The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-04 00:00:00

FRIDAY.

On the order for the House going into a Committee
of Supply,
Sir. F. Smith drew attention to the Report of the
&Auld and Whitworth Committee, called for by the
Secretary of State for War in 1858, and asked what
steps had been taken since that date to determine the
superiority of those two arms.
Mr. &monde made a statement on the prolifie topic
of the Galway Contrast in vindication of his personal
honour with reference to what had been said upon the
subject the peeosieding night.
111 r. Dunlop moved an Address to Her Majesty to
faiirsid her representative in China to afford to British
subjects equal facilities for oommereinl intercourse,
and to maintain a friendly understanding for the
purposes of trade, with taw two ooatoading parties LI

that enipire, in the exercise of an impartial neutrality
between them. _

Lord J. Rumsll, observing that it would have been
better to wait till further papers were before the House,
said the question was nut what had occurred three
years ago, but the actual state of affairs, which was
totally different. The official despatches lately received
contained more correct and trustworthy narratives of
facto than private letters, and they showed that we
were pursuing our proper business in China,—to
promote our trade and to maintain • neutral attitude
and • friendly intercourse with both the parties.
Mr. 13 Fitzgerald called atteution to circumstances
which lie thought compromised our neutrality in some
of the Chinese ports.
Lord Palmerston said it would be men by the further
papers that we were observing the strictest neutrality,
and had obtaiued toren' the Taeping authorities
security that our commerce should nut be Interrupted.
SirJ. Pakington called attention to the comparative,
progress of England and France in the construction of
armour-covered ships. Ho read, Hat of some of these
vessels, and described their great size, strength, and
armament, tho aggregate number.of these powerful
armour-covered vemela being 24, exclusive of the old
batteries. Ile was not aware, he said, that we had
more than six of these yowls. Admiral Elliot had
likewise assured him that in every one of the French
yards he had visited the utmost efforts were makiug to
press these preparations forward. Whatever might
be the motives of France, let 111., he raid, look at the
practical results—that we were rapidly becoming the
second ineritime Power of Europe. He a,lied what
were the intentions of Her Majesty's tioverument upon
Lice eubjeet. •
Alter 6011Ie observations by Admiral Walcott,
Hr. Lindsay thought that Sir J. Pakington would
have done better by communicating WI iuforusation
privately to the Covernment. Hr. Lindsay's comparison
of the ironcsased fleet of this two countries made it appear
that we were before the French.

Sir J. Elphinstone believed 'that the Government
could, from Choir OWO information, confirm the
report of Admiral Elliott, and thought it behoved
theni to investigate the subject of iron ships without
delay.
Mr. Dalgliah suggested that • committee of two or
three permos might be sent to inspect the French
Doekyanle, and be was sure the French Government
would give them erery
Lord C. Paget said it was true that the French were
making great progress in the building of irmomed ships,
and within the last two months they 1i..cl ...in down
as ones. Although he emsight it better
not mush into details upon this subject, be
might say that the Government bad determined to build
five iroucased ships of • very powerful class.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee of
Supply upon the Army Estimates, when certain votes
were taken, after much diecussion.
The Excise and Stamps Bill passed through the
Committee, with amendments.
The remaining business having been disposed of, the
House adjourned at • gustier to 2 o'clock till Monday.