The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-31 00:00:00

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Empirial parilanunt.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY
SOCIALISM.

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Lord Baotou/tat presented a petition from Owen, who
stated himself to be " the discoverer of the rational system
of religion," and praying for inquiry into the merits of his
principles. The noble lord stated that he had also a petition
from the same individual, complaining of his views having
been misrepresented in the journals of Saturday last, pur-
porting to consist of remarks made upon them by a right
rev. prelate and member of that house. The petitioner.
therefore, hoped that inquiry might ha instituted into his
plans and doctrines at the bar of their lordships' house. The
noble lord was proceeding to observe upon the philanthropy
and liberality of Owen, when
The Bishop of EXETER rose and said that he had not
expected this subject would be brought forward that night.
He, however, hoped the noble lord would move for a com-
mittee to investigate the entire facts of the case. As to the
liberality of Owen, mentioned by the noble and learned lord,
fie had heard a very different statement of the affair.
Lord Bnouonam believed the right rev. prelate had been
furnished with incorrect representations. Re, however,
should not adopt the suggestion given of moving for a com-
mittee, because he thought enough had passed to vindicate
Owen, who had denied the charges against him, and chal-
lenged inquiry ; and because he should be sorry to promote
an investigation which might propagate the knowledge of
such extremely bad and, in his opinion, dangerous doctrines.
He concluded by presenting another petition from " branch
A" of Owen's association.
The Bishop of EXETER explained his former statements
on the subject, and presented a numerously-signed petition
from Huddersfield, praying inquiry, and the adoption of
such steps as would secure religion, morality, and the rights
of property. The right rev. prelate ultimately (and after
some conversation as to the day) gave notice that, on Mon-
day next, he would move an address to the Crown for the
interposition of its authority in favour of religion and mora-
lity, against the doctrines of socialism.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from a person
named Broomfield, against the grant of £l,OOO a week pro-
posed for Prince Albert.
BLOCKADE OF THE RIVER PLATA.
. _ _

Lord STRAN"FORD reminded Lord Melbourne that in
answer to a question which had beeni put to him on a former
evening on the subject of an agent having arrived in Paris
from the revolted provinces in South America, bearing a pro-
position to the King of the French, Lord Melbourne promised
eolnake an inquiry, and to state the result. He' non wished
to know what information the noble Viscount had obtained
on the subject?
'Lord MELBOURNE was understood to reply that he was
informed that an agent had arrived in Paris from those pro-
vinces, but what the object .of his mission was he had not

Lord STRANGFORD, after expressing, h; Mil plioo that the
ministers should know nothing at all respecting the object of
the mission of this Monte Videan agent, asked Lord Mel-
bourne whether he was aware that, at this very time, Monte
Video and its dependencies were actually in the military pos-
session of France?
Lord MELBOURNE replied, I am aware of it.
Lord ABERDEEN said, if ministers viewed these things with
indifference, the country would look upon them in a different
light. He would beg to call the noble Viscount's attention
to one feature of the blockade of the Rio Plata, namely the
irregular manner in which it was carried on, and the differ-
ence from all the usages of civilised nations. Indeed, the
whole military science was thrown into confusion. (Hear,
hear.) Now, the right of blockade was a strictly belligerent
one, yet France was not at war with Buenos Ayres. The
usual practice, as regarded blockade, was to resort to it for
the enforcement of redress, or for the purpose of reprisal, and
its effects should only fall on the offending party. The pre-
sent blockade was not for the purpose of reprisal, and the
consequences of it seriously affected this country.
Lord MELBOURNE was understood to deny that the minis-
ters were indifferent to the state of things in South America,
but to concur in all the other observations which fell from
Lord Aberdeen, and to assure the house, that as it was im-
possible not to feel the commercial evils of a blockade, so
nothing would be left undone by Government to put an end
to it.