The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-14 00:00:00

ORDNANCE ESTIMATES,

Sir H. VIVI AN then rose to move the Supplementary
Estimates for the Ordnance, on which very little explana-
tion would be necessary. The Hon. and Gallant Gentle-
man after having stated a few cf the items, moved that a
sum of 4,7811. should be granted towards the improvement
of the defences of Gibraltar, and the erection of barrack-
walls in Great Britain.

The vote was agreed to.
The sum of 4301. was veted for the formation of libra-
ries in Regimental Schools.

The sum of 3,147/. was voted towards defraying the addi-
tional expenses consequent on the formation of the Naval
and Military Commission.
CIVIL CONTINGENCIES.
On the vote being put for the grant of 70,0001 for
Civil Contingencies,

Colonel SIBTHORP objected to the payment of 1
3,579!. to Dr. Bowring for ssrviccs rendered while he
was a Member of the House. lie would ask why the
Report on Egypt still remained unpublished. They
should know what they had before they paid for it. lie
would move that the sum above-mentioned should be
deducted from the grant.
Lord PALMERSTON said that the Hon. and
Gallsnt Member objected to the grant to Dr. Bow-
ring, on the principle that such a practice might lead to
the exercise of undue influence over Members of Parlia-
ment. The principle, as a general one, was per-
fectly fair, but there was nothing in the r.ppoint-
ment of Dr. Bowring which could be objected
to on that principle. In the first place, the appoint-
ment of that Gentleman did not in any way alter his
conduct in the House.—( Oh, oh ! from the Opposition
benches. ) He (Lord Palmerston) believed it was well
known that there were questions at the time in which Dr.
Bowring divided against the Government.—( Hear, hear.)
The Government had been desirous of obtaining informa-
tion on statistical and commercial matters with respect to
foreign countries, and they had found Dr. Bowring pecu-
liarly qualified for obtaining it. He was so qualified,
not only by his general talents and various attainments,
but by his having peculiarly directed his attention
to those subjects on which information was required
by the Government ; and he was sure, if they were to
send any one to obtain information on subjects with which
he was not well acquainted, he would be unable to discharge
the trust confided to him. Dr. Bowring was known to be
peculiarly versed in foreign languages, and was in every
respect as fit a person as could be chosen for the employ_
ment which he filled. It was also to be remembered that
his engagements were limited to the recesses of Parlia-
ment, so that they could not draw his attention from his
duties in the House; and he (Lord Palmerston) contended
that there was nothing in those engagements which
was open to objection. It was said by some
that the reports of Dr. Bowring were of little benefit.
to the country, but he (Lord Palmerston) was persuaded
that much good necessarily followed from communica'ing
to the public that vast mass of information which the re-
ports contained.—( Hear, hear.) However slightingly
Hon. Gentlemen opposite might speak of them, he was
'sure they would be admitted by those who were conver-
cohmad-
insaenitcwelotfh
the
ee
country.subjet, to be ofth egrwehatoles,erDvirc.e
Bowringtothe
performed his duty with great diligence and zeal. With,
regard to the charge of striking out parts of the reports,
bbh
eaeedns
been
()o
come
l d obse
rve
i nt hTa t,
Dr.h The report
the
roev
rpro
irnt
go,isl h reportEa on
ngd3sp:lf'orarunsdsi
the as,y
purpose
nothinguiar p io,as
had
amtrhteerocri
of his superintending the printing of it. He cLord Pal-
merston) had certainly looked over that report, and had
struck out one or two passages of a political tendency,
hhterflon. Friend would
commercial matters.
informationat li ,me aitztieg matters,
been nothing nothing improper- in
and which
which Iraodulndo relationno t
affect
i n whateverthe
e tol
ecaostmp
_et
io
on(
nv.e
Hear.)yGede n bytl e
Gentleman's
thata Withn, s
respectriilenaplq,oeur regardingitrnyeiihsistsai
inecessarily
zliy,g) t
grounds sufficient to
to the amount of
dinaesurred in the great
who considered the
said that no, statement had been
answertsrhea satisfy
aufsyneel
the
hac
ettii butooHnn
House
ee trustedptthhrao.
tupgt
there
etwer
Bowring;
nahagdta
d;ns
ohtaaent
one
expenseslur re
qbueirmedusftor the production of these reports, would
consider that he had received more than an adequate re-
muneration.—( Cheers')
Colonel SIBTHORP
made of the time that Dr. Bowring had been absent on
these occasions; and he would auk how it was that large
one spot,
agents
ipl
sums were paid to Ambassadors and Consuls in different
remain
i t
countries, if it was necessary tho scud
out
some one else to
said
an o art,
as
collect the information which t ey ought to furnish,
were
obliged to
constantly PALMERSTON
m , h
pot, it was ob
vious they could not be employed in travelling round the
country to collect the information required.—( Hear,
bear.) If they were to send an Ambassador or Consul
to travel over Europe
or Africa, those duties for
the more especial performance of which he was appointedng any but without meaning must be neglected ;disparage-
ment to the ability and acquirements of our diplomatic
agents, he would state that it would be difficult among that
body to find any individual who was so admirably qualified
by his previous studies and the peculiar cast of his mind
for this task as Dr. Bowring.—( Cheers.)
Colonel SIBTHORP said that Consuls frequently
framed this very species of information, for he saw a grant
to Mr. Henry Sullivan for information of a commercial
nature.
Lord PALMERSTON said he was happy to say that
our Consular agents did very frequently furnish Govern-
ment with most valuable information of a commercial na.
ture connected with a different spot in which 'they were
located, but when it was necessary to travel over a whole
country to collect information they were obliged to employ
a gentlem -11 specially for that purpose.
Mr. GOU LB URN said be had listened to his Noble
Friend with great attention, and he knew not whether to
attribute his speech to hit great dexterity in debate or to
i his having tot ply no,undevstood what had fallen from his
I Bon. Friend, although when he recollected the clearness