The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-13 00:00:00

THE PORTLAND VASE.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER wished to put a question to
his Right Hon. Friend, which:was suggested by the
wanton destruction of the Portland vase. From the
police reports of that morning, it appeared that the
magistrate had no power to exact from the de-
stroyer of that precious relic of ancient art a
penalty higher than a fine of five pounds, or to
inflict a greater personal punishment than impri-
sonment, with or without hard labour. He begged
to call the attention of his Right Hon. Friend
to this subject, and he wished him to inform the
House whether it was his intention, by legislation or
otherwie, to take measures to prevent the recurrence
of such an outrage ?
Sir R. PEEL said the trustees of the British Mu-
seum intended to hold a meeting on Saturday next,
for the purpose of considering this important subject;
the result of that meeting would, in all probability,
be some communication on their part to her Majesty's
Government. He would, therefore, not express any
opinion till that communication should be made.
COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH BRAZIL.
Mr. BOUVERIE wished to ask a question of her
Majesty's Government on the subject of the commer-
cial treaty between this country and Brazil. It had
been asserted that our commercial intercourse with
that country must rest on a reciprocity treaty,
similar to the one that expired last year, which was a
treaty of that description. An additional reason for
assuming this probability, which amounted indeed
almost to a certmuty, was, that more than one-fifth of
the exports of Brazil consisted of the article of sugar.
Now, if the Brazilian Government insisted on a re-
ciprocity treaty in reference to this article ofcommerce,
there was no prospect of any agreement between this
Government and that of Brazil as long as
that frivolous distinction remained on the statute-
hook between slave-grown and free-labour sugar.
He apprehended that the Act passed last year on
the subject had proved nugatory, inasmuch
as the only sugar that had come into
this country under that Act was imported
from Venezuela, and was slave-grown, while that
which was expected to arrive would consist, to a great
extent, of North American sugar, from New
Orleans, which was also slave-grown. If, therefore,
this reciprocity treaty was to be concluded, the distinc-
tion must be abandoned, and he could only express
a hope—which was also that of a large majority of the
country—that the Right Hon. Gentleman would,
as on many former occasions, put his consistency in
his pocket, and remove this distinction. He would
put the question, which was this—whether there was
any negotiation, or likely to be any, between this
country and the Brazilian Government for the conclu-
sion of a commercial treaty ?
Sir R. PEEL said that no negotiations were pend-
ing between this country and the Brazilian Govern-
ment on account of any alteration in the tariff of
import duties of that country. There had been a
proposal made to the British Government in respect
of one of the ordinary treaties of commerce, but there
had been no change in the tariff duties.
Mr. RICARDO hoped the Right Hon. Baronet
would abandon the principle of these reciprocity
duties, which made the commerce of this country
dependent on that of others.
Mr. M. GIBSON thought the Government ought
to aban ion all attempts at tariff treaties. It must
strike every person that the limits within which the
Government could negotiate with foreign countries
were too narrow to admit of much advantage. The
difficulty did not lie abroad, but at home ; and he
thought a negotiation with a cen'ral society for
the protection of agrivulture would be more
likely to lead to permanent results than any
treaties with Brazil, or elsewhere. The fact was,
class interests must be consulted before any great
change could be made in the import duties even in
the most necessary articles of human food. It was
the Right Hon. Gentleman's adherence to protection
and differential duties which prevented a successful
termination to the negotiations with Brazil, and he
d;d not anticipate the Right Hon. Baronet would
give up these notions. The Right Hon. Baronet
must know that when the Brazilian Government was
informed by Mr. Ellice of the amount of duty which
the British Government intended to impose on
foreign sugar, as against British colonial sugar, the
Brazilian Government at once cut short the nego-
tiation. He did not know whether he was at liberty
to move for the production of the instructions of the
Government to MT.- Ellice, but if the Right Hon.
Baronet would consent, he should be anxious to see
them on the table of the House.

PROCEEDINGS ON THE BUDGET.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, as the Right Hon.
Baronet had given notice that on Friday he would
make a sta:ement to the House of the greatest im-
portance to the commercial interests of this country,
he was anxious to know what course the Right Hon.
Baronet intended to pursue. Two courses might
be taken. A resolution might be moved, which
would leave the Hou-e at liberty either to affirm or
reject it, or an amendment might be moved on the
resolution. He wished to know if the Right Lion.
Baronet intended to press the House to a decision on
that day.
Sir It. PEEL begged to assure the Noble Lord
opposite, in reply to his question, that if it should
appear inconvenient, he would not press the House to
come to a decision on Friday next on the financial
measures he should propose.—(Hear.) Upon that day
he would endeavour to state to the House, as
clearly as he could, what the views of her Ma.
jesty's Government were with reference to the
financial and commercial policy of the country.—
(Hear, hear.) But, of course, in doing it, he begged
it would be borne in mind that it was of the utmost
importance that the House should come to a decision
at as early a period as possible upon the proposals he
should make • but he would repeat it, that he would
nut, if it should be objected to, press the House
to come to a decision on Friday.—(Hear, hear.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL—I think it will be con-
venient to take the sense of the House on the resolu
tion of which the RiAt Hon Baronet has given
notice. I should be very glad to give notice of any
intention of mine, but that will depend on the course
to he taken by the Right Honourable Gentleman, and
I hope I shall be acquitted of any surprise in the
course I-shall take 4iti that occasion.—(Hear, hear.)
Such being the case, I hope the Right Hon. Baronet
w ill consent that the vote should not be taken on
Friday, and that he will name some other day for that
purpose.
Sir R. PEEL—I at once acquiesce in the proposal
of the Noble Lord. With respect to the period of
Easter, I trust the House µill feel the importance of
proceeding with that business which may be proposed
on Friday next with as little delay as possible. So
far as Government is concerned, it will certainly be
their duty to postpone the consileration of the other
Nosiness until' the general views of the House with'
respect to the future policy of the country have been
ascertained. But I have no hesitation in- agreeing to
the proposal of the Noble Lord, that no voto shall be
taken on Friday next.
. COMMIrTEt OF SUPPLY...
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