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

it. (Hear, hear.) Secondly, he believed that any cen-
sure by the house of the proceedings of Government
would have the worst effect in China, and therefore he
felt bound to offer a negative to the resolutions of the
hon. member for the West Riding.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT agreed with much that
had fallen from the friends of Ministers. He agreed with
Sir J. Blwring that the lorcha had no right to the Bri-
tish flag ; he agreed with Mr. Consul Parkes that not
more than enough reparation was demanded ; be agreed
with Mr. Booth that the ordinance was illegal ; he agreed
with the Attorney-General that the question of the
treaty was wh by immaterial to the case. It was said
that the Cantonese were a blackguard population. Well,
but every blackguard town was not to be bombarded.
And remember that of these blackguards the crew of the
lorcha itself was composed. Every one of these men
might, if the Ministerial argument were correct, have
gone into any part of Europe shouting "Cieis Ron3aeus
sum." He defended Mr. Cobden and Sir J. Graham from
the attacks made upon them by Sir G. Grey, and con-
tended, in opposition to the Home Secretary, that Sir
M. Seymour did not exercise his own judgment in the
attack, but proceeded throughout in obedience to orders.
He admittedit was a generce:s thing for the Government
to defend its absent servants, even though they might
commit occasional mistakes. But was there to be no
limit to this support ? He knew there were men inca-
pable of any but the highest religious motives who held
a different opinion from him, but he could not stifle his
earnest conviction that these proceedings cast a deep
stain upon the reputation of England for justice, reli-
gion, and mercy.
Sergt. SHEE, in addressing himself to the legal part
of the question, said that if the motion of the hon. mem-
ber for the West Riding were affirmed they would in
effect be abrogating the treaty of 1843. A. ship owned by
Chinese, built by Chinese, manned by Chinese in the
island of Hong Kong, became, under the treaty, a
British vessel. It was clear that the Arrow answered all
the descriptions provided for in the treaty. The articles
13, 14, and 16 of the supplemenal treaty of 1843 were
perfectly clear. It was said these lorchas were not British
ships because they ware not owned by a natural born
British subject. The Attorney-General had taken a com-
mon-place view of the treaty, and if they construed the
words of the treaty meaning "British ships," that it
must be owned by a British-born subj set only, then, to
all intents and purposes they would repeal the treaty.
That was a serious consideration for those who intended
to support the resolution. The residents of Hong
Kong were, according to the existing law, British sub-
jects. Tne nationality of the ship depended upon the
residence of the owner. That was clearly the law.
Mr. ROIINDELL PATArsit and Mr. J. PHILLIMORZ rose
together, and the former moved the adjournment of the
debate. There were several exclamations from different
parts of the house in favour of the continuance of the
discussion, but ultimately the adj rurnment of the debate
until to-morrow (this day) was assented to.
L )rd PAL MERSTON —There are some notices stand-
ing for to-morrow, but I hope that those gentlemen who
have given these notices will feel that it is of importance
that this debate should be brought to a close to-morrow,
and that they will permit the debate to come on.
Mr. DISRAELI—I may say, for myself, that as the
division has not yet taken piece, and as the debate has
assumed its present character, I am, of course, unwilling
to attempt to force a division. I cannot, ho waver, help
remembering that in that other place which has been sd
frequently, and, as I think, so irregularly alluded to in
our debates, when a motion fre the adjournment of the
debate was made on the first night a leading Minister of
the Crown objected to the adjournment. I bad theref re
thought that as the question had been discussed in this
house and was adjourned over Friday, we might have
come to a conclusion te-night. I, howete r. now collect
that there is a very general feeling that the 41 :bate should
be again adjourned—(hear)—but I do hope that there
will be an understanding among us on both sides that
the division will be taken to-morrow. (Hear.)
Colonel LINDSAY who had a notice oe the paper
fur to-morrow, expressed his readiness to allow the de-
bate to have precedence.

COMINIISiIONERS OF SUPPLY (1856) ACT

This bill was
readAMENDMENTaBndt
time.
e.
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL PLACES BILL.

After a short con;ersation, in the course of which Mr.
BOUVERIE explained that the object of this bill was to
compel extra-parochial places to maintain their poor, it
was read a second time.