The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-24 00:00:00

EXPORTATION OF MACHINERY.

Mr. E. TEN NE NT moved for a return of the descrip
tion and value of the machinery exported from the year
1830 to the year 1840.—Agreed to.
Lord TE IG NMOUT H moved fora return of all unap-
propriated fines levied under the Factory Act, 3d and 4th
Will. IV., c. 103, stating the amount in each case, the
names of the persons in whose hands the fines are placed,
and the authority under which the fines have been so
placed instead of being appropriated in the manner
directed by the 43d section of the above mentioned Act.
He regretted to lima that the Secretary of State for the
Colonies intended to oppose the motion. The object of
the motion was simply to ascertain what was done with the
fines which were levied under the 4'td eec. of the Factory
Act, and which were to be applied to the establishment of
.schools. One of the Inspectors had received these
fines, but had not applied them to the proper purpose.
The Noble Lord proceeded to say that he was astonished
at the refusal of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite to
supply the papers in question; and the more so, as lie
had been told that those Returns had been furnished to
a Committee unasked for. Under these circumstances,
however, he was determined on withdrawing his motion.
Mr. FOX MAULE offered a few words in explana-
tion, add said, that with regard to the returns having been
furnished to a Committee, he believed the Noble Lord had
been deceived, and that the returns had not been pre-
sented, although explanations had been given on the
subject.
The motion was then withdrawn.
CHINA—THE OPIUM TRADE.
Mr. CRAWFORD then rose and said, there had been
presented to the House petitions from the proprietors of
Opium, which had been delivered up to Captain Elliot,
the Superintendent of the British Trade in China, upon
his requisition, in his public capacity, from the British
Residents dwelling in Canton. It was his intention, in pur-
suance of the notice he had given, to move that the
greviances complained of on this subject be referred to a
Select Committee. As it was not the intention of the
Government to oppose the Committee, he should be
li.ved at present from going iota details, which otherwise
he should have had to enter into. Bur, considering the
peculiar nature of the transaction, and considering the
magnitude of the interests involved, end considering, too,
the importance of the subject as respected the general in-
terests of British commerce, he might be allowed perhaps
to give an historical view of the manner in which this trade
hail been conducted for a long series of pears. From the
earliest period the trade in opium had existed between
Bengal and China, and in the Province of Buhar, the ar-
ticle had been grown long before the British sovereignty
had been established. So long ago as 1766, when Lord
Cornwallis was Governor-General of India, the subject
had been brought under the peculiar attention of the Go-
,vernment, and the trade was regulated in the way in which
it now existed ; and to 1706 the commodity was intro-
duced into Ghina on payment of a fixed duty. But
in that year an edict appeared in China against the
importation of opium into that country. That
edict, however, proved utterly inoperative.—( Hear, hear.)
The quantity of opium expo: red from Bengal never did de-
crease. It then consisted of about of 4,000 chests; the
ships entered the Port of Canton, having at all times the
op urn on board, where it was delivered for the conveni.
cue of the Chinese Authorities—the whole of this
ieoog dune by the Hong merchants, the British subject
had nothing to do in the transaction. In consequence os
the misunderstandings between those who received thef
bribes and those who paid certain transactions, took place
relative to the Opium being taker' from Liao, or the
•uter waters, and the consequence was, that from
that time to the present the versels having Opium
on board, were placed in a different situation.
In 1824 the first ship made a venture up the
east coast, and passed o‘er to the port. In con-
s -pence of the success that ettended the first
adventure, others took place, and in the year
1828 and 1d29 an established trade was formed.
I'lie vessels no longer went near Canton, but
were supplied with the opium by smaller vessels.
frau at this way continued till 1838, by which time
t had augmented from 4,000 cheats in 1796, to 27,000
e,ests iu 1839 In they ear I 36, front causes which it was
,ot necessary for him then to go into the Chinese Govern-
ment, took into their serious consideration the subject of
the opium trade, ,pparently with an earnest desire to
put it down, certainly es respected foreigners ; but a ques.
tion arose whether it would not be more politic to legalize
the importation, or to continue the prohibition. In JulylB36,
an intimation was expected to have arrived at Pekin that
the trade was legalized—( Cries of " Hear. hear, ") But
it apppeared, however, that in the Council at Pekin,
the legalization of the trade was lost by a ma.
jority of one, and the consequence was that the
measures of the Chinese Government became more
stringent to put a stop to the trade ; those measures
were found insufficient in 1838, and therefore it appeared
that Commissioner Lin was invested with extraordinary
powers, superseding all the authorities under the Viceroy,
and he appeared in Canton for the purpose of putting
the authorities which he possessed into effect.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)
IMPERIAL PA RLIAM EN T

HOUSE OF LORD,', MARC)! 23.

IRISH CORPORATIONS AND PRINTED
PAPERS BILLS.
(Continued from our Second Edition. )
The Marquis of L WNE said be was not
disposed entirely to concur that this important Bill,
which had been delayed art unusual time already—,
(" No," from the Duke of Wellington)—at the request
of the Noble Dutze.---e. No," from the Duke of Wel-
lington.) It came up on the 13th instant, and, at the
request of the Noble Duke, the second reading bad
been hitherto delayed_ He concurred in the consent
of his Noble Friend to take the second reading on
Friday se'nnight, but, notwithstanding that concur-
rence, he protested against the doctrine that no im-
portant business should be brought into the House of
Lords before Easter. Was it to he announced to the
public that Noble Lords were justified in absence from
their duty in that, House upon a pppo44iop be,

cause no announcement had taken place, that public
business would not come on before Easter ? He did
not consider the absence of Noble Lords in Ireland
previous to Easter a ground for not proceeding with
important Irish measures. He could not but remember
that not once only, but over and over again, her Ma-
jesty's Government were subjected to reproach in
that House for not having brought on public
measures before Easter, and for having accumulated
business of great importance after. He had always
considered it the duty of the Government to bring
forward measures as early as they could in the Session.
With these observations, he concurred most freely in
the postponement, on the grounds stated of the indis-
position of the Noble and Learned Lord, whom he was
sure all of their Lordships would wish to see in his
place when the subject was under discussion.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said a few
words in explanation.
The Earl of HADDINGTON was quite certain
that if the Noble Lord opposite had understood the
Noble Duke, he would not have made so ungracious
a concession. The Noble Duke said it would be late
next week before the Noble and Learned Lord would
have recovered so as to be able to attend to business at
He did not say in this House, but at
all ; and then the Noble Viscount proposed to
bring on the measure late next week, the Noble
and Learned Lord not being able to attend in
his place at that time. Whatever was the opinion
on the Bill, there were many other Noble Lords who
would vote against it, and who, if the Noble and
Learned Lord voted in its favour, would expect he
should state his reasons for doing so, which the Noble
and Learned Lord would doubtless wish to do. The
Noble Duke was the last man in the House who would
wish that no business should be done in it before Eas-
tet. No such thing was stated by the Noble Duke.
Here they had been sitting two months, and not a mea-
sure had originated in the House. The Noble Lord
had left off making that House a House of
Parliament for originating business, and therefore it
was considered by Noble Lords in general that the
time before Easter was occupied in receiving petitions.
They had complained over and over again 1:1' this, but
when it was the constant course of proceeding, no won-
der when a measure of great importance to Ireland
caine on before Easter, those Noble Lords should have
trusted to the usual course of proceeding, and not come
over as they would have done if they had been aware
of it.

Lord MELBOURNE then said he would adjourn
the second reading until Monday se'nnieht.
On the motion of Lord DUNCANN ON a message
was ordered to be sent to the House of Commons re-
questing the communication of the Report of the Com-
mittee on Printed Papers.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented two
petitions from places in the county of Down in favour
of the principle of non-intrusion.
Viscount MELBOURNE presented a petition from
Staley-bridge, praying for the total repeal of the Corn-
laws.

Lord ASHBURTON said he could not allow any
such a petition to be presented by the Premier without
asking him a question upon so important a point. Many
persons were anxious to address the House in support of
the Corn-laws, but they thought it unnecessary, because
they had confidence in the declarations of the Noble
Viscount of last Session. He wished to ask the Noble
Viscount whether he still entertained the same sen-
timents as he did then, or whether it was the inten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to introduce
or support any measure for altering these laws.
Viscount MELBOURNE said he retained the same
opinions upon the question of the Corn-laws as he did
last year, reserving to himself the right of agreeing to
any necessary modification of them. It was not the in-
tention of the Government as a Government to bring
forward or support any measure for the repeal of the
Corn-laws, or to make any alteration of them.
The Earl of ABERDEEN presented numerous pe-
titions against the intrusion of ministers.
The Earl of HA DDINGTO N presented petitions
from several officers of corporations in Ireland, praying
for compensation for the loss of their offices.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented petitions from
numerous places in Yorkshire against any alteration in
the Corn-laws.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM presented a peti-
tion from Newport Pagnel, praying that a stop might
he put to the opium trade ; also numerous petitions
from places in the counties of York, Somerset, and
Durham, against any alteration in the Corn-laws. He
wished to ask the Noble Marquis opposite whether he
was aware that a procession had been formed under
the sanction of the Lnrd Lieutenant of Ireland, on St.
Patrick's-day, consisting of 1,200 persons, attended by
two priests, with music, ribbons, &c. ; and whether a
stipendiary Magistrate named Tuckey had memorialized
the Government upon the subject.
The Marquis of NORMA NBY had no knowledge
of the subject. Had he had notice of the question.
probably he might have got some information from his
Noble Friend, the Secretary for Ireland.
The Duke of BUCKINGHAM— Perhaps the
Noble Marquis will make inquiry upon the subject.
The Marquis of NORMANBY—Certainly.
Lord REDESDALE presented a petition from va-
rious places in Gloucester, against any alteration in the
Corn-laws.

EXCHEQUER RECORDS.
Lord REDESDALE wished to receive some expla-
nation from the Noble Lord the Comptroller of the Ex-
chequer, relative to the late destruction of Exchequer
papers.

Lord MONTEAGLE said that the event in
question was not the result of any negligence, and the
documents in question were not, as the Noble Lord
had supposed, those which had been transferred to the
control of the Master of the Rolls.
The Earl of ABERDEEN was sorry to say that
there appeared to him to have been a good deal of cul-
pable negligence in the destruction of those papers or
records. He had no doubt that the greater portion of
them was worthless, but still the persons employed in
the proceeding had either performed the work with
great negligence, or had shown themselves incompetent
to the discharge of their duties. He understood that a
great many of those papers were at present in the hands
of auctioneers for the purpose of being sold or published.
They could not, therefore, have been of the worthless
description which had been represented. The day be-
fore yesterday he chanced to have had occasion to go
to the British Museum, and he found there a portion
of those very papers which had been brought for sale
there. He had no doubt but the Museum would
purchase them, and yet he thought it a little hard
that the public should be obliged to buy up their own
papers in that manner.—(Hear, hear.) He had had
the curiosity to look at some of them ; and the first he
saw was a letter from the Secretary of State of Leo
X., addressed to Cardinal Wolsey. The next papers
he looked at were several sheets containing a list and
description of several things bought for the use of
Queen Elizabeth. There was another paper he had
been told containing an account of the expenses of King
Charles I. during his imp isonment. He did not think
that these were documents which ought to have been sold
or destroyed.—( Hear).
Lord MONTEAGLE said, that he might be al-
lowed to say a few words in justification of his Right
Hon. Friend, as he was not at all concerned in the
transaction, it having taken place before his appointment
to his present office. He was not, however, a bit the
less interested on that account in doing justice to his Right
Hon. Friend. While the Noble Earl opposite had said
so much on the destruction of these records, he seemed
to have forgotten that, had it not been for the interposi-
tion of his Right Hon. Friend, the entire of the records
in question would have been ruined. For 15 years those
documents had been lying in vaults, where they would
have all remained, were it not for the exertions of his
Right Hon. Friend. He believed, too, that his Right
Hon. Friend had employed the most experienced clerks
in his office ; and one of. thim in particular had served
forty or fifty years under Lord Granville. The House
should recollect that they could not do justice to the
subject without looking to the documents that had been
preserved, as well as to those which had been destroyed.
It might happen that documents would have a value in
the market, and none at all as matters to be preserved ;
and some of those papers were much sought after as
curiosities, when they possessed no other interest than
as autographs.

Lord ABERDEEN had no doubt that many im-
portant documents had been recovered ; but, at the
same time there had been very great negligence in
allowing so many to he destroyed without examina-
tion. From some which he had seen in the house of a
considerable bookseller, and which were to be purchased
for the British Museum, he believed that the public
would have to pay again for some of those which had
been sold.
Lord REDESDALE said that the conduct of the
Exchequer was illegal. The papers were sold without
examination, and amongst them some were of a very in-
teresting character. Amongst them were two which he had
seen ; the one was an account of the number of ship
and men in the Spanish Armada, with their stores and
pay. That document was signed by Lord Burleigh.
Although the paper was mutilated, for what purpose he
did not know, the signature remained. The other was
an account of the persons who were sent down on the
trial of the Queen of Scots at Fotheringay. He did not
say that these were very important papers, but they
were of a description that ought not be destroyed, and
they would not have been sold if there had not been
very great carelessness.

VACCINATION.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition
from the medical men of Galway praying that the Vac-
cination Bill should be extended to Ireland.
Lord ROSEBERILY and the Earl of HADDINGTON
hoped that it would be extended to Scotland.

CORN-LAWS.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented peti-
tions—one from the hand-loom weavers, and another
from certain landowners in Chester, for the immediate
abolition of the corn-Jaws. The Noble Marquis also
presented a petition from Belfast,- against Church intru-
sion in Scotland,

HOUSE O,F COItIIMOVS, M4RCM 23.
Laid JOHN RUSSELL, is continuation,
tiler with the sentiments of the Legislatures O'
Upper and Lower Canada•—qt Was thought right that
such a person shodd be sent over to Canada, in order
to give such a resort to Per Majesty's Government a!
would enable thi,sl to brig forward a measure fortified_
upon such authorlies, Ad consistent with the Wishes 01
the inhahitants; .f Caada. Sir, although I conceive
this step not onY exrdient, but to have become, by the
course of event,' neessary, in order to enable us to form
such a measure anego through all its details, I confess
that I could sot topt the measure which I .ani about
to ask leaveof tL 'House to bring in without at the
same time (l.ng an act of justice by asitinl
wof the Crerriome approbation to that distinguisue'•
officer who, ling left on two occasions in a rosition of
great dirice3's to make head against insurrection from
within novasion from without ; and who, lacier the(
advlee of,lsat great master of the day, the Duke
hear, and cheers)—arrested the
progrcs or the insurrection with the greatest valour,