Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-17 00:00:00

RACE ItORSES.

Lord REDESDALE introduced a bill prohibiting race
horses running weighted with less than seven stone.

TREATY OF COMMERCE.-COAL.

The Earl of AIRLIE moved for copies of all cor-
respondende beyond that already produced be-
tween our Government and the British plenipo-
tentiaries at Paris, respecting the negotiation of
the treaty of commerce. He wished to obtain some
information• as to the eleventh article, relative to
the export of coal. The article deprived us of our
advantage in the superiority of our coal, especially in
the event of hostilities.

Lord WODEHOUSE said that if we were unfortunately
engaged in war with France, the article would no
longer be in force.
The Earl, of Ilin.DwicicE considered the treaty ex-
tremely onesided, especially in this portion of it.
The Duke. of SOMERSET observed that the noble Earl
exaggerated the importance of the question, as France
obtained a sufficient supply of coal from Belgium. The
treaty was, he declared, of the greatest benefit to both
countries.

vv
Earl GREY had no objection to the export of coal, but
he did object to the fettering the hands of future
Governments, and making duties the subject of treaties.
Dur'in; the time which it would take to bring the treaty
intu force in France many difficulties would be raised,
the unpopularity of which would fall on this country.

- .
The Duke of ARGYLL declared that the objection to
the article on coal (dose from objections to the principles
of the treaty itself, which he defended at some length.

Lord STANLEY OF ALDERLEY observed that in case
of war with Russia Franee would be enabled, under the
treaty, to supply her with English coal.
Earl GRANVILLE was surprised at these objections to
the coal clauses of the treaty. In ease of war we bad
sufficient power to control the export. It appeared
from reports lately issued that France contained coal
enough in her own territory for all her requirements,
and was not dependant on any other country
The Earl of AlltLfl replied, after which the motion
was agreed to ; and
Their lordships adjourned at ten minutes to eight
o'clock.

HOUSE. OF COMMONS.—YESTRRDAY.
The House met at four o'clock.

REFORM BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL repeated his notice of bringing on
the Reform Bill on the Ist of March.

AMERICAN COASTING TRADE.

Mr. LIDDELL asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether the opinion of law officers of the Crown
' had been taken upon the American Law of 1848, which
confers exclusive privileges upon American vessels
engaged in the trade between New York and California,
either by Panama or by Cape Horn, and defines such to
be a coasting voyage ; whether the exclusion of
British and foreign ships from any participation in a
coasting trade so defined, is or is not a violation of the
treaties in force between this country. and America,
which stipulates for a reciprocal treaty of commerce.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that, in the opinion of tbe law
officers of the crown, this trade could. not properly be
called a coasting trade. He had frequently made re-
presentations to America on the subject, protesting
especially against the trade across the Isthmus of
Panama being considered a coasting trade, but the
result was always the same, that a concession on this
point would be contrary to the articles of the con-
stitution. Lord Lyons had lately addressed a letter
to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the United
States on the subject, who had promised to take
the opinions of the Treasury on the matter. He
could not say that the course pursued by America
was a violation of treaty between the two countries ;
but it was certainly a disappointment, after the pro-
fessions made by Mr. Banci off,. the American Minister
in 1849, when the repeal of the Navigation Laws
took place, who had then professed the most perfect
reciprocity.

RUSSIAN COMPANY'S IMPORT DUES.

In answer to Mr. Hubbard,

Mr. Ginsow said that a communication had been
received from the Russian Company, to the effect that
the company would no longer levy dues upon imports
from the United Kingdom.