The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-27 00:00:00

CANADA.

Lord Joust 11 ossELL then proceeded with his motion on
the subject of the Canada papers. The subjects of her Ma-
jesty residing in Upper Canada, he said, amount to more
than I,ooo,ooo—some calculate them at 1,100,030, some at
1,200,000,—and form one of the great families of the Ameri-
can provinces. After alluding to the importance of esta-
blishing the species of government suited to the population,
and the various proceedings which had been adopted to
remove the grievances of which they complained, he alluded to
the late insurrection, and the mode in which it had been extin-
guished. He then referred to the proposed union of the pro-
vinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and observed, that the
present governor-general had ascertained the sentiments of
the people with regard to it. The council of Lower Canada,
had agreed to certain resolutions, agreeing to the principle
of the union ; and the assembly and legislative council of
Upper Canada had also come to a resolution in accordance
with the proposition of the governor-general. His lordship,
after describing the course pursued by the assembly of Lower
Canada, as described by Lord Durham, observed—There
was no more obvious or safer mode of proceeding, in order to
put down this system of monopoly and exclusion, than to
admit the inhabitants 'of both countries to send members to
one legislature, leaving the French race to be represented by
persons of their own opinions, but depriving them of that
preponderance of which they made so ill an use. In so
doing, of course there are many points to be attended to, to
which hereafter I shall have occasion to advert; but, with
respect to the general nature of the proposition, taking the
number of inhabitants of the provinces at 1,100,000 of which
450,000 are supposed to be of the French race, there seems
no reason why the two together should not send members to
the assembly, who would fairly represent the whole body,
and give free scope to British enterprise and emigration,
without subjecting the French to any degree of oppression.
The first question would be as to the declaration of the
union. He should propose that instructions be given to the
governor-general to make proclamation of the union within
six months after the passing of the bill, but that no day be
fixed. His lordship stated several reasons why the declara-
tion of the union should not be long delayed, but that the
proclamation should be made within a few months after the
passing of the bill. It was proposed that the crown, or the
governor acting on the part of the crown, should appoint the
legislative councillors. Many are still in favour of the pro-
ject of an elective council ; but the report of the governor-
general states, that all agreed that if there were not an
eleCtive council, the best plan would be to leave the nomina-
tion as directed by the constitution of 1791. He had to
propose, that the nomination of the council should be for life,
with the power, however, to resign ; the only disqualification
being bankruptcy or crime. It was not proposed to limit the
number of councillors„ but it was intended that they should
not be less than twenty. With respect to the assembly, it
was proposed that the number of representatives sent by
Upper and Lower Canada should be equal. Though at pre-
sent the inhabitants of the upper province are not equal to
those of the lower, yet they were rapidly increasing ; and the
probability is, that in a few years, the inhabitants of the
upper province will have increased beyond those of the lower.
It was proposed, that thirty-nine representatives should be
allowed to each province, and distributed with no very great
alteration of the existing boundaries. The existing divisions
of Upper Canada were to be taken ; but, with regard to Lower
Canada, the proposition was, that the distribution of mem-
bers should rather be founded on the divisions which existed
previous to the act of '29 than on those by which members were
sent to the assembly in later times. Taking generally the
existing divisions, there should be a member for each county
and each town. It is intended, that in Upper Canada the
towns of Kingston, Hamilton, Brockville, London, Niagara,
and Cornwall ; and that in Lower Canada, Montreal, Que-
bec, and the Three Rivers, should cacti send one member.
The rest of the members for each province are to be returned
by districts, which we have called counties. In no case have
we placed together counties, which before the act of 1829
were separate ; but in nine instances we have combined coun-
ties which were separated into two by the act of 1829. The
result will be, therefore, that 39 members will be sent by
Upper, and 39 by Lower Canada, making a total of 78.
With regard to the laws, and the mode in which they were to
be enacted, certain subjects were to be reserved for the as-
sent of the crown. It is intended, that the royal assent
should not be given in those cases, if either house of parlia li
-
ment addresses the crown, praying for its refusal. The sub-
jects I refer to include, among others, regu:ations concern-
ing the Protestant religion and the Roman Catholic church.
His lordship then adverted to the change proposed in the re-
port of Lord Durham, with regard to the powers of the as-
sembly. It was proposed, he said, in conformity with our
own constitutional views and maxims, that money totes
should not originate with the assembly; that a civil list
should be voted for a period of years,
,or during the life of
the Queen ; the charge for the governor and judges to be
£45,000 ; the other expenses £Bo,ooo—including in the
£75,000, £5,000 or £6,000 for pensions. In return for this
greater power given to the crown by the rule of administra-
tion which would be established by the union (it would be
impossible to introduce the provision into the bill), the as-
sembly should exercise a due controul over the officers ap-
pointed or kept in office by the governor, and over the disti i-
bution and expenditure of the public funds. His lordship
then described the qualifications for members of the assem-
bly, and the application of the produce of the clergy reserves.
He concluded with expressing at some length his views with
respect to the future prospect of Canada, and the probable
duration of the connection with this country ; and then moved
for leave to bring in a bill to unite the provinces of Upper
and Lower Canada. _ _

Hunts ooserved, that the noble lord was utterly mis-
taken if be supposed that the bill laid on the table of the
house would have the effect of removing the discontent in
Canada.

Sir R. bunts strongly protested against the application
of the clergy reserves. .

Mr. PAWINGTON doubted whether the union would be
productive of the advantages anticipated from it.
Sir C. GnE I( said, it appeared to him to be altogether a
measure to which he could give his hearty concurrence.
Sir R. PEEL reserved for the present all observation,
either with regard to the principle or the details of the bill,
but wished to ask in what condition the clergy reserves of
Lower Canada were now to be considered.
Lord .1. RUSSELL said no bill had passed; that would be
left to be dealt with by the united legislature, subject to the
provisions of the act of 1791.
After some discussion as to the powers of the united legis-
lature with regard to endowments, leave was given to bring
in the bill.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY.
Bills
uw ge re
to tiaide
MELBOURNEtsheer sv eiuceospnrdeuatfienniiteeu.
Lord
On the motion of the Earl o
f SHAFTEiBTJRY, the Mutiny
presented
d a Seaton,esgeafnrdomdirteheeting the Queen
attention of the house to the noble lord's
rnerits.
of The mes-
sage was similar to that delivered to the House Commons.
On the motion of the noble viscount the message was ordered
question relative
to
Thebe E
takenari into
of
ABERDEEN
ti considerationeuu EEN
put on n
his Friday
promised
to the treaty concluded with Austria the year biecuflar
and particularly on the 4th section, regarding the navigation,est
laws. He said that their lordships' would not forget the
congratulation with which they were favoured on the con-
clusion of the treaty ; it was, however, in fact, no new treaty,
but only a renewal of the treaty, he had himself signed, in
conjunction with his noble friend the then President of the
Board of Trade, ten years previously. He admitted that in
the new treaty the principle of reciprocity was in some re-
spects beneficially extended. By the 4th article of the treaty
it was stipulated that all Austrian ships coming into English
ports, from Turkish ports of the Danube, should be received
as if coming from Austrian ports ; and, in return, it was
stipulated that British ships going to those ports of the
Danube should be received as if Austrian ships. But this
was done without consulting the third power. He mentioned
that fact last year, and all that the President of the Council
answered was, that negotiation was in progress between the
Turkish government and this country, by which any incon-
venience would be obviated. Matters remained in a state
that had led, as he was informed, to a violation of the treaty,
and the infraction of our own law, for in September last an
Austrian vessel arrived in the port of Gloucester, from a
Turkish port of the Danube, which was seized by the Cus-
tom House, in violation of the navigation law, and after long
correspondence on the part of those concerned, the Treasury
released the vessel but imposed a mitigated fine. This was
the position in which the treaty stood at the present moment,
and he was informed that several vessels laded with corn
were now in the ports of the Danube, unable to sail, not
knowing how they were to be dealt with under the naviga-
ttaiokne amwe.a
uHr
ees vttios hreeda
etuoe a stkh
e, whhoent
oh
ue
rr iat n
dwas
g otohde
fianittehn
ot ifo nt
ht
eo
country from the imputation of being unfaithful to the en-
gagements into which it had entered )
Lord MELBOURNE thought that the noble earl appeared
extremely sensitive on the subject of this treaty, hut he de-
clared that the Government had no desire to deck themselves
article
It extremely
was
pressed upon
in plumes that belonged to others. It was agreed between
plenipotentiary. an
Austria and England, that ships received into Turkish ports
should have certain
by ainptrhiveilAegueast.rianlt
an article which Austria had to fulfil, and did not impose
upon England any obligation whatever. By the 6th article
of the treaty it was stipulated that all important privileges
given to other nations should be extended to Great Britain ;
and, as far as navigation had been concerned, it was fuAlled,
though he vms told this was ttot the ceso witia rennin to duty,

_~

With respect to the fourth article of the treaty, it was, no
doubt, in contravention of the navigation law.
Lord AssuultroN said it was clear that if they permitted
Austrian ships to trade as if they were British vessels, they
should extend the same favour to the vessels of other coun-
tries. He thought, therefore, that the treaty, in question
would totally contravence the laws of navigation, and that
appeared to him to be the great difficulty of the question.
The conversation then dropped, and their lordships soon
afterwards adjourned till Thursday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY.
Mr. R. DRUMMOND took the oaths and h;s seat for Perth-
shire, in the room of Lord Stormont, now Earl of Mansfield.
Mr. VILLIERS (in answer to Mr. Christopher's inquiry)
stated that it was his present intention to bring forward the
motion on the subject of the corn laws on the day, tbc 31st
inst., for which he had given notice.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM consequently postponed to Tuesday,
the 7th of April, his motion relating to the China correspon-
dence and other papers. He stated that it was, however,
his fixed determination to bring the subject forward upon
that day.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH said that on the 7th of next month
he should call attention to the committee on transportation.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL notified that he should on
Thursday move for leave to introduce a bill for the better
protection of the oyster fisheries in Scotland.
The Vaccination Extension Bill was brought from the
Lords, and read a first time.

A message from the House of Peers requested a copy of
the report made by the Printed Papers Committee, which
was granted.
Mr. CRAWFORD, according to notice, moved for a select
committee to inquire into the grievances complained of by
the proprietors of opium, delivered up to Captain Elliot, the
British agent in China. The hon. member entered into an
historical view of the mode in which the opium trade had
been for a series of years conducted with China.
The motion was eventually agreed to.
Sir F. BURDETT called attention to the petition of George
Johnstone Pearce (Mr. Howard's clerk) now imprisoned
for alleged breach of the privileges of the house. The hon.
baronet concluded with moving that Mr. Pearce be supplied
with the necessaries of life.

The RECORDER (Mr. Law) moved, as an amendment,
that Mr. Pearce be called to the bar and forthwith discharged.
Lord J: RUSSELL opposed both ; and both were negatived
on divisions.

Mr. L. HODGES obtained leave to bring in a bill to render
effective the ancient constabulary power of England and
Wales.

Mr. HOME moved for various returns of all incumbents
admitted to preferment on the presentation of the crown,
&c. ; but they were refused. He afterwards moved for a
copy of the abstract of the number and classes of non-resident
incumbents, of the number of curates, &c., in England and
Wales. This motion was agreed to.
Mr. HINDLEY moved for various returns from every
parish in England and Wales, of the places of worship not
in connection with the Established Church, which are now
being erected, or which may be erected or enlarged since the
Ist of January, 1834, by voluntary• contributions, specifying
the sums subscribed to each. Also from every parish in
England and Wales, of every church or episcopal chapel
now in course of erection, or which has been erected since
the Ist day of January, 1834, either wholly or in part by the
voluntary contributions of individuals or societies, specifying
the sums subscribed to each. Also, a return of the number
of churches and chapels of the Church of England, and of
the number of places of worship not of the Church of Eng-
land, in every parish of England and Wales, together with
the number of seats in each church or chapel, and the popu-
lation of the said parish in 1831.
Mr. Fox MAuLE stating that he did not know the means
of obtaining the information therein sought, the motion was
refused.

On motion of Mr. CHRISTOPHER, it was ordered that the
house be called over, on Thursday, the 31st.
Lord J. RusseLL remarked that the notice was shorter
than was usual in such cases.

Mr. BAINES moved fora copy of any correspondence which
has taken place on the subject of our commercial relations
with Germany, from the period of the establishment of the
Prussian commercial league to the present time, between the
Foreign office and the agents of her Majesty's Government
in the different states comprised in that confederation.
Lord PALMERSTON having entered into explanation, the
subject was deferred for further consideration this day.
Mr. PROTREROE moved for a return of all the expenditure
in detail of the late record commission since the date of the
last returns ; together with a return of the various sums
otherwise expended within the last year, on the custody or
repairs of the public records.
After an interesting conversation, the destruction of the
exchequer records having been mentioned, the motion was
agreed to.
Mr. PROTHEROE moved for a return from the commission-
ers of police, of all instructions and regulations issued as to
the closing of streets and thoroughfares in and near the me-
tropolis during the hours of divine service ; specifying the
times at which the said streets are closed, and the lines
through which carriages are then obliged to pasi ; together
with any communications from parochial or other authorities
to the commissioners, which may
have led to the issuing the
said instructions.

Mr. Fox MAULE did not object to the motion, but thought
that congregations ought to be protected against being dis-
turbed by noises.

Ald. Sir M. WOOD deferred till Friday, at the request of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, his motion "That it be
referred to a select committee to consider the petition of the
corporation of London relative to the embankment of the
river Thames, and to report their opinion thereupon to the
house, together with the best means of carrying the same
into effect."

The tithe composition act amendment (Ireland) bill, and
the consolidated fund bill, having been read the second time,
the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—WEDNESDAY.
The House of Lords did not sit to-day.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
IRISH VOTERS' REGISTRATION BILL.
After a great number of petitions for and against the repeal
of the corn laws, and a petition from the Chancellor and scho-
lars of Oxford against certain parts of the ecclesiastical du-
ties and revenues bill.

Lord STANLEY moved the order of the day for the second
reading of the Irish voters' registration bill, which occupied
the rest of the evening. Ilis lordship reserved his right of
speech to a later period of the debate. The reader will bear
in mind that this bill is directed to two main objects. The
one is to prevent, by allowing an annual revision, the•frauds
arising out of the present octennial registration, with its ex-
tensive and flagrant facilities for personating voters who for
years have been dead or divested of their original qualifiea.;
tion, by removal, expiration of interest, or otherwise: The
other main object of this bill is to give the same appeal to
the judges against the undue admission of a voter which now
exists against his undue rejection.
The opposition was led off by Mr. F. FRENCH, who moved
as an amendment that it should be read on that day six
months. He objected to it on three grounds—that it would
assimilate the Enlish to the Irish system—that it would
cnrtail the franchise—and that it would cast upon the judges
a duty which their time could not suffice to discharge, and
which it was politically objectionable that they should un-
dertake.

Mr. Slum thought that gentlemen on the other side were
precluded by their own former acts and declarations from op-
posing the present bill. Five former bills had been brought
in, several of them by the law officers of the Irish govern-
ment : no one had been carried, yet none had had any oppo-
sition to encounter. To the second reading of the present
bill it was not open to ministers to object, however free they
were to question its details ; because this bill and theirs were
alike in the two main features—the annual revision, and the
twofold appeal. And yet Mr. O'Connell had last week de-
clared to his constituents that he was resolved to resist this
measure with all his might, telling thetri that the fact of its
proceeding from Lord Stanley was reason enough for an op-
position to it. Mr. O'Connell had added, that ministers
durst not concede it, and that if all his own means of resist-
ance should fail, he would recall into existence the repeal
association. Mr. Shaw concluded by calling on the inde-
pendent members to support the bill.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN criticised the details.

Lord GRANVILLE SOMERSET observed, that, on the
motion fur a second reading, the question was not of the
details, but of the principle, and that those who admitted
the necessity of some amendment were bound to support the
bill in the present stage.
Mr. BELLEW and Mr. REDINOTON successively opposed
the bill. and were answered in a judicious speech by Mr.
LUCAS.

Sir W. SOBIMERVILLE objected to the two main principles
—the annual revision, and the twofold appeal.
Mr. CORBALLY and Mr. GRATTAN followed on the same
side.

Mr. E. TENNENT said, that in Belfast there were 1,900
voters on the register, in possession of the franchise ; but
that the whole number of names on the register was between
6,000 and 7,000. Of these many were dead—hundreds had
emigrated—thousands had quitted their tenements ; yet the
certificates of the whole number were in existence, on which
any person choosing to swear the oath Could vote at an
election.

Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said the bill was an hypocritical
pretence to gull men by the name of an assimilation with
English institutions.
Sir W. FOLLETT said, that until the speech of Mr. PIGOT,
he had never heard any satisfaction expressed at the existing
system in Ireland. On the contrary, all the former bills had
proceeded ou the principle that it was most vicious ; but
that an annual revision and a two fold appeal would so far
cure the mischief, that with these safeguards the registry
might be made final. The notion that the English annual
revison worked injuriously seemed to be a new thought,
taken up for the purpose of the present debate ; for in all
the former bills that feature had been retained.

Mr. SHELL said, the evils of the English system were as
great as those of the Irish. Nor were the Irish grievances
so mischievous in practice as they might appear in state-
ment. He believed it could not be proved that in Belfast,
or in any other place, there had ever been so many as 50 or
60 expired certificates fraudulently used.
Sir G. STRICKLAND wished for a committee to prepare the
grounds of a bill which shuuld assimilate the law in both
countries ; but he would oppose the present measure.
Mr. Serjeant JACKSON said he had waited to hear some
member of Administration state the views of the Govern-
ment. No man denied the extent of the present mischief;
yet, members opposite, instead of supporting the present en-
deavour to remedy that mischief, contented themselves with
wishing that Government would introduce some measure of
its own. How little chance there was of that would appear
from the history of the bills, which in 1835, 1836, and 1838,
had been introduced by their law-officers, and though unop-
posed on either side, had been brought to no result.
Mr. PIGOT, the Irish Solicitor-General, thought it quite
Parliamentary to oppose the second reading, even of a bill
having a useful object, if it came in such a shape as to be in-
capable of the necessary modification. He should not hold
himself bound by any bills of the Government brought in
before his entrance into the house.
Lord STANLEY now rose to reply; on which Mr. O'Cow-
NELL intimated that he should not suffer the debate to close
that night.
Lord STANLEY said that having, in order to attend the
house, absented himself from the last duties which he owed
to a near and dear relative, now in a state of the utmost
danger, he must throw himself on the ministers and on the
house, praying that they would either suffer the debate to
close that night, or give it precedence over the matters
standing in Thursday's paper.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, that under such circumstances he
would facilitate the conclusion of the debate on Thursday.
by agreeing that those members whose notices might be dis-
placed by the adjourned discussion should have priority on
the next Friday or Monday.

AwFuL MOILTNLITY.—The following instance of mortality
occurred in an Irish family, which arrived fronißelfailt about
two months since, and took up their residence
lodging house in Soulis-street, Kilmarnock. The ell?. dlow
were in a state of debility and disease at the time of their r-
ren
rival ; and their fate must have been accelerated by the ins_
pure air, and the absence of any comfort necessary to sick-
ness. The first death was that of Elizabeth, on the Bth Feb.
aged 7-1 years ;on the 10th, Patrick, aged years ;on the
20th, Michael, aged 2 years: and on the 26th, John, aged 6
years ; children of Michael M'Cairns, labourer. Michael,
the father, died himself on the 3d current, aged 60 years ; and
his wife on the 11th, aged 36 years; being in all six members
of the same family cut off in the short space of about a month.
The father and mother were undoubtedly bad cases of fever,
and it is supposed that the children went ailliottid with the
utaio dinaso.••••KilMthl7l.o44 10207141.