Star.
London, England, 1830-04-09 00:00:00

POTAIS BONDS:

Mr. C. CALVERT presented a petition from a female, natine
Mary Ann Lloyd, stating that from the representations made to lire
she had been induced to embark the whole of her little properly in
the purchase of what were termed " Poyais Bonds," but had odes
received but one dividend, amounting to Ms. She further stated
she had represented her case to his majesty. who had been graciously
pleased to grant her 1001. She prayed that the house would cause
' inquiry to be made into the fraudulent scheme for raising money on
what were called Poyals Bonds, but which proved, in fact, nothinl
but mere waste paper.—The petition was laid on the table.
Mr. SADLER presented a petition from the licensed victuallers
of Sutton Ashfield, against the proposed alteration in the liceti,inj
system.—Ordered to be printed.
Mr. W. HORTON presented a petition from the inhabitants of
Neweastle.under.Line. Stafibrdshire, praying for a free trcde ti,
India. Also a petition from the same place, against the practice of
burning Hindoo widows. Both petitions were referred to the corn.
mittee on East India affairs.

Mr. W. HORTON moved fur a copy of an official letter hem
Mr. IL W. Hay, dated from the Colonial Office, 7th .Ipril. 1823,
relative to the expenditure of Sierra Leone and the Cape of Goo!.
Hope.—Agreed to.

NAVIGATION OF THE RHINE.
Mr. C. GRANT rose for the purposeof putting two or three ques-
tions to the right hon. gentleman near him (Mr. Peel,) upon a sub.
jeer, in a commercial point of view, and otherwise, of great import-
ance to this country. It related to the navigation of the river Rhine.
It was well known that, by a treaty executed 15 years ago, (that of
Vienna In 1815,) the free navigation of that river for British and
other vessels had not only been recognised, but fully stipulated for
and guaranteed. The very first article of that treaty applied to the
free navigation of rivers, and particularly to that of the Rhine, at.
lowing vessels of all nations to ascend and descend that river without
any prohibition whatever. Notwithstanding which, the King of the
Netherlands, acting on his own opinion, and disregarding altogeths r
the terms of the existing treaty, had thought proper to adopt those
measures which served to exclude entirely all vessels from the riv..r,
with the exception of those of the Netherlands. Now it did
appear to him (Mr. C. Grant) a circumstance of very extraordinary
occurrence that a treaty of so much importance should be allowed to
remain dormant for the space of 15 years, during which time this
country was deprived of a portion of her commercial rights and pri-
vileges, without exciting the notice of his majesty's government.— -
Two years ago, when he had the honour to fill oisoe, an appeal had
been made by the excluded powers to the government of the Nether-
lands for a relaxation of their prohibitory system, and for the just
fulfilment of the Vienna Treaty ; and he hoped that, locebefuee this,
government would have seen the necessity of complying with the
terms of the treaty. To his surprise, however, he had learned that
the powers bordering on the banks of the Rhine were making 'a am.
vention with the Netherlands for dut regulation of the free amigo-
don of that river. Those powers were France, Prussia, Bavaria,
and some others most interested in the navigation, who were securing
to themselves exclusive privileges, without one word being said or
thought of with respect to England. Ile believed that the treaty
bad not yet been ratified by France ; but he was told that an under-
standing existed , that, if that country did ratify it, the other powers
would do so likewise. It was, therefore, evident that this country
would be deprived, by this compact, of hose commercial rights amid
privileges which were necognisecn the Treaty of Vienna in 1815. Ile
therefore wished to ask of the right hon. Secretary of State-- font,
whether any proposition had been made to his majesty's governmee
to become a party to the treaty to which he alluded, fur the free na-
vigation of the river ? secondly, whether, when that treaty should
be officially communicated to this country, his majesty's ministers
would have any objection to lay it before that house? and, thirdly,
whether any measures had been put in force for preserving the
rights of this country, in common with those of the other power, to
the treaty ?
Mr. PEEL expressed himself willing to give the amplest in.
formation upon this subject in his power. It sou true, as stated
by the hon. member, that, by the treaty of 1815, the navigation of
the Rhine was thrown open, and made free to all nations. Soma
difference had arisen, he believed, as to the terms of the treaty,
which was drawn up in the German as also in the French language,
with respect to the boundaries to which the free navigation was to
be confined ; but, as regarded the terms of the treaty, a copy or
which was in this country in the French language, he (Mr. -Peel)
could not see how a possibility of doubt could arise as to its con.
struction. It was understood, at the time of forming the treaty,
that the free and open navigation should extend from the com-
mencing of the river to the sea, and the words were.—" jusqu'a la
31er," which were sufficiently definite. But it had been contended
that the free navigation was to extend into the sea. (A laugh.)—
Some disputes had arisen as to the free channel from the see; to the
mouths of the ri.er • but, in his opinion, the terms of the treaty
were complete and distinct defining, the river to be accessible to
ships of all nations. With respect to this country, the government
had always contended fur the navigation of the river to be free.
subject to the imposition of moderate duties, for the preservation of
the paths on the sides of the river, and for the maintenance ref the
proper police. With respect to the question relative to the sap.
posed treaty, he believed that a project was on the triple for carrying
into effect the terms of the treaty of 1815, in the necessity fur
which all panics concurred. The hon. member must be aware that
there was a connitiesion existing for the management of all aides
that related to that river. It was denominatetethe Crone! Cons.
minion, and wax composed of delegatel from'esch of the countries
on the borders of the river, and was then sitting at 3laysose. The
subject was at present under: their consideration, but he believed no
treaty had yet been sigradL The project he believed, was far a
treaty tnore particularly between Prussia, who was mostlyinteresud,
and the Netherlands; butt's,' central commission had Dee vrn
their assent, and, therefore, until that was dune no treaty cou be
ratified. When the ratificatioo should rake place the nature er *the
treaty would be officially connnuniautd to this goverment en sat
fultend fosmal eemanner that he could riot see any eitpsetjenrisvern-
' ment could base to a copy bf it being laid before that house.-
' lie apprehended that whatevu twisty might be made Er.gteed
would be allowed to participate in the ..gtir privileges ;sat all none
this government would not waive those catatonia rights recog.
Poised by the treaty of 1816, nor allow any subsequent fusty to