The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, BATURDAY EvENINO, MARCH. 8, LB6O.

by the last *expedition. Those services must not be for-
gotten
W'nen we are acknowledging the services of those whb
were successful. It is said by the _right hon. and learned
gentleman that a motion was made in this house to induce
the Government to send out, at the public expense, an ex-
pedition in search of the late :•it John Franklin. (Hear.)
I must confess I never acted ;core at variance with my own
personal feelings—Cnear, hear)—than when, from higher
considerations, the Government declined to undertake that
expedition at the public expense. At the same time we felt
that it would not be justifiable in the Government to order
or send out, at the public expense, men upon a search which
apneared at the time hopeless, and accompanied by dangers
and such hardships as would not justify the Government in,
exposing men to. (Hear, hear.) I believe, Sir Leopold
M'Clintock succeeded without any loss of life—or scarcely
any, in accomplishing the object which that noble lady who
sent him out had so long and frequently attempted. Now it
was known that anybody who should ascertain the fate of
the Franklin expedition, and bring any traces of the relics
should receive a reward of £lO,OOO. The whole of that
sum was awarded to Dr. Rae, and therefore there is not
at present any sum applicable, which has been voted by
Parliament, for the purpose of rewarding Sir Leopold
M'Clintock and his brave companions. (Hear, hear.) At
the same time I am ready to say, if it should be the opinion
of Parliament, that this was a fitting occasion upon which
to make any grunt, over and above that which has been
already sanctioned, within a moderate limit, that the Go-
vernment will not make any opposition or stand in the way
of the generous feelings of the House of Commons. With
respect to the other topic, undoubtedly it would be fitting
that we should not follow the example of that monument
to which my right hon. friend adverte&—that it should not
be a monument recording that it was not the country—
that it was not 'the sovereign, but the widow, who
erected it to the memory of those noble and gallant
men. It would be more fitting that there should
be a record to show that the country, the sovereign, and the
widow had all united to erect a memorial to commemorate
the services of the distinguished Sir J. Franklin. (Hear,
hear.) The expense of such a monument would not, I
think, be'considerable in comparison with the gratification
whicbgram sure it would afford the whole of the country,
and p titularly that noble lady who I am told disclaims
receiving any remuneration for the great expense which
she has incurred. (Hear.) But it will no doubt be highly
gratifying to her feelings if the Government and Parlia-
ment were to concur in erecting some memorial to the
memory of her deceased husband. I think we may fairly
say that the husband and wife were worthy of each other,
and I am persuaded it will be gratifying to tha country if
with the consent of Parliament some monument were
erected which shall record not only the services of the hus-
band but the devotion of the wife. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI said the announcement of the noble
viscount on the part of the Government would be most
gratifying to the country. No one could have read the
narrative of Sir Leopold M'Clintock, or have watched the
proceedings of the singular expedition, without feeling
that it formed a heroic chapter in the annals
of the mariners of the country. With respect to that
noble lady, to whose energies and perseverance the late
satisfactory result was accomplished, I feel as all must feel,
the intelligence and high enduring spirit with which Lady
Franklin had prosecuted those researches had made her
name illustrious among the daughters of England, and I
am quite sure that the resolution at which the Government
have arrived will afford very great gratification among all
her Majesty's subjects. (Hear, hear.)

service. He must Bay that he did not consider it to be one
of the duties of the police to set a watch and to maintain a
guard during the performance of divine service. Such a
state of things would necessitate a law similar to that which
applied to disturbed districts in Ireland, where a rate for
such a purpose could be levied on the whole district. He
hoped that the instructions which had bees given would be
found effectual in preserving the peace.

sonal recriminations, or by representing that any member
really had a desire that the peace of Europe should be dis-
turbed. (Hear, hear.) He trusted that when they came to
the consideration of this question they would remember there
wele:two elements which had been strangely left out of sight,
namely, the relation of this queAtion to the general arrange.
meat of Italian affairs, and the re-establishment of that
great nation to which they were all looking forward with
impatient and interested eyes. The question of Sardinia only
came before them incidentally in relation to the great ques-
tion of the nationality of Italy. In his opinion the people of
Savoy had always represented the opinions of the govern.
ment of France, and had been opposed to every principle of
civil and religious liberty in the Piedrnontese Parliament.
They had v..iy little sympathy with the struggles in which
the peopla of Italy wero engaged, and his belief was that
they would prefer to join a country which was more in ac-
cordance with their notions of religion and politics. This
certainly could be done without in any degree disturbing
the peace of Europe. The annexation of avoy would be no
unjust compensation to France for the 50,000 lives she had
sacrificed and the millions of money she had expended in
the cause of Italy. (Hear, hear.) What had we done for
Italy which could for a moment compare with what France
had done for her ? (Hear, hear.) He had not approached
this question as a member representing the interests of
France. (A laugh.) He trusted none of them were repre-
sentatives either of Sardinia or France, bnt that they only
represented English interests and English honour. (Hear.)

Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, I cannot allow this discussion to
close without answering the question put by the noble lord
the member for Leicestershire (Lord J. Manners), and also
making some observations upon the remarks which have
been addressed by other hon. members to the house. The
noble lord asks whether I understand that the Emperor of
the French means merely to explain the case for the annexa-
tion of Savoy, or whether he means to consult the great
powers of Europe and to learn their opinion. After reading
the speech of the Emperor of the French, and hearing the
explanation which the ambassador of France has given me
of it to-day, I cannot doubt that the intention of the Em-
peror of the French is to consult the great powers of Europe
with respect to that annexation. (Cheers.) I beg the house
to consider that it cannot be a matter of indifference to any
ruler of France what is the opinion of Europe generally, and
of the great powers, upon his position. In this very speech
the Emperor of the French states that he is not going to an-
nex Savoy by way of military conquest. What does that
mean ? It means that he is not ready to encounter the
general disapprobation and distrust of Europe, but that he
believes that his Government can lay such statements be-
fore the different powers of Europe as would enable him,
without reproach and with their consent, to make this an-
nexation of Savoy. I differ from the Government of France
in these sentiments. (Hear, hear.) I, as belonging to one
of the powers of Europe concerned, not being in the situa-
tion of either France or Sardinia, conceive that the annexa-
tion of Savoy and the occupation of the passes of the Alps
would be more threatening to Italy than the present situa-
tion of affairs is threatening to Frame. (Hear, hear.) At
the same time, •I must beg to impress on this house this
further consideration. The powers of Europe are to be con-
sulted—but England is a power which does not merely con-
sist of the Executive Government but also of the Crown
and the Parliament of the United Kingdom; therefore I
should be far from wishing that on this matter the Parli-
ment of England should not hold and pronounce its opinion;
but there is this to bo said, that if we are to raise, as I
think the hon. member for Tamworth seemed disposed to
do, angry discussions on the subject —if we are to take mere
assertions in the place of truth, and to suppose bad motives
on the part of a friendly sovereign, the only effect of de-
bates carried on in such a temper would be to excite pas-
sionate feelings, not only between the Executive Govern-
ment 6f France and the Government of England, but
between the people of France and the people of England—
(hear)—and 1 cannot conceive, however much the noble
lord opposite may vaunt his 'own patriotism as opposed to
that of the hon. member for Birmingham, that a man could
render a worse service to England than endeavour to raise
feelings which would necessarily lead to sentiments of sus-
picion and hostility on the part of both countries. (Hear.)
It is from such feelings that ruptures arise. I have already
said that I think the Emperor of the French is wrong
on this subject, and that he has proposed an annexation
which he was not justified in asking for—(hear)—but I say
that this is a question to be fairly considered, and there can
' be no advantage to this country or to Europe in making it
a question of anger, and not of calm consideration in respect
to all the reasons that can be alleged on the one side and on
the other. (Cheers.) I have stated that the Emperor of the
French had declared that after consulting with the great
Powers of Europe, and obtaining likewise the consent of
the people of Savoy, he wished to make this addition to his
dominions ; and upon M. Thouvenel being applied to, in
consequence of the Fimperor's speech not mentioning the
consent of the people of Savoy, with the view of its being
ascertained whether the Emperor of the French had changed
his determination on this point, M. Thouvenel gave the as-
surancethat no change had taken place, and that the Em-
peror was as determined as before not to attempt the an-
nexation without the consent of the people of Savoy. I
must say that I heard with concern the speech of the hon.
baronet, and I should not be conveying my impression of the
discussion if I did not add that I also heard with great
concern the speech of the hon. member for Birmingham.
(Cheers.) I believe that these questions are mixed up with
the general relations of the Powers of Europe to each other ;
that they have an important bearing on the confidence
which one State is disposed to place ix another ; and that
the independence of the different States does constitute that
security in Europe without which neither trade nor com-
merce nor social intercourse can subsist. (Cheers.) A great
change has been brought about in Italy. That change,
while it will be, I trust, for the benefit of the people of
Italy, breaks off old relations, establishes new ties, and
cannot be accomplished without the risk of further dis-
turbance and of further collision between Powers which
are now to be separated by new boundaries, and which, at
the same time, are animated by old hatreds and by old
animosities. (Hear, hoar.) Sir, it appears to me that it
is the duty of the English Government, and, I will, add,
it is the duty of the English House of Commons, to con-
sider in this state of affairs how best the peace of Europe
can be maintained and consolidated, to give no reason for
an increase of suspicion and animosity towards us on the
part of other Powers, and, above all, not by premature dis-
cussion, while the papers on this subject are yet unread,
come to conclusions which may be unwarranted, and to
form judgments upon the conduct of foreign Powers which
afterwards when the full evidence is before you, you may
find to be inconsistent, with the position of this country
and unfair towards the ruler of a country like France, with
whom it is our interest to keep on terms of friendship and
alliance. (Cheers.)
Sir R. PEEL, in explanation, said that nothing was
further from his intention than the wish to raise angry
discussions upon the relative position of this country 'with
France. He adhered warmly to the French alliance, and
would be the last man to sow such seeds of dissension as
would endanger its further continuance. (Hear.) He
begged also to assure the hon. member for Birmingham
that in advocating the interests of Savoy he lni.
.reason to
Lelleve that he was representing the opinions of a very
largo number of the people of that country.
Lord J. RUSSELL—I omitted to notice the question
asked by the hon. baronet as to the versions of the Em-
peror's speech which appear in different newspapers. We
have only got a telegraw, which may be incorrect, sad I
don't think the house can judge which is the correct ver-
sions of the speech until it appears in the Moniteur, which
I think will not have taken place until this morning.
THE CUSTOMS' DEPARTMENT.

Mr. MAGUIRE asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, whether, with a view to the interests of tha public
service, the Treasury contemplated, in the revision of the
Customs department which must necessarily take place con-
sequent upon the alterations in the tariff, placing those offi-
cers on the superannuation or redundant list, who had
hitherto been found unworthy of reward or unfit for promo-
tion ; and, further, whether any provision would be made
for the purpose oebringing forward those officers, without
regard to the mere routine system of promotion, from their
knowledge of commercial matters, and possessing the con-
fidence of the mercantile world, were more likely to carry
out the new arraneeniefit to the satisfaction of the
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
entirely sympathised with the spirit in which this question
was put, but the promotion in question had for many years
been not in the hands of the political advisers of the Crown
but had rested with the heads of the departments them-
selves. This plan had worked well. The lion. gentleman
in his question had 'given a just view of the principle on
which promotion should proceed, viz., that persons who
were inferior, or whose efficiency was declining on account
of age, should be succeeded by persons promoted not in the
spirit of routine, but with the view of improving what was
admitted to be a well-regulated department.
CUSTOMS ACTS—SILKS.

On the bringing tip of the report,
Mr. NEWDEGATE moved an amendment on resolution
3, " That the present ditties on silk manufactures imported
into the -United Kingdom be retained until the Ist day of
October, 1861." He said—l think the house will agree with
me that I am justified in saying that there is a school in
this house whose attachment to free trade is greater than
their attachment to free institutions. We have heard one
hon. gentleman exclaim "Perish Savoy I " and—
Mr. SPEAKER—Order, order I You must not refer to
a past debate. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
11Ir. NEWDEGATE' contended that the hon. gentleman
(Mr. Bright) richly deserved the imputation, and said that
the motion he was about to submit would merely give to
those connected with the silk manufactures the same jus-
tice which Was eXtended to those who were engaged in the
manufacture of glass and corks, and that they would,
notwithstanding all that might have been said against the
prudence of the late Sir R. Peel, in his changes in the
te,riff, imitate that statesman—who was valued not less for
his caution than for his other great qualities—in attempt-
ing to mitigate the effect of these changes. By the prised
arrangement he would be virtually enacting a prohibition
against the admission of our goods into France, and at the
same time losing something like a million sterling. He
hoped, therefore, the house would prevail on the Govern-
ment to delay the carrying into effect this treaty until the
time when France would be able to act with reciprocity,
The Clerk of the house then proceeded to read the reso •
lutlons. Having arrived at the article "cork,"
Mr. VANC.B gad lie had been requested by the Dublin
cork-cutters to use his best efforts to prevent the proposed
arrangetnent with respect to "corks."
Mr. BLAKE•stated that his constituents had also in-
formed him that the change would operate in a manner ex-
ceedingly injurious to many families in Waterford engaged
in cork-Cutting. If the time could be extended for eighteen
months; or eVen a year, it would prevent serious injury, in-
asmuch as it would give young lads engagett in the trade
an opportunity of turning their attention to some other in-
dustrial pursuits. (Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
Would propose that corks squared for rounding should be
admitted free of -duty for the accommodation of the trade,
and to meet the_views of the hon. member (Kr. Duneembe)
with reference .to Catalonia, there was a portion of that
province in which the greater portion of the population
were corkcutters, and, as far as he could learn, there was
no law in Spain to prevent the exportation of corks ; but
there was a municipal regulation to that effect to prevent
Vportation, througla fear that they might be robbed of

the raw material. But this prohibition was not a matter
of importance to the British cork trade, and for this reason
that the Catalonians were superior corkcutters to the Eng-
lish, and these corks were of so high a price as to prevent
their being exported to England: Now, so far from the
act of '42 being injurious to the corkcutters in this coun-
try, its effect had been the reverse, for their numbers had
increased frorthat period, when there were only 1,200 in
the trade, and now there were about 2,000. The demand
here for corks at present could not be supplied, and British
merchants were actually importing French and Spanish
corkcutters into this country, and probably setae hon. gen-
tlemen would be of opinion that there should be a duty
laid upon such importation. (A laugh.) The Spanish cork-
cutters received higher wages here than the English, be-
cause they were better workmen and made less waste of
the material. The hon. gentleman here exhibited to the
house specimens of both kinds of corks. The Catalonian
cork, he said, being a perfect cylinder, while the English
had corners all round. But the real difficulty which beset
the trade in this country, he contended, was unions, and
strikes, and societies which distracted the usual course of
labour. Perfect freedom of trade was required not merely
for the benefit of the country, butler the benefit of the
workmen themselves. (Hear.)
After a few remarks from Mr. POTTS and Mr. CLAY, the
amendment was negatived without a division.
On the article silk,
The SPEAKER put the amendment moved by Mr.
Newdegate in Resolution No. 3—" That the present duties
on silk manufactures imported into the United Kingdom
be retained until the Ist day of October, 1861."
Mr. E LLICE had a great respect for the opinions of the
hon. member for North Warwickshire, but he thought the
motion he now brought forward would do more harm than
good to the silk trade. Ile believed, in the first instance,
that no treaty with France would be entered into, and
in that case he would be prepared to admit French silks
into English raa.rkets at a reduced rate of duty. He
voted for a repeal of the Corn-laws in 1818, and was
willing to admit that since that repeal took place the
condition of the silk trade at Coventry had materially
improved. But the quarrel he had with his right hon. friend
was, that if he entered into treaties of commerce he ought
at least to get an equivalent in favour of his own country-
men, and the parties who so suffered had aright to complain
of it. He hoped therefore he would do his endeavours to
have the duty taken off altogether, and then there would be
something like reciprocity to the silk merchants and silk
weavers. Free trade, no doubt, was a right principle to
establish the commercial relations of a country, but there
were exceptions. When they talked of the duty on import-
ing silk in this country being an absolute protection he de-
nied it altogether, and certainly, in his opinion, it was the
last that should be removed from the permanent taxes of
this country.
Mr. ROLT approved of the amendment of his hon. friend
and believing that the delay of a few months would be moat
beneficial to the 200,000 English people who would be af-
fected by the treaty, he should support the amendment.
Mr. BASS thought the request made to grant delay in
this matter was most reasonable. He certainly agreed that
bilks should not be made an exception, and that as gloves
and other articles were not so dealt with, the delay asked
for ought to be granted. (Hear )
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER begged to
say that he had 'very great respect for tho appeal which
had been made to him by those hon. gentlemen sitting in
the House of Commons who were connected with the silk
trade, namely, the right hon. gentleman the member for
Coventry and his colleague. The appeal of his right hon.
friend, and of the hon. gentleman who had just sat down,
was to give to the silk manufacturers a remission of duties
on goods in their trade. He assured his hon. friends
that nothing could be more gratifying to him than to
comply with their request if in his power. He did not
venture to predict the degree of success which might
attend the treaty ; but he felt that France had taken such
a step as would throw her markets open to the great mass
of the English people, and that they ought in this country
to encourage the movement. Henceforth, if this' policy
• were carried out, they would stand in a different position to
what they had hitherto done in relation to France. For
instance, there was a fallacy that free trade was a scheme
by which this country wished to rob all the rest of the.world,
and until they got rid of that fallacy, free trade with other
countries would not make progress. The hon. and learned
gentleman, Mr. Rolt, said that silk was made an exception;
but the reason why silk was made an exception was that
they all looked upon it as a whole, and looking upon it as a
whole, it ought to be dealt with immediately, and the course
which the Government were taking was not an adverse
course.
Mr. NEWDEGATE, in reply, said, while this country,
under the operation of free trade, exported only 124 per
cent., the trade of Belgium, with protection, exported 200
per cent.
The house then divided—
For the amendment of Mr. Newdegate 51
Against it
Majority against —l2B
The remaining resolutions and the report were agreed to,
and the house went into Committee on
CUSTOMS ACTS,
resuming at the following article :—" Goods being either in
part or wholly manufactured, and not being enumerated or
described, nor otherwise charged with duty, and not pro-
tected, to be imported into or used in. Great Britain or Ire-
land; but if any such good, shall be composed of any article
liable to duty, as a part of the ingredient thereof, then such
goods shall be chargeable with the full duty payable on such
article, or if composed of more than one article liable to duty,
then with the full duty payable on the article charged with
the highest rate of duty."
Mr. AYRTON wished that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer would explain how wood used in the manufacture
of furniture would be affected by this article. The duty
was paid on the wood as imported, but there was, of
course, a certain amount of waste in making it up, and
there ought to be an -allowance for that waste, as in the
case of timber partially worked up, where there was an al-
lowance of 2d. per foot.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that at present no duty was levied upon wood used for
making furniture. It was intended to propose a uniform
duty, and that would be the proper time to discuss the
question raised by the Len. member.
WINE LICENCES.

In answer to Mr. E. JAMES,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
hoped to be able to lay the bill with reference to wine licen-'
ces on the table in the course of three or four days.
The resolution with respect to corks was agreed to, with
the omission, on the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER, of the words, " squared for rounding."
The other part of the resolution, fixing the duty on chip
and horse hair hats and bonnets at ls. 3d. a lb. was also
agreed to.
On the resolution having reference to the duty on gloves,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
wished to make an explanation. The Government had been
led to believe that the trade were anxious that the new
scale of duty should not come into operation within a short
period, and therefore they had in the resolution fixed the
time for the Ist February, 1861. The object of the trade,
he understood, was to save the present season, which would
close for them on the Ist of August this year, and he had
received from Yeovil a memorial, numerously signed by
those engaged in the trade, asking that the duty should
come into operation at an earlier period ; he therefore gave
notice that on the bringing up of the report on this resolu-
tion, he would move that the words, " Ist of August,
1860,': be substituted for the words, " Ist of February,
1861."

The resolution was then agreed to.
On the articles, paper as denominated in the tariff after
the let of July, 1860, and pasteboard after the Ist of July,
The C HAN CELLO R of the EXCHEQUER said it had
been arranged with respect to those two articles to vote in
terms of the treaty. He did not mean to enter now upon
the discussion of the Excise duty on paper, which ought to
be deferred until they should be better prepared to con-
sider it. But there were two questions upon which he
would ask the house to give a preliminary vote, it being un-
derstood that the discussion should be revived if the decision
of the house on the paper duty should render it necessary.
The duty which they proposed on paper hangings would
still leave it a protective duty, and pasteboard was also a
particular case depending on the paper duty. A report on
the subject had been prepared, and he asked the house to
consider the resolution in reference to the two articles
named, with the understanding of returning to them if the
decision of the , house on the paper duty should render it
necessary.
Sir F. KELLY wished to ask when an opportunity would
be afforded of dealing with the general question.
The CHANCELLOR cf the EXCHEQUER said he
had addressed agetter to the hon. baronet the member fore
Somersetshire to say to him that the form inatw h
paper-duty question would be raised would be ththaohibailblilalt,
and that as it would be open to him to oppose.
any stage, he wished him to say at whathestahgoeusite.wollsdybeet
convenient for him to take the sense of t
he had had no reply to that communication.
ygefilor.
tieMinanr. BthßelGuillemTbsetit.gfgovrstEedastthsaufft tholekhcoonu.land
name
lmeaeranedda
the hon. baronet.
Sir F. KELLY said he had no opportunity of corrimuni_
eating with the hon. baronet in sufficient time to suit the
sonvenience of the house.
In reply to a question from Mr. PULLAR,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that,
if the resolutions in committee were got through that even-
ing, he would on Monday move an address to the Crown
approving of the treaty.
The resolution was then agreed to.