The Sun.
London, England, 1837-02-07 00:00:00

SUPPLY.

Mr. BERNAL brought up the Report of the Corn.
mittee of Supply.

TRADE WITH PORTUGAL.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL moved the Order of the Day
for the House going into a Committee on the Registration
Bill, when
Mr. ROBINSON wished to ask whether the Govern-
ment had any official cognizance of a decree which bad
been promulgated in Portugal, which was exceedingly un-
favourable to our commerce with that country ; and if
they had not, what their intentions were as to the course to
be pursued by this country under such extraordinary cir-
cumstances ?

Lord PA LNIERSTON, in answer to the question which
the Hon. Gentleman had just put, would state that his Ma-
jesty's Government had received from their Commercial
Agents, cognizance of that which the Hon. Gentleman had
described, not only unfavourable to British commerce,
but unfavourable to the commerce of Portugal itself.—
(" Hear," from Dr. Bowring.) It would have the effect of
turning the commerce of Portugal into a contraband trade,
and would thus prove materially injurious to our interests.
What his Majesty's Government might think proper to do
on the subject, the Hon. Member for Worcester, he was
sure, would not expect him then to state. It was a subject
of great importance, and was now under the consideration of
his Majesty's Government.—( Hear.) Whether the Go-
vernment would be bound to resort to any measures of
retaliation he was not then prepared to state ; but there
had been another decree issued imposing tonnage du-
ties on British ships, and he was quite prepared
to state, that as soon as his Majesty's Government
ascertained that that decree had come into effect,
and that those duties had been established in Por-
tugal, they would have recourse to the power which was
vested in them, and would issue an order for duties corre-
sponding to those in Portugal, adverse as much to Portu-
guese ships coming here as their duties were to British
ships going to Portugal.—(Hear.)
Mr. ROBINSON was not at all surprised at this hos-
tility on the part of Portugal. Indeed, he had predicted
as much at the time the present Lord Spencer had altered
the duties on wines from Portugal.
Mr. HUME thought if our commercial engagements
with Portugal were now to be inquired into, it would be a
fit time to consider all our other relations with that
country.—(Hear.) This country was, it would be
recollected, put to great expense in maintaining a treaty
entered into with that State, and he thought the Noble
Lord had now a fair claim for a liberal interpretation of our
commercial relations with that country. He hoped, however,
that it would not be necesgary to resort to what the Noble
Lord stated as a sort of revenge upon that Government in
case they refused to act a fair part. He would rather
shame them into a better and a more equitable lino of
policy.

RUSSIA.

Mr. CHARLES BULLER

although he had not

given notice of his intention to put any question, hoped the
Noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, would
have no objection to give the lion. Methber some
information on a matter which had excited great interest in
this country, namely, the seizure of a British vessel (the
Vixen) by the Russian Government ; he also hoped he
would state whether it had taken place in consequence
of an alleged infringement of a blockade on- the coast
of Circassia, or of the quarantine regulations of the
Russian empire. He also wished to know something re-
specting the cause of a levy of tolls at the mouth of the
Danube.
Lord PALMERSTON said on the subject first referred
to by the Hon. Member, he could merely state that it was
under the consideration of the King's Advocate, and until
he reported his opinion whether or not the international re-
gulations between Russia and this country had been infringed
upon, the Government would be unable to come to any deci-
sion. With respect to the levying of tolls on the Danube,
there had been several communications between Russia and
England, and the Government of the former country
distinctly denied any intention to interfere with the
commerce of England. By the treaty under which
the district of Circassia , was ceded to Russia there
was a right reserved to the Russian Government to
make such quarantine regulations as might be necessary, and
they gave the fullest assurance that no tolls would be levied
upon English vessels at the mouth of the Danube.
Mr. MACLEAN wished to know if there was any ob-
jection to lay upon the table of the House the correspondence
which had taken place on the subject.
Lord PALMERSTON said there was not, as
yet, any important correspondence in a state to be
communicated to the public.—( Hear, hear.) As he
was then addressing the House, he hoped he might
be allowed to allude to a return of the ships and troops
which had been engaged in the service of the Queen of
Spain, which the Hon. Member had moved for last week,
and which he (Lord Palmerston) had not opposed. On
communicating with the Admiralty he found- there was
considerable difficulty in making the return as to the
number of ships and troops which were engaged in the
service of the Queen of Spain. The lion. Gentleman
would find by communicating with his Hon. Friends near
him, that it had always been considered desirable that no
such information should be given, as it would give the op-
posite party a complete knowledge of the force op-
posed to them. He had no hesitation in stating to the
House that which was known to the whole world,

iat there was an officer of artillery and some,men attached

to the force. under Lord John Flay. The Government,
however, were opposed on principle to making the return,
as it would not matter to any one whether there were ten
men or sixty. He trusted, therefore, that the Hon. Gen-
tleman would be content with his admission, and would al-

low him to move that so much of the order of the House
as related to the number of ships and men employed, be re-
scinded.

Mr. APLEAN was not disposed to insist upon anything
which would be detrimental to the public interest, but he
could see no reason why the return should not be made out
as ordered. The question was one of a very different
nature from any former one, and it was particularly the
duty of the House of Commons to have the return
made, for the country was put to a certain daily expense,
and they ought to know what that expense amounted to,
and that could only be known by the Return being made
out as ordered. Perhaps he had better postpone his motion
until to-morrow.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL suggested that he thought it
would be better to give notice of his motion.

Mr. C. WOOD thought it would be very desirable if
lion. Members would give notice of the particulars in mov-
ing for returns like the present. Had he been aware that
a return of the names of commanders of vessels had been
moved for, be should have opposed it, as it had been a rule
never to make out returns in such detail.

Sir H. HARDINGE contended that the course pur-
sued by the Hon. Member on the present occasion had
been a very fair one. How did the case stand at present ?
His Hon. Friend the Member for Oxford had gone to a
Cabinet Minister and asked if there was any objection to
his return. The answer was that there was no objection ;
and therefore no sin had been committed by his Hon.
Friend, the motion having been acceded to by the Govern-
ment.

Mr. C. WOOD explained.
Mr. MACLEAN had given full notice to the Noble
Lord of his return ; and when the Honourable Member,
the Secretary of the Admiralty, appeared to prompt him
(Mr. Maclean) it would !gem as if there was a want of
common attention to the necessities of his position.
The conversation then dropped.
POOR LAWS.
Mr. HARVEY begged to ask the Honourable Member
for Berkshire a question in reference to a notice of motion