The Express.
London, England, 1860-03-17 00:00:00

MARCH l7l,
„WO.

of resorting toe the chief powers and places in
g.teand sot be confined to Canton and to intercourse
with the governor there. He thought that the British
minister should have the option of rending at Pekin, or any
where else where the interest* of trade required it. It
might be that he ahould reside at filmagbob sad
go occasionally to Pekin, but better arrangements
than the present were eminently desirable. (Hear, hear.)
Lord Elgin would soon return, and would then proceed on
his mission. His lion. and gallant friend seemed to think
that no better choice could have been made, and that no
man was more anxious t.. maintain peaceful relations with
the Chinese. His lordship had acquired an esteem for that
=and a strong wish for their welfare, and he (Lord J.
) believed that both he and Baron Ora were ani-
mated by the most pacific sentiments, and that better could
nut have been done than to send them out as plenipoten-
tiaries. He believed he had now troubled the house with
all that was necessary to be said on the subject.
Bir J. ELPHINBTONE was of opinion that it would be
a fatal mistake to march upon Pekin, and. a Whetter policy
to occupy the city of Nankin, with a force of gunboats on
the river. He warned the house of the expense that would
attend these hostilities, and expressed his belief founded
upon local knowledge and exponent*. that we should not
got out of this Chinas war for lees than 10,000,000 i.

BRIGHT mid he was • good deal disappointed
at the statement of Lord J. BiuselL He thongbt that
on occasions of this nature it was the duty of tho Yinieter
for Foreign Affairs to be a little more explicit. He traced
the progress of the transactions in China from the war com-
menced, be nail, by the indiscretion of Sir J. Hovering ; agd
after blaming the stipulations of the last treaty, be cob-
tended that, in the proceedings for the rati&ation of that
treaty, we were as much in the wrong se we were at Canton,
under the management of Sir J. Bowring. He denied that
the Chinese were open to the charge of treachery ; he insisted
that the collision at the mouth of the Peiho was attribu-
table to the folly and imbecility of our own minister and
the indiscretion of the admiral, and he censured the govern-
ment for allowing a person vo utterly unfit to conduct the
negotiations as Hr. Bruce to continue to be our minister in
China. He could see no advantage to this country in requir-
ing iMt oar minister should reside at Pekin, which would
inflict • grievous insult upon the Emperor of China, and be
an ungenerous act on our part. He warned the government
against a partnership with anotherpower, and against making
demands upon the government of China which, being based
only upon • disaster °condoned by the folly of our own
minister, we ought not, in the nght of God or man, to
make.

Mr. S. HIIMBERT said that the hon. member for Ports-
mouth seemed to have misconceived some words which bad
fallen from the noble lord, judging from the emphatic man-
ner in which he deprecated an advance upon Pekin. The
policy of the hon. baronet seemed to consist in
an advance on Nankin, which he supposed to be either in
the hands of the rebels or left by them an utterly deserted
waste. The hon. baronet further stated that they should
not only advance upon Nankin, but permanently retain it,
after having first reduced the Take forts. That part of the
advice of the hon. pntleman the government would not be
disposed to follow. It was the desire of the government. to
localise the war as much as possible, and to confine it
to the Chinese government. The demands which
had been made even after the disaster of the
Peiho, wire of the mat moderate kind, consisting
of a demand fur the ratification of the treaty as
it originally stood, and an neology for the outrage commit-
ted. There was no demand for an indemnity. The hon.
baronet's warning against the advance to Pekin was hardy
needed, especially by two inch armies as the French and
English, became the experience of the one in Cabal, and of
the other in the retreat from Moscow would make then
hesitate in ad into a country where the rivers were
frozen. He hoped, however, that when Lord Elgin arrived
in China matters would be placed on a better footing,
but he was sorry to think that, to accomplish his purpose, he
must be attended by a large military demonstration. (Hear.)
The Earl of Elgin had many qualities necessary for the
mission. He had peat local knowledge, and having natu-
rally the success of Ina own treaty at bent, he would be
desirous to convert that treaty into a durable and perma-
nent peace. No one could read the blue-book without see-
ing that his opinion was that England was asking too much
and dealing too harshly with the Chinese. Throughout his
correspondence there was a spirit of wisdom and concilia-
tion which gave him (Mr. S. Herbert) the g test hope
that his administration would also be marked by than
qualities, and that he would place ear relations
with the Chinese on with a footing as to secure us the
blessings of commerce and peace. (Hear, hear.)

Sir J. PAKINGTON did not know whether his views would
find favour with the house, but he put it to them whether,
looking to the origin of the unhappy Peiho transaction,
and to the whole conduct of Mr. Bruce in the matter, they
were entitled to demand an apology from the Chinese.
(Hear, hear.) If they decided upon demanding an apology,
two questions of necessity arms, first, did the cucum-
stances as they occurred justify their acting in a
spirit of justice in demanding an apology ; and
secondly, if that apology Wag refused, what was the alter-
native (Hear, hear.) It was Said that the instructions of
Lord Malmesbury, when Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs in the late government, were such as to justify Mr.
Bruce in the course he took at the mouth of the
Peiho. [Lord JOHN RUISSELL--" I did not say so.l
He knew that the noble lord did not
make that sasertion, but be bad heard it made by others ;
and be whited the house to understand that there was
nothing in the instructions of Lord Malmesbury to cause Mr.
Bruce to make that attack on the Chinese at the mouth of
the Peiho. The noble lord (Russell) had alluded to the
power of the =humidors to stay hostile operations.
Lord J. RUSSELL—In the event of overtures being
made by the Chinese government. (Hear.)
Sir J. PAYINGTON said the inference from that
was thelastructions had already been given for operations
to be commenced. He hoped that this was not the ease.
He approved of Lord Elgin being again sent out as ambas-
sador ; but he wished to know on what footing Mr. Bruce
was to remain, and whether both were to receive salaries.
He hoped that the intention of demanding an apology from
the Chinese government would be disavowed. It would be
a:y matter to bring that government to terms by mit-
mg off the supplies going up the Peiho, and in this he
thought they would be perfectly justified. (Hear.)
Mr. Hon and Mr. C. Bnucs defended the conduct of
Admiral Hope and Mr. Bruce in the attack of the mouth of
the Peilio.

Lord PALMERSTON said that when we judge the con.
duet of • man we ought to imagine ourselves to be in the
situation he was in at the time when the act was performed
upon which we are called to pass a judgment, and, adopting
this rule, all the circumstances (which he rec.apitti.
Lied) Judi/led Mr. Bruce and Admiral Hope in the
oonduct they. pursued. There would, in his opinion,
have been just ground for blaming Mr. Bruce if he
had acted differently ; and, as to the admiral, no officer
could have displayed a greater spirit of heroism. Sir J.
Paldngton bad asked what was the policy of the government
towards China. That policy was as simple as it was just.
The treaty concluded with China had been approved by the
Emperor, and the government wanted the ratifications to
be exchanged, so that the treaty should become a formal
compact between the two nations, and that its stipulations
should be fulfilled. As to an apology, he thought there
was no reason to suppose that, the Emperor of China
would be indisposed to make one. When I am
asked (said the noble lord) what is to be our
policy in China, I answer that our policy is to require the
fulfilment of the treaty —a treaty of commercial intercourse
with China—but not to involve the two nations in war if
war should not he . We do not desire to acquire
any conquests in China. ( ear, hear) We do not demand
any additional cession of territory. To those gentlemen who
seem to undervalue the importance of a commercial treaty
with China I say, carry back your recollections
to the feeling which existed in this country when the
treaty of Nankin was concluded by Sir Henry Pottinger,
sad the enthusiastic applause with which the aanounce-
ment of that treaty was received. Why, sir, the whole
country admitted the treaty was of the utmost advantage
to the commerce of this country—the greatest advantage.
were anticipated from the increased commercial intercourse
with China, and there can be no doubt but by that treaty
our commercial intercourse with China was greatly in.
maned. Nor did we anticipate unreasonably that the
treaty of Tien-tain, coupled with that of -Nankin, if
faithfully executed and carried out would add vastly to
the commercial intercourse, not only of England—far we
seek no exclusive advantages—but of the other states of
Europe and America with that vast population, and not
merely benefit Europe and America, but tend greatly to
the improvement and the prosperity of the Chinese them-
selves. ( Hear,
ear, hear," and cheers.)
w Mr. hl IDE had heard the noble lord at the heal
of the government upon a former occasion defend his Chinese
ppoolicy against the noble lord the present Foreign
Secretary and the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the
Exchequer—(bear, hear)—but there was a majority of the
House of Commons against him. What, then, did the
noble lord do! Why, he cashiered the House of Commons
which had voted against him, and he sucreelod. The noble
lord showed pluck. (A laugh.) The noble lord would have
the Chinese to enter into commercial intercourse with us at
the point of the bayonet. (Hear, hear.) And the noble
lord spoke to-night precisely in the mane vein
those Chinese es he spoke three years ago. He
no repentance, no sense of remorse. He seemed to
think it quite as right and as just to com-
mence war against the Chinese now as it was
then. (Hear, hear.)
The house went into committee.
Mr. S. HERBERT hoped that the home would not object
to the first vote being taken.
Mr. DISRAELI said that the late Secretary for War
who wished to make some observations on the vote. had
left the house, ander the impression that it would not
come on that night.
Mr. ft HERBERT said that the vote was of the greatest
importance, and there would be another opportunity for ob-
servation on Moseley night.
Mr. DISRAILI believed Monday would be occupied
with another subject of great interest and importance, and
as his right hon. and gallant friend (General Peel) wished to
make a statement before this vote was agreed to, he (Mr.
Disraeli) was under the painful neeessity of opposing any
further progress Imnight.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said this
was a matter not of convenience, but of neeessity—(keer)--
and be boakl not be responsible for the carrying on of the
pakife sank* of a vets was not now taken. (sean)
Mr. DIBRAFJA did not understand that this was the last
appatazity the government would have of allowing the
question to be discussed; but if the right boo. gentleman

said this was really the only evening on which the matter
could end ea, he would ad offer any
_further resistaaos.
Thp CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could state
dist4etly thab it was so. He wee proceeding upon the in-
structions of those authorities who watched the public ex-
penditure, who assured him that this was the last day on
which they would take this vote, with the certainty of being
able to meet the demands of the public service.
Mt. DIBRAELI said that solely upon the unequivocal
datdment of the right honourable gentleman he should
consent to the vote being taken. (Hear.)
Mr. & HERBERT said he would postpone the statement
which he intended to make till a future day. (Hear.)
A vote was then agreed to of 880,00 E. on accomit towards
defraying the expenses of the Chined expedition.
The house resumed.

The iiuTaiciieldorporetion Mortgages Bill pained through
committee.

The Prisons (Scotland) Acts Continuance Bill was read a
third time and liaised.
The Coast of Chancery Bill and the Endowed Schools
(No. 3).pill.wede read a second time.

ne.Maltrapatiand and Scotland) Bill wan read a
third time
Mr. W. EWART obtained leave to bring in a bill to
abolish oaths now required for adruidnion to certain pm.
tesaions.

The Lace adjourned at a quarter past 1 o'cloclL

!Late Ewe Myna.