The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

oPeratichas in tiae north of China; which terminated in the
rapture of Pekin, whereby ah honotitable peace has been
obtained on the terms proposed by her Majesty and het
ally the Emperor of the French.
" That the thanks of this house be given to the officers of
the Army, Navy, and the Royal Marines, including her
Majesty's Indian forces, both Ruropean and native, for the
energy and gallantry with which they executed the services
I they were called upon to perform.
" That this holise doth acknowledge and highly approve
the gallantry, discipline, and uniform courage displayed
by the petty officers, noncommissioned officers, and men
of the Navy, Army, Royal Marines, and her Majesty's
Indian forces, European and native, and the cordial good
feeling which animated the united force, and that the same
be communicated to them by the commanders of the several
ships and corps, who are respectfully desired to thank them
for their gallant and steadfast behaviour."
Mr. DISRAELI—Sir, I have the honour accorded to
me to second the motion of the noble lord. The noble lord
has given such a clear and animated narrative of the suc-
cessful operations in China that it is unnecessary for me to
dwell upon them, and indeed it would be presumptuous for
me to do so. It is enough that we all feel that a great mili-
tary operation has been achieved with power and precision,
with indomitable bravery, and irresistible perseverance.
The army and navy of England have more than once ex-
pressed their conviction that one of their greatest rewards
is to receive the thanks of Parliament ; and I can say for
myself, and I hope for the house also, that we consider it
one of our greatest privileges to offer the expression of our '
thanks and admiration for their achievements. (Hear,
hear.) Although on the events which have occurred in
China, it is impossible to refer to any of those great military
exploits, or to any of those immortal deeds which were ac.•
complished on those great fields, that posterity hereafter
will look to with varied feelings of wonder and admiration ;
yet, nevertheless, looked at in a military sense, and having
regard to military considerations, there is one view of the
case the importance of which cannot be overstated, and that
is, that in a remote part of the world, and in a strange
climate, we have found the health of our troops so admir-
ably preserved. (Cheers.) I attribute this to our now per-
fect organisation, applying all those discoveries and re-
sources of modern science to the maintenance of the health
and the equipment of our troops, which has been so long
desired and sought for. And if, as I believe, this is a cir-
cumstance not of an exceptional character, we have the
satisfaction of feeling that, so far as this subject is con-
cerned, we have already mitigated one of the miseries of
war. The noble lord has touched upon the singularity of
such great results having, in such a distant part of the
world, been achieved with so small a body of men, and at
such comparatively small sacrifice. Indeed, I think this is
a subject which well deserves.the consideration of the house.
A handful of men, not, I believe, amounting to the number
who followed Zenophon, have waged war in a great coun-
try at nearly the remotest part of the globe, and have dic-
tated a peace in the ancient capital of a nation which num-
bers more than one third of the whole population of the
world. (Cheers.) This is not the first occasion during the
last quarter of a century that mankind have been impressed
with the immense influence which Europe is exercising over
the rest of the world. This is not the first occurrence of
great exploits which has proved the predominant power of
that part of the globe in which it is our happiness to exist.
(Hear.) But, Sir, there are other considerations connected
with this result which should not be, I think, absent from
our thoughts. At this moment, under Providence, it is not
merely this quarter of the globe, but we may say it is Wes-
tern Europe that commands the world. (Cheers.) If that
power be so irresistible, if those means be so great, I think
we all should feel that the moral responsibility of their
exercise is proportionately increased in that respect.
(Cheers.) Under these circumstances, that appears to me
a consideration which should not be lost to the councils
of the Sovereign, and which may blend advantageously
even with the triumphant gratitude of Parliament. For the
distinguished zeal by which these operations have been con-
ducted, I Leg, sir, to second the resolutions. (Cheers.)

Mr. V. SCTJLLY said that he was not going to interfere
with the harmony of the vote of thanks which had just
been proposed ; but as he had placed a notice of motion on
the paper, he wished to call attention to the published
statements that the Emperor of China's Summer Palace
and its contents had been ruthlessly looted and destroyed
by the English and ;;French forces. From the blue book
on the affairs of China he could not make out whether this
wilful act of destruction had taken place with the consent
of the French Ambassador. The burning of the Emperor's
Summer Palace appeared to him to have been an act of
Vandalism and barbarism without precedent in ancient or
modern history. It was not the fact that the French ab-
stained from destroying the palace, because they had pre-
viously obtained their revenge by looting and gutting the
palace, and in confirmation of this view he read an extract
from a despatch written by a French general, which ap-
peared in the Ifoniteur of Jan. 2. He did not want to read
any homilies to the house or come forward as a humanita-
rian, but if Baron Gros had done what he (Mr. Scully)
complained of, then his acts would be criticised by the
noble mover of the resolution as inconsistent with civilisa-
tion and the advanced spirit of the age. There were plain
and obvious comments that might be made if he were dis-
posed to indulge inhostile criticism. Ho would merely say
non meus hie. sermo—the language was that of Byron :
" Let Eratostratus and Elgin shine,
In many a branding page and burning line."
[Much merriment was here excited in consequence of the
hon. gentleman not being able to proceed with the quota •
Eon.]

Well, he would finish with a quotation from a poet with
which he was more familiar :

" The next sun's ray shall melt away,
The tracks on the snow where the false lord came.
But none shall see the day
When the cloud shall pass away,
Which that dark hour left on England's fame."

(Laughter.)
Mr. WHITE entirely concurred in the resolutions vot-
ing the thanks of the house to the gallant officers engaged
in the Chinese expedition. (Hear.)
Sir J. ELPHINSTONE said it would be ungracious on
an occasion like this to refuse a unanimous vote of thanks
to those engaged in the Chinese campaign. (Hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said the hon. member for Cork
seemed to think that the services of Irishmen were over-
looked in the motion, for that many of them would appear
in the accounts of the killed and wounded. No one could
doubt of that, but the motion included all British subjects
engaged in the struggle. (Hear.) The ambuscade into
which Europeans were entrapped on their way to Pekin
was of the most barbarous character. Men who were en-
gaged for the very purpose of bringing about a peace and
assisting in concluding a treaty, were surprised and treated
in such an inhuman manner that several of them lost their
lives. Lord Elgin considered in what way he should punish
a crime of that nature, and came to the conclusion that if
he demanded the Chinese authorities to give up the subor-
dinates who actually inflicted those barbarities on the cap-
tives, the parties really guilty would escape. (Hear.) Under
these circumstances, and with the concurrence of Sir H.
Grant, Lord Elgin decided on bringing the punishment
home to the Emperor of China by the destruction of his
palace. This course was the one most likely to produce a
great moral effect, not only on the Emperor himself, but
also on his subjects. The objections of Gen. Montauban to
this course was not that the punishment should not be in-
flicted, but that it might so inspire the Chinese with terror
that the execution of the treaty might be delayed. Events,
however, proved that Lord Elgin was correct, and that
owing to the course which he pursued much more favour-
able terms were obtained from the Chinese. (Hear.)
As to the families of those who had suffered, it had never
been usual to ask for indemnity in such cases. The gal-
lantry and good conduct of the army and navy on the occa-
sion were beyond all praise—(hear)—and so far from its
being true that the articles of the treaty were not known in
the south of China, there was a despatch from the consul
at Canton stating that the treaty was published there, that
trade had commenced in accordance with the tariff, and was
proceeding most satisfactorily.
The votes were then read and agreed to seriatim.
BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,

Mr. ROEBUCK said the introduction of this bill had
been the occasion for the most indiscriminate eulogy of it ;
but he would raise his voice against it. They were bid
that this bill was to settle the question, but it would not do
so. The Attorney-General complained of the present sys-
tem, that it was wanting in uniformity, that it was expen-
sive, and that the difference between insolvency and bank-
ruptcy was the opprobrium of the English law on the sub-
ject. But what had he done in the present bill ? As to
the want of uniformity, arising from there being five dif-
ferent commissioners, each able to give a different decision,
the Attorney-General forgot to inform the house that there
was an appeal to the Lords Justices in any case where the
decision of the commissioner was questioned, and he pro-
posed to meet the case by appointing a chief judge in order
to settle the differences in these courts. But what could
the new judge do that the Lords Justices could not do? It
would ba simply an additional expense without being an ad-
ditional advantage. There were causes of expenditure in
thesecourts on which the Attorney-General had not put his
finger, viz., the fees which did not go to the officers of the
court, but which were paid into a fund in that court. In
no one particular would this bill diminish the expenses of
the courts, and as to the difference between bankruptcy and
insolvency, the bill did not touch it at all. The bill was an
objectionable alteration of the law without being a reform
of it; on the contrary, it made it more expensive, and
would benefit no one except the attorneys.
Mr. MOFFATT supported the bill, because it would de-
crease the expense, and. greatly simplify and improve the
procedure.

Mr. BOVILL said.that it would have been much bettor
to have introduced a measure which at once amended and
consolidated the law. There was the bill of last session,
which was admirably adapted for the purpose, and there
was also the bill of the member for Newcastle. He should
be sorry to appear to oppose the bill, but he regretted its
introduction in its present shape. He objected to the officers
being retained at their full salaries when their offices were
about to be abolished, and the country being saddled with
an enormous expenditure. The commissioners were to be
retained, and the messengers, who wero displaced by last
year's bill, were still to be retained. Indeed, the only dif-
ference in the constitution of the Bankruptcy Court from
what it now was consisted in the appointment of an addi-
tional commissioner, at a salary of £5,000 a-year. With
respect to the official assignees, be proposed to continue