The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-18 00:00:00

THE

such a footing as he trusted would very shortly bring
about a settlement of these accounts satisfactorily to the
British merchants. In North America the salaries of
the consuls depended latterly upon the foes received by
them tor the last four years. If. however, their fees fool'
off, that fact might farm a good reason for restoring to
them some portion of their salaries. The general result
of what he had stated was this:—He had abolished the
consul general at Algiers, substituting a consul and vice-
consul—he was going to abolish the consul-general at
Tripoli—he had abolished the consul-general at Syria
without any substitution whatever. The agents at the
different ports in that quarter were to report to the con-
sul-general at Constantinople instead of reporting to the
consul-general at Syria. There could be no general
rule as to any particular amount being applicable to all
cases, as such amount must depend upon the nature of
the duties performed, and other circumstances connected
with the office. He had paid every attention to the
subject, with the view of rendering these duties as effi-
cient, and the salaries as economical as possible, and he
would continue to direct his attention to the same
views, and to the abolition of all offices that were un-
necessary.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ALCOCK wished to draw the attention of the
Committee to their consular establishment at Peru.
There was a heavy duty placed upon that most impor-
tant article connected with British agriculture—namely,
guano, in Lima, and he could not help thinking, that if
the consul-general there had exerted himself more much
greater facilities would be given to the procuring of
this article for the purposes of British agriculture. The
Peruvian Government owed us a very heavy debt, the
interest of which they were partially enabled to pay by
the sale of guano here. They, however, limited their
supplies to the British market, and he thought that
their farmers to mark their displeasure at the conduct
pursued by the Peruvian Government, ought to abstain
from the use of the article for a year or so.
Lord PALMERSTON could assure the Hon. Gen-
tleman that if guano was not more plentiful in this
country it was not the fault of the consul-general nor
of the British Government. The late Sir R. Peel, who
took a great interest in this question, had endeavoured
to persuade the Peruvian Government not to continue
this monopoly, but rather to permit this guano to be
sent over here in great abundance. The present Go-
vernment had twice attempted to persuade them to the
same course, but without success. The Honourable
Member said that the sale of guano here had given the
Peruvian Government the means of paying the bond-
holders of this country what they owed. That
Government thought that by increasing the
supplies the price of the article would fall, and
they, therefore, would not have such means to meet
their engagements. He did not mean to say that that
was a very sound or just reason, but still such was the
fact. The mode by which the Hon. Gentleman proposed
to procure a more plentiful supply of the article—namely,
the adoption of the principle of prohibition, was, he
thought, a very novel one.—(Laughter.) He was rather
inclined to think if this privation was to have the effect
of depriving the Peruvian Government of the means of
paying their debt, they would be disposed to submit to
it with greater patience than the agriculturists of Eng-
land would exhibit in submitting to the privation of
guano.—(Laughter.)
Mr. W. WILLIAMS complained of their expensive
establishments at Constantinople, Paris, Madrid, and
other places, where, together with consuls-general, they
had ambassadors and attaches in great number. He
also wished to know how the fees received by consuls
were accounted tor, and whether they formed au addi-
tion to the salary ?
Lord PALMERSTON said that with regard to the
duties of the consulate at Constantinople, it was well
known that British subjects were not tried before the
Turkish tribunals, but before the consular court, and that
in consequence of the number of our lonian subjects
who visited Constantinople a good deal of business was
entailed upon the consul. The Hon. Member said that
he did not see why the British people should be taxed
fur the hospitali y of the consul, but there were others
who did not see why the consul should be taxed for
English subjects travelling in the East. With respect to
Buenos Ayres, that being a place of trade, it was impos-
sible for the Minister to perform the consular duties.
The fees went to defray the expense of the consular es-
tablishments, and an account of them was rendered to
the Foreign-office.
Mr. LENNARD remarked that no notice was taken
of the Consul at Rome in the estimates. He wished to
know whether the Noble Lord had any objection to lay
a statement of the fees received by consuls on the table
of the House?

Lord PALMERSTON said that the Consul at Rome
had no salary. He had no objection to lay a statement
of the fees on the table. .

The Committee then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion ... 43
Against it ... ... 153
Majority against the motion ... —llO
Mr. URQUEAR I: then objected to the vote for the
salary of Sir James Brooke, not on account of the
amount of the salary, but because Sir James Brooke was
not only Consul but Raja of Sarawak and Governor of
Labuan, and because he was engaged in commercial
pursuits.
Lord PALMERSTON said that the salary was di-
vided between the two offices, and that Sir James Brooke
was not at present engaged in trade.
Mr. URQUHART said that he must object to the
vote. Sir James Brooke had been engaged in trade, and
the Noble Lord's answer was too general.
_ _ _

Mr. HAWES could assure the on Member that Sir
James Brooke had not been engaged in any commercial
speculation whatever since he was appointed Governor
of Labuan.

The vote was then agreed to.
16,000/. for extraordinary disbursements of diplomatic
missions abroad.

Mr. EWART thought that some means should be
adopted for educating persons for the diplomatic service
before being appointed to it. Ho suggested that there
should be examinations of all persons admitted to hold
public offices.

Lord PALMERSTON agreed with the Hon. Mem-
ber in the opinions expressed. He thought that all
candidates for diplomatic appointments ought to be sub-
jected to some such test as a previous examination.
Mr. WILLIAMS objected to the charge for transla-
tion of documents, and other minor expenses.
Lord PALMERSTON observed that where statis-
tical documents were required to be made up, and in a
short time, it was necessary to incur the expenses to
which the Hon. Member referred.

Mr. URQUHART proposed to reduce the stun of
2,700 L far interpreters by 7501.
Lord PALMERSTON defended the vote. He had
applied some years ago to the Universities to have two
or three young men sent to Constantinople to learn the
Turkish language, so that they might aot as dragomans.
The vote was agreed to.
The next vote was 180,2051. for superannuation al-
lowances.

The vote was agreed to.
The vote for 2,1001 for the National Vaccine Esta-
blishment was passed after some discussion.
3 750/. for the expenses of negro and Corsican sufferers
we ul4-ratood.—Agreed to.
3,2501. for the R. tuoi,e for the Destitute.—Agreed to.
4 450/. for the Polish refugees and others --Agreed to.
6,1261., allowance to miuisters, Regium Donum.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
vote had been objected to, but it was the last time the
vote would be asked.
Mr. WILLIAMS would divide tho House against the
vote. He would first move that the Chairman report
progress.
Mr. G. BERKELEY thought the Hon. Member ought
to be satisfied with the Right Hon. Gentleman's pro-
position.
Mr. KERSHAW also thought the Hon. Member ought
not to press the amendment after the promise which had
been given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Colonel SIBTHORP had no faith in Ministerial pro-
mises. He objected to the threat held out the other
night by the Right Hon. Gentleman, that if the esti-
mates were not got rid of, the House must sit till the
middle of August. He had no objection to sit till that
time if the public interests require it. The Right Hon.
Gentleman wanted to prorogue the House at an early
Ar d pace,
day, that Ministers might go to their amusements and
pocket their salaries all the time. He objected to going
at the presenteed to.
railroad
especially when voting,
money matters.—Vote agreed to.
6501. for the Foundling Hospital and House of Indus-
trY977B3l.gr for House of Industry, Dublin.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS moved that the chairman report
progress.
The motion Was agreed to without a division, and the
House resumed.

The Marriages (India) Bill was read a third time and
passed.
The report on the Merchant Seamen's Fund Bill, as
amended, was received.
The Collection of Fines, 8,0.
(Ireland) Bill passed
through Committee.
The paper was then disposed
of, an
adjourned at a quarter to Two
doththeer
Souse
eess on the
o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS, July 17. •
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
MILITIA BALLOT SUSPENSION BILL
This Bill passed through Committee.
ASSESSED TAXES COMPOSITION BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee.
PUBLIC WORKS, FISHERIES, &c., BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee.
HIGHWAY RATES BILL.
On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE this Bill was
read a third time and passed.
PETITIONS.
The Earl of ENNISKILLEN presented a petition
from Tyrone, praying that the Church Education So-
ciety might have a share in the grant for education.
ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION BILL.
Lord BEAMUONT moved the Committee on this
Bill. The circumstances of the case of St. Albans were
nearly similar to the case of Sudbury. The Noble Lord then
entered into a narrative of the circumstances attending
the late election for St. Albans, and the absence of the
witnesses summoned to give evidence before the Com-
mittee of the House of Commons.
The Bill then passed through Committee.

JEWISH EMANCIPATION.
Lord REDESDALE presented several petitions against
the admission of Jews into Parliament; amongst others
a petition from 261 members of the English bar.
The Bishop of OXFORD presented several petitions
with a similar prayer.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then rose to move the
second reading of the Bill for the amendment of the law
regulating the administration of the oath of abjuration.
The Bill proposed to omit from that oath the words "On
the true faith of a Christian." Those words had the ef-
fect of excluding conscientious Jews from Parliament.
The subject had been so often before their Lordships
thg Waling Tory new mild be expected to be said en