The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

[By ,the British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.'

HOUSE .OF LORDS.-THURSDAY.

The Lord Chancellor took his seat at five o'clock.
The Marquis of Clanricarde presented petitions from
various parts of the metropolis, praying that incomes
under £l5O a year should be exempt from the income
tax.

•
AFFAIR,' IN CHINA.
The Earl of Hardwicke said that the public journals
Contained a statement to the 'effect that the English had
been compelled to retire from Canton, having been
attieked by a Chinese squadron, but that they effeaed
their retreat in good order. It was also stateil that the
British authorities at Canton had destroyed the suburbs
of that city. He wished to know whether her Majesty's
government-had received despatches to that effect, and,
if so, why it was that they liad not been published in
the usual way. It was also, stated that a similar state of
things existed at Singa-pne, and that the safety of the
British residents there. was imperilled. He wished to
krilfr if 'this was thd Case.
Lord Pantnure Said, that despatches had been received
to the effect, tl,cit it 'had been thought advisable to burn
Pirt of the ',aburbs of Canton, and that an account of the
eire"mst:mce% would be published in the Gazette to.

Morro vv.

&lord Ellenborough enquired of the noble lord the
g,'.."cretary for Foreign Affairs, whether despatches had
been received relative to the occurrences said to have
'taken place at Canton, and brought by his noble friend
(Lord Hardwicke) under the notice of the house.
Lord Clarendon replied, that despatches had been
received by the Admiralty with reg trd to the burning of
'the suburbs of Canton, and the precautionary measures
`which it had been thought proper to adopt. •
The Earl of Ellenborotigh said, the question of the
elliPibility or otherwise of the authorities at Canton, in
burning the suburbs, was a question as to the time when
it was done.
Lord Panmure said it appeared to be the fashion of
elrtain persons to endeavour to place the conduct of the
tritish authorities in the most unfavourable light.
(Lrear-) He would be willing to stake his honour as a
peer and as a gentleman of England, upon the fact that
°lir authorities at Canton had done nothing more than
was absolutely necessary in the circumstances in which
they Were placed.
The Earl of Ellenborough said the question of culpa•
"ity or otherwise turned altogether on the time when the
. suburbs were set fire to. If it were to cover their
P°Biii", it was quite justifiable, hat not unless some
R 1_
gra'and for it could be shown.
THE TREATY OF PEACE WITH PERSIA.
The Earl of Maimesbury inquired of the noble lord
he Secretary for Foreign Affairs, whether the Persian
'Ambassador at Paris had full powers from his govern-
naent to n3gociate and sign a treaty of peace with this
'eouatry, as had been reported.
The Earl of Clarendon replied, that the treaty had not
been signed, until it had been ascertained that Feruk
.1(11411 had full powers.
DISSOLVTION OF PARLIAMENT.
Earl Granville said it was now his duty to
Ll's to their lordships some information with
respect to the course which her Majesty's govern-
, *neat . intended to pursue in c msequence of a
Main event which had occurred in another p'ace.—
Altjesry's Government finding themselves in a
the usual course under such circumstances
-,,°uld be to tender their resignation to her Majesty.
""rtver, after a calm consideration of the circumstances
of the case, they had come to the determination not to
(I° SO. They found themselves supported ou the Chinese
• 911estion by a large majority of that house, and
her Maiesty's Government were grateful for the
suPport which they had received from their
rdAiPs. Looking also to the composition of the
llouse of CorrimOns, that it had pass3d from a state of
war back to a time of peace, and further considering that
'at house had now existed for about five years, her
o,sty's government thought it Most to the advant-ge
1 .1
! the public to make an appeal to the country. He
1,14 i to add that the government would lay before both
gilt
of Parliament measures of the utmost importance,
lt of a temporary nature, so as to enable them to make
their appealto the country at as early a period as pos-
;.'b le. Under these circumstances, he did not conceive
at any opposition would be offered from any party
the State to the measures which the government
11'`ullitt bring forward.
•,4fter:a few remarks from Earl Grey, the subject dropped.
Utley/ter to Lord Dungannon,
ill
Earl of Harrowby said it was his intention to bring
jig, a bill to provide for the retirement of Bishops through
"nese or incapacity.
The house adjourned at 10 minutes past 6.

ROUSE OF COMMINS.—THURSDAY.
I,eirile Speaker took the chair at four o'clock, there being a
9' full attendance of members.
GOOD CONDUCT MONEY.
Et!Vir• Pellatt asked—the -Under Secretary at War, what
r Pa government had taken, by warrant or otherwise, for
I,,T°ling to sergeants in the army the good conduct money
leh they enjoyed before promotion, viz.: —one penny
I)tt d
f aY for every five years' service of wicthey had ben.
°l. 4) many years deprived ; and, whether e
it will have a
I,rt. ill
as well as a prospective effect, also, whether it
4111 benefit sergeants of cavalry, artillery, engineers, and
3:ineS, as well as those of the line.
,4
l'lr. Peel said that a soldier who had received good
htilhet pay lost it when he became a sergeant, but
classes
it would be continued. It would apply to the
Csses mentioned by the hon. member, but it would not
40 a retrospective effect.

WEIGHTS AND IfEASURES.
Ferber
Adderley asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
w"ther he had a bill in preparation for uniformity of
6ithts and measures.
,he Chancellor of the Exchequer said he had no
%,,tention to bring in such a bill; but they would give
facility to an hon. member who had given notice of
4 bill.

ADMIRAL SEYMOUR'S INSTRUCTIONS.
• Herbert asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if
tl„ had any objection to lay upon the table of the house
4; instructions Sr Michael Seymour received from the
litatiiralty for his guidance as Commander in Chief in the
ref 4 Seas, and in what relation he was placed with
lt,e•tetlee to carrying out any requisition made to him by her
taste
Plenipotentiary and governor at Hong Kong.
C. Wood said be had objections on general grounds
„s: Proauce the instructions given to any officer, but he
Rht
State no further instructions were given to Admiral
re'ii:n°4l* than those which were usually given to officers in
tl'tlee to ambassadors.

THE JURY LAW, MALTA.
Oe * Xinnaird asked the Secretary of State for the
411'63 if he had any objection to lay on the table of the
allY despatches from the Governor of Malta on the
tl::.'et of the working of the jury law in general, and
c:4IIY with reference to the trial of the murderer of
Graves. ---
Lain
abouchere said he had no objection.
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.
tv, rd Palmerston entered the house at twenty minutes to
VI! -11 d was received with loud cheers. In a few minutes
r.R':l'.ards his lordship rose and said :—ln order, Sir, to
t)1 i 1 tae that which I am about to say, and to put it in
tlie 413;7" of any hon. member to make any remarks upon
414°iect, I intend to conclude the statement I am about
110a84ke by a motion that this house do now adjourn. The
nittet naturally expect that after what happened on