The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-18 00:00:00

lower rate than might appear necessary. But he did so in.
ominguenes of the great amount of fees received by
them in the last two years, and it seemed to him only fair
that, in the event of these fees falling off, their salaries
should be increased in proportion. (Hear, hear.) In
Algiers he had abolished the office of consul, and substi-
tuted that of vice-consul. In Tripoli he had abo-
lished the office of consul, as also in Smyrna, without
providing any substitute. On the whole, he could see no
reason for reducing the salaries of these officers.
Yr. ALCOCK felt bound to express his dissatisfaction at
the conduct of the consul at Peru. He thought it
the duty of a consul to exert himself to facilitate
commercial affairs. But in the case of Peru, in
" .

the important article of guano—(laughter)--he thought
the coward had not done his duty.
Lord PALMERSTON thought that if guano was not
more plentiful, the consul of Peru was not to blame. (A
laugh.) Some two or three years since the right hon.
baronet Sir R. Peel, who took a deep interest in the pros-
perity of agriculture, applied to him (Lord Palmerston) to
interfere with the Peruvian government, to induce them
not to continue the monopoly of guano, hut to permit its
exportation in abundance. 1 hey were to ice applied to by
him (Lord Palmerston), but without success, the govern-
ment alledging that the sale of guano supplied them with
the means of paying their bondholders; and that if they
permitted an increased suppply the prices would fall, and
they consequently would be deprived of the means to pay
these bondholders. He would not take on himself to say
whether the principle of prohibition was or was not a new
method of procuring plenty. (Laughter.) He rather thought
that, if the prohibition were to apply—at least, the prohi-
bition to pay the bondholders—it would be submitted to
by the Peruvian government more patiently than the
agriculturists of England would submit to the deprivation
of glum. (Laughter.)
Mr. WILLIAMS could not consent to the principle of
taxing the people of England for the maintenance of these
consuls. He should like to know whether the fees of
consuls were accounted fur, and whether they were in addi-
tion to the salaries?

Lord PAL3IERSTON said, with regard to the fees, the
consul. rendered an account of them and of the expenses
incurred, and they were applied towards the expenses,
which were considerable. In some cases, as in North
America, the fees were so high as to exceed the expendi-
ture, sad he had on that account thought it right to reduce
the salary.
After a few words from Mr. Lcnnard and Lord Palmer-
ston, and from Mr. Urquhart in reply,
The committee divided—

For the amendment

Against
Mr. URQUHART understood that Sir James Brooke
was engaged in trading tran,actions; and unless he bad
to thu contrary, ho could not agreo to

the vote.

Viscount PALMERSTON was not aware that Sir
James Brooke was engaged in trade.
Mr. URQUHART must have a distinct assurance on the
point.
Mr. HAWES could state, on the authority of Sir James
Brooke himself, that he had not been engaged in trading
transactions since ho had become governor.
The vote was then agreed to.
16,090/. fur extraordinary disbursements
her ?dainty's missions abroad.
Mr. EWART inquired why the promise of the noble lord
as to the examination of candidates for the diplomatic ser-
vice had not yet been carried out ?
Viscount PALMERSTON pleaded as his excuse the ex-
treme pressure of public business. He would with as little
delay as possible carry out the pledge he had given.
After some further conversation,
Mr. UIIQUHART said there was a sum of 2,750/. for in-
terpreters included in this vote. He objected to the present
arrangements regarding interpreters as involving an none-
oessanly large outlay, and moved that the sum be reduced
by 7501.
Lord PALMERSTON admitted the desirability of c
ploying British born subjects as interpreters in Constan
tine de ; and he had, therefore, some years ago, applied to
the Vice-Chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge to recom-
mend two or three young men to go to Constantinople
in order that they might acquire the Turkish language
there. lie trusted that when the present dragomuis died
they would be able to introduce the new system of employ-
ing British born interpreters.
Mr. URQUHART said that the French, Spanish, Prus-
sian, and Austrian governments had natives of their own
country as interpreters in Turkey. Ile should divide the
house on the vote.
The gallery was cleared for a division, but none took
place, the vote having been agreed to.
The following votes were agreed to :
108,2051. for the superannuation of persons employed in
the public service.
3,7501. for the relief of the St. Domingo sufferers.
2,000/. for the vaccine establishment.
325/. for the refuge for the destitute.
4,450/. for the Polish refugees.
On the vote of 6,166/. for the dissenting ministers,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that,
with regard to the first item in this vote, which was that
for the protestant dissenting ministers in England, such a
feeling of opposition to its continuance had been exhibited
by the dissenting body that the present government, if in
office, would Rot place it on the votes of next year.
(Hear.) It was placed on the votes this year because it was
considered that it would not be right to withdraw it with-
Sat notice.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS would divide the house against the
Tote.
Mr. HINDLEY hoped the hon. gentleman would not
persist in that intention after the declaration of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. KERSIIAW thanked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, in the name of the dissenters, for the course he had
expressed his intention to take.
Col. SIBTHORP had no faith in the government. They
only wanted to get their votes passed, and then have a com-
fortable prorogation. But it was a serious thing to be tak-
ing the money out of the pockets of the people without car-
ing how it was disposed of.
Mr. C. LUSHINGTON had come down to the house to
Oppose the vote but after what the Chancellor of the
Exchequer had said it would be unreasonable to press
WILLIAMSMr. W. had received so many representa-
tions, from all parts of the country, that he had determined
to take the sense of the house; but as the government had
promised that this should be the very last vote, he would
not press his opposition now. He had objections, however,
to other parts of the vote, such as the items for French
refugees, and preachers in Lancashire.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER told the
hon. gentleman, that he would find those matters fully
explained in the report of the committee on the Civil List
charges.
The vote was then agreed to.
The next vote was 650/. for the Foundling Hospital,
Dublin.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS said that the vote for the Irish
hospitals was more than last year.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
the reduction of these votes had been determined upon,
but the Lord Lieutenant represented that it was hard they
should be reduced at once, and that they should be di-
minished gradually, at a rate not exceeding 10 per
cent. That had been effected in the case of so-
veral hospitals, but in the case of two it had
been shown that great injury would result to
the medical school of Dublin, and the government did not
therefore purpose to reduce the votes of those two. But he
would take care that the subject should receive full COnal-
deration by next year.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS objected to proceeding with those
Irish votes at that late hour, and said he should move that
the chairman report progress.
The vote was agreed to.
Mt. AGLIONBY complained that there were still twenty
orders of the day to be gone through, and members were
wearied out at one in the morning with watching them.
The house then resumed, and the chairman reported pro-
gress.
The Marriages (India) Bill was read a third time and
passed.
The Merchant Seamen's Fund Bill, u amended, was
considered. Verbal amendments were made by Mr. LA-
noreasan, and the order for the third reading was fixed
for Monday.
The Collection of Fines (Ireland) Bill passed through
with amendments.
moved the adjournment of the

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