The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-02-21 00:00:00

THURSDAY.

Lord REDUDALL introduced a Bill the object of which
was that no racehorse should start for • race carrying a
less weight than seven stone. At present many horses
started carrying weights so ridiciously light that it was
evident they were only entered to encourage gambling.
The Bill was read • first time.

Lord A IRLIK, in moving for • ropy of any correspon•
deuce, in addition to that already prenented to Parlia-
ment, which may have taken place between Her
klnjesty's Government and Her Majesty's Plenipotenti•
;tries respecting the negotiation of the treaty of commerce
with France, said his object in thin inotion wa. to obtain
an explanation of the grounds w hich lint induced the
Government to Junction the article in the treaty which
bound this country not to prohibit the export of coal.
The article of the treaty fettered our liberty of action.
and in case of war between Frniice and another coon.
try might seriounly compromint us if we were obliged to
supply France with an article might be deemed
contraband of war. It would also he injurious to the
interests of this country, in case of hostilities impending
between France and thin country, that we mliould not be
able to prohibit the supply of coal to France, no necen.
sary for maritime warfare, before war wan actually
declared. . . . .

Lord WODEHOUPIE said he did not object to the mo-
tion. He could not, however, agree with the exaggristed
apprehension of Lord Airlie in regard to the m,portp n
of coal to France. He argued that the treaty hail left
the two countries in reality on the same footing as I. fore
for it would have been just as mach an act of ho-' ility
to prohibit the export of coal even if no treaty existed
as it would be to do no under the present treaty. Etaioim
the treaty 'much a prohibition would only have been re-
sorted to when hostilities were impending, and could
still be put in force on • like emergency.
Lord HA RDWICXE agreed with Lord A irlie on the dan-
ger of binding this country not to prolmilmit the export of
such an essential element of warfare on cool, and one no
necessary both fur time defensive and aggresnive fmnipoles
of this country.
'lle Duke of S4,IIFRSEIT thought the from of Led
Hardwicke were unfounded, awl denied that the want
of Elighlila Cool, while Belgian Coal was obtainable. tioulo
prevent Frame from waging war with this country. 'lto
fact was that cheap coal was necessary to France fo
the development of her manufactures, mu order to enalml,
her to compete in • course of free trails with this cont.
try. The absurdity of these lean; wan alloMll 1.• I. '-
views taken by the French Protectionists. art ich were
just the contrary to those entertained in Englund. It
was said therethat the Emiglisli amod should
prevent the discovery and working of French coalmines.
and that in case of war with England France would, in
consequence of leer dependence upon this country, be at
*great disadvantage from her want of a home supply of
I coals.

Lord CHET attacked the treaty as unsound in prin-
ciple and impracticable in its nature. tin treaty, lie
considered, which affected the revenue of this country
should be concluded without the sanction of Parliament.
the legitimate controllers of that revenue; nor would
this treaty he so effectull to promote peace as ems gene-
rally asserted. No one desired re than himself that
France thould adopt • ayatesu of fret-trade, but lie did
nut wish te see free-trade, if France were hostile to it,
forced upon her. The French people would deem us
the promoters of the scht me, and swould look upon Sc
with feelings of anything hut peace Anil goodwill.
The Duke of ARGYLL Soll,liiisSrll that Lord Grey had
misapprehended the principles of the treaty, which was
neither • reciprocity nor exclusive treaty between
France and England. The French Government had
been distinctly informed that the removal of our duties
WWI not to be regulated in regard to goods from France
alone, hut to similar goods from whatever countries they
might come. As to the feelings of the French people on
the subject, that was entirely a matter for the considera-
tion of the French Government. As for laying an
export duty on coal, it would be contrary to the prin-
ciple laid down by Sir It. Peel, who considered that no
tax should be levied on exports. The fears produced by
the export of coals were quite groundless. RS the effect
of the clause in the treaty was merely to put France in
regard to this country on the same footing u all other
nations. Of course, in cases of contemplated war we
might be justified in taking measures to prohibit the
export of coal ; but if antler ordinary circumstance/1 the
export were prohibited, it would moat seriously affect
the great and various interests connected with the coal
trade throughout this country. Even if no treaty
existed, the exportation of coals to France could not be
prohibited unless we prohibited their export to all other
nations. In addition to these reasons, it would surely
be for the advantage of both countriem, and for the
peace of the whole world, that France ahould depend for
coal on England, as much as England depended for its
cotton supply on America, as the identity of interests
thus crested would be one of the most powerful means
of pretentiny petty irritations from swelling into mutual
hatred and resulting in a war.
After • few words from Lord STANLEY of A I.DEKLEY,
Lord GRANVILLB said it waxquiteclear that no Govern-
ment would dare, within the next ten years, to impose
a restrictive duty upon the export of coals, and entirely
concurred with the opinion laid down by Lord Wade.
house, that if uoal is to Its prohibited at all it must he
equally prohibited to all countries. Recent discoveries
also heti shown that France hail in herself • sufficient
supply of coal of all qualities fur her own use if she were
only to direct her efforts to develop. her own coal
mines.
Lord AIIILIZ briefly replied, and the motion was
agreed to.
Their Lordships then adjourned at a quarter to 8
o'clock.