Star.
London, England, 1830-03-31 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-TUESDAY.
The Earl of KLNNOt'L presented a petition from a corporate
body at Perth, against the renewal of the East India Company's
charter.
The Earl of ROSERERY presented a similar petition from the
Provoq and Town Council of Perth.--Referred to the Select Com-
• i.tttee.
The Duke of DEVONSHIRE ptesented a petition from the inha-
bitants of Derby, against the punishment of death for forgery. The
t.,:hle duke also presented petitions for throwing open the trade to
India and China. from the inhabitants of Derby. of Milford, Nor-
•ranton. florowash, Dliffield, Mickleover, Belpor, and nine other
parii.hes in Derbyshire.
The Earl of MORLEY presented a petition from the city of
Exeter, against the piii.isliment of death for forgery.
The Earl of RADNOR presented a similar petition from Far-
r:i.gdon. The noble earl also presented a petition from the owners
snit occupiers of lend at Woodchurcb, in Kent, complaining of dia.
trees. and praying relief.
The Ear' of ROSSLYN presented a petition from the Corpora-
t'or, of Stirling, against the renewal of the East India Company's
:letter.
Several private Bills were read a third time—among which was
lltiskett's Divorce Bill.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE presented a petition from
prNons professing the Jewish religion, in the eastern division of the
r:ietropolis. praying the removal of civil disabilities on account of
their religions opinions.

TWOPENNY POST.
The Noble MARQUIS also presented a petition from a person
raiding in the Edgeware-road, praying that the Twopenny Post
might be extended to that district and places adjacent.
Earl STANHOPE presented a petition from the freeholders of
Bedfordshire, complaining of distress, and praying relief. The pe-
titioners likewise prayed for the abolition of the malt duty.

RECIPROCITY TREATY WITU AUSTRIA.
The Earl of ABERDEEN laid on the table, by command of his
Majesty, the reciprocity treaty between this country and Austria. ,
Earl STANHOPE denied that the treaties usually called reci-
procity treaties were, in fact, treaties of that description, for the ad.
vantages were in favour of vigil nations, and not reciprocal. The
distress of the shipping interest proved that the system was injurious
to this country. With respect to the freights which now were ob-
tained by British merchanunen, it was obvious that they were by no
means sufficient to pay the ship-owner.
The Earl of ABERDEEN did not deny that the shipping inte-
rest laboured under difficulties, but he did deny that these treaties
had an effect such as that imputed by the noble earl. In the last
three years, the employment of British shipping had greatly in.
creased, compared with that of foreigners trading to this country in
any former period. He would not trouble the house with reading
the return upon the table, from whence this fact was evident. More
than 400 British ships last year passed the Sound, compared with
the number of former years. What better test could there be of the
increase of commerce than the increased employment of British
shipping ? The profits certainly might not be so great as at former
periods; this he was ready to admit. With respect to the particular
treaty which he had the honour of laying before their lordships'
table, he begged to observe, that it was similar in terms to those
which had been already laid before the house. It also was limited
in its operation to the period when the other treaties expired. Par-
liament would then have the whole subject before it. The legis.
lature, having thus had an opportunity of judging of the effects of
those treaties when they were about to expire, might exercise its
power as to the renewal or modification of them. As to the treaty
in question, he found it in progress when he succeeded to the office
which he had now the honour of holding, and he felt it his duty to
complete it.
Viscount GODERICH commenced with observing that at the
close of the last Session of Parliament he had moved for returns
connected with the details on that very important subject—the ship-
r.ng interest of this country. He had the satisfaction of ending,
from the production of those accounts, that his own views were com-
pletely borne out by the facts. These details tended to overthrow
all the objections, as to the probable effects of the treaties, which
many persons entertained. He found that there had been an in-
crease, of no inconsiderable description, of British shipping em-
ployed all over the world, with the exception of vessels trading to
Norway. It was supposed that the commercial treaty with Prussia
would prove disadvantageous to England. But what was the con.
sequence? The increase of shipping employed was in favour of
England, and not Prussia. The noble earl (Earl Stanhope), and
others who thought with him, had got hold of one great error on this
subject. He and they seemed to be of opinion that the reciprocity
treaties resulted from some speculative scheme—whereas, in fact,
there was an absolute necessity for their formation. Foreigners had
imposed high duties on goods imported into their countries in Eng.
lish ships, and it was therefore necessary for this country to enter
iota such an arrangement as these treaties point out. - If this ar-
rangement had not taken place, the state of the shipping interest
would have been much worse than it now was. If the number of
British ships entering into any foreign port were compared with the
vessels of other nations, excepting the ships of the country,to which
the British ships sailed, it would be found that the latter exceeded
all the rest put together. Let their Lordships, for instance, take the
United States of America, and it would be seen that the British ship-
ping trading there, with the exception of the ships belonging to the
United States, exceeded in number all the ships of the whole world.
He would maintain that the shipping interest of England was not
going to rack and ruin, as many persons believed, but on the con-
trary ; and that the reciprocity treaties were best calculated to secure
those interests.
Lewd ELLENBOROUGII said he was not aware that the sub.
ject would have been advanced to-day, otherwise he would have
made himself acquainted more accurately with the returns on the
table ; but, if he recollected right, he thought there had been an in-
crease in the number of British Seamen and the tonnage of British
ships within the last ten years, which nearly equalled the number
of foreign seamen and tonnage of foreign ships trading to this
country from all parts of the world during the same period. When
first these treaties were introduced, he was very much of the opinion
of the noble earl opposite (Karl Stanhope)—(hear, hear,) but
now he (Lord Ellenborough) was disposed to view that opinion as
erroneous.
Earl STANHOPE said that the explanation given by the noble
lords did not touch one of the points of his objections to the tees.'
ties—via. the low or unprofitable rate at which the freights were now
undertaken. lie did not deny that ships were employed, but he dc.
Died that they were so engaged with advantage to the owner. It
might as well be insisted that there was no distress among the agri-
culturists because farms were occupied; and it might be said that
the landlord suffered no loss. Land was still let, but the tenants,
in many instances, cultivated it at a certain loss. With respect to
the shipping interest of England, it was impossible it could be sup
ported he adhering to the present system ; foreign ships could be
built, manned, and navigated, at one-half the expense required
to build and navigate English vessels. Since the alteration of the
navigation laws, British shipping was kept up at a certain loss to
the owners.
The discussion then ended.
Mr. Rica TaEvoi, the Marquis of QUEUE'S and other mem-
bers of the commons, brought up two private bills.
Mr. Fry, from the Navy Office, presented at the bat an account
of all contracts foe timber for the use of his majesty's dock-yards
since the Ist of January, 1810.
On the motion of the Earl of DARNLEY, the mount was or.
tiered to be printed.
The Marquis of BU TE presented a petition froufßanbury against
the punishment of death for forgery.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a similar "petition
from the Unitarian Congregation of South-place, Finsbury-square.
INSTRUCTIONS TO CONSULS.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, in rising to move that an
humble address be presented to his majesty, that his majesty will
be pleased to give instructions to his conk& in South America to
furnish returns of the gold and silver sent front that country, he did
not apprehend it would be necessary to trouble their lordships with
many observations understanding there would be no objection to the
motion. In bringing forward the subject be was not desirous of
pledging any individual in that house as to any future course which
might be pursued connected with the motion. When the returns
which he should have the honour of moving should be before their
lordships relating to the precious metals—and as the country had
the happiness to enjoy a metallic currency, which he hoped would
never be departed from, it being the only sound state of currency—
they might prove beneficial to the house sod the country, for it
was important to have accurate in.farmation with respect to the sup-
ply of those melons metals, to see whether there was any change or
fulling off in the amount of that supply. Without pretending to
be accurately informed on that subject (and he would venture to say
no man could at the present moment be thoroughly acquainted
with it in all its details) the circumstance of the revolutions--
the dismemberment 0 the States the change of Government
which had prevailed in (latent parts of South America in the
course of the last twenty y throb had bad a considerable ef.
feet in preventing that sup Ply 0 the precious ;petals which hero.
tofore had been distributtli be different paw of the glebe, and
which had formed so cossidibeable a portion of the wealth of
that country: Indepe of the removal of those circumstances
to which be had just mad. which had laid tediminish
• the supply of the were MIME OPPINCtiIa with
the improvement Errol used d mdikey MA* les faullarly
fitted to increase that y. lie 1111fald not ties eater ea the
question as to the eotn ve value 0 glik nod envoi air ea lie
itse
question relating to the ae dhuiliWts ot tie eneetoold
supply of either of thesiiimetals ; these wen subjecilli for future
o . There worn anther circumstance laid' forced itself