The Express.
London, England, 1857-07-21 00:00:00

(Stamped Id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

Wed, and in all probability would be oontinusel with all th
other ports in Chino.
Lord C. HAMILTON had no doubt that Admiral Sey-
mour was a humane officer, but believed that he had been
compelled by his instructions to perpetrate a cruel attack on
the Cantonese.

Sir C. NAPIF:R did not know what the noble lord mead
by instruction from home under which Admiral Seymour
could not avoid the destruction of private uroperty and the
lives of the peaceful citizens of Ceuton; but this he knew, that
if any such orders had been given Admiral Seymour would
not obey them. Admiral Seymour would obey no orders but
from the Admiealty, and bad the Admirelty ordered him to
carry out such proceedings as the noble lord alluded to he
would not have done So. No doubt he threw shells ix*
cationally into the town, and serve them quite rijebt.
(Laughter.) They would never bring the war to a close with-
out. With such an immense population, we could not land
end take possession of Canton. They mud throw shells into
it; bet be had no doubt the shelling was done with modera-
tion. (" Hear" and laughter.) But the noble lord would
make it appear that ell the inhabitant• were massacred.
General THOMPSON—In his belief, the evidence pointed
to the fact, that ell the misery which ha.l been inflicted an
the people of Canton had arisen entirely out of what was
technically denominated a "trading falsehood." The evi-
dence showed that there was a foregone conclusion to get up
• quarrel with the Chinese—and in a most wretched,
shameful, and dishonourable manner it was got up. (Hear.)
It was got up about the metier° of • miserable beet, and the
taking of some inert out of her, it might be by a remmtable
or it might be by an unreasonable exercise of the Chinese
law. The honour of the British flag had been referred to.
The British flag and the British Lion were spoken of just as
it suited the purpose of the moment. But it appeared by all
the evidence that was now coming out that them wee no -Bri-
tieh flag flying on board the lorcha. Then it wee said thenwq.
a.Fseleis which should have been reeogniffied an glvinsfee the
lereha the character of • British vessel; but all the evidence
that weeceming out tended to show that there woe no Fetich.
Again, we were told that 300 men were poisoned with
arsenic, but none of them died ; and who believed that now ?
At another time it was gravely given out that the Emperor
of China bad yielded all oar domande; but who did not know
that the object of that fabrication was to secure the dismimed
and deprive the country of the services of a valued public 'ser-
vant P Was it the fact that the Emperor had yielded ? Who
credited the report now ? Only bring this miserable China
policy nearer home and its abomination would at once be-
come palpable. Suppose there was a fleet—say a Boutin
fleet—in the Humber, which had come there to enforce the
sale of alcoholic drinks in defiance of English law—euppose
the commander of the fleet, upon being taxed with this dis-
regard of international usage, said he was not at war with
Queen Victoria, but with the Mayor of Hull—(a laugh)—
would anybody say such a course would be worthy of a great
nation f' Would it not rather be felt that a nation who could
act in such a manner had sunk to the level of filibuaters and
pirates ? That would be our deliberate judgment were the
ace that of any other nation lint our own. Who could con-
scientiously defend a government who either directly pursued
such a wicked policy or encouraged their officials abetted to
follow it? Oh, never treat • Benthamite philosopher again
—(a la)—knowing to what lengths he will go when he
gets his had turned aside by frequent communications with
man who believe opium smuggling to be the only virtue, and
enforcing it by arms the only merit. (hear, hear.)
The repeat wee then received.
FINSBURY ELECTION PETITION.

The siiiiiiilacquageiii;iuusetiliiieQ received
• letter from the agents to the petitioner+ complaining of an
undue election and return for the borough of Finsbury,
stating that it was not their intention to proceed with the
petition.