The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-09 00:00:00

SOUTH AMERICA.

The Marquis of LANSDOWN had on Friday last intimat-
ed his intention of putting some questions to the Noble Earl
opposite, on the subject of the papers which had been laid on
the table on the previous day, relating to South America; and
though, front circumstances which had taken place eliewhere,-
some of the points on which he bad wished for information
might be-cOn!idered as already answered, yet he still had three
distinct questions on which he. was desirous of obtaining expla-
nation from the Noble Earl. The first question arose out of
that part of the memorandum of the conference which took place
between the Prince de Polignac and Mr. Canning in the month
of Oct-ober last, which related to the trade of this country
with South America. It was stated, that permission to trade
with the Spanish colonies had been conceded to. Great Britain
in the year 1810. Now he certainly did not recollect to have
seen any treaty to that effect, .or any document containing a
stipulation .or concession of the kind described. He would,
therefore, be glad to know whether any such stipulation or con-
cession existed, and where it was to be found. His second
question related to the last dispatch of Mr. Canning, dated Jan.
30, which contained an offer of mediation between Spain and
her colonies made on the part of this country, He thought
that sufficient time had elapsed for receiving an answer to this
dispatch, which answer would, doubtless, enable his Majesty-7s
Ministers to come to a final determination on the measures
they were to adopt. He therefore wished to he informed
whether. any answer had been received to this dispatch.. • His
third question was, perhaps,stillmore important.: In the same
dispatch of Mr. Canning it was stated, that a communication
of the sentime-As of his Majesty's Government on the subject
of South America had been made to each of the Powers now
invited to a conference at Paris. The communication thus
made to Russia, Austria, Prussia, and France, it appeared,
wasin.substance similar to what was stated in the dispatch and.
the conference with Prince Polignac, Ile wished to ask the
Noble Earl whether his Majesty's Gbvernment were in posses-
sion of any answer to this communication from the Powers to
which it had been made.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL wished to give the Noble Mar-
quis every satisfaction in his power to give in the state in which
the question now 5t00d..,. W ith respect to the first question,
there doubtless never had been any dittinct stipulation or con-
cession.by treaty of permission to the merchants of this country
to trade with South -America ; but, undoubtedly, ever since the
year 1809, when the first separation of the Spanish Colonies
from the Mother Country took place, their Lordships must be
aware that a trade had de facto existed. In all the conferences
which had taken place with the Governments of Spaia
froth the commencement of the separation of the Colonies before
and after the restoration of Ferdinand, there never had been any
question made as to the assent of the Spanish Government to
this commerce. Under these circumstances he could state that,
notwithstanding the various changes which had taken place in.
the Government of Spain, there- had always existed a complete-
understanding of the existence of a free commercial intercourse'
between the subjects of this country and the provinces of
South America ; but as to any express•areaty or stipulation to •
that effect, there certainly was none. As to the second question
of the. Noble Marquis, namely, Whether any answer had been
received to the dispatch of Mr. Canning, he had to reply in the •
negative. There certainly had been no answer returned as yet. •
His Majesty's Ministers were merely informed of the receipt of
the dispatch, and its communication to the Spanish Government,
but no official answer whatever had been received from Madrid.
With regard to the third question of the Noble Marquis—as to'
the communication of the course adopted with respect to South
answer
alsoer
htande dispatch,hitherto had
beenberceiLi
America by his Majesty's Government to the other Powers
which had been mentioned—he had to state, that that course,
acos
ceived in pursuance of such communication. He wished now
nd
lens
oc roi
ibeeadt
eidn t
possession of their Lordships were communicated for the pur-
pose of making known to Parliament what was the actual posi-
on
to say one. word on the general subject. The papers now in the
ibleuteThfearte-nncoe'
non in which the country stood as to. the question of the Spanish
Colonies. These papers sufficiently explained what course his
Majesty's Government bad held on this important question,
what had already been done, and by what principles the Go-
vernment bad hitherto been guided, and'would be guided,. in
future. Under these circumstances, he conceived that his Ma-
jesty's Government were entitled to the confidence of Parlia-
ment, and he had no hesitation in saying that he would resist
any proposition which implied the contrary. He considered
his Majesty's Government to be entitled to the full confidence
of the House on the principles laid down in the papers. If the
Noble Marquis should be of a different opinion, it certainly
would be competent for him to bring forward the motion of
of which he had given notice, and in that cane he should be pre-
pared to justify
the course pursued on this question by his Ma-
jesty's Government.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN understood from what the
Noble Earl had stated, that no answer had been received by
hie Majesty's Government to the communication made by
them to the Continental powers on the subject of South America ;
he wished also to be informed whether any communication had
been made to Ministers of the answers returned by the Govern-
ments of France, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, to the invita-
tion of the Spanish Government to a conference at Paris.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, that no communication to
the answers of those Powers had been received by his Majesty's
Government.

Lord HOLLAND wished to know whether the Powers al-
luded to had made no communication of their intentions:.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL replied, that not the slightest in-
timation had been received. He would not say that conversa-
tions had not taken place with some of their Ministers, but no
official communication had been received from any of them.
Lord .HOLLAND considered the answer given by the
Noble Earl perfectly satisfactory. It was just.what he eXpeet-
et! from Min.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN was also to understand
that no answer whatever had been received to Mr." Cunning's
Dispatch..
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said nothing farther than what
had already been explained. That dispatch had been.cOmmu-
nicated by Sir W. A'Court to the Spanish Minister' to be laid
before the King at Madrid ; but no answer; farther than he
had stated, had yet reached this country.

Earl GROSVENOR referred to the passage, in the confer-
ence between Mr. Canning and Prince Polignac, in which it is
stated, that Great Britain " would Consider any foreign inter-
ence by force, or by menace, in the dispute between Spain and
the Colonies, as a motive for recognizing the bitter without d c •
lay." The Noble Earl obserVed, that this language waA
stronger than that contained in the letter to Mr. Canning. 1-ij
wished to know whether Ministers adhered to the intention of
making any foreign menace a motive for recoghizing the SoUth
American States?
The Earl of LIVERPOOL saw no difference in sense be-
tween the two Papers. With respect to the word " menace,"
its meaning was vague, and depended upon the purport given
to it by the person who used it. Ile should understand by
it, as it appeared in the Papers, any tbre.at accompanied by an
overt act which implied an intention of carrying' such threrit
into execution. - _ _

Here the conversation ended.
On the second reading of the Austrian Loan Bill, Lord
HOLLAND intimated that he would propose some amendment
in a future stage. • .
Mr. RnoODEN and others, from the Commons, brought un
the Irish Churches' Rate Bi. and the Annual Indemnity Fill
which were read a first time.—Adjourned.

Various petitions vrerc: presented from per Sons concerned
the silk trade, upon the subject of the intended repeal 'of pro-,
hibitions, and the reduction of duties on raw silk—some of
them directly against those Measures-some praying for time to.
intervene before their. .atloption-iind some for an allowance.itS'
to the duties for the stock on _ _ _ _

Mr. MUNDY presented a petition from the Silk4.llrowe,trt,t
and Weavers in the County of Derby! .
Lord GEORGE CAVENDISH supported it.
Mr. EGERTON presented a similar petition from Sand.;
bach, in the County of Chester.
Mr. DAVENPORT presented similar petitions from the
Silkmen and from the Corporation of the Borough of QM-
gleton.
Mr. BLACKBURNE presented a similar petition from the'
.Silkmen of Manchester.

Mr. MABE RIX- said, that it was striking to observe the
anxiety which the intended alterations in the Silk-laws had
created out of doors, which was not only manifested by the pc-.
titior.s presented, but by the _crowding of the London trades-
men and weavers about the passages of the house.. The Hon.
Gentlemen on his side of the House had been constant in their
demands on the Government for a,reduction.. of the duties on
raw produce, the removal of which was likely to lead to a large
additional trade in the respective manufactures. Ministers
hac4 'at length, come into that view, end' measures were likely
tolia. adopted:- accordingly, tti which the petitioners were op
posed. As to the-prohibition laws, they were no security ; they
existed but nominally .; and, in smuggling transactions, they
were over-reached by paying to the smuggler the same amount
of duty which would be hereafter paid to the Government: FOf
an insurance: of 20 per cent., the smugglers introduced and
undertook to deliver at home- any quantity of French .pro-
duco or manufactUres. Therefore, one of the most politic
and wise measures ever undertaken by Ministers was the-.
doing away with the • prohibitions; and he called on all his
Hon. Friends to support the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. HUSKISSON said, that it might be convenient, in con- -
sequence of the absence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to
state the course which would be taken with respect to the two
great questions which were likely to engage the attention of the
House, to the postponement, as he supposed, of all other bus)--
nets. The first related to the annual sugar-duties, for the re-.
newal of which it would be his business to move, notwithstand--
ing the absence of his Right Hon. Friend, because • they would
otherwise expire on the 24th inst., and therefpre it was urgent
that they should come to a decision upon them, not, only with a
view to commercial regulations, but also in consideration of the
public service, which required the continuance of those ditties.
Afterwards, it would he his duty to proptise in a Committee oft
the Silk Laws, the resolution which his Right Hon. Friend had
intended to submit, as containing' the final determination of
Government. • The anxiety and suspenSe attendant upon that
great subject at' present would be a sufficient excuse for him
with the House in pressing it forward in the absence of his
Right Hon; Friend.—( Hear, hear !)
Mr. B. -WILMA HAM pr,sented a petition from Rum-
ford against:the Coal-tax.
Mr. GRATTAN withheld a petition, which he was to hay&
presented from seven Irish Roman Catholic Bishops, until
another day, that he might not impede the important business
which was to occupy. the. attention of the, House. He then
moved forreturns ci wool exported from .Ireland since Isoo.
Ordered. _ - _ •

Mr. H. DAVIS presented a petition from St. Stephen's
Parish, in Bristol, praying for a repeal of the Window-tax. .
Mr. BRIGHT supported the petition.
The Sheriffs of London pres,:ented a petition from the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Common' Council of the City, praying.
for the repeal of the. Assessed Taxes.
111 r. Aiderinan WOOD said a few words in support of the
House
of the petition, but from the noise which prevailed in the
House at the time, we could only collect the general import of
his remarks. We understood hiiu to contend, that the Assess-
ed '1 axes, as they now stood, were uneqUal and oppressive in
their operation.
_ _

Mr. 'Aldermiin HEY GATE expressee hope that his Ma-
jesty's Ministera would take this subject into their early and se-
rious consideration, and that at no distant ddy we might see the
whole of the direct taxes done' away.
The petition was Ordered to be printed.
On the motion of Mr. Alderman Worm, there was ordered,
to be laid before the Ilousean Account of the quantity of Malt
and Barley shipped from Eng Laid to Scotland, and from Eng-
land to Ireland, in the years ending the sth Feb. 1821, 1822,
and 1823. - ,