The Sun.
London, England, 1831-08-18 00:00:00

It appeared that the whole subject had undergone the
most complete and ample investigation, and a decision had
'wen arrived at. This House could not institute a proper ex-
amination by the production of tht report on evidence, but
it would he absohaely necessary that all the docuthents
,hould also be produced. And the House could not then
come to any decision in a less period than sit or seven
weeks. He therefore hoped tbP motion would not be per-
severed in. _

111 r. 1-1031 E said his object was not to deprive these indi-
viduals of compensation, but on the principle that he op-
posed any grant without having the most accurate infor-
mation on the subject. It r.ppared to hint that
the House could hot possibly agree to so novel
grant, s giving 16,000/. away without the meet;
nary documents. At the same time, if it were under-
stood to he against the wish of the lleuse, he
would not press his motion. 13U'l-. when the grant came before
him, he shotAd take the sense of the House upon it.
It ought to be shown that means had been us, d to OA tin
compensation from the colony by which the individuals
were injured, and that those means had failed, before they
were called upon to make the grant in question. The
lion. Member then withdrew his motion.
FOREIGN TRADE.

Mr. ROBINSON rose to make the motion of which
he had given notice, for an Address to his Majesty
for copies of correspondence with the Consul General at
Paris relative to the duties on British vessels in the ports of
France subsequent to the Convention of the 26th of Ja-
nuary, 1830. The subject was certainly highly important
to the commercial interests of this country. By the
reciprocity Treaty, as it was of the 26th Jan. 1526,
made with France, it was stated, that from and after the
sth of April of that year the ships, goods, wares, and
merchandize, should be admitted into the ports of
both nations at the same rates of duty. There cer-
tainly could be nothing fairer, nor more equitable
than that treaty. But he wished to call the atten-
tion of the Heuse to the marked difference in
the conduct of France as co,epared with that of other
Powers with whom similar treaties had been contracted.
and he would show that the French Government, in the
spirit, if not letter, violated it from its commenceinetit.
One article in the Treaty stated, that with a view to dimi-
nish the burdens on the navigation of the two countries
his Moat Christian Majesty would reduce the duties in
Fiance in proportion to the reduction of these duties
in the ports and places of the Unit, d Kingdom. This
was clearly a reference to a probable reduction of
duties on both sides, but no reference was made
to any probable increase of duty. It appeared
when the treaty was promulgated in France on the Sth
Feb., 1826, a fortnight after it was concluded in London,
that it was accompanied by an Ordinance of the French
Government, to which this Government was not a
party, for raising the duty on French tonnage, and also
on the tonnage of vessels belonging to Brtt nin. The effect
was, that the vessels of England were subjected in the ports
of France, to a rate of duty infinitely greater than
the ditty pav ,ble in the British port, on French ships.
The French 'Government were remonstrated with upon the
subject, but the only answer was—that they bad adhered
to the letter of the treaty. This lie (Mr. Robinson)
did not deny, but lie would show, that in spirit it
j had been violated The treaty was evidently with the view
of dimini-hing the duties; what excuse, therefore, could the
French Government have for raising the duty on tonnage
on British ships ? Looking at the state of commerce
in this country, it was impossible to increase the rate of
tonnage, and, consequently, French ships only could have
the advantage of the low rate of duty. Now one article
of the Treaty was, that French goods imported into this
country should pay the same duty as if imported in
British b ,tt, ms ; he begged the Noble Lord opposite to look
at thedifference between the commerce of the two kingdoms.
The French enjoyed all the benefit of the treaty, while they
excluded England from it. The Howe would probably
believe him when he stated that British vessels of 110
tons burthen, entering a French port, p tid tonnage duties
to the amount of 20/., besides several other charges and
dues, which would certainly amount to a considerable
sum, while French vessels did not pay more than
one-tenth of that amount. lf, however, such was the
case, and he pledged himself to the fact, he would ask the
House whether there was any reciprocity in a treaty of
that kind. If the treaty was ever so unwise, parties
were bound by it, but l.e considered the French Go-
vernment by their Ordinance, had annulled the treaty
itself, and that view was likewise taken of it by men
more conversant on the subject than himself. He consi-
dered such a state of things could not go on fur five years
longer without some remonstrance on the part of this
country to France. He was well aware that at all times it
was exceedingly impolitic, and would be greatly so at
the present moment, for him to make use of language
against France of an irritating nature. He begged to be
understood as doing no such thing, but hoe thought, if
remonstrance were made in as amicable spirit, it would be
received by the Government of France with a sincere desire
to look into the whole transaction, with a view to
give this country redress, and he protested against this
country's going on year after year satisfying itself
with stating the facts to the French Government,
and being continually put off by evasive and delusive
arguments, no man could doubt, who wou'd give
himself the trouble of looking into the matter, that this
county was not enjoying that benefit by this treaty
which Mr. Canning and Mr. Huskisson intended it
should have. If he was assured by his Majesty's Government
that they had looked into the matter with a sincere desire to
do justice to the commerce and shipping of this country,
he certainly should net be disposed to press his motion.
Previous to entering into the reciprocity treaty, French
vessels returning to the ports of France never paid
any tonnage duty, and he was credibly informed they did
not now. If they came from any of the ports of
Great Britain, then large tonnage was paid when
they came from it.—(Hear.) He was not actuated
by any jealousy against the French Government in making
his present statements, but he considered the House ought
to take care to protect its own interests.—(Hear.) The
French Government had never acceded one point to us
wi hout an equivalent, and be wished be could say as
much of his own country. He felt ti e more anxious to
ascertain the sentiments of Government on this question,
when he found the Noble Lord pursuing the same
course of which was called liberality, but which be begged
to designate folly. He saw no objection that could by pos-
sibility be urged to his motion, but he would repeat that
if the Noble Lord stated his Majesty's Government had the
subject under their consideration, he should not press his
motion.

Lord PALAJERSTON said, nothing could be fairer than
the motion of the lion. Member, and the manner in which
lie had put it. He had stated that if information were
given him that th-. matter was under tie discussion of
Ministers, and if an explanation would now be inconve-
nient, he would not, lest it should embarrass Government,
press his motion. Now he would beg leave to state that
the matter engaged the notice of Government, that a cor-
respondencebetween England and France had been instituted
in refercnce to it, and was still going on ; that, there-
fore, in his opinion, it was inconvenient, and might be preju-
dicial to the satisftetory determination of that correspondence
if they were now c.,lled on to produce it. lie, therefore,
without entering into the case, would beg him to withdraw
his motion. He wound not stand up. to argue that the French
had correctly understood and acted up bond fide to the
stipulations of the convention, but it was from no disincli-
nation to give full info.mation, nor from inattention
on the part of Government to the interests concerned in
this question, that he would recommend the withdrawal of
the motion.

Mr. ROBINSON withdrew his motion accordingly,
and stated that it would be extremely wrong in Go-
vernment to make any further concession to the French
pending this correspondence.
Mr. HUNT said that he would take that oppor-
tunity of putting to the Vice-President a question
in reference to three large seizures of French silk manu-
factures which had been made in the city. He
understood, however, that it was generally the case that
some compromise took place ; but the parties in this in-
stance were quite competent to meet the full fines, and he
wished to know what proceedings have been instituted
against them.
Mr. P. THONIPSON would assure the Hon. Member,
that the penalty to the utmost of the law, would in this be
imposed.
The Marquis of CHANDOS would take that opportu-
nity of asking whether it was the intention of his Ma-
jesty's Government to disarm the Irish yeomanry?
Lord ALTHORP said that measures for regulating

the Irish yeomanry were under the consideration of Govern-
ment, and if they were considered fit to be brought
before the House they would shortly be proposed; but
pending the consideration of these. it would be impossible
to give a direct answer to the question put by the Noble
arquis.
Mr. SADLER, on the suggestion of Mr. O'Connell,
postponed his motion on the Irish peasantry, till Monday,
29th inst.

Lori ALTH0111), :engaged that ors that day