The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-13 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS, APRIL U.

The SPEAKER took the chair at half-past Three
o'Clock.
Mr. DUNBAR presented a petition from the Minis-
ters, Elders, and Congregation of Elgin, against the in..
trusion of Ministers into the Church of Scotland.
Mr. ELLIOT presented a petition from some parish
in Roxburghshire, against Lay Church patronage ; also
a petition from certain inhabitants of the same county,
praying. for Annual Parliaments, Universal Suffrage, and
Vote by Ballot.
Colonel RUSH BROOKE presented a petition from
some place in Suffolk, praying for Church Extension.
Sir C. BROOKE VERB presented a petition with a
similar prayer.
Mr. O'CONNELL presented a petition from
Hawick, in Scotland, praying for a repeal of the Corn-
laws ; also similar petitions from a person residing at
Dudley, from the Catholic congregation of Chester, a
petition in favour of Jewish emancipation from an in-
dividual residing at Kennington, and a petition from a
place the name of which we could not catch, in favour
of Universal Suffrage and Vote by Ballot.
Mr. VILLIERS presented petitions from the in-
habitants of Lincoln's Inn, the inhabitants of Rother-
hithe, and the inhabitants of Clare-market, praying for
a repeal of the existing Corn-laws.
Mr. LOWTHER presented a petition from York,
pra:s ing the House not to assent to any alteration of
the Clergy Reserves in Upper Canada.
Mr. OSWALD presented a petition from Glasgow
in favour of the Copyrights Design Bill.
Mr. HODGSON presented a petition from Swansea
complaining of the working of the Municipal Corpora-
tion Act. The petition was ordered to be referred to
the Committee now sitting on the subject.
Col. T. WOOD presented a petition from Staines,
praying for Church Extension.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that immediately
after Easter he would move for leave to bring in a Bill
to emend the laws relating to Parliamentary Elections
in England and Wales.—(Loud cries of " Hear.")
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that he would defer,
till after Easter, the motion of which he had given
notice for Tuesday next, to introduce a Bill to amend
the sixth and seventh George IV., entitled the Clergy
Reserves Bill.

Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN hoped the Noble Lord
would not exclude from the motion of which he had
given notice, a clause to amend the laws relating to the
registratioc of voters.

Lord.'.. RUSSELL said that in bringing forward
Lis motion he would state his general views as far as
regarded Ireland also.
Mr. O'CONNELL gave notice that he would move
as an amendment to the motion which had been made
last night, relating to the payments made to Roman
Catholic Clergymen in the British Colonies, that the
returns should be extended to all classes of Clergymen,
and to all denoMinations of Dissenters in the British
Colonies. The lion. and Learned Gentleman then
gave notice of a motion with regard to the petition of
Mr. Bradshaw, in Ireland ; also that after Easter he
would call the attention of the House to the state
of the occupiers of land in India ; also that on
the first motion, that the Speaker do leave the
Chair for going into Committee on the Irish
Registration Bill, he would move that a Select Com-
mittee should be appointed to inquire into the law
with respect to the registration of voters in Great
Britain and Ireland, and to report on the
practicability of assimilating the law in both
countries ; also that, on the motion for going
into Committee on the Irish Registration Bill, he
should move that the House should go into Committee
that day six months.
Sir H. INGLIS wished to ask if there would be
any objection to lay before the House the opinion of
the Judges on the Clergy Reserves Bill (Canada).
Lord J. RUSSELL could not then answer the ques-
tion. He would take time and consider the subject.
Sir R. H. INGLIS gave notice that on Thursday,
the 7th of May, he would call the attention of the
House to the subject of Church Extension.
Messengers from the House of Lords brought down
the Printed Papers Bill with amendments, to which the
concurrence of the House was desired.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved that the Bill, with the
amendments, be printed, and taken into consideration
on Monday next (this day.)
Mr. HOPE complained of some returns, relative to
Epping Forest, which had been moved for, and which
were calculated to throw imputations upon the character
of a noble relative of his, Lord Douglas.
After a few words from Mr. Wallace and the Lord-
Advocate, the subject was dropped.
The Report upon Lord Seaton's Annuity Bill was
postponed till Monday next (this day.)
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
In answer to Lord HOTHAAI,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that he proposed on
Monday to bring on the amendment of the Printed
Papers Bill, and as far as he understood those amend-
ments he thoaght he should move that they be
agreed to. He should next take Lord Seaton's An-
nuity Bill, and then the Admiralty Courts' Bill.
SUPPLY.

The Report of the Committee of Supply was brough
up and agreed to.

CHINA.

Sir ROBERT PEEL having given notice that he
would this day move the production of the Order in
Council directing reprisals on vessels belonging to
China, the necessity for such motion was abrogated
by the return of the Paper itself, directinc, the
reprisals, and ordering a Commission for the in-
stitution of Courts' of Admiralty and Vice-Admi-
ralty. He begged to ask whether, as the commission
was not yet prepared, there would be any objection to
lay a copy of it on the table as soon as it was ready ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied in the affirmative.

Sir R. PEEL apprehended that the Order in Coun-
cil contained positive instructions to all her Majesty's
vessels of war to seize all vessels belonging to the Em-
peror of China or to his subjects, not only on the coasts
of China, but in all other parts of the world. Then,
in the event of seizures taking place, he begged leave
to ask what would he done with the property seized ?
He apprehended that the course would be to detain the
vessels and not proceed to adjudicate upon the property
in the Admiralty Courts, which adjudication would de-
pend upon ulterior events. The main question which
he wished to ask, was whether the order in Council
gave instructions to all her Majesty's vessels of war to
seize all vessels belonging to the Emperor of China in
whatever seas they might be found.
Lor PALMERSTON replied that the Order gave
full authority to any
of her Majesty's ships of war that
might fall in with Chinese vessels to detain them. Of
course the Order in Council would apply Practically
only to such of her Majesty's ships as were on the coasts
of China. Any vessels so detained would be
held in safe custody until the demands of
her Majesty's Government were satisfied. If those
demands were complied with, they would of course be
released ; but if the demands were refused, and the
vessels were condemned by the Courts of Admiralty or
Vice-Admiralty, the proceedingiwould be disposed of ac-
cording to the orders which the Commission might think
proper to issue.
Sir R. PEEL said the Noble Lord assumed that
the trade of China was carried on only on the coast of
China, and in ordinary circumstances that was perhaps
the case ; but under new circumstances exceptions
might occur. He now begged to ask if the usual pro-
clamation as to the distribution of prize money had
been issued.
Lord PALMERSTON said there had been no
such proclamation.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that there had
not been a declaration of war, properly so called, but
only an attempt to obtain reparation.
Sir R. PEEL did not wish to go into the question
of war, which he had purposely avoided.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Right Honour-
able Baronet had asked him whether there was an in-
timation of bringing clown a message from the Crown
respecting China. He (Lord John Russell) then
begged leave to reserve his answer, but he had no wish
to refuse information on the subject, and had to
observe that there might be news from China which
would make it incumbent to bring down a message,
but he wished it to be understood that as far as matters

had proceeded at present it was not intended to
advise the Crown to send down a message.
In answer to Sir R. PEEL,
Lord PALMERSTON intimated that the Com-
mission would be produced as soon as it was prepated.