The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-15 00:00:00

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The CferT at ti; tal;ilteeithel a long list of member
who were over GO years of age, and who, by the rules of the
house, were excused from serving ma committees. The motion
that they be excused was agreed to.
The SPEAKER then put the question that Sir G. C.
Lewis, her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for the
Home Department, be excused from serving on committees,
and it was agreed to.
On the question that Sir C. Wool) be also excused from
serving on committees,
Mr. DISRAELI mid he did not of course rise to oppose
the motion, but he could not avoid 'eying that the rule
which stated that members over 60 years of age should be
excused from serving on committees required some modifica-
tion. (Hear, bear.) It had the effect of depriving gentle-
men from giving their *tykes on committees, sod who were
quite capable of taking part in the business of the house.
Amongst the list read over by the clerk at the table were rnany
gentlemen who by theirmaturejuigment were fully competent
to render great assistance on committees. To his astonish-
ment he had heard read over the names of more than one hon.
member who bad just entered the house. Those hon. mem-
bers were about commencing their public life, and this rule
of the house stated that they were incompetent to fulfil all
the duties that were thrown upon them. He made this
protest against the present state of the law, but as it was
the law of course anything more than a suggestion could not
be done. This was a subject which ought to engage the at-
tention of the house, and be hoped it would come before
the committee which the house bad reesutly appointed.
That committee ought to take the whole matter into their
consideration. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was agreed to.
NEW WRIT.

A writ was moved far by Mr. BRAND for Pembroke
Burghs in the room of Sr J. Owen, deceased.
THANKS TO THE FORCES IN CHINA.

Lord PALMERSTON moved the thanks of the house to
the army and navy engaged in the recent operations in
China, whose brilliant service., he observed, bad been per.
formed under circumstances of considerable difilculty, with
the greatest possible skill, gallantry, and intrepidity. Not
a mistake bad been made; there bad been no deficiency
in providing troops and storm, and in transporting
them to the scene of operations, while the most
perfect harmony had prevailed between the British and
French forces. The obstacles though great had been over-
some ; the period of the services had been comparatively
short, but the suocesa had been complete, without a single
cheek, in spite of the large number of Tartars and Chinese
opposed to the allied troops. He gave a succinct narrative
of the operations which had resulted in the ratification of
the treaty, and, with respect to the destruction of the En-
peror of China's summer palace, Lord Elgin and Sir Hope
Grant had thought, very properly, be said, that this act
was a fit retribution for the outrages committed by the
Chinese, and the barbarous cruelties perpetrated upon cap-
tives taken in violation of the law of nations, and, although
the commander of the French forces did not acquiesui
the act, her Majesty's government cordially approved their
conduct.

Mr. DISRAELI—Sir, I have the honour to rise to second
the motion of the noble lord. The noble lord has given such
• clear and animated narrative of the various operations in
China, that it is unnecemary for me to dwell upon them,
and, indeed, it would be presumptuous in me to do so. It
is enough that we all feel that a pest military operation
has been achieved with power and precision, with inilomi.
table bravery, admirable perseverance. The army and navy
of England have more than once expressed their convictions
that one of their greatest rewards is to receive the thanks of
parliament, and I can say for myself, and hope for the house
also, that we consider it one of our greatest privileges to
offer the expression of our thanks and admiration for their
achievements. (Cheers.) Although in the events which
have occurred in China it is impossible to refer to any
of those great military exploits or to any of those immortal
deeds which were accomplished on those great fields that
posterity hereafter will look to with varied feelings of
wonder and admiration, yet, nevertheless, looked at merely
in a military sense and regarded merely with reference to
military considerations, there is one view of the ease the
importance of which cannot be overstated, and that is, that
in • remote part of the world and in • strange climate we
have found the health of our troops no admirably preserved.
(Hear, hear.) I attribute this to our now perfect organisa-
tion, applying all those discoveries and resources of modern
soignee to the mandamuses of the health and the equipment
of our troops, which has been so long desired and sought for
hear)—and if, u I believe, this is a circumstance
not of an exceptional character. we have the satisfaction of
feeling that, so far as this subject is concerned,
we have already mitigated one of the miseries of
war. The noble lord has touched upon the singularity of
such great results having, in such a distant part of the
world, been achieved by so small a body of men and at so
small a sacrifice. Indeed I think this is • subject which
well deserves the couaideration of the house. A handful of
men, not, I believe, amounting to the number who followed
Xenophon, has waged war in a great cuontry at almost the
remotest part of the globe, and dictated a peace in an ancient
capital of • nation which numbers more than one.
third of the whole population of the world. (Cheers.) This
is not the first occasion during the last quarter of a century
that mankind have been impressed with the immense influ-
ence which Europe is exercising over the rest of the world.
This is not the first occurrence of great exploits which have
proved the predominant power of that part of the
I globe in which it is our happiness to exist. But,
sir, there are other considerations connected with
this result which should not be, I think, absent from our
ts. At this moment, under Providence, it is not
tnt6e.2l; this quarter of the globe, but we may say, it is
Western Europe that commands the world. (Cheers.) If
that power be so irresistible, if those means be
so great, I think we ought all to feel that the
mealreepossibility of their exercise is proportionately in-
creased is that respect. (Cheers.) L eder these circum-
stances, that appease to me to be a consideration which
ought not to be lost to the councils of the Sovereign, and which
may blend advantageously even with the triurophantgratitude
of parliaments. For the distinguished zeal by which these
operations have been conducted, I beg, sir, to second these
resolutions. (Cheers.)
Mr. V. Scully made some strong observation' on the
burning of the Emperor's podium ; Mr. White repudiated the
policy of the war ; and Sir J. Elphinstone expressed his
opinion that • due satisfaction had not been exacted from
the Chinese.

LordJ kUSSELL defended the course taken by Lord
Elgin with reference to the Emperor's palace, con-
tenditic that it was only • just retribution for acts
of treachery and barbarity, as it fell not upon subordinates
won any of the people of China, but on the representative
of all authority in that empire. Information bad been
received from China that the tariff in accordance with the
treaty bad come into operation, and was received with satis-
faction by both Englieh end Chinese.
The vote was then wood to.
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.
Ou
bilthe order of the day for the second reading of
this

U,. ROEBUCK said that upon the introduction of the
MIWRIMI such universal admiration was accorded to the
hoe. and learned Attorney-General that no one bad dared
to miss • voice in opposition to what had been said. But
it appeared to hie (Kr. Roebuck) that the boa sad
harmed gestlenisa had entirely tailed in ibis mat.
ter. They had been told that after many years of to l and
labour they were about to have • bill which
would settle the question. (Rear.) Let them
see what the bill propnsed. The hoe. and learned
Attareey-Oacceral comp lianed that wider the present sys-
tem there was a want of uniformity in the Court of Bank-
ruptcy, next that there was great expense, and thirdly, that
then was • difference between the laws of bankruptcy and
insolveaey which was an opprobrium to the law. But the
boa. and leered geed/man forgot that there was an_ ap-
peal beta the desieloa of the Commissioners to the Lords
Judaea Now whet did the boo. and learned Attorney-
Oesesal de? He said that in order to obtain milarrnity of