The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 10.
The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before
Four o'Clock.

Several petitions relating to private Bills were pre-
sented.
Lord CLIVE presented a petition from Shrews-
bury against the union of the sees of St. Asaph and
Bangor.
Capt. PECHEL L inquired of the Hon. and Gallant
Gentleman opposite if he had learned anything re-
specting an outrage which had been committed at
Brighton on the 31st of January last, by some soldiers,
whereby considerable property was destroyed, which
the town had to make good ;ana if so, whether any steps
would be taken to prevent the recurrence of such
disorders.

Sir 11. lIARDINGE said he had received no ac-
count of the matter, but that he would make it a
point to institute inquiries respecting it.
NOTICES OF MOTION.

Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD gave notice that
on Friday next, upon going into supply, he would
move an amendment, that the consideration of the esti-
mates be postponed.
Mr. WALLACE gave notice that he would move,
on Monday next, that the evidence obtained last ses-
sion respecting the customs frauds should be- laid
before the House. The Hon. Gentleman also gave
notice of a motion, to the effect that the surplus
revenue be applied to the reduction of the taxation
which presses most upon the workin,, classes.
COMMITTEE ON RAILWAY S.
Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE inquired of the Hon.
Gentleman opposite (Mr. NVallace), whether he pur-
posed persevering with his motion with respect to the
not placing upon the Committee directors of railways
and leading shareholders.
Mr. WALLACE said the course he intended to
pursue was, to move an instruction to the Committee,
which instruction he should put on the paper for to-
night, declaring the principle which, in his judgment,
ought to govern the House in this matter.
Mr. GLADSTONE said, under these circum-
stances he should move the appointment of the Com-
mittee.

The SPEAKER having read the names of the
gentlemen to serve on the Committee,
Captain PECHEL L said, that he had received in-
structions from his constituents, to oppose the ap-
pointment of directors on railways to serve on the
Corn mittee. ✓

After a short discussion the motion was put, and
the'Committee was appointed.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.
The Metropolitan Improvements Bill went through
Committee.

TRADE WITH CHINA.
Sir G. STAUNTON said he had intended to put
his question relating to their commercial relations with
China on Monday, but understanding that it would
be equally convenient to the Noble Lord the Secre-
tary for the Colonies to answer it immediately, he
would put it now. He begged to inquire whether
British subjects, acting in contravention of the spirit,
if not the letter, of our recent commercial treaties
with China, by endeavours to introduce into that
country the -prohibited article of Opium, are to
be considered to forfeit, by such acts, the aid and
protection of the British Crown ; and if so, whether,
in addition to such forfeiture of British aid and pro-
tection, they will be liable to specific pains and penal-
ties under British laws, or to any direct interference
and obstruction on the part of the British authorities
in China :—also, whether the article of opium will be
allowed to be landed and warehoused at Hong-
Kong for the purpose of re-exportation into China.
He had been induced to put this question by the
request of several merchants in the City connected with
the China trade. Much difficulty and misunderstand-
ing would be prevented if it was in the power of her
Majesty's Government to state in answer what was
the course intended to be pursued with respect to the
opium trade with China, and also the nature of their
commercial regulations generally.
Lord STANLEY said the question put by the
lion. Gentleman was one of great importance, and he
should have no hesitation in giving him, if not the
details, at least the principle by which her
Majesty's Government intended to be guided.
The Honourable Gentleman would agree with
him that the suppression of the opium trade
by forcible measures, considering the determination
on the part of the people of China to consume that
drug, and on the part of the principal officers of the
Chinese Government to connive at its introduction,
was hopeless, and he thought the Hon. Gentleman
would agree with him also, that it was an
object of considerable importance to induce
the Chinese Government, if possible, to consent
to its introduction, and to legalise the trade, by
imposing such an amount of duty on it. That was
the object Sir Henry Pottinger attempted to bring
about, with what degree of success he had not been
able to ascertain. If it was impossible to prevent
the introduction of opium into China, it would
also be impossible to prevent its introduction
into the island of Hong-Kong; but it was
important to secure a legal trade in that island ; and
as they were determined to act with good faith
towards the Chinese Government in all the regula-
tions, the most stringent instructions had been given
that no encouragement whatever, and such discour-
agement as they possibly could, should be given
to any smuggling trade between the island of
Hong-Kong and the coast of China. Of course they
could not interfere with the Chinese police, but the
merchants had been warned that if they chose to
violate the laws of China, either by the introduction
of prohibited goods into a legalised port, or the intro-
duction of any goods whatever into ports not legalised,
they were not to expect the protection of the British
Government, but must be exposed to the
penalties inflicted by the laws of China.
with regard to the introduction of opium into Hong-
Kong, the Government had given discretionary powers
both to Sir H. Pottinger, the late Gove.nor, and Mr.
Davis, who was appointed to succeed him, and than
whom the Government could hardly have se-
lected a gentleman more competent for the
situation, both by his intimate knowledge of the
subject and his acquaintance with the pecu-
liarities of the Chinese character. The instructions
sent out to the Governor of Hong-Kong were in
substance these :—lt was their desire that the is!and
of Hong-Kong should not be made a great nest of
smugglers, for the purpose of carrying on an illicit
traffic with the coast of China. It was their object
that it should become the great mart for the
commerce of all nations, and for the ex-
tension of a legal commerce with China ;
they did not intend to prohibit the introduction of
opium into Hong-Kong for the purpose of consump-
tion. They were of opinion that the imposition
of a moderate duty on importation without a
drawback on exportation, would have the effect of
preventing its being imported for the purpose of
being exported again. He understood that there
was a difference of opinion amongst the Chinese
authorities on this subject, as they thought that the
imposition of a duty was giving a kind of sanction
to the trade. The Governor had power to act ac-
cording to his discretion on this point, and might
take such means, both for preventing smuggling and
promoting the legalised trade, as would satisfy the
Chinese Government that this was their only object.
Sir GEORGE STAUNTON begged to thank the
Noble Lord for the information he had afforded, and
to express his gratification at the purport of it. But
he was still not without apprehension that the opium
trade would be likely to disturb their relations—their
amicable relations with China. He should therefore
reserve himself for a future consideration of the subject.
He thought the appointment of Mr. Davis was one that
did honour to her Majesty's Government.