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

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS MIRCU 24
CHINA—THE OPIUM TRADE,
Mr. STAUNTON (in continuation, pseccethel to sly)
The Housa was not in a condition to determ;ne that point.
Still less did he rise to vindicate the opium trade carried
on with China : on the contrary, he wished to see it put an
end to by an Agt of the Legislature and the good feeling
of the people of this country. However, the magnitude of
the claims made by the petitioners, and the valid and hind- ,
ing guarantee given by her Majesty's Superintendent of
Trade at Canton—that officer being still in the employment
of Government—he considered that it would be an act of
gr ss injustice if these claims were to be dismissed by a
letter of six lines from the Secretary to the Treasury. Ire ,
thought a full and fair inquiry should, in justice to all par-
ties, be instituted, and be knew no better tribunal fief tre
which such an inquiry might take place than a Parlia-
mentary Committee. There all parties would be heard,
and the full circumstances of the case be laid open. (The
Hon. Baronet here read an extract from the petition.)
Now, while the East India Company's Charter existed,
whenever a vessel arrived at China, notice was given to the
Commander that the importation of opium was prohibited
by the Chinese Government, and if it was attempted to
smuggle any the Commander would be subjected to se-
vere penalties, and the cargo would be liable to seizure.
They were aware that the opium trade contributed to the
revenue of India, but the agents of the Company thought
it no part of their duty to protect or encourage any spe-
cies of illicit trade. He was not prepared to say whether
that course had been pursued in China during the remain-
ing period of the Company's exclusive privileges, but it
would appear, from the papers laid upon the table of the
House, that a total change had taken place from the time
her Majesty's Superintendents were sent out there. It
would appear from these documents that the opium
trade was sanctioned and protected, and authorised 11
the Representative of the British nation.—( Hear. )
There was at least so much of sanction, that it could
not be regarded as a smuggling transaction. On the
contrary, it had been spoken of by the authorities as
favourable to the general commerce. At length the
Chinese Government took more decided measures to sap-
press the traffic, and such conflicts arose that the Superin-
tendent found it necessary to take measures to restrain it,
and he issued a notice restraining it within certain limits.
But the storm of Chinese indignation still grew blacker
and blacker, the orders were more and more stringent to
close the trade. Commissioner Lin arrived at Can-
ton, and an order was issued directing all British ves-
sels engaged in the traffic to quit the port; that was in
September, 1839. And if tha order hao h• en efe end
earlier, the House would nut have been coip.ifirrm,4 the
losses of individuals, nor have to lament the stoppaE,e of a
valuable trade, neither would a struggle have ensue I, which
he (Sir G. Staunton) would not call unfortunate, for of
its issue he felt confident in success, but which, neverthe-
less, it would have been as well to avoid. Under dl
these circumstances the petition would be justly chill led to
serious consideration. As to the legality of captain E,-
liot's order he was not qualified to discuss it. But be
would venture humbly to submit to the House, that if in
the station which Captain Elliot occupied, he felt him-
self called upon, in order to prevent fatal collisions, to
take the measures he had, and if he acted in conformity
with his duty to procure the liberation of British sub-
jects, he demanded the opium, and gave the gun, aetee,
which he had done, then certainly those British merehants
who thereby sustained losses, should have compensation.
He would not detain the House further. He beeged to
state he did not entertain any hostile opinion apiest the
expediency of claiming redress from the Chinese Govern-
ment, but he entirely concurred in the statement made he
other night by the Noble Lord, the Secretary for the Co-
lonies.—( Hear, hear. )
Lord SA NDON said it had been his intention to call
the attention of the House to the question of continuing
the iniquitous trade of opium with China ; but now
that the question was to be intrusted to a Commit.
tee, he would abstain from entering on it, as they re-
quired more information on the question. He hoped
the Committee would be appointed, and that they
would go into the whole question. Should he
have the honour of making one of the Committee, he
would enter upon the question without reserve ; and he
would use his endeavour to find out some legitimate source
of trade instead of that di-graceful and iniquitous traffic
of opium. There bad been allusion made to war, but on
that point he entertained his doubt that China had not
better ground for going to war with us than we had to go
to war with her. On these grounds he would postpone
his motion.
Lord PALMERSTON would occupy the House with
a very few words ; and he rose to speak principally to one
objection which had been made to the policy of her Ma-
jesty's Government. He must acknowledge that this sub-
ject was one in which the most free inquiry could not be
refused. He would follow the example of his Hon.
Friend by abstaining from entering into the wide field of
discussion which it opened ; but he must say one word in
answer to the statement of his Hon. Friend, that the Super-
intendent had countenanced infractions of the Chinese law
in the smuggling of opium, which the Supercargoes had,
as far as they could, prevented. The fact was, that the
Superintendents, as well as the Supercargoes, knee that the
trade was carried on ; but the Superintendents had no power
to prevent British subjects from embarking in that trade.
At one time a misunderstanding of the powers of the Super-
intendents led to great mistake and difficulty, which ap-
peared from a despatch addressed from the Governor-
General of India to a Superintendent who had committed
the mistake, and reciting the Act 26th George 111., chap.
22. The Superintendents had no legal power to have
compelled any parties engaged in the opium trade to quit
China. All that they could do was not to encourage
persons engaged in that trade, and, as he had sent them
instructions on the subject, he believed that no such en-
couragement had been given. He would not then enter
into any farther explanations on the subject, as he would
reserve them for another occasion.
The motion was then agreed to, and the Committee was
appointed to meet on Thursday next.
PRIVILEGE—PETITION OF MR. PEARCE.
Sir F. BURDETT rose to call the attention of the
House to the petition of Thomas George Johnston Pearce,
(presented 12th March). The Hon. Baronet proceeded
to say that as Mr. Pearce had been sent to prison without
any fault of his own, he thought his case deserved the kind
consideration of the House. Mr. Pearce's situation was
most deplorable, and one from which be thought every
Member of that House would be most anxious to relieve
him. If he was a common felon he would be entitled to
support, which he was deprived of under his present incar-
ceration. All that the petitioner asked was, that his case
might be taken into consideration, and that he might not
be placed in a situation which compelled him to incur
debts for which he might be imprisoned after bring re-
leased by that House. In conclusion, he would move that
the prayer of Mr. Pearce's petition might be acceded to
Sir R. INC LIS seconded the motion. The prayer of
the peetion was literally nothing more than a prayer for
food. The House had deprived him of the means of ob-
taining a livelihood by incarcerating him, and it was hard
indeed that he should not have that which he would be en-
titled to if he was confined any where but in the cells of
the House of Commons. He trusted the Noble Lord
would not content himself with acceding to the prayer of
the petition, but would in a few days state that it was his
opinion the authority of the House had been vindicated,
and that he would, therefore, consent to the unconditiottal
discharge of all those who were imprisoned.
The petition having been read at length by the Clerk at
the table,
Lord J. RUSSELL did not think it was necessary for
the House to take any steps on the subject. It was the
practice for persons commhted by the House to pay for
their own maintenance. The House would take care that
when the party was ordered to be discharged there should
be no further imprisonment on account of his support, and
if it was thought necessary, when that time arrived, an
order might be made by the House to release him from
any debt which he might have incurred to the house-
keeper of that House.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL thought there should be
some explicit statement by the Noble Lord that no charge
for his maintenance would be made against the petitioner.
If that was not done, it would perhaps lead to some incon-
venience hereafter, as credit might be given him for neces-
saries which he would be unable to pay for.
Lord J. RUSSELL had said that if the party ap-
peared to the House to be in such a state of poverty as to
be unable to pay any bill for his food, then he thought
there would be no question that the House would not allow
biro to run any risk of further incarceration on account of
debt. With respect to the discharge of the prisoner, pro-
bably had it not been for the sympathy shown these parties
by Hon. Gentlemen opposite—( Loud cheers)—they would
not have been sustained by false pride in their opposition
to the orders and privileges of the House—(Cheers)
and they probably might have got out of their difficulties.
Sir E. SUG DEN said that throughout the whole of
the time these parties had been in contempt of the House,
he bad shown no sympathy with them—he had even re.
frained from paying his respects to the Sheriffs, out of
respect to the majority of the House; but if the prayer of
the petition were not agreed to, be declared, in his place,
that he would not hesitate to support him out of his own
funds, so long as he was detained by orders of the House.
Mr. L ABOUCHE RE said that was not at all a case of
starvation—that supposition was negatived by the fact that
the petition had lain on the table since the 12th instant,
without an attempt upon the part of the Hon. Baronet to
bring it under the c ,nsideration of the House. He con-
sidered the motion as one of those trivial attempts which
had been so frequently made to distract the attention of
the House and the public from those inuportants points in
volved in the struggle they were making in defence of
their most important privileges.—(Cheers.)
Mr. LAW was entirely satisfied with the undertaking
of the Noble Lord for the payment of the small bill in-
curred by this gentleman ; he would give him an early op-
portunity of liquidating it ; he would therefore move
" that Thomas G. J. Pearce be new discharged,"
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw.
The House divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment
Against it

Majority against the discharge of Mr. Pearce —42
The House again divided on the original motion—
Ayes
Noes
Maj. city • 25
CONSTABULARY.
Mr. LAW HODGES then rose to move for leave to
bring in a Bill to render effective the ancient constabulary
force of England and Wales. The plan proposed by Go-
vernment for introducing a new system of police had proved
completely inoperative, only two counties in England.
namely, Gloucester and Wilts, having adopted its provi-
aions. The Bill which he was about to submit to th,
House would not entail one-fourth the cost of the Bill of
last Session upon those counties which might adopt it. He

proposed by it to continue tie comm ti law constables—a
careful selection being made o tut. ttnesa 9t the part!, s ;
be proposed then to provi,e achAvi to remuic,ration tor
actual services, in which the law wa. now notoriously tl -

ficient ; all allowances and salaries to• b(' paid ow of the
poor.rates ; justices at sosions to have the power of scru-
tinizing the expenses of the constables; power to be git, n
to the Justicca at sessions to increase the number of c(n-
stablee in ppuloiis district) and towns, and to fk,rni ttlos
and regulations for tin otanaeinent of the constabulary
force. He proposed further, and this was the wily not,4

point in his Bill, that a special high constable should
appointed for one or more divisions of the county, for the
prevention of crime and the detection of offender:. The
high constable to follow no other occupation ; to receive
an adequate salary, and to be under the orders and direc-
tions of the Magistrates. These were the principal provi-
sions of the Bill, and he thought it was abs cutely neces-
sary to introduce some measure of the kind, unless the Bit
of last Session was rendered compulsory, hi his opinion
that would never b, come a popular measure with the
people of England. Under these circumstances he trusted
no obj,ction would be made to the introduction of the pre-
sent Bill.

Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL supported the mo-
tion. He trusted the Noble Lord would take the matter
into hta consideration, as it was admitted on all hands that
the Bill of last Session was one which would not be gene-
rally adopted throughout the country. He hoped, there-
fore there would be no objection to refer the Bill to a
Committee, by wil;:rn the whole question might be inves-
tig.ted.
Lord JOHN RUiSELL, could not allow the Bill to
be brought in without making a few observations on the
statement of the Honourable Member. He had not

. _
contented himself with moving for leave to bring in his
Bill, but had made some strong observations and reflec-
tions upon the Bill of last Session, which had been intro-
duced by a Member of the Government. Notwithstanding
the veneration of the Hen. Member for the ancient con-
stabulary force of the country he saw nothing in his outline
of its present state to impress the House with a high opi-
nion of its efficiency. In the first place persons were ap-
pointed as constables who were unfit to act as such; in the
second place they did not receive sufficient remuneration ;
and in the third place their numbers were not adapted to
the encreasing wants of the population. With regard to
the Bill now proposed, although lie admitted that it con-
tained some useful suggestions, he confessed that it did not

appear to him to go—very far beyond what the present
law enabled them to do. It was well known that
many persons were appointed constables, who, from
having other occupations to attend to, were anxious to
avoid that duty, and, not having been trained to it from
early life, were in most cases unfit for such a situation.
He thought that the fact of thirteen counties out of the
forty counties of England having adopted the provisions of
the Bill of last year, was very much in favour of the Bill.
Considering the very short time in which the Bill la,.d
been in opervion, and the littl • opo,sit,ott to it throouli-
ut the roun' ry, he tho.ig6t it w"rk, d well for the
and Industrious portion of the population, and was found
inconvenient only to those who lived by marauding, prac-
tices. In conseuting to the introduction of the Bill, he
must say, that he (IA not !hulk it would do much to im-
prove the constabulary.
After a iew words I,om Mr. HODGES,

Mr. PLUMPTRE said, that although he was not
disposed to view the Bill with fayour. he would no, give
any opposition to its introduction.
Mr RICE w.,uld not oppose the introduction of the Bill,
aa i ough he obj -cted to sNne of its details.
Mr FOX M A ULE said, it mitriit be Vie intention of
his HAN. Friend, who proposed th'e m isur, no+ to throw
any d;fficulty iu the nay of the (")'Cra 1,11 of ,hr Bill of
yer',r. yet a delay in the discussion and set lenient of t, e
ni.w. proposition might hay..• the effect of rendering t.,e
eoostabulary authorities throughout the country doubtful
of their own powers. An early discussion was necessary,
io order to show the public that there was only one systeni
upon which they could act. thought that the -Coro-
mittee upon the constabulary force, had done everything.
which could be eapected tioni th,an, and that a Select
Committ...e upon the sa,i,e subject would do no good.
Sir HARRY VERNE Y was not opposed to the prin.

cipl, of the B:11 and he thought that the boroughs ought
to bear a part of th, expense which was to be int urreti by
the agricultural districts in protecting their property, and
that of the towns
Mr. GALLY KNIGHT said he had no intention to
oppose the Bill, but he entirely concurred with the obser-
vations of the Hon. Member foe West Kent.
Mr. HUME objected to the principle of taking money
from the people by means of a tax in the levying and ex
penditure of which they had no control. He thought that
the taxes raised in counties ought to be levied as they were
in the towns, by persons elected by the payers; and he
hoped that the Government would intioduce some mea-
sure to place the counties in this respect on the same foot-
ing with the boroughs.
CHURCH PATRONAGE.

Mr. HUME moved for returns of all incumbents ad-
mitted to preferment on the presentation of the Crown,
whether exercised by the Lord Chancellor or the First
Lord of the Treasury or Duchy of Lancaster; stating the
nsme of each incumbent, the date of his entry into
holy orders, and amount of income of each living in 1838 ;
similar return as to livings in the patronage of each Bishop,
Dean, and Chapter, Collegiate Church, or any other spi-
ritual person or persons : also of the two Universities.
Similar returns as to all livings in the gift of lay patrons.
Return of all Curates in the Church of England doing
duty in any of the said livings, setting forth their names,
the date of their entry into holy orders, the place and
places where they perform duty, and the annual amount
of stipend in each case ; statincr, also, the period for
which they have actually performed duty from their en-
trance into holy orders. The Hon. Member complained
of the present distribution of Church livings, and of the
small amount of the salaries paid to the working clergy.
He moved for these returns in order that the House
might have it in its power to know what portions of the
clergy seemed most willing to acquit themselves of the
duties with which they were charged. He was also in-
duced to take this proceeding, in order that Parliament
might know how to vote on questions connected with
Church grants.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL opposed of the motion, as
he did not see how it could insure the objects which the
Hon. Member proposed to himself. Parliament could not
have the power of influencing the choices a hich might be
made b, those who ha,t Church livi‘igs fl their hands.
Mr. HUME said that it ou'd of all events enable the

House to see what portion of the clergy seemed best die-
posed to discharge their duties, by their attendance to them.
Lord J. RUSSELL did not think it would be advs.
able the motion should pass in its present shape, though
the latter part of it might undoubtedly be usefil. He
should say that if the Hon. Member moved for a return of
the non resident clergymen, that might become a very
proper object of inquiry.
The motion was then put and negatived, without a
division.

Mr. HUME said that if the Noble Lord had any re,
turns to move for, which miht ne considered an impros,.
ment on bin, 11,r would gladly give him his support.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he had not.
Mr. HUME then !novel fo a cagy of the abstract of
the number and classen of non-resident incumbelits. and

of the number of resident incumbents, according to
the diocesan returns from England an I Wales for
the year 1839. Abstract of the total number
of curates in each diocese of England and Wales,
returned by the Archbishops and Bishops to her Maj. sty's
Most Honourable Privy Council for the year 1839, dis.
tinguishing the number resident in the parsonage-house,
and the number resident in the parish; likewise the num-
ber of those who are licensed, and the amount of stipends,
arranged in classes of—under 101. ; 10/. and under 20/. ;
20/ and under 301. ; 301. and under 401., &c., acc Also
-
the number of benefices held by non-resident incumbents
which are of the gross annual value of 3001. and upwards,
and the number under 3001.
The motion was agreed to
ORDNANCE IMPRESSMENT.

Mr. HUME withdrew his motion for copies of orders
issued by the Horse Guards on this subject.
ERECTION OF CHURCHES.

Mr. H IND LE Y moved for a return trom every parish
in England and Wales, of the places of worship not in
connection with the Established Church, which are now

being erected, or which have been erected or enlarged
since the Ist day of January 1834, by voluntary contribu-
tions, specifying the sums subscribed to each. Also, re-
turn, from every parish in England and Wales, of every
Church or Episcopal Chapel now in the course of erection,
or which has been erected since the Ist day of January
1834, either wholly or in part by the voluntary contributions
of individuals or Societies, specifying the sums subscribed
to each. Also, return of the number of Churches and
Chapels of the Church of England, and of the number of
places of worship not of the Church of England, in every
parish of England and Wales, together with the number of
seats in each Church or Chapel, and the population of the
said parish in 1831.
Mr. FOX M AULE opposed the motion, as he did not
see how the returns in question could be obtained. He
should observe that it would be very convenient that Hon.
Members in cases like the present should point out the
means by which the objects they bad in view might be ob.
tained.

After a few observations from Mr. Protheroe, Mr.
Baines, Sir R. Peel, Mr. Hume, and Lord J. Russell, the
return was agreed to.
CALEDONIAN CANAL.

On the motion .f Mr. R. STE [TART a Committee
was appointed upon the Caledonian Ca nal.
CALL OF THE HOUSE.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER moved that the House be called
over on the 31st of March.

Mr. HUME wished to know whether the Hon. Mm-
ber merely !mewled that 'he House shwald be called ur r
ha't day bec.u.. 117• recoil, eied last year when a stitti

i;.r motion was made it was at,t pers,v,rt.ta in.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER said that it was fully his deter-
mination that the House should be called over en Tuesday
at five o'clock.

Lord J. RUSSELL said that if the House were to be
called over, it was rather short notice for the Hon. Mem-
bers who were absent.

The motion was then agreed to.
Mr. BAINES moved for a copy of any correspondence
which had taken place on the subject of the commercial re-
,ati,ris of this country with Germany, from the period of
establiihment of the Peuss,als Commorcial League to
the present time, between the Foieign Office and the
agents of her Majesty's 'Governai,.tit in tue, difErent States
comprised in that. Confederating..
Lord PALMERSTON thought the raotion was in its
nature objectionaole, as it would prove d otrimental to the
public service, and on these grounds be w as, therefore, not
disposed to accede to it.
At the suggestion of the Noble Lord, t'ae Hon. Member
postponed the motion until to-morrow.
Mr PROTHEROE moved for a re'turn of all the ex-
penditure in detail of the late Record Commission since
the date of the last returns; together w ith a return of tho
various sums otherwise expended withi n the iast year, ,:;n
he custody or repairs of the pubiio records_ He wi.shi-1
to ask when the Record Commisf4eners' wou!`i t'rrnwf

their labours? When he was upon the-liecori COMMISSi
he was aware that mauy documents had beau destroyed

BIRTL c.
On the 23d inst., at Brighton, he Hon. Mrs. Anderson, ref
a daughter.
On the 20th inst., in Cumbe:4Ad-terrace, Regent's-Par
the lady of John Hardy, jun., Esq., of a daughter.
On tha z2d inst., at Mile-end, Mrs. Alfred Head, of 8
daughter.
On the 24th inst., in Norfolk-street, Mrs. John Fredmick
Isaacson, of a daughter.
On the 20th inst., in Gloucester-place, Portman-square, the
lady of Walter Bentinck, Eq., of a son.

MARRIED.
At St. George's Church, Hanover-square, William Belli*
Esq., of Clifton, to Sarah, widow of the late George
Esq.. of Stapleton road, near Bristol. A c i•
this tl:e 17th inst., at St. Anne's Church, Belfast, --r-h
eldest'
bald Campbell, Esq., Captain 224 Regiment, to Jane, .
daughter of the late William Clarke, Esq., of Donegal-Place'
On the 19th inst., at St.. Luke's, Chelsea, William John, 0°
of Charles Seaman Gaye, of Shfford, Beds, to Crisrlot?
eldest daughter of C. H. Phillips, Esq., of York-street, St.
James's. v... or
On the 21 st inst., at Brighton, William Haslewood, ..*"l"the.
Slaugham-park, sussex, to Frances Catherine, daughter of
late Charles Bishop, Esq., of tiuilbury,
Martin,

lACP. •f
On the 20th inst., in Sloane-street, Mary Ann, wife O
of
Thomas Wing and for morn than 20 years proprietress
13,izara
the
's.tel. °linger
On 20th inst., at Tottenham, Louisa Maria, y
and only surviving daughter of Samuel Staples, EgP
On the 20th inst., Miss Adeliza Eccles, aged 39.
.SelvrYn•
At. Earl's-terrace, Kensington, Frances Elizabeth
youngest daughter of the late W. Selwyn, Esq., K. C. of
On the 20th inst., Charles, the eldest son of Me. ElwY"'
Albemarle-street, surgeon, aged 26.
On the 3d inst., at Bagneres, near Pau. in France, Elizabe.tb,.:
second daughter of the late Rev. Samuel Clapham, of ChM'

church, Hants.
On the 6th inst., at Charmouth, Dorsetshire, tre:
daughter of the late Major Ballmer, of Lymington, 1.1•101"iir.
On the 15th inst ,at Garden-place, Great Turnstile, •
George Wil-rot, late of Newca,tie--treet. strand, aged
•

,01,..•~

:d~m Priri '

No. 1 12, :.!,trw.t4l, at

Putlisbr d l,y mlt HDO
T r • ; , No. 112.
—Wetitze6day, Alarcii 25,

• t I'll,l
ievg4

cuunq of Middlciex.