The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-29 00:00:00

MR. BRIGHT, M.P., AT THE BIRMINGHAM

CHAMBER OP COMMERCE.

BIRMINGHAM, TIIIMADAY Evrirnia.

The half-yearly meeting of the Chamber of Com-
merce for Birmingham and the Midland District was held
this semis' in the Grand Jury Room of the Public•office,
Moor-street; Mr. J. 9. Winos; Vice-President of the
Chamber, occupied the chair. Mr. Beholelield, M.P., Mr.
Bright, M.P., and Mr. T. Lloyd, M.P., the newly-elected
amber for Barnetapla, were present.
The formal business of the meeties having been disposed
of, the CH.tmens moved the adoption of a report.
Mr. T. LLOYD, M.P., seconded the motion, which, alter
brief diesumion, was agreed to.

Mr. SCHOLZ/MD, M.P., then addressed the mestieg.
Adverting to the Partnership Law Amendment Bill which
he had introdeoed into the House of Commons last year,
be remarked that • misconception appeared to prevail is
some quarters uto the nature of its provisions. He re-
garded it simply as • bill for the extension of the freedom
of trade. It was the duty of parliament not to interfere
unnecessarily with the trade of the country. The best
function of government was to govern as little as rasible,
every limitatiou which parliament put upon the (militias
with which • man was enabled to carry on
his trade being injurious. The sonseil of the
Chamber stated in their report their opinion
that it was for the interest of this country to establish this
propesitioe as • part of international maritime law, "That
• private property of subjects of a belligerent on the high
ems should be exempt from seizure by the public arced
uses]. of the other belligerents except it be contraband."
He thought it was the duty of government to see that is
mitten cossetted with war, if sutlers should be involved in
war, the lives of our soldiers and ',Qom were protected
as well as the property of merchant'. If the question of ear
international maritime law should be again brought before
parliament be should be glad to support the proposition laid
down by the Birmingham Chamber if he could clearly use
his way to snob • course. He was glad to learn from the
report that the Board of Trade wee now acting in co-opera-
tion with the different chambers of commerce throughout
the country, and be expressed a hope that steps would be
Mhos to extend the priseiple of free-trade is regard to our
dealings with Austria. He happened to know something of the
condition of Austria, and if they could induce her Majesty's
government to co-operate with them in inducing the Au,
titan government to extend the freedom of trade, he way
satisfied there was now an excellent opening is that country.
The wealth of Austria was much greater than was generally
imagined, and that wealth was being rapidly developed by
the partial adaptation of the government of that country to
more constitutional forms. With regard to Mexico, perhaps
that was hardly a ale topic to touch upon, but slimming,
as be supposed we might sow assume, that Mexico would
soon be under a monarchical form of government, and that
the monarch of that oountry would be an Archduke of
Andra—

Mr. BPLIGITT— I don't think se. (Laughter.)
Mr. Scnowrimn—You think he will not!

Mr. BRlGHT—Certainly.
Mr. SCHOLF.TIELD continued—Refraining from expressing
any more decided °pintos nixie that point, he thought it
would be coaceded that there was saw a prospect of •
better condition of things m Mexico that had been iceown
for some years, and he hoped that the chambers of nom.
merce throughout the country would not be insensible
of the necessity of doing their best to see that the
vast resources of that rich country wre properly deve-
loped. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. Browr, M.P., after a few preliminary remarks,
proceeded to touch urn the prohibition of the export•tio•
of arms from Siogapore, which be coodemoed ; the reforms
required in the law of patents, which law, be maid, was a
disgrace to a civilised country ; the necessity of Chambers
of Commerce interesting themselves in certain politic)
questioas, and the benefits which would remelt from the adop-
tion of Mr. Scholefield's Partnership Law Amendment Bill.
On the motion of Mr. S. LLOYD, ascended by Mr. G. F.
Munn, a vote of thanks to Messrs. Scholrield and Bright
for their atteadaace, was carried amid cheer; and the pro-
matey teraiaated.

Eron Cou.iot—Tbe present Lent school time,
which oontrosocod on the 13th of this month, only *swede
over shoot nine weeks, and will terminate oil Thursday,
March 17, when the whalers will leave for the Faraer
holidays. On Thursday, the 214, a holiday was pie en
account of the birth of the yuu prince. The Newer/de
examination takes place on Friday, the 11th of Marsh—
Meson. Prentastle sod Kennedy, ma., K.s., bang the bet
on the lint last yes,.