The Sun.
London, England, 1822-07-24 00:00:00

that our Government did not recognise the independence of
South America, while they were disposed to profit by the mart
which it opened to our trade. He hoped the recognition
would not long be deferred, though he admitted it was pro-
per that the Government should be left to decide on the time
and circumstances under which this should take place.
The'Marquis of LONDONDERRY said, if the lion. Gen-
tleman had brought forward the case of any particular capture
in the South Seas, he thought he should have been able to give
a satisfactory explanation. There had been in all sixteen or
seventeen cases. • Some questions were still pending. Our
officers had strongly remonstrated in several instances, and
upon the whole he believed the cases had been disposed of in a
manner that left very little ground for complaint. Speaking
with all respect for a science with which he had some acquaint-
ance, he meant diplomacy, in the present state of affairs in South
America, he thought the representations of our Naval Officers
were likely to be quite as successful as any that could be made
by a diplomatic agent. He therefore did not think that the in-
terests of British Merchants had at all suffered from their being
less entangled than they might have been with diplomatic
discussions

Mr. MA RRYATT explained.
Dr. LUS HINGTON stated a case to Have occurred within
his knowledge, in which an independent sloop had been cap-
tured by one of our cruisers, and carried into one of our West
India Islands. The case was brought to this country by ap-
peal, when the King of Spain thought fit, through his Ambas-
sador, to claim the property in the captured vessel, on the
ground of his being a pirate. He was sorry to say the claim
had been partly admitted. He knew the case well, having
been engaged in it as Counsel. It had been necessary for them
to go to the Tower to search for precedents. Finally, a com-
promise took place, and half the property went to the King of
Spain.
Dr. PIIILLIMORE explaiped the necessity which had
existed for discussing the claims set up to the pro,perty which
had been mentioned. The claim of the Spanish king had not
been recognised as correct, but the neutrality of this country
between Spain and South America llud been recognised on this
occasion.

Sir GEORGE COCKBURN said it was easy' to find fault
with the conduct of British officers, but they had a difficult
duty to perforth, from the manner in which Spanish property
had, been covered by British ships. As to •the tax imposed by
Lord Cochrane on our trade, that was done by right of conquest.
Haying conquered the territory to which - our merchants were
proceeding, he had told them if they paid such a tax, he would
allow them to come there ; but if they would not do so, they,
Must go elsewhere. He did not say this was not an improper
assumption on his part, but the merchants were not compelled
to pay the tax. A remonstrance on the subject had been suc-
cessfully made, and Lord Cochrane had been recalled by the
Chili Governnent. He said this in order to justify the Com-
mander on that station. Our officers there would much-rather
have to act with their guns than with their tongues, but he
thought their forbearance commendable. As a great nation it
would ill becoMe this country to shew its teeth on every occa-
sion. When this was done at all, it ought to be done with some
efficiency.
The House then divided, when the numbers were—

Ayes
Noes

- - - - 53
Majority against the motion - —35
SLAVE TRADE.

• After a short conversation, in which Mr. WamoT, Mr.
WILBERFORCE, and the Marquis of LONDONDERRY parti-
cipated, Mr. WILBERFORCE consented to postpone the mo-
tion, of which he had given notice, to prevent the extension of
Slavery at the Cape of Good Hope, till. Thursday next.