The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-03 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)

CHINA -ADJOURNED DEBATE.

The adjourned debate on China was resumed by
Dr. PHILLIMOBB, who addressed the house at con-
siderable length on the legal bearing of the question, in
the course of which he,arguei that under no statute
or international law could this lorcha be considered a
British ship. Assuming that the lorcha was a British
ship, as contended by the Government, be called on the
hocso to look at the hideous difference between
the grievance complained of and the chastisement given.
A middle course was open, Nat of reprisals, and that
should have been adopted. Ile considered that the Chi-
nese gave full satisfaction for what they did, and that it
was not lawful, on any principle of law, justice, cr
humanity to make war a punishment to a nation
for the injury that had been inflicted and the
reparation made. In conclusion, he said that
he was led, by the plain dictates of com-
mon sense by the principles of reason—by the laws of
his own country—by the international law—
and on the foundation of the eternal principles

of juAtice written by the finger of God on all
men whether English or Chinese—to pronounce the war
to be unjustifiable in its origin and unblessed in its
continuance. (Hear.)
Sir G. GREY said that he was perfectly content to
rest the legal portion of the case on the arguments of his

hon. and learned friend the Attorney-General. (Hoar,

hear,) He did not think it necessary to occupy any time
in combatting the opinions expressed by the hon. and
learned gentleman who had just eat down, respecting the
proceedings of a body in the other house of Parliament.
The hon. and learned member, who boasted of being a
strong supporter of the Church, had referred to the pro-
ceedings there in a manner which in his (Sir G. Grey's)
opinion was most indelicate and uncalled for. The noble
earl who had brought foiward his motion in the other
house had himself at the conclusion of his address made
a most powerful appeal to the episcopal bench to give
him their support, but a majority of those right rev.
prelates, after hearing the debate, had given their votes
n a manner which had evidently caused great dissatis-
faction to the hon. and learned member. (Loud cheers.)
So far as the facts of this case of the Arrow, they
bad been presented to the house in a very inaccurate
point of view, and as though it was a mere accidental
occurrence on the part of the Chinese that they bad
boarded a British ship without knowing it to be such.
Now, these lorchas were clearly and exelusively foreign,
and not Chinese ships. It had been said too that this
was a piratical vessel ; what foundation was there for
this assertion t It was clearly shown by the evidence
of Commissioner Yeh that the lorcha was not a piratical
vessel, and the right hen. gentleman read extracts from
the depositions of some of the persons who bad made
several trading voyages in the ship. (Hear.) It had
beet said that Mr Consul Parkes was engaged in
screening pirates. This was a charge in direct opposi
tiou to tho facts disclosed in the papers, and several
passages were read from the despatches to show how
utterly groundless was such a statement. (Cheers.) He
contended that if this insult had been submitted to, the
effect would have been most fatal to the interests of
our trade, the honour of our flae, and the interests
of all the foreign vessels trading in those ports.
The honourable member for the West Riding had
read in the house a portion of a letter from Mr. Cook,
a gentleman connected with the American consulate at
Canton. Now, the hon, member for the West Riding
said ho looked with suspicion on extracts—there were
others also who looked with suspicion upon extracts,and
among others this Mr. Cook himself, who had written a
letter to the public journals complaining of the manner
in which extracts had been made from his letter. The hon
member said that ha had received a communication from
an American gentleman, Rho left., Canton on Nov. 16
last, and was one of those who entered within the walls
of that town in the rear of our forces. Hie tame, he said
is Cook; he lived at Wharnpoa, where be has been for 4
years, holding the pc sition of United States Marshal, and
therefore having jurisdiction over the flag of his own
country. In course of conversation Mr. Cook, in answer
tl his inquiries, stated many cases in which British ships,
with the British flag, were engaged in smuggling trans-
actions, and he mentioned one in particular of so very
r_liring a nature that he asked him to put it on paper.
The Lion. member also said he confessed he listened with
some humiliation to what he heard of the doings of ships
carrying our flag ; and when so much was asserted &out
our fleg being insulted, he could not help feeling that it
was such transactions as these which dishonoured and
insulted our flag. The member for the West Riding had
read only a portion of Mr. Cook's letter, and that gen-
tleman accordingly wrote to the public journals this

letter :

" Sir—ln Mr. Cobden's speech he made reference to
a letter from me in answer to one from him, giving part
of its contents, and I beg to enclose a copy of the said
letter, which please publish, to prevent my liability to
the charge of inconsistency among those who perfectly
understand my views on the matters in question, to
which, of course, the hon. member can have no objec-
tion. In regard to the'dfice of United States Marshal,
which ho refers to, it is entirely a subordinate one, and
the orders from Government were not to allow the use
of the flag except by vesssls regularly regitered.
" By an insertion you will greatly oblige,
Yours, &c., " JAMES P. CooK.
" Morley's llottl, Feb. 28."

(Cheers and laughter.) He (Sir Geo. Grey) would read
the whole of that letter, and would direct the attention
of the house to that portion of it which the hon. membEr
had not read. (A. laugh.)
Mr. COBDEN said that he had read all the parts in
the letter which referred to the case he was bringing
under the notice of the house. (" Hear, hear," and cries
of " oh, oh.")

Sir G. G ItEY—Just so. The hon. member read just
as much as it suited his purpose to read. (Renewed
cheers and laughter.) Mr. C sok in his late,: says—and
this part was read by the lion, member :
" Morley's Hotel, Feb. 25.
" Sir,—ln answer to your query whether I have
any objection to the use of my name regarding our
convereat;.on on China matters, I say most cer-
tairly not, and I will give you the facts in
regard to the seizure of the lorchas, as near as
possible from memory, baying no data to refer to.
During the summer of 1855, in June or July, there
lay near our chop, which is close to her Britannic Majes-
ty's Vice-Consulate at Whampoa, from 10 to 15 lorchas
engaged in siengglinoe salt, and eight or ten of this num-
ber hoisted British flags during the day, the salt being
discharged at night. The number of vessels was thus
large at that time, in consequence of the mandarin boats
having been sent above Canton to repulse the rebels ; but
the Government could not keep ignorant of so boll a
matter long, and 12 or 15 mandarin boats, each contain-
ing upwards of 60 men, made their appearance one morn-
ing soon after sunrise and captured the whole fleet, five
or six of which had British flags flying at the thee, the
Europeans (general a captain) as well as the Chinese
jumping overboard and swimming to the different ves-
sels for safety, several of whom came on board of our
vessel. The mandarin force took the captured fleet to
Canton, and the parties having the right to fly the flag
subsequently claimed their vessels, which were even
tually returned, and the remainder retained for the
Government. This is by no means an isolated case as
regards the illegal use of the flag, as you have only to
refer to the Hong Kong papers to find plenty of cases
where the right was questioned to grant the flag, as it
had been done by the Hong Kong authorities."
The .pertion not read by the hon. member was this
cheers and laughter) :
" But as regards the present troubles to prevent any
misunderstanding of my views, I wish to express my
opinion that the duty of the home Government to sup-
port the servants of the Crown engaged in China to the
fullest extent should not be called in question for a mo-
ment, or until a satisfactory termination of the present
difficulties at least ; for in case of a suspension of hosti-
lities by the Government it would be an impossibility
for Europeans to live in the vicinity of Canton, and no
amount of negotiations could alter it for the better.
Any one who has lived among the Chinese can testify
to the continuad insults and injuries heaped upon
foreigners whenever an opportunity offers, and the
studied contempt shown on all occasions, superin-
duced by feelings of superiority entertained b y the
Cantonese in contradistinction to all the other ports in
China, all of which has been brought about by the previ-
ous settlement made upon them ; or, in other words, the
want of an application of physical power to convince
them of their position ; and although we are pecuniary
sufferers to a very great extent in consequence of these
troubles, we should prefer to suffer still more than see
any settlement which did not involve the necessity of the
Chinese realising their position and a sufficient guarantee
for the liberty and safety of foreign residents whileamong
them. My particular reasons for these views have been
acquired by a long and very close intimacy with them,
and of course cannot be ccndensed in a note of this kind.
—I am yours very truly, " J. P. COOK.
"11. Cobden, Esq., M.P., London."
He could not agree with the statement just now made by
the hon. memberfor the West Riding, that instating that
Mr. Cook was anti-Chinese in feeling, that he had said
all that it was possible for Mr. Cook to say, or that it
conveyed a full impression of the deliberate views and
opinions of Mr. Cook founded on great experience, and
after a lengthened residence in Canton. (Hear.) The
hon. gentleman had brought two charges against the
Government: one was, that the Government had en-
deavoured to play off a trick upon the house by endea-
vouring to mystify simple-minded country gentlemen on
the other side of the house, with reference to the pro-
duction of the blue-book a few days before the commence-
, meat of the debate on his motion. (Hear, and cheers.)
No doubt that statement was made in perfect honesty
• and sincerity of belief by the hon. gentleman, and that
I it wile received in perfect simplicity by those simple