The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-03 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, April 2.
ROYAL COMMISSION.
Their Lordships assembled this afternoon at a Quarter
before Four o'clock. and the House of Commons having
been summoned to their Lordships' bar, the Speaker
-shortly afterwards made his appearance at the bar ac-
companied by several Meinbers. The Royal Assent was
then given by Coininission; in the usual manner, to the
-Mutiny Bill, the Marine Mutiny Bill, the Annual In—
demnity Bill, the Berri!! (Huntingdonshire) Inelosure
Bill, and the Mansfield (Huntingdonshire) Inclosure
Bill. The Commons having withdrawn, their Lordships
adjourned during pleasure. .

Their Lordships assembled again at Five o'Clock.
The Earl of ROSEBERY presented two petitions
from Manchester and Birkenhead, against certain pro-
visions in the Dissenters' Chapels Bid.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE presented a petition from
the Rel. Dr. Hook, Vicar of Leeds, praying the House
to pass a Bill to divide the parish and vicarage of Leeds
into separate parishes and vicarages, for ecclesiastical
purposes only.
Lord LORTON presented petitions from. Suffolk
against the grant to the College of Maynooth.
Lord CAMPBELL presented a petition from a place
in Ireland complaining of the late decision- of their
Lordships' House with, respect to Presbyterian mar-
riages.

been thought proper to ask at their hands. considerations, and solely on account of his distinguished
Among those supplies was a large sum voted for the
maintenance of a considerable number of men for the
navy. He was one of those who was most willing to
concur in that vote ; but in considering. thelarge aliment
that was voted, he did think it necessary to say a few
words on this occasion, though he might raise a dis;
cussion on it hereafter, on the manner in which
that number of men wits disposed of. With
respect to the number of men, though it
was considerably lass than the number noted in 1841,
yet it was very considerably more than in 1e35. The
statement abroad was that the navel force in the Medi-
terranean was to be reduced to a very small number of
ships of the line; it was even said that only one ship of
the line V% as to be left in the Mediterranean. In that
case he must say that he did not think such a reduction
would be hi accordance with the general policy of this
country. They must recollect that they had some im-
portant stations in the Mediterranean, and important
interests there that might call for their interposition.
There might not be at this moment any danger, nor any
prospect of other than amicable relations with foreign
Powers ; but should it be otherwise, and any
case for their interposition should arise, the
sudden augmentation of the navy that would be neces-
sary. would probably create great alarm. Even in the
present circumstances of the country, there was the
state of affairs in Morocco, there were insurrectionary
movements in Italy, and any circumstances of this kind
might give rise to the necessity of diplomatic represen-
tations to foreign Powers. So small a naval force, in
case of that necessity arising, wculd not be ade-
quate to giving support to the interests of the country.
lie thought it necessary to make those observations with
respect to the disposal of the fleet in the Mediterranean.
Sir ROBERT PEEL confessed that he felt sur-
prised at the observations of the Noble Lord.
The Noble Lord did not allege that British interests had
suffered, but he stated that it would be advisable to have
a large force in the Mediterranean. Why, that might
be advisable with regard to any portion of the world,
and there might be good grounds sit having a large
force in North America, the Pacific, and the Baltic.
This might be true, but he understood the sound con-
stitutional principle was to leave the appropriation of
the forces to the Executive Government. Now, the
Government thought it right to have a num-
ber of vessels for exercise in the Channel, which would
be ready upon any emergency. There was sometimes
great advantage in concentrating their forces. Let not
the Noble Lord suppose that their interests in the Me- '
diterranean would be endangered because the fleet was
off the month of the Thames or in the Channel. The
Noble. Lord. should allow the Executive Government to
exercise its own discretion. No doubt their interests in
the Mediterranean were important, but there might be
reasons for assembling them in another place, which
he was unwilling to enter upon. But if the Noble
Lord had a confidence in his judgment, which was just
in many.respects—if he-was prepared to take the com-
mend of the Channel fleet—(Much laughter)—surely
he might allow the Executive Government to take that
course which it seemed best for them to pursue.
Lord PALMERSTON said that he felt no want of
confidence in his Noble Friend—(Laughter)—in any
command in which resolution and determination would
be required.—( Hear.) And if his spirit and determination,
which were well known, were backed by the professional
skill of his Hon. and Gallant Friend the Member for
Merylebone, he thought they would be very formidable.
The disposition of the naval force was certainly to be
left at the discretion of the Executive Government, but
yet the Executive Government exercised that discretion
subject to any remarks which might be made in Parlia-
ment. That discretion certainly was to be exercised
subject to a responsibility to that House. He_ thought,
therefore, that his Noble Friend, in taking the opportu-
nity which he had taken of making these remarks before-
hand, and directing the consideration of the Govern-
ment to the subject, had not departed from the appro-
priate exercise of those functions which devolved on him
as a Member of that House. It was true that it was
only a question of prudence, according to the
existing state of things, whether we should concentrate
a large force on the home station, or distribute it more
equally among the different foreign stations, where its
presence might be required, not for purpose's of hosti-
lity, but to give that moral effect and support to our
commercial interests which the presence of a naval force
invariably afforded. In the present state of things, if
anything occurred requiring the presence of a large naval
force on the home station, it would be quite as easy to
order the force home from the Mediterranean as to or-
der the force from the home station to the Mediterra-
nean, so that the argument of the Right Honourable
the e
andßaltic,
the
ionia then
Islands,
Pacific,
her o
there-
fore Baronet was equally applicable to either side of the
question. There certainly were grounds for hay
ing a large force in the Mediterranean, which
didwre
had not G applybr
in the Mediterranean—we had colonies there.
the coasts of the United States. We had important sta-
tionstar,to
Malta,
h
fore it was natural that we should maintain a large
naval force there, and the maintenance of such de-
fence there implied nothing hostile or suspicious
towards foreign Powers ; but if a large force were
to be sent either to the Baltic, the coast of
the United States, or the Pacific, it would be supposed
either that we apprehended hostilities from some other
Powers, or that we intended something against them.
The cases were not parallel. The question of the dis-
posableness of the force applied, as he had shown before,
as much to the one case as to the other. Our commer-
cial and political relations were of more importance
in the Mediterranean than anywhere else on the face of
the globe. More things might happen there in which
the interests of Great Britain were concerned than
could happen elsewhere. If, therefore, the Government
intended only to maintain one sail of the line on
that station, he contended that they would not
be properly representing British interests in a
quarter in which the required the most scrupulous care
and attention. lie could testify, from his own experi-
ence as Foreign Secretary, that nothing was more com-
mon than for British merchants connected with the
Mediterranean to apply for protection and assistance.
Considering the difficulties which might arise from time
to time in that quarter, he thought it not a wise dis-
tribution of the naval forces to have only one ship of the
line in the Mediterranean, and not the ordinary amount
of force usual on former occasions. If it were a privi-
leee of Members of that House to criticise events after
they happened, he thought it a more useful privilege to
throw out suggestions before the occurrence of events.
Mr. HUME was sorry to hear any objection to the
reduction of the naval force. He had lately received a
letter from a naval officer at Malta, in which the writer
stated that. there could be nothing more disadvantageOus
to the interests of the navy than leaving large line- of-
battle-ships in the Mediterranean. They laid up at
Malta and other places there for twelve months, and
were much exposed to losing their He also
trusted that the Right lion. Bart. wou!d see the necessity
of removing the swarm of gun-boats from the Shannon.
REGISTRATION BILL (IRELAND).
Mr. WYSE cemplained of so early a day after Easter
being fixed for the second reading of this Bill, as had been
announced by the Right lion. Baronet opposite (Sir R.
Peel). If it was necessary that the Bill should come into
operation at once, it should have been introduced at an
earlier period of the session. Ile thought it would be
more judicious to defer the second reading until a later

merits.

EMIGRATION..

Mr. C. BULLER said the Noble Lord, the Secretary
for the Colonies, had promised,
.on a former occasion,
that the Report of the Emigration Commissioners should
be laid, on the table of the House before Parliament ad-
journed for the Easter holidays. He begged to ask if
they might hOpe to receive it an early period?
Lord STANLEY said he was happy to say ho was
able to realise his promise, inasmuch as he held the
Report in his band.
The Report was subsequently brought up by the
Noble Lord, and ordered to be laid upon the table.

IRISH FRANCHISE 13ILL:
Lord ELIOT brought up the Bill upon this subject,
for which leave was given last evening, and it was read
a first time.

period. .
Sir R. PEEL said, he would not, on any account, press
the second reading of the Bill against the wish of Irish
_il_nvAirr
Members. Cunsideiing the feeling which appeared to
ex
ing of the Bill from Monday (the 15th) until Friday.
l‘sitr. on.
the subject,n. wished
would
hledtok npostpone the second read-
intention of the Government to lay before the House any
digest or code of criminal laws, founded on the report of
the Criminal Law Commisstoners. He begged also to
ask the Hon. Member for Lewes, whether it was his
intention to bring forward that evening his motion with
respect to probate duty.
Sir R. PEEL said he was not prepared to introduce
anyilnlti.ollrtnomrteiofonrmonththeactristunbi
subject was already in the poa-
nal law of this country. All
the
session of the House.
Mr. ELPIIINSTONE said that so many gentlemen
had left town, that he did not think it would be desira-
ble to bring on that evening the motion to which the
Hon. Gentleman referred.
CHINA.
Sir R. PEEL brought up certain dispatches respecting
China, amongst which was one with respect to the treaty
lately entered into between this country and China.
Ordered to be laid on the table.
Mr. HUME was desirous that her Majesty's Govern-
ment should give the public a fac-simile of the Chinese
treaty, with an English translation.—(Laughter.) He
)--and it would not be
tnought it would be very acceptable to the public as a
ask if the Hon. Mem-
beroktnioenw7theaCtihdiniresslngua--e?
was it seconded by a
whose observation was not distinctly
veryi nastit :.ritt)ofß e
expensive.Eu ri curiosity—( i
pt c--E(LAb
elgaguegdh
to ,
ls'Oa TTINGER.
g —(Laughter.)
g e
niut madeire.il nAawsh7olE,
heard in the gallery, but exeityed,
that
teihf
alaumgloitteiorninwtehree
understood•oiltlm.YtoSir H. Pottinger—(who, after
In I,
ao
du
es e, , h
ow was
would
usl
IdpitsacpcHeo
rETisecond
Sir R. PEEL said he could not lay upon the table the
, had now retired, against
last diplomatic
the Government)—with-
athsee
wr vi ilee os fa' nnedarrel
out bearing testimony to the singular ability,zeal,firmness,
yprhesalefna,tacteit,f)tnuat.
and discretion, with which he had performed the duty
undertakk.n by him under critical and difficult circum-
stances, and performed by him in a manner which se-
cured to him the confidence and esteem of the Chinese
Government, equally with
that of the Government
which he represented.—(llear, hear.) He was disposed
to say more upon the merits of that distinguished gen-
tleman, but he was aware that a panegyric was weak-
ened by being diluted.--(Hear.) He would only say,
that it was impossible to bear higher testimony than he
could to the merits of Sir Henry Pottin!;.er.—(Hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON rose to bear testimony to the
truth of the handsome eulogy which the Right Hon.
Gentleman had passed upon that distinguished public
officer.—(Hear, hear.) lie did not think that the eulogy
could be exaggerated, for those who witnessed His ser-
vices only regretted that he had not still greater oppor-
tunities of rendering services to his country. It was
only by his own merits the gallant and distinguished officer
obtained the opportunity of so well earning the thanks
of the Government and the country: When he (Lord
Pahnerston) recommended to his colleagues the appoint-
ment of Sir Henry Pottinger, he did so without any
political consideration. Indeed, uto the present mo,
meat lie did not k now what Sir Henry's general
political sentiments might be. When he (Lord
Palmerston) asked his colleagues to request the
assistance of Sir Henry Pottinger, he had no per-
sonal acquaintance with him, and he was only led
' to make choice of him in consequence of the ability
which he had displayed in India.—(Hear, hear.) He
must also say that irwas only justice to the present Go-
vernment to state that the successor of Sir Henry Pot-
tinier had been selected without WV Intlrd to political