insults and injuries that led to the war that en sued and to treaties conferring great powers on us both as to their country and shipping. Lord Lyn lhurst had said in another place that our treaties with these eastern nations placed them in an unfair and degraded position ; but if it were so, then those nations were to blame them selves, as they had separated themselves from the great family of mankind. Having made some observations on the bad faith of the Turks and Persians, of whose morality he said he had had 16 years' experience, the gallant gene ral returned to the speech of the hon. member for the West Riding, and thanked that hon. member for the hand some manner in :vhich he had spoken of the officers of the army and navy. He trusted that when the estimates came under discussion, the hon. member would not be one of those who by curtailing our military institutions would seek to make us better adapted for another war. (Cheers and laughter.) With respect to the point immediately be fore the house, he believed that thel l insialt complained of had been premedidated on the part of the Chirese, and that therefore as Englishmen they were bound to resent it. (Hear, hear.) Secondly, he believed that any cen sure by the house of the proceedings of Government would have the worst effect in China, and therefore he felt bound to offer a negative to the resolutions of the hon. member for the West Riding. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT agreed with much that had fallen from the friends of Ministers. He agreed with Sir J. Blwring that the lorcha had no right to the Bri tish flag ; he agreed with Mr. Consul Parkes that not more than enough reparation was demanded ; be agreed with Mr. Booth that the ordinance was illegal ; he agreed with the Attorney-General that the question of the treaty was wh by immaterial to the case. It was said that the Cantonese were a blackguard population. Well, but every blackguard town was not to be bombarded. And remember that of these blackguards the crew of the lorcha itself was composed. Every one of these men might, if the Ministerial argument were correct, have gone into any part of Europe shouting "Cieis Ron3aeus sum." He defended Mr. Cobden and Sir J. Graham from the attacks made upon them by Sir G. Grey, and con tended, in opposition to the Home Secretary, that Sir M. Seymour did not exercise his own judgment in the attack, but proceeded throughout in obedience to orders. He admittedit was a generce:s thing for the Government to defend its absent servants, even though they might commit occasional mistakes. But was there to be no limit to this support ? He knew there were men inca pable of any but the highest religious motives who held a different opinion from him, but he could not stifle his earnest conviction that these proceedings cast a deep stain upon the reputation of England for justice, reli gion, and mercy. Sergt. SHEE, in addressing himself to th e l eg al part of the question, said that if the motion of the hon. mem ber for the West Riding were affirmed they would in effect be abrogating the treaty of 1843. A. ship owned by Chinese, built by Chinese, manned by Chinese in the island of Hong Kong, became, under the treaty, a British vessel. It was clear that the Arrow answered all the descriptions provided for in the treaty. The articles 13, 14, and 16 of the supplemenal treaty of 1843 were perfectly clear. It was said these lorchas were not British ships because they ware not owned by a natural born British subject. The Attorney-General had taken a com mon-place view of the treaty, and if they construed the words of the treaty meaning "British ships," that it must be owned by a British-born subj set only, then, to all intents and purposes they would repeal the treaty. That was a serious consideration for those who intended to support the resolution. The residents of Hong Kong were, according to the existing law, British sub jects. Tne nationality of the ship depended upon the residence of the owner. That was clearly the law. Mr. ROIINDELL PATArsit and Mr. J. PHILLIMORZ rose together, and the former moved the adjournment of the debate. There were several exclamations from different parts of the house in favour of the continuance of the discussion, but ultimately the adj rurnment of the debate until to-morrow (this day) was assented to. L )rd PAL MERSTON —There are some notices stand ing for to-morrow, but I hope that those gentlemen who have given these notices will feel that it is of importance that this debate should be brought to a close to-morrow, and that they will permit the debate to come on. Mr. DISRAELI—I may say, for myself, that as the division has not yet taken piece, and as the debate has assumed its present character, I am, of course, unwilling to attempt to force a division. I cannot, ho waver, help remembering that in that other place which has been sd frequently, and, as I think, so irregularly alluded to in our debates, when a motion fre the adjournment of the debate was made on the first night a leading Minister of the Crown objected to the adjournment. I bad theref re thought that as the question had been discussed in this house and was adjourned over Friday, we might have come to a conclusion te-night. I, howete r. now collect that there is a very general feeling that the 41 :bate should be again adjourned—(hear)—but I do hope that there will be an understanding among us on both sides that the division will be taken to-morrow. (Hear.) Colonel LINDSAY who had a notice oe the paper fur to-morrow, expressed his readiness to allow the de bate to have precedence. COMINIISiIONERS OF SUPPLY (1856) ACT This bill was readAMENDMENTaBndt time. e. EXTRA-PAROCHIAL PLACES BILL. After a short con;ersation, in the course of which Mr. BOUVERIE explained that the object of this bill was to compel extra-parochial places to maintain their poor, it was read a second time. LIGHTING OF TOWNS (IRELAND) ACT AMEND NIENT BILL. This bill wal read a third time and passed. _ THE OPIUM TRADE WITH CHINA. Oa the motion of Mr. MURRO UGH, who emphati cally and at some length denounced the conduct of the East India Company with regard to the growth of opium and its smuggling into China, a return was ordered of the number of persons engaged by the East India Com pany in the Presidency of Bengal in making advances of money to the cultivators of poppyseed before the sowing time; in watching its growth after it is sown, in superintending the delivery of the opium, its inspissation and preparation for the taste of Chinese consumers ; its formation into balls and packages in chests especially adapted for the convenience of carriage into Chinese ter ritlries, and its conveyance to Calcutta for auction at the Government sales ; and of the number of licences grantei by the East India Company, in the years 1855 and 1856, to private ships trading to China, containing a provision, with the penalty attached, " That no opium except that which the East India Company monopolises shall be taken on board." The house adjourned at 10 minutes past 12 o'clock. THE ENGLISH IN, CHINA. The following extracts from a letter, dated Hong Kong, and describing the proCeedings of the amiable objects ofso much Parliamentary solicitude, will be read with interest : "The Chinese, emboldened by their sucoessful incen diaridm in foreign factories, have assumed offensive ope rations, while the squadron, under the command of Ad miral Seymour, being composed of vessels of large size, has been unable to do more than maintain its ground and keep open the communications with the colony. There appears to be no chance of the obsti nac y o f th e man d ar i ns giving way until the arrival of such a force as will be able to act against them with effect. This the gunboats on the way hither are expected to afford, but in the meantime the entire population seems arming against foreigners, without distinction, and some fearful hazards have marked the progress of the last month, acts of assassina tion having been frequent for the purpose of obtaining the head maney offered by the provincial Government. "Jan. 15.—1 am hardly able to hold my pen to write you a few liner, being under the influence of a strong emetic taken to avoid the effects of poisoned bread eaten at this morning's breakfast. Mr. —, Mr. —, and myself were seized with violent fits of vomiting immediately after leaving the table, and I have just been informed that the whole town has been more or less affected in the same way by bread baked by a Chinese shopman. We are so surroun ded ragainst the i r . by the scoundre ls des i gns; and that the it atrocious i s ha d l y possible to ga blood-money edicts issued by the Canton Government have set on foot a system of assas s i na ti on an d kidnap ping. How this state of things will e n d it i s i mposs ibl e to say; but, notwithstanding the injury to our interests, I cannot regret that the Canton people are at lest about to meet their deserts.. Trifling as was th e or i g i na l matter in dispute, thettine must ha ve come , sooner or later, when the humiliating position of foreigners could be no longer endured. At the other ports it is alto gether cliff-rent ; the Canton people are as much hated by the Northerners as forei gners are i n the sout h , an d the Shangloaimen openly express their satisfaction at the action of our navy. Whether this feeling will continue when they hear of our del a y i n enforcing terms I do not know. " The exports of tea for the season will be 25,000,000 b. to 30,000,0001 b. deficient. . . Another letter, dated Hong Kong, January 15, from which the following is an extract, states:— . . "The baker from whom the poi son ed bread was pur chased is in custody, but it is feared that legal difficul ties will prevent a conviction. My bread, fortunately, was baked the day before and toasted, so that we es caped the effects of the poison. Natives as well as Europeans hastened to the doctors, apparently in great pain. I mean to make my cook, a Chinaman, taste everything in my presence before I partake of q." ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. EAST SUSSEX. The nomination of candidates took place yesterday at Lewea ; the High Sheriff, Mr. R. C. Promfret, presiding. Mr. R. W. &ENCORE proposed and General DAVIS seconded the nomination of Mr. J. G. Dodson ; and Mr. E. HUSSEY proposed and Mr. W. D. L. SHADWELL se conded the nomination of Viscount Pevensey. Both candidates having addressed the electors, a show of hands was taken, which was in favour of Mr. Dodson by a considerable majority. Mr. HussitY, on the part of Lord Pevensey, demanded a poll, which will be opened on Thursday next. NORTH LEICESTERSHIRE ELECTION. The election of a member to represent the Northern Division of the county of Leicester, vacant by the eleva tion of the Marquis of Granby to the peerage, took place at the Tolvn-haq, Loughborough, yesterday. Sir G. BEA.IIMONT proposed and Mr. H. C. BINGEAM seconded the nomination of Lord John Manners. Mr. FaEWEN then addressed the electors, and said he opposed the election o f L or d J o h n M anners p ure ly as a matter of principle. M r . F rewer , in conclusion, for ma..lly nominated th e H on. Major Powyi. R. G. CRESSWELL seconded the proposal. Mr. PICKWORTLE, a draper of Loughborough, here stepped forward, and nominated Richard Cobden, Esq., amid cheers and much laughter. Lord JOHN MANNERS then addressed the electors. He said ho should go to Parliament with the conviction that he was disch arg i ng h i s duty in maintaining to the beet of his ability th a t f a i r f a b r i c o f t em p e red liberty w hich was called th e i r gl r i ous const i tut i on i n Church and State. His Lordahip th en procee d e d to review the f - reign policy of the G overnmen t, an d condemned the meddling interferen ce w i t h the quarre l s o f o ther rations. Their true policy, he said was to avoid the extremes of either securing peace on terms di s honourßb . le to the I country. or plungin g i ra t e w ar, except when absolutely necessary. A show of hands was then taken, and a majority being in favour of Major Powys, a poll was demanded for Lord John Manners, and the proposers of the other candi dates declining to press th e ma tt e r to a contest, his lerd• ship briefly returned thank s and the proceedings termi nated. BANK _RETURNS. An Account, pursuant to the Act seventh and eighth Victoria, cap. 32, of the Ayerage Amount of Bank Notes of the several Banks of Issue in England and Wales, in Circulation during the Week ending Satur day, the 14th day of February, 1857 : PRIVATE BANKS. Average Amount. Andover Bank, Andover—Heath and Co. Ashford Bank, Ashford—Jemmitt and Pomfret 10,464 Aylsham Bank, Aylsham—G-. and T. Copeman Aylesbury Old Bank, Aylesbury—Z. D. Hunt 28,915' Baldock Bank and Baldock and Biggleswade Bank, Baldock—Wells, Hogge, and Co 28,973 Barnstaple Bank, Barnstaple—Marshall and Co 8,729 Basingstoke and Odiham Bank, Basingstoke— Seymour, Lamb, and Co..- 21,146 Bedford Bank. Bedford—T. Barnard and Sons 31,267 Bewdley Bank, Bewdley Nichols, Baker, and Co — Bicester and Oxfordshire Bank and Oxford Bank, Bicester—H. M. and G. Tubb 12,827 Birmingham Bank, Birmingham —Attwoods, Spooner, and Co 23,508 Birmingham and Warwickshire Bank, Bir mingham—J. L. Moilliet and Sons 8,728 Blandford Bank, Blandford—Oak and Co. 7,533 Boston Bank, Boston—Garfit and Co 66,093 Boston Bank, Boston—H. and T. Gee and Co 13,993 Bridgwater Bank, Bridgwater—J. and J. L Seale y Bristol Bank, Bristol—Miles, Miles, and Co 34,044 Broseley and Bridgnorth and Bridgnorth and Broseley Bank, Broseley—Pritchards, Boy cott, and Co. Buckingham Bank, Buckingham—Bartlett, Par rott, and Co. Bury and Suffolk Bank, Sudbury Bank, and Stowmarket Bank, Bury St. Edmunds — Oakes, Bevan, and Co. Banbury Bank, Banbury Gillet, Tawney, and Co. Banbury Old Bank, Banbury—Cobb and Son 25,356 Bath City Bank, Bath--G. Moger and Son Bedfordshire Leighton Buzzard Bank, Leighton Buzzard—Bassett, Grant, and Co 34,169 Birmingham Bank, Birmingham—Taylor and Lloyds Bradford Old Bank, Bradford, Yorkshire—H A. and W. M. Harris and Co. 9,793 Brecon Old Bank, Brecon—Wilkins and Co 59,346 Brighton Union Bank, Brighton—Hall, West, and Borrer Burlington and Driffield Bank, Burlington— Harding, Smith, and Co 12,040 Bury St. Edmunds Bank, Bury St. Edmunds— J. Woriledge Cambridge Bank, Cambridge—Mortlock & Co Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Bank, Cam bridge—Messrs. Fosters Canterbury Bank, Canterbury—Hammond and Co Carmarthen Bank, Carmarthen—David Morris 2,380 15,161 45,696 28,981 and Sons Chertsey Bank, Chertsey—La Coste and Son Colchester Bank, Colchester—Round & Green Colchester and Essex Bank, and Witham and Essex Bank, and Hadleigh, Suffolk, Bank, Colchester—Mills, Bawtree, and Co Cornish Bank, Truro—Tweedy and Co Coventry Bank, Coventry—Little & Woodcock City Bank, Exeter—Milford and Co Craven Bank, Settle—Alcocks, Birkbecks, and 22,047 3,056 17,063 34,575 42,696 7,736 18,522 Co Cardiff Bank, Cardiff—Towgood and Co Chepstow Old Bank, Chepstow Bank, Mon mouth Old Bank, Monmouth Bank, Brecon Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank, Chepstow—Promage, Snead, and Co Derby Bank, Derby—W. and S. Evans & Co Derby Bank, Derby—Samuel Smith and Co Derby Old Bank and Scarsdale and High Peak Bank, Derby—Crompton, Newton, and Co Devizes and Wiltshire Bank, Devizes—Locke and Co Diss Bank, Diss—Oakes, Fincham, and Co Doncaster Bank and Retford Bank, Doncaster 70,641 7,968 12,133 34,545 26,386 8,121 10,284 —Cooke and Co Darlington Bank, Durham Bank, and Stockton on-Tees Bank, Darlington—Backhouse & Co Devonport Bank. Devonport—Hodge and Co Dorchester Old Bank and Dorsetshire Bank, Dorchester—R. and H. Williams Fast Cornwall Bank, Liskeard—Robins, Fos ter' and Co East Riding Bank, Beverley—Bower and Co Essex Bank and Bishop's Stortford Bank Chelmsford—Sparrow, Round, and Co Exeter Bank, Exeter—Sanders and Co Fakenham Bank, Fakenham—Gurneys, Birk 70,581 81,439 8,001 47,406 91,018 50,779 45,588 24,093 beck, and Co Farringdon Bank and Bank of Wantage, Far ringdon—Barnes, Medley, and Co Farnham Bank, Farnham— Messrs Knight Faversham Bank, Faversham—Hilton and Co Godalming Bank, Godalming—Mellersh and Keen Guildford Bank, Guildford—Messrs. Haydon.. Grantham Bank, Grantham—Hardy and C 0... Hastings Old Bank, Hastings—Smith, Hilder, and Co. Hereford City and County Bank, Hereford— 7,585 11,655 5,805 4,675 13,389 27,227 36,660 15,748 Matthews and Co. Hull Bank and Kingston-upon-Hull Bank, Hull, Smith, Brothers, and Co. Huntingdon Town and County Bank, Hunting• don—Rust and Veaseys Harwich Bank, Harwich—Cox, Cobbold, and Co. Hertfordshire, _ Hitchin Bank, Hitchin 50,512 4,985 Sharpies, and Co. Hereford, Ross and Archenfield Bank, and Ross and Archenfield Bank, Hereford- Morgan and Co Ipswich Bank, Ipswich-Bacon and Co. Ipswich and Needham Market Bank, Suffolk, Hadleigh Bank, Manningtree and Mistley Bank, and Woodbridge Bank, Ipswsch- Alexanderl and Co. Kentish Bank, Maidstone-Mercer, Randall, and Co. 13,169 Kington and Radnorshire Bank, Kington- Davies and Co. Knighton Bank, Knighton-Davies and Co - Knaresborough Old Bank and Ripon Old Bank, Knaresborough-Harrison and Co 20,496 Kejidal Bank, Kendal-Wakefield, Crewdson and Co. Kettering Bank, Kettering-J. C. Gotch and Sons 8,351 Lane End Staffordshire Bank, Lane End-C Harvey and Son 5,359 Leeds Bank, Leeds-Beckett and Co. Leeds Union Bank, Leeds--W. Williams, Brown and Co. Leicester Bank, Leicester-Pagets and Kirby, • 29,669 Lewes Old Bank, Lewes-Molir eux and Co 26,645 Lichfield Bank, Lichfield-Palmer and Greene -- Lincoln Bank, Lincoln-Smith, Ellison, and Co. 82,541 Llandovery Bank, Lampeter Bank, and Llan dilo Bank, Llandovery-D. Jones and Co 19,033 Loughborough Bank, Loughborough-Middle ton and Cradock 7,449 Lymington Bank, Lymington-St. Barbo and Co. Lynn Legis and Lincolnshire Bank, Lynn Regis-Gurneys and Co. Lynn Regis and Norfolk Bank, Lynn Regis- Jarvis and Co 11,914 Macclesfield Bank, Macclesfield-Brocklehurst and Co. Manningtree Bank, Manningtree-Nunn and Co. Marlborough Bank, Marlborough and Wilts Old Bank, Marlborough Old Bank, Marl borough Old Bank and Hungerford Bank, and Hungerford Bank, Marlborough-Tan ner and Co --- Merionethshire Bank, Dolgelly-Williams and Son 5,531 Miners' Bank, Truro-Willyams and Co 16,578 Monmouthshire Agricultural and Commercial Bank, Abergavenny-Bailey and Co 26,999 Monmouth Cld Bank, Monmouth Bank, Bre con Bank, Chepstow Bank, Chepstow Old Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank, Monmouth-Bromage, Snead, and Co 13,567 Newark Bank, Newark-Godfrey and Riddell 24,543 Newark and Sleaford Bank, and Sleaford and Newark Bank, Sleaford-Handley, Peacock, and Co 48,234 Newbury Bank, Newbury - Bu nn y & Slocock 20 , 39 7 Newmark'*t Bank, Newmarket--Eaton, Ham mond, and Co 19,845 Norwich Crown Bank and Norf olk and Suffolk Bank, Norwich-Harveys an d Hudsons 4 7 , 3 72 Norwich and Norfolk Bank , Norwich-Gur neys and Birkbeck ,,1, 98,742 Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank, Not- . tingham, Hart, Fellows, and Co 9,864 Nuneaton Bank, Nuneaton-Craddock and Co 1,175 Naval Bank, Plymouth, Plymouth-Harris and Co. „, ................................. 18,428 New Sarum Bank, Sarum-Everett and C 0.... 8, 387 Nottingham Bank, Nottingham-Samuel Smith and Co. ............................................. 27,430 Oswestry Bank and Oswestry Old Bank, Os 9,678 Oxford Old Bank, Ox ford-Robinson, Pars ons, wes t r y-Croxon and Co 32,943 23,140 18,815 and Co. ........................................... 33 , 163 Old Bank, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Ton bridge WellaOld Bank, Tonbridge and Ton bridge Wells and Sevenoaks Bank, Ton bridge—T. H. and S. Beeching Oxfordshire Witney Bank, Witney—J. W. Clinch and Co. Pease's Old Bank, Hull, the Hull Old Bank and Beverlay Bank, Hull—Pease and Co 46,869 Penzance Bank, Penzance—Batten and Co. Peterborough Bank and Oundle Bank, Peter borough—D. Yorke and Co. Pembrokeshire Bank, Haverfordwest—J. and W. Walters 12,048 Reading Bank, Reading—Simonds and Co 28,475 Reading Bank, Reading—St e ph ens , Blandy, and Co. Richmond Bank, Richmond—Roper and Co 6,146 Rochdale Bank, Rochdale—Cl emen t, Royds, and Co. 3,748 Rochester, Chatham, and Strood Bank, Roches. ter—Day and Nicholson 7,071 Royston Bank, Royston—Fordham and Sons 14,330 Rugby Bank, Rugby—A. Butlia and Son 9,222 Rye Bank, Rye—lt. C. Pomfret, & Co.. 13,145 Ross Old Bank, Hcredlordshire, Ross Allaway and Macdougal 4,137 Saffron Walden and North Essex Bank, Saf fron Walden—Gibsons and Co Salop Bank, Shrewsbury— Burton, Lloyd, and Co. Scarborough Old Bank, Scarborough—Wood all and Co Shrewsbury Old Bank and Shrewsbury and Ludlow Bank, Shrewsbury— Rocke, Ey ons, and C 0.... .. Sittingbourne and Milton Bank, Sittingbune. —Valiance and Co. Southampton Town and County Bank, South ampton—Maddison and Pearce Southwell Bank, Southwell—Wylde and Co Southampton and Hampshire Bank, Southamp ton—Atherley, Fell, and Co. Stone Bank, Stone—W. Moore Stafford Old Bank, Staiord—Stevenso n and Co. Stamford and Rutland Bank, Stamford—Eaton, Cayley and Co. Shrewsbury and Welshpool Bank, Shrewsbury —Beck, Downward, and Co. Taunton Bank, Taunton—H. and R. Badcock Tavistock Bank, Tavistock—Gill and Rundle Thornbury Bank, Thornbury—Rolph and Co. Tiverton and Devonshire Bank, Tiverton --- Dunsford and Co. Thrapston and Kettering Bank, Northampton shire—Thrapston, Yorke and Eland Tring Bank and Chesham Bank, Tring—But cher and Son Towcester Old Bank, Towcester—Percival and Co Town and County of Poole Bank and Ring wood and Poole Bank, Poole—G-. W. Led gard and Sons Union Bank, Cornwall, Helston—Vivian and Co Uxbridge Old Bank, Uxbridge—Hull, Smith, and Co Wallingford Jl.l , , Wallingford—Hedges, Wells, and 0 , 9 ... Warwick and Warwickshire Bank, Warwick— K. Greenway and G. . Wellington Somerset Bank, Wellington-I-Fox, Brothers, and Co West Riding Bank, Wakefield, and Pontefract Bank, Wakefield-- Leatham, Tew, and Co Whitby Old Bank, Whitby—Simpson, Chap man, and Co Winchester, Alresford, and Alton Bank, Win chester—Bulpett and Co Winchester and Hampshire Bank, Winchester —Wickham and Co Weymouth Old Bank and Dorchester Bank, Weymouth—Eliott and Pearce Wirksworth and Ashbourne Derbyshire Bank, Wirksworth—Arkwright and Co Wisbech and Lincolnshire Bank, Wisbech— Gurneys and Co • Wiveliscombe Bank, Wiveliscombe—P. and W. Hancock Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton—Good ricke and Holyoake Worcester Bank, Worcester—Farley, Laven der, and Co Worcester Old Bank and Tewkesbury Old Bank, Worcester—Berwick, Lechmere, and Co Worcestershire Bank, Kidderminster—Farley, Turner, and Co Walsall Old Bank, Walsall—Charles Forster and Sons Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton—R and W. F. Fryer Yarmouth and Suffolk Bank, and Halesworth and Suffolk Bank, Yarmouth—Gurneys, Birbeck, and Co Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Suffolk Bank, Great Yarmouth—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., and Co York Bank, York- Swann, Clough, and Co 5,010 66,035 11,351 44,027 13,054 43,776 JOINT-STOCK BANKS. Bank of Westmorland, Kendal Barnsley Banking Company, Barnsley Bradford Banking Company, Bradford Bilston District Banking Company, Wolver• hampton Bank of Whitehaven, Whitehaven Bradford Commercial Banking Company, 9,296 9,670 47,726 8,868 30,111 Bradford Burton, Uttoxeter, and Staffordshire Union Banking Company, Burton-upon-Trent Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Banking Company, Chesterfield Cumberland Union Banking Company, Work- 16,742 48,732 36,312 . ington Coventry and Warwickshire Banking Company, Coventry Coventry Union Banking Company, Coventry County of Gloucester Banking Company, Chel tenham Carlisle and Cumberland Banking Company, Carlisle Carlisle City and District Bank, Carlisle Dudley and West Bromwich Banking Company, Dudley . 34,275 Derby and Derbyshire Banking Company, Derby Darlington District Joint Stock Banking Com pany, Darlington East of England Bank, Norwich 25,752 Gloucestershire Banking Company, Gloucester 148,534 Halifax Joint Stock Bank, Halifax 16,681 Huddersfield Banking Company, Huddersfield 33,740 Htill Banking Company, Hull .. 27,927 Halifax Commercial Banking Company, Halifax 13,415 Halifax and Huddersfield Union Banking Com pany, Halifax - 40,586 Helston Banking Company, Helston Herefordshire Banking Company, Hereford Knaresborough and Claro Banking Company, Knaresborough 27,549 Kingsbridge Joint-Stock Bank, Kingsbridge 3,139 Lancaster Banking Company, Lancaster 57,748 Leeds Banking Company, Leeds 23,336 Leicestershire Banking Company, Leicester 75,761 Lincoln and Lindsey Banking Company 51,771 Leamington Priors and Warwickshire Banking Company, Leamington Priors. 10,882 Ludlow and Tenbury Bank, Ludlow 9,734 Moore and Robinson's Nottinghamshire Bank ing Company, Nottingham 33,698 Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Banking Company, Nottingham 27,598 National Provincial Bank of England, Birming ham, Head-office, 112, Bishopsgate-street, London 438,754 North Wilts Banking Company, Melksham 39,358 N or thamptonshire Union Bank, Northampton , 79,329 Northamptonshire Banking Company, North ampton 20,522 North and South Wales Bank, Liverpool 53,503 Pares's Leicestershire Banking Company, Leicester Saddlcworth Banking Company, Saddleworth 1,827 Sheffield Banking Company, Sheffield 34,672 Stamford, Spalding, and Boston Banking Cora pally, Stamford 51,257 Stuckey's Banking Company, Bristol Somerset shire Bank, and Soinersetshire Bank, Lang port 361,845 Shropshire Banking Company, Shiffnall 44,618 Stourbridge and Kidderminster Banking Com pany, Stourbridge 57,119 Sheffield and Hallamshire Banking Company, Sheffield 20,751 Sheffield and Rotherhath Joint Stock Banking Company, Sheffield 52,254 Swaledale and Wensleydale Banking Company, Richmond Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Banking Company, Wolverhampton 30,186 Wakefield and Barnsley . Union Bank, Wake field .. 12,867 Whitehaven Joint-Stock Banking Company, Whitehaven 26,226 Warwick and Leamington Banking Company, Warwick - 30,662 West of E ng l an d an d South Wales District Bank, Bristol 73,922 Wilts and Dorset Banking Company, Salisbury 78,193 West Riding Union Banking Company, Hud dersfield 30,465 Whi+.church and Ellesmere Banking Company, 24,038 14,219 5,905 Whitchurch Worcester City and County Banking Com pany, Worcester 5,525 York Union Banking Company, York 72,362 York City and County Banking Company, 92,810 Yorkshire Banking Company, Leeds 12C,145 J. MICHAEL, Acting Registrar of Bank Returns, Inland Revenue, Somerset!House, Feb. 21. LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MARCH 2. -- STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market has had an apparent downward tendency, but it scarcely amounts to a quota. tion. London and North Western, 106—Ditto (k shares, new), s d.—Midland, 85A 4—Eastern Counties, 11/. is. 3d. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 102 24—North Eastern, BerwickA, 21i ex dir.— South Eastern, 22i /—Grand Trunk of Canada, 121. 16s. 3d.—Ditto, 6 per cent. deben tures, 81i—Sheffields, 384—Caledonian, 34 , 1—East Lanca shire, 100 A—Dutch Rhenish, B lb. 3d. p. MANCHESTER, MARCH 2. STOCK EXCHINGE.—The market was active, and a fair business was done at improved rates. The sales were : Blackburn, 8 15-16—Sheffield, 38i 4—Ditto, 10/., 1 2 4 — Midlands, 85 —Royal Swedish, 235., 25..—EaskLanca shire, 25—Ditto, Qrs., t per cent, 8R —Lancashire and Yorkshire, 101; 2 4----Great Northern A Deferred, 10g— London and North Western, new Eighths, I d. LEEDS, Menu 2. STOOL EXCHANGE.—Prices have been very firm to-day, but only a limited business was done. Leeds Northern, 204 5-16—Midlands, 83 4 ex div. BIRMINGHAM, MAIM( 2. STOCK EXCHANGE. - This market was inactive to-day, and prices about the same. London and North Westerns, 106 i—Great Western, 681 i—Midlands, 82i 83I—Bir. minghaut Bank, 331 ex div.—Birmingham Canrls, 924 for cash. RAILWAY TRAFFIC IiETURN,F. Corresponding wee k last y ear LONDON' AN D SOUTH -EASTERA RAILWAY.—Traffio re turn for the week e ndin g Feb. 28, 1857 214,3;5 11 10 14,245 3 10 Increase in 1857 £129 8 0 LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAII,v/ AT .__ Traffic return for the week ending Feb. 28, 1857 .... .. R10,912 1 4 Corresponding week last year 10,231 4 5 Total of the half - year to this date, 1857 V4,330 8 u Total of the half - year to this date, 185 G,,,,,, 89,321 10 11 14,510 24,055 38,369 2,345 11,250 12,151 3,109 340 12,764 26,744 21,440 22,750 8,370 8,390 10,579 11,175 13,541 7,327 10,782 14,914 12,860 7,689 24,879 2,822 45,039 13,387 18,151 15,479 35,533 50,540 5,415 10,635 THE WRECK OF THE PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL MAIL STEAMER MADRID. Yesterday the following report was received by the secretary of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Packet Company, respecting the wreck of the company's mail steamer Madrid, from the commander : VIGO, Feb. 21.—1 n proceeding into Vigo by the North Channel, when rounding Port Humbre, at 2.1 5 p.m. yesterday, at two ship's lengths off, steering S. E., to S. E., the ♦essel struck on a • sunken rock not laid doss in the Admiralty chart in my possession, and began to fill forward and settle down. I immediately lowered the boats and got the passengers, mails, and specie into them, and then beached the ship in a small sandy bay between Points Hombre and Sobrido which I deemed the most advisable course to pursue. Lieutenant Tickell, Admiralty agent, at once pro ceeded with the mails and reported the occurrence to her Britannic Majesty's consul at Vigo, while the third officer took charge of the passengers and specie, and landed them to the care of the coespany'e agents at this port. The water gained fast upon the engine-room and after boll. I ordered the fires to be drawn and boilers blown off. Then proceeded to get out luggage and cargo as much as possible ; only 11 few packages of the latter could, however, be got up, bat nearly all the passengers' baggage was saved, with some I cabin furniture. At 7 p.m. the water had risen to the quarter deck. I ordered the crew to take to the two remaining ship's boats and some country boats that came to our assistance. I then took the jolly-boat, and pro' needed to Vigo for further assistance, leaving the first and second officers in the cutter to keep watch over the ship for the night, as nothing further could be done, the bull being under water and lying quite steady, with 12 feet of water forward and 18 feet aft, the weather fins, rise and fall of tide about 11 feet. I received every as' eistance from her Britannic Majesty's consul and the company's agents, who despatched a guard for the Pro' tection of the property, and a competent person in charge of the labourers. These I met on my way to the town• The consul accompanied me this morning to the ship , and we are removing the rigging and everything as far as possible. The position of the ship is such as to render it doubtful whether she can be got off, but everything in our power will be done to effect it. Sporting Intelligence. TA.TTERSA.LL'S—MoNnAr. Although many turfites had left London for Liverpool the room was pretty well attended. Business, however, was very slack. The quotations on the Grand National Steeplechase were for the most part nominal, Hopelers Star being the only animal really in demand. Vedei,lm was the favourite "for money" for the Two Thousand. A. small investment was made on Blink Bonny for the Derby at 13 to 1. The only transaction on the Chester Cup was 100 to 10 against Leamington. CLOSING PRICES. LIVERPOOL SPRING CRP. 5 to 2 agst Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Bashi Bazonk (take 3 to 1) 3to 1 agst Mr. Lloyd's Gitana (taken) 7 to 1 agst Mr. T. Hunt's Lima GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. sto 1 agst Mr. Buchanan's Escape 10 to 1 agst Mr. Mellish's Minos 12 to 1 agst Mr. E. Parr's Hopeless Star 100 to 8 agst Mr. W. Cowper's Omar Pacha 100 to 8 agst Mr. Hodgman 's Emigrant 15 to 1 agst Mr. Hylton's Teddesley 100 to 6 agst Mr. Capbl's Little Charley 20 to 1 agst Count de Cunchy's Jean du Quesn• 28 to 1 agst Mr, Wright nas Forest Queen Even on five agst the field NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 10 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Sir Colin 20 to 1 aget Mr. Bradshaw's Commoner Two THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 6to 1 agst Lord Zetland's Vedette (taken and a) 6to 1 agst Mr. Howard's Schiedam (offered) 6 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's Loyola (offered) Bto 1 agst Baron Rothschild's Sydney (taken) DERBY. 13 to 1 agst Mr. W. I'Auson's Blink Bonny • 500 to 30 agst Mr. W. S. Crawford's Zuyder Zee (t.) 20 to 1 aget Lord Londesborough's Sent (t. 25 to 1) 25 to 1 aget Mr. Jackson's Saunterer (taken) 22 to 1 aget Mr. Bowes's Bird-in-thahand (taken) 25 to 1 agst Mr. Copperthwaite's Sprig of Shillelag a (taken) 1000 to 30 apt Mr. Howard's Arsenal (taken) 50 to 1 agst Mr. H. Purston 1800 to 10 agst Mr. W. Aiibert's Victor (taken) 2000 to 20 agst Mr. Douglas's Blue Jacket (taken) 1000 to 20 aget Mr. Cooper's lot (taken) Country Markets. • CHELMSFORD—FEB. 27. We had an average supply of wheat on offer to-daY, b ut much of it was in a very damp state, and the trade very b u t the best qualities barely maintaining the last week's priee 6 • Spring corn of all sorts without alteration, excepting boans of all kinds, which must be quoted is cheaper. Wheat, white, old, per s. qr. 34 new 37 red, old 32 new 32 _ _ Oats, per qr. 24 $ 0 Peas, Partridge 41 43 White 39 46 ..._ ... Barley 3 3 Chevalier 38 Grinding 33 Malt 73 Boiling 39 45 Dun 37 39 Beane, Tick 35 39 Harrow tick 39 42 Mazagan 34 3 6 Ditto, new 34 $1 Chevalier 75 COLCHESTER— FEE. 28. We bad a moderate supply of wheat on offer to-lay, De' mach of it was in a very bad state and nearly unsa l e able. Dry parcels at last week's prices. Th e su pply o f barley is falling off, and the market closed rather d earer . Beans and peas in fair demand for seed at full prices. Prices to-daywere as follow :—Wheat, white, 603 to 683 ; red, 50s to 60s; barley, 44 s t o 50 s ; oa t s , 22 s t o 28 1 ; bon°. Mazagan, 34s to 364; middle and small, 36s to 445; Posh white, 38a to 42. ; grey, 38s to 421. Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, So, in the port of London, from the following IN Feb. 23 to Feb. 28, both inclusive. # ~ receive d )11.3, frO. ••• x 8 204 r 33 200; 28 209 - 5055 - 554 15 - 50 125 941, 42 r 568 30 470 Colchester Harwich Leigh lialdon 1" 25 25 - I -- - -- , 116, 7v- A. 4 KIRKCALDY—FEB. 28. To-day we had good supplies of wheat and oats, but smut of barley. Sales slow for the two former, at the rates of 10 week ; the latter sold quickly at is per qr. higher. Wheat. Barley. 1 Oats. I Beans., First 62s Od I 46s 01 I 35s Od lOs 0 : I Second Third 30s Od 33s 04 I 22s Od 1 Os 0 ' _ Oatmeal, 36s COAL MARK Prim of Coal per ton at a. d. Bebside's Hartley 14 6 Walker Primrose . l2 9 Tanfield Moor l3 0 Tanfield Moor Butos 13 0 Howard's West Hartley Netherton 14 6 Bnddle W. Hartley 14 6 Bell's Primrose l2 0 Wylam Wantland, &a, - . _ Hatton South Kelloe ............... 17 0 Hatton l7 6 Hartlepool l7 6 Braddyll . l6 3 Seaham 15 9 ships at market...l3S to 38s per bag of 2801 b. T.—MAisci 2. the close of the market. Wallievd, too. ; i tl• 1 Pramwellgate „ l6 .0 ' Eden Main . l6 1 ! ' Russell's Hetton 16 : '• South Hetton. 17 : Stewart's 17 [Cello() 16 3 Tees Thorp l6 0 Ropier Grainge ... l6 9 „ Lambton Gosforth . .. 14 6 v Haswell l7 Elengh Ha 11..., 15 2 Heaton .• 14 • I Sold . 106 A CLERGYMAN SEIZED WITH PARALYSIS WJIISI PREACHING.—On Sunday morning, whilst the Rot. Canon Parkinson was preaching in the Cathedral Church, at Manchester, a sudden attack of illness obliged him to close his discourse rather abruptly. He was afterwards removed to the house of the Very Rev. the Dean of Manchester, where medical assistance was procured. The attack was pronounced to be oue of a paralytic oh* racter, but the rev, gentleman somewhat improved sub• seqnedtly, and there is reason to hope that be will re• cover. BIRTHS. OF ♦ SON. On the 2d inst., in Conduit-street, the Countess of Mae. clesfield. On the 28th ult„ at Barrington Hall, Herefordehire, the Lady Rodney. OF A. DAUGUTER. On the Ist inst., at 75, Onslow-square, the wife of Captain the Hon. F. Maude, R.N. On the 2d inst., at 9, Belize-road, St. John's-wood, the wife of John Ilopgood, Esq. MARRIED. Esq.. of Fenchur c h- street. On the 28th ult., at St. Giles's, Camberwell, Mr. Pinlate o f Fenchurch-street, to L ou i sa, elder daughter of Char i c g the 28th ult., a t H ove parish church, near Brighton. T. On the Wonfor, Esq., to Ann, daughter of B. Hawkins, Bock , late of Montagu House, Hammersmith. D. 'On the Ist in s t ., at 46, IE Great Ormond-street, Samuel Oliver, Esq., aged 72. On the Ist in s t ., at Harol d' s-cross, D u bli n, t h e H en. Ch*o. R. Pakenha m, aged 35. On the 2d inst. at Corunna House, Hammersmith, WO* Hanegan, Esq., aged 69. On the Ist inst., at 9, Curzon-street, Mayfair, Dr. John B. I Hume, C. 8., agrd76. On the Ist inst., Thomas Evans, Esq., M.D., of Stockwell' park House, Surrey, aged 57. On the 28th ult., at Ranston, Dorset, the Lady Elizateth Mary Baker, aged 77. On the 28th ult., Richard Price, Esq., of ilighflelds-park. Sussex, aged 81. On the 28th ult., at Reading, John Hoffman, Esq., solid* tor, aged 77. On the 28th ult., Edmund Derrell, Esq., of Nottinghare place, York-gate, Regent's-park, aged 80. Olney, Esq., aged 33. On the Ist inst., at Tunbridge-wells, suddenly, Charles LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No• 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the count/ of Middlesex, Tuesday, March 3, 1857.