The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-31 00:00:00

'WEAVER CHURCHES BILL

The Bishop of LONDON rose to move the third reading of
the Weaver churches bill. In doing so it was not his inten-
tion to trouble their lordships at that time with any detailed
observations, because he would take the opportunity of re-
plying to any remarks which might be made against the mo-
tion. He would, however, state in a few words' the objects
of the bill, and the purposes it professed to accomplish,-
as theirlordships might not be aware of the entire circum-
stances of the case. The bill was owing to the flourishing
condition of the funds of the Weaver trustees. The state
of the navigation was so flourishing, that the income of
the trustees exceeded a sum of £34,000, independent of
all the demands on them. The trustees held that they were
discharging the most important part of their duty as trustees
of the navigation, in providing church accommodation for
those persons who worked on the canal. As matters at pre-
sent existed there, the men who were very properly prevented
from working on Sundays, assembled on the banks of the
canal on that day, in consequence of there being no church
accommodation for them. It therefore appeared to'she trus-
tees of the navigation to be their duty to provide that accom-
modation which they proposed doing by taking £6OOO. from
these tolls, and with that amount erect three churches on the
banks of the canal. Notwithstanding all that had been said
against the measure he should not hesitate to say that the
great mass of the middle classes in the county of Chester
were decidedly in favour of the present bill. He trusted,
therefore, that their lordships would unanimously agree to its
being read a third time.
The Marquis of WESTMINSTER moved as an amendment
that the bill be read a third time that day six months. It
was in direct violation of a trust, and if passed, would furnish
a dangerous precedent for interfering with all trust funds.
The feeling of the neighbourhood and of the whole county
was decidedly against it, and the labourers whom it was pro-
posed to benefit were by no means anxious for the advantages
to be conferred upon them.
Lord MI/WAN said that were it not for the evidence ad-
duced before the committee, of which he had been a member,
he could never have believed that such deplorable spiritual
destitution existed in this country as was the case in the dis-
trict in question. The Weaver fund was strictly a parlia-
mentary trust fund, and when the immediate objects of the
trust had been attained, it was clearly in the power of parlia-
ment to appropriate the surplus to so worthy an object.
Lord STANLEY (of Alderley) opposed the bill.
After a few words from the Bishop of Losznost, the reading
was carried without a division.
Lord PORTMAN proposed two amendments, which were
afterwards negatived.
The house adjourned.

CHINA
On the report of supply, Mr. GLADSTONE called the atten-
tion of the house to the objects of the armaments against
China. He would not enter into the general policy of the
war : he wished to address himself more particularly to the
question of the compensation intended to be demanded from
China for the opium taken from British subjects. England
was about to call for two millions of money. It was highly
probable that the projected hostilities would more than ex-
haust that entire sum. Suppose that China should at once
grant the whole amount, would she not compensate herself
by a tax on her exports of tea and silk, which tax must be
eventually paid by the British consumer ? But, independently
of pecuniary considerations, was there in this case a ground
of justice sufficient to warrant ministers in risking the evils
of war ? The British merchants contended that they were
entitled to the value of the opium surrendered by them to
Captain Elliot; and it was difficult for the British Govern-
ment to deny that claim, after resolving to continue Captain
Elliot in office. Nay, indeed, the real principal in the opium
trade was the Indian Government, sanctioned to a certain
degree by the Government at home. These, however, were
not reasons why the Government at home should seek to re-
cover this value forcibly against China. It was said that
Chinese officers had connived at the corrupt practices of the
inferior agents, still it had been but a limited connivance,
practised only by the lower officers. At all events, it had
ceased before the recent events, and the law of confiscation
had been announced and enforced. Again, it was argued
that the proper remedy would have been, not a seizure of
opium, but a stoppage to the general trade ; but that would
have been only to punish the innocent for the guilty. It was
urged also, that the steps taken by China were sudden and
without notice. This could hardly be maintained in the face
of the positive edicts previously issued by the Chinese au-
thorities, and of the distinct, and, with reference to its pecu-
liar habits, unusual remonstrances of the Chinese Govern-
ment. The crisis had been long foreseen by Mr. Inglis and
other residents, and actually predicted by them. Another
argument was, that the Chinese, in contravention of the law
of nations, had placed a body of strangers in durance, to en-
force the delivery of property in which the majority of them
had no interest. This principle of mutual responsibility was
excluded, indeed, from the conventional law of nations, to
which China was no party; but it was in nowise repugnant HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
to the law of nature, by which alone she could fairly be held A new writ was ordered for Cavan in the room of Mr. Max-
to be bound. It was a principle recognized by our own law, well, who has accepted the stewardship of the Chiltern Hun-
which makes the hundred liable in certain cases to compen- dreds.
sate the destruction of an individual inhabitant's property. lalr. Fox MAULS gave notice, that he should on Thursday
And it now appeared in evidence, that, with very few excep- move for a bill to enable the government to advance money
Lions, the whole resident community were engaged in the for carrying on the administration of justice in Birmingham,
smuggling of opium. Surely it was our duty to have known until the question of the charter be adjudicated upon.
very accurately who were the persons arrested before their Mr. G. PALMER inquired whether any provision had been
arrest was made a cause of war. Next came the plea, that made for adjudicating upon any claims, in consequence of the
the freedom of her Majesty's representative had been'
vio- orders in council for reprisals upnn property and vessels be-
la.atreadt.i 0
nni
na tp,o
iinf t
e true,fhemneiughr;
buttbeasurreealsyounoft forordemaudig a
demandingure- longing to the subjects of the Emperor of China, before these v
sum of money. In fact, however, there had been nothing to vessLlsdor
J. rßopuesrstEyLeLantubisewcearrerdie, dthianttoutapßrersiteinsht
Cpohrutie?
accredit Captain Elliot to the Chinese as the representative sets, if captured, would be taken to Singapore. He had in-
of her Majesty ; and if there had been, he, at all events, by rosteed• of Lord Palmertson and the first lord of the Admiralty,
Chinese yes-
his refusal to deliver up Mr. Dent, or the ships, had identi- to ogeerlaill whether other desirable arrangements could be
-d whole iiro- car
position of the" advocates for vitt resolve itself into this— Mrierd. Linatioroeufrce
fled himself with the opium trade. Ir, short, the'
Heti:.
RF,
in answer to inquiries from Sir Robt.
that the British had a right to smuggle opium, and that the Peel, said that the question.the re-arrangement of
regarding
Chinese had no business to prevent them. He was con- the duties on coffee would be abandoned for the present ses-
si
vinced it would not be long before the indignation of the •
on, owing to the difficulties attending the attempt.
British people would be kindled on this subject against the The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in a subsequent
Government, unless they should retrace their steps while yet part of the evening, withdrew the customs bill, adding that
it was practicable.
said, that at the end of Mr. Gladstone's
he did not intend to bring in any other bill in its stead.
Sir J. Houiroust Lord PALMERSTON, in answer to inquiry from Mr. KEM-
speech, as at the beginning, he was quite at a loss to conceive Bee, stated that her Majesty's government were fully sen-
what good effect of ,any kind, it could produce : and, indeed, sible of the value of the services of Captain Douglas, who,
the smallness, of tne , audience to which the conservative by his gallantry, and on his own responsibility, had contri-
benches had been reduced under Mr. Gladstone's oration buted most materially to the safety of a large body of British
was a tolerable proof of its inutility . It was a mere rechauffee subjects, and that he was now in communication as to the
of the old and long debate on China. The.hon. gentleman means of acknowledging those services.
the outrages committed by the Chi
had treated far too lightly On the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, and after a brief
every -
nese. They had been such as to make.. Englishman's statement from him as to its object, the regency bill was read
had denied the connivance of the
blood boil. Mr. Gladstone
Viceroy the second time.
of Canton himself Mr
Chinese authorities ; and yet theFITZROY KELLY moved the third reading of the pu-
objection, undoubtedly, to • * nishruent of death bill.
had been a party to it. There was no
must not be effect- the confiscation of contraband goods,but it mu Lord J. RUSSELL moved as an amendment, that it be read
ed by seizure of persons. The residents that
were not only arrested, the third time day three months, which, after discussion,
only by but menaced with starvation, which had been averted was carried by 78 to 51 ; majority for the amendment, 27.
• ' been made to the The bill is consequently the surrender of the party. An appeal had lost for the present session.
law of nature, It was a strange law, if it allowed the seizure Lord J. RUSSELL moved the third reading of the clergy
.reserves (Canada) bill.
This one man for the purpose of getting at the goods of
This country was indebted for the preservation of her people Mr. Hume moved, as an amendment, a resolution declara-
to the courage of Captain Elliot, and ministers had no occa- tory, "that this house feels confident that, to promote the
sion to fear the public di -spleasure at the course which they prosperity of that portion of her Majesty's dominions in
had thought it right to pursue. Upper Canada, and to satisfy the earnest desire of the people
Mr. PALMER (of Essex) inveighed against the iniquity of of that province, it is ea pedient to give the most favourable
the war, and extolled the character of he Chinese. Opium consideration to the wishes of her Majesty's loyal subjects
t t
had been landed at the ver f t •n Elliot re- there ; that to terminate the jealousy and dissension which
sided, though certainly notyizchoy where Ca ai
knowledge. have hitherto existed on the subject of the clergy reserves, to
fain Elliot':.
Still, however, Captain Elliot had 11) the remove a barrier to the settlement of the country, and to pro-
one much in fostering
trade ; and government having sanctioned vide a fund available for the promotion of education, it is 1 his course of ex-
ceeding,pro-
were now, though they Iy desirable that the said lands, so reserved, be sold,
lad disavowed his guarantee, treme
bound in honour and honesty to fulfil it. The of and the proceeds arising• from the sale of the same placed at
the opium trade was a great one in emu • t advantage
but
the disposal of the provincial legislature, to be applied exclu-
especially because it yielded a return in YspPecciiiel s ?fhview'h h sively for that purpose."
! wit out w lc
England would have found some difficulty in makin her This amendment was negatived by 51 to 10—majority
of English urchases of tea from China, where there was no consumption 'I against it a .
The bill was then read the third time and
goods.
passed.
Sir CHARLES GREY complained bitterly that China chooses Mr. H Grs in answer to Lord J. Russell's inquiry, said
on ~ ,
to exclude the general intercourse of strangers while she ethat he should withdraw the constabulary bill for the present
admits a certain residence for purposes of trade. This,y
het .
session. said, had placed her in a false position. He expatiated upon The New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land bill, on
the absurdity of her regulations, and relied on their unrea_ the motion of Lord J. RUSSELL, was read the third time and
sonableness as forming a sort of argument for transgressing passed, as were the slave trade treaties bill and several other
her revenue laws.
bills.
Lord SaNnosr thought it difficult to deny that China and The parochial
all other countries had a right to exclude the intercourse of tion of the
report of committee thereon, afterwards called
strangers, and still more difficult to maintain that such an forth some desultor discussion on its several clauses, and
exclusion could justify a war. The Chinese had tried to settle on some proposed amendments.
amicably the matter in dispute, and when that attempt failed, The Bank of Ireland bill went through committee.
they band resorted to a measure which, however questionable) The report of the resolution for continuing certain coal

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY.
The speaker took the chair at four o'clock, and there being
only twenty-six members present, the house adjourned:

HOUSE OF LORDS.—WEDNEaDAY
The House of Lords did not assemble to-day.

duties in London called forth some conversation, but it was
agreed to.
The population bill and other bills were forwarded a stage,
and the house adjourned.