The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-25 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

which ought to have been preserved. and although they
were ti,cltp,s Co, Goverumera l deposes, ha ttiought that the
pub ic ~ught to h informed, as far as could be aseerta:ned,
w!at we: e the p rs which the Keeper and the Det.lity-
Ke,•er of !11.. Rtctirols disposed f atA destroyed.
Mr FOX MA ULE said that he bad consulted the
Deliwy-K,.eprr of the R.;:cords, and he would shortly be
able to lay before the 1-I,,use the retorts moved for.

SIBTIIO RP that when he brought
torward hip motion for an inqiry into the manner in which:.
Coluthi',:siohers dis,.;harged their duties, he would
thr ,upport of the Right lion. Gent;ernen, the Under
Seci.et+ry for the ft rue Dtpdaii era.
Sir ROBERT PEEL believing that there was an im-7
pressien upon the public mintl, that important documents
had been wantonly and unnecessarily destroyed, hoped
that a Committee would he appointed to ascertain and
speedy the real character and nature of the documents
which had been for so long a period disposed (..f and dis-
persed and more recently ce..troyed ; such a Committee
would be agn at cheek upon the future destruction o
valuable records

Mr. PRO I'HEROE said that the excuse which was
given was as bad as any be ever beard in his lite—( A
laugh)—the excuar sppearcd to him to be that if the
Commissioners had done their duty the papers would not
have bean destroyed.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the Commissioner
of Rt.cord bad their functions determined upon the demise
of the Crown, and when the Commission ceased her Ma-
jesty's Government did not think it necessary to reinstitute
it, but it was agreed that there should be a Keeper and
Deputy-Keeper of Records, viz., the Master of the Rolls
and Sir Francis Colville as his Deputy. But it happened
that none of the documents which have been destroyed
acre under the control of those two Commissioners. With
respect to the Commissioners upon Criminal Law, he could
only say that they had gone through a great part of their
labours. But to get through an inquiry upon the unwritten
law was a tas:, of a very different kind. Several Reports
had been made, And he thought that in one or two years
more their labours would be completed.

_
The Returns were, ordered.
THE CHURCH AND THE POLICE.

Mr. PROTHEROE moved for a Return from the
Commissioners of Police, of all instructions and regula-
tions issued as to the closing of streets and thoroughfares
in and near the Metropolis, during the hours of Divine
Service ; specifying the times at which the said streets are
closed, and the lines through which carriages are then
obliged to pass ; together with any commuhications from
parochial or other authorities to the Commissioners, which
may have led to the issuing the said instructions.

Mr. FOX MAULE did not, oppose the Return, but
he sail that the obstruction of the passage in the Strand
during Divine Service upon Sundays did not take
place by order of the Commissioners of Police, but of the
Justices of the Peace under the Act of the
2d and 3,1 of William the Fourh, which empowered
the .q rg:,!rat,s t., prevent carri,,ges from passing through
ii,oroliglifflres during Divine Service on Sundays, to the
interruption of the congregations. The laying down of
wood payments in Whitehall had prevented any annoy
ance to those who frequented Whitehall Chapel, and
perhaps the adoption of the plan would prevent the in-
: onveilietwe in other places. However congregations
ought to b,. provided with some remedy.
'The returns were then agreed to.
Alderman WOOL) postponed his motion as to the ern.
b,mitoo.nt of the Thames, till Frid.v•
Thy' Tithe Conposition (Ireland) sill was read a Se•
cond time.

The Hous:, adjourned at a, Quarter past Nine o'Clock.

1)N THE PROBABLE SUCCESS OF

THE WAR WITH CHINA.

(From the Cheltenham Examiner.)
SIR,—So very little is known in this country of
China, and particularly that part of it Canton, where
the dispute n ,w existing is likely to interrupt our Tea
'Lade ; for the satisfaction of your readers and the
public ;enerally, I send you a kw extracts from a jour-
nal k, pt by me many ye..rs since, when a lieutenant 01
t frigate eruisin ID those seas, as it wiil show the i
pro-
bability of a succes:tui issue, and clearly prove the
right course the Governa,pnt have now taken to male:,
is the only certain means °I
tan' the honour of our flag
settling A just commercial treaty rith that bombastic"
ignorant, and pusillanimous nation.
On making the coast of China the first object that
attracts attention is the land named the Great Lama,
and a cluster of islands called the Nine Pins, the neigh-
bourhood of which swarms with fishing boats, a pilot is
generally taken on board out of these boats who is al'
ways found to be utterly useless, and the charts and hand
lead are quite sufficient to carry a ship of war of any
draught of water to their anchorage ; if going to Mlles!
Roads, which is a very good anchorage, the distance is
a few hours' sail, and the island itself could be taker'
possession of by .500 men, and kept as a garrisod
for any length of time we thought proper, and the
safe harbour of Type, about four miles distant, which is
formed by two small islands, where the old Centurion
hove down and repaired in 1740, and where I myself
refitted a frigate—the spot has plenty of water and is
remarkably healthy, and might in fact be formed into a
good dock-yard, and all kinds of provisions would be
brought by the natives the moment we cleared the river
of the war junks. On ascending the river the next object
that presents itself is the island of Linten, about 30 mile°
from Macao ; this is a very nice island, having tW
villages on it and about 400 inhabitants, and which is
16 or 17 miles circumference : there is a high peak
on the island, good water, and safe anchorage. I was at
this island three months, it grows good potatoes, and
might be kept by a few troops for ever if we thought fit
to do so ; in winter it is cold enough for European
clothes. From the summit of the peak about 30 islands
can be counted, and Macao is also visible. Again ascend-
! ing the river you arrive at the Bouge of Tigres and
anchor in Anson's Bay, a pethctly safe spot, and as
for the forts called Annapoy or Chumhee, if they
deserve the name, our sailors would soon settle that
question, this anchorage may be 3.5 miles from
Linten. Wampoa being the next point of ascent.
1 can only say that any good-sized frigate may go
up to the second bar, perhaps forty miles from
Anson's Bay and Dane's Island. taken possession
of, or garrisoned by troops, which might defy eli the
army of China to recapture it. The quantity of
trading junks and boats on the river is a Host
astonishing sight to strangers, it actually apyears
as if all the boats in the world were assembled together,
you may well judge what the judicious arrangement,
of troops and ships of war in those seas might do.
And now within twelve miles of Canton, with a draught
of water from six to ten feet, what is there there tai
prevent, if necessary, tie total destruction of thet
city, consisting of wane 500,000 inhabitants, and the
whole surrounding country being open to invasioer
and our troops marching front the Yellow Sea to Pain
itself, and gently removing the Celestial Emperor from
his downy couch. Mr. Editor, let the Government act
.is the brave old Anson did one hundred years ago, when
he decided the question of ships of war paying the ch°P
duty,
as it is called, at Canton. Tne Chinese are a
thievish, corrupt people, abounding with artifice,
nor is the constitution of the empire or the general
orders of the State less liable to exception. The Cen-
turion alone was an overmatch for all the naval power
of China ; what must then be the effect of the present
expedition on that nation ? Nothing less than a so ccesa-
ful settlement of the question of trade, a proper securitY
given to our merchants and their property, and a just
maintenance of the honour of her Majesty's flag.

WESTMINSTER LITERARY INSTITUTION.--
Mr. W. Balls entertained the members of this Institution ?1,4
evening with a very interesting Literary and Lyrical Selector!,
containing gleanings from the National Minstrels, with comic
singing, &c. There was also some excellent music, and the
performances gave much pleasure to the audience.