The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-31 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY.

Sir .1. Taur.swar obtaited leave to bring in • Bill to
abolish Church-rates, and
Mr. M'Msnon • Bill to secure • right of appeal in
criminal cams.
Mr. ST. AUBYN brought up the report upon the
Address.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY lamented the prosecution of
hostilities with the Chinese empire, and that the Ad-
dress did not contain an expression of regret st these
hostilities, instead of • constructive approbation of
an expedition the cost of which would derange our
finances. . . .

After a few remarks by Admiral WAtarr, upon the
action on the Peibo,
Sir J. PAIINGTON said be was glad that the heroic
conduct of Admiral Hope in that affair had at length
been recognised, end observed that he regarded the stens
of our relations with China with the greatest possible
anxiety.
Sir H. HADFIELD concurred with Sir. H. Willoughby
in protesting against hostilities with China.
Sir M. Strum:it, from his own experience and know-
ledge, could not understand how any approach could be
made to that Power unaccompanied by an armed
force.
Other topics in the address were briedy adverted to
by Mr. SLANKT and Lord FERMOT, who added an infu-
sion of Irish topics, complaining that the Government
had not done anything to encourage the moderate party
in Ireland.

Mr. CARDWELL replied to Lord Fermoy, vindicating
the Government from the charge of neglecting the mode-
rate party in Ireland, and appealing to their declarations
on the subject of mixed education, the principle of which
they were determined to support.
Mr. W. EWART made • few remarks upon the com-
mercial treaty with France.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD protested against the treaty,
which seemed to him, he said, in every point of view, a
most objectionable measure. If it was a reciprocity
treaty, it was an abandonment of the free-trade policy ;
if not, and if it was • question of revenue, the treaty was
open to infinitely greater objections. The subject ought,
he ciontended, to have been fairly put to the House before
the Government embarrassed themselves with a treaty.
There must be, he thought, some special reason for this
treaty, the object of which, be believed, was political,
not commercial ; but there were many reasons why there
could not be an identity of policy between England and
France.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to Mr.
FITZGERALD, remarked that, as the treaty had not been
laid upon the table, it would have been better if he had
reserved his sweeping denunciations of the measure until
the House knew what were its nature and stipulations.
He (Mr. Gladstone) should defer his vindication of
the treaty until Parliament had the means of fully dis-
cussing it, when he should be prepared to defend it upon
the principles of free trade, as well as with reference to
revenue. The objection that there was • latent political
intention in the treaty, the object of which, according to
Mr. Fitzgerald, was • detestable plot to establish an
identity of policy between this country and France, he
met by • declaration on the part of the Government that
in their opinion, there could not be too close an under.
standing between the two countries.
After some observations by Mr. NEWDEGATE,
Mr. HORISLAN, with reference to the declaration of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, remarked that the policy
of this country should he to keep up amicable relations
with all the great Powers of Europe, but not to form a
separate alliance with any single Power. Upon the ques-
tion of Reform, he thought the House should know at
once what was the character of the measure likely to be

proposed.
Mr. J. ERART, Sir Ds L EVANS, Mr. 131:CH•FAN. Mr
BENTINCIL, Mr. JAMES, and Mr. J. LOCCE continued the
discussion, which turned chiefly upon the China question
and that of Reform.
Lord PALMERSTON observed, in reply to Mr. Hors-
man, that in the distribution of the public business the
Government had taken the course which they thought
best suited to bring the deliberations of the House to a
satisfactory result. With regard to China we were, he
said, in the same situation as before Lord Elgin negoti-
ated the treaty of Tien-tai.,.
The Address was then agreed to, and the House ad-
journed at half-past 3 o'clock.