Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-25 00:00:00

NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.

which would be of signal advantage to both nations.
He appealed to Earl Grey to withdraw his amendment
till the subject of China was regularly brought before
them.
Earl GREY having made some observations in reply,
the amendment was put and negatived without a

division.
The address was then agreed to, and the house ad-
journed at 11 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The House assembled for business shortly before six
o' clock.
Several members took the oath and their seats,
amongst whom was Mr. Bernal Osborne, and Sir F.
Goldsmid, who was admitted under the ordinary regu-
lations observed towards the Jews, and introduced by

Lord John Russell and Mr. Bland.
A letter was read from Lord Canning, acknowledging
the vote of thanks passed for his services in India.
Several notices of importance are given, amongst
which • _ _

Mr. BLAND gave notice of the introduction of a bill
to amend the representation of the people, for Monday

the 20th February.
Lord J. MANNERS of a bill enacting that the judge of
the Divorce Court should act with close doors.
Lord J. RUSSELL of a bill to amend the Corporation

of the City of London.
Mr. E. iiAmus gave notice that he should call atten-
tion to the case off Dr. Smethurst and the subject of

criminal appeal.
Mr. SPOONER, on that day fortnight, to the grant to
Maynooth.
Mr. M. MuNEs to the registration of voters, and the
cnterfies practised towards American seamen.
Mr. WILLIAMS to that of flogging in the army.
Lord J. RUSSELL stated that he would shortly lay
ripen the table the commercial treaty with France.
By this time the Howe had become extremely fall•
almost all the Ministers appearing on the Treasury

Bench, and most of the leaders of the different parties
arriving in their places. Mr. Disraeli was 'not present

until late in the evening.

The SPEAKER then read her Majesty's most gracious
speech.
Mr. ST. AURYN moved the address in answer to the
speech. He referred, in the first place to the Italian
question, hoping that the resalt of 'the present
negotiation -would be the emancipation of a generous
nation. He trusted that the Chinese, while it was yet

time, would so state their conduct as tot avoid punish-
ment. He strongly adverted to the San Juan difficulty.
—to the Indian pacification, and expressed his confi-
dence that the House would give a liberal grant
towards placing the country in a state of defence.
Respecting the promised Reform Bill ho trusted that it
would be -so framed as to gain the approval of all
parties in the house. After some remarks on the
volunteer movement, he congratulated the house and
the country on the high position of England at home
and abroad.

Mr. HEN'LE'Y, in seconding the address, said that the
mover had congratulated the house on all possible sub-

jects but one, which he would supply. He must
congratulate them that the Wain of the country were
now in the hands of a Government so well able to

manage them. It was especially fortunate, during the
present juncture, that our foreign affairs were in.the
hands :of Lord Palmerstoz and Lord John. Russell.

Referring to France, he contrasted its present position
with that•of -past times, and he said the country was
like a noble horse who felt it had a rider on its back.
He' went. through the question of Italy, and of the
promised Reform Bill, all which, he trusted, would find
a satisfactory settlement.
The Address having been read,
Mr. DISRAELI, after referring 'to the congratulation of
Mr. Henley, jocosely hoped that no such congratulation
was.in the Speech. It lied been read in so low a tone he
could not hear it; but he hopednothing of the kind was
there. Referring to the promised Reform Bill he contrasted
the low place it held in the Speech, with the magnificent
promises made by Lord J. Russell when the bill was in-
troduced. He would, if possible, aid in passing it,
hoping that it would strengthen, and not change, our
institutions. They had now heard officially that the
commercial treaty with France would be signed. Now,
he never thought again to hear of a commercial treaty.
It was a mode of proceeding out of date. He wished
to know when, and in what form, the attention of Par-
liament would be called to it ? The Emperor of the
French had, in 1856, submitted a plan for the abolition
of the prohibition duties to the Departmental Council
of Trance, almost all of whom approved of it; and, in
consequence; the Emperor'had fixed July, 1861, for the
cessation of such duties; and if we made any tonces-
sions under the present treaty, we should make them for
what we should get in the ordinary course of law.
Referring to the Chinese expedition, he thought that
some recognition should be made of the gallant conduct
of our array in the late expedition. Italy, he observed,
was the point which now concentrated the public atten-
tion. He had in the last session urged the Government
not to enter into a Congress; he had felt that if the
treaty of Villafranca was to be observed the
intervention of, England was useless and if it
was not, our interference was dangerous. He advo-
cated before, and he advocated now, the policy of
non-interference. There might be occasions when we
ought to interfere, but this was not one of them-.—neither
the honour of the country was involved, not the inde-
pendenee of Europe increased. We owed our present
high position to our non-interferenee hitherto. That
principle had been confirmed by the house, and should
not be departed from without more - sufficient reasons
than any that had reached his ears. He demanded that
the house should receive full information on this matter,
as all they knew.came from foreign sources. What was
the nature of the overtures made by the Government
last year to the French Government? He entered at
som
see
t lengthintotlementof ltalianX.ieveou n
t ly3as __question,beynd
o detchlearirengachthoaft
the
Congress or Cabinet, and that independence-was not to
be obtained by a protocol, and could be gained only by
'the energies of the population themselves. He believed
that by our councils we might do great good to the
Italians, but if we interfered it would be to our lasting
disgrace. He thought that, even on the first night of
the question, a clear information ought to be afforded
on the entire Italian question.
Tord PALMERSTON said that the paragraph in the
speech referring to reform, was placed where such para-
graphs were ordinarily placed. When the measure was
brought forward, the house would have no cause to com-
plain of inattention to the subject. After announcing that
the commercial treaty had been signed on the previous
day, he agreed with Mr. Disraeli that, as a general rule,
commercial treaties were unsatisfaetozy things ; but this
was an exceptional case. Under the circumstances, it
was impossible to obtain a' fixed commercial arrange-
ment without a treaty. Referring to the Italian
question, he admitted the right of Mr. Disraeli to
quote the Government, but he should not found his
quotation on anonymous authority. It was not true, as
had been stated by the right hon. gentleman, that over-
tures had been made by our Government foi the settle-
ment of the Italian question in August last. The
Government was not fettered by any conditions or
engagements whatever. He explained in some detail
the project of the negotiations, declaring that the
principle he had always kept in view was that the
Italians should settle their own affairs. If they had
refused the proposed Congress, other nations might have
refused likewise, and if any confusion had- arisen, Eng-
land would have been responsible ; besides, measures
iajurious to Italy might have been adopted, which
might have been prevented by our advice. He trusted
that the course they should pursue would meet the wishes
and obtain the approbation of the country.
The Address was then agreed to, and the house ad-
journed at 7.30.