The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-03 00:00:00

CHURCH-RATES.

Sir J. EASTHOPE moved for a return of the Church-
rates made in every parish in England during the last
two years, of the total amount collected, and of the total
amount expended in the repairs of the church. The re-
turn now moved for was an amended form of that of
which he had given notice some time since, and he appre-
hended that, in its present form, it would not be objected
to. He would take that opportunity of asking the Right
Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government if it was the
intention of the Right Honourable Baronet and
the other Members of the Government, during
the recess, to give the subject of Church-rates their con-
sideration, for the purpose of introducing some measure
in the course of the ensuing session for the settlement of
the question, or whether the Government was satisfied
with the state of the law as it was at present ?
Sir ROBERT PEEL could not undertake to give
any assurance to the Hon. Gentleman that during the
course of the next session the Government would in-
troduce any measure on the subject of Church-
rates. At the same time he would not under-
take to say that he was so satisfied with the
law on the subject as it stood at present that he would
always adhere to it. He would not say that of any law,
but at the same time he would not undertake to bring
forward any measure on the subject next session.
Sir J. EASTHOPE said his question practically came
to this—Did the Government intend to take the subject
into its consideration ? _ _

Sir. R. FEEL would not sanction any expectation that
her Majesty's Government would, in the course of the
next session, bring forward any measure on the subject of
Church-rates.

Mr. ESTCOURT was not sure that the return ought
to be agreed to.
Sir J. EASTHOPE said he had submitted the motion
to the Right Hon. Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment, and that he had stated that he saw no reason
to object to it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHHEQUER sug-
gested that the amount in the pound of the rate should
be stated.

Sir R. INGLIS thought there would be considerable
difficulty in preparing the returns.
Mr. HAWES asked whether the return was opposed
or not?

Sir J. GRAHAM said the Hon. Gentleman had, at
his request, withdrawn his former motion, and had sub-
mitted the present motion to him (Sir James Graham),
and he certainly could see no objection to it. He
admitted that there might be some difficulty
in procuring the returns, but he, in obedience to the
order of the House, should feel it his duty to apply to
the different churchwardens to make the returns, and he
thought that they would only be acting in the fulfilment
of their duty in making these returns in obedience to the
order of the House.
Mr. DARBY objected to these returns, which would
be useless for any practical purpose.
After a few words from Mr. HARDY and Mr. HUME,
the motion was agreed to.
BANKRUPTCY BILL.

Mr. BECKETT gave notice of his intention of pro-
posing certain clauses in Committee on the Bank-
ruptcy Bill.

RAJA OF SATTARA.

Mr. ILUME gave notice that on Monday next he
should move that an humble address be presented to her
Majesty, praying her to appoint a Commission to in-
quire into the allegations of the petition presented to
that House from the Raja of Sattara.
LICENSED LUNATICS ASYLUMS BILL

The Order of the Day for the appointment of Mana-
gers of a Conference with the House of Lords was then
read.

Lord G. Somerset, Sir J. Graham, Sir G. Clerk, Mr.
Estcourt, and several other Members, were appointed as
Managers on the part of the House of Commons.
After the Conference had been held,
Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET informed the
House that the managers had delivered to their Lord-
ships the reasons for disagreeing to their Lordship's
amendments.

STEAM-SHIPS FOR MEXICO.
Mr. COBDEN bogged to repeat the question which
he had put to the Right Hon. Baronet last night, with
respect to the vessels fitting out to take part in the
Mexican war.

Sir R. PEEL said he believed the facts were these—
two vessels were fitting out, one at Blackwall and the
other at Liverpool. It was said that those vessels were
being fitted up for the Mexican Government. Application
had been made to the British Government to permit
them to be manned with British seamen, and that per-
mission had been refused. The honourable Member
was under the impression that one vessel was to be
commanded by an officer who• held a commission in her
Majesty's navy. He could state, that in consequence of an
application from the Texian Minister on the subject, that
Minister had been informed that no officer in her Ma-
jesty's navy would be allowed to serve the Mexican
Government against Texas. The Texian Government
had been informed that if hostilities should take place,
it was the intention of the English Government to main-
tain a perfect neutrality.
Mr. O'CONNELL said the treaties with Texas had
been laid on the table at so late a period of the
session, that no opportunity had been afforded
of bringing under the consideration of the House
the state in which those treaties left the com-
munication between this country and Texas. There was
a law in Texas that no free subject of colour
should remain there longer than a certain time. He
would feel it his duty, whenever a convenient oppor-
tunity arrived, to call the attention of the House to the
subject.
Lerd PALMERSTON said he believed the laws in
Texas were precisely the same as the laws in the southern
states of the United States. _ _ _

Mr. O'CONNELL said it was only in the State of
Carolina that the law existed.
Lord PALMERSTON said that so far was the
Texian Government from being at our mercy,
that we were on the contrary at their mercy.—
(Hear.) They had already secured the recognition of
their independence by treaties with the United
States of America, with France, and the Nether-
lands, and the question came to this, whether the
commerce between England and Texas should be placed
on the same footing as the commerce between Texas and
other countries, or whether we should be exposed to dis
advantages to which other States were not subject. Mr. C. BULLER said that he did not think it would
be proper to require of a State to alter its internal laws
on entering into a treaty with another eountry.
Mr. LABOUCHERE thought that the House had no
business to interfere in such questions as the present. It
was a subject for the consideration of the Governments
of different countries.
Mr. HUME said he should consider it would be most
desirable that our Government should interfere, if
possible, to prevent the hostilities which had taken
place between Mexico and the Texas. Those hosti-
lities would necessarily produce great misery in those
States, and would necessarily greatly inconvenience
British trade.

Sir R. PEEL said, that the dissensions between
those States and South America, had been undoubtedly
attended with the worst effects. They carried on their
hostilities with the bitterest animosity ; pirates were en-
couraged to enter into their service ; they destroyed
each other's commerce ; they prevented the growth of
their natural prosperity. Those events, in addition,
interfered with their communications with those
countries. which were the first to recognize
their independence. But it was principally on the ground
of the fatal consequences to those States themselves
that those hostilities were .to be deprecated. Every
effort in the power of the British Government
would be made to contribute to the restoration of tran-
quillity in those countries.
The Report of the Committee of Ways. and Means
was brought up, and leave was given to bring in a Bill
founded on the resolutions.
BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS BILL.
On the motion of Mr. C. BULLER, the Bribery at
Elections Bill (No. 2) was read a third time, and passed.

DESIGNS COPYRIGHT BILL. -
Mr. GLADSTONE moved the Order of the Day for
briugiug up the Report on this Bill.