The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-24 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--THURSDAY.

After the presentation of petitions and the transaction of
some private business,
Sir J. GRAHAM gave notice that on the 2d of April he
would make a motion with regard to China. The precisea
terms of the motion he would take care to state early next
week.

THE BRITISH LEGION.

Sir DE LACY EvANs gave notice, that soon after Easter
he would call the attention of the house to the claims of the
British legion.
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH PRUSSIA.
Mr. WODEHOUSE gave notice that on Tuesday he would
move for the production of papers containing the negotia-
tions respecting the Prussian commercial league.
THE CHURCH.
Mr. HUME gave notice that on Tuesday next he would
move for the following returns :—Of the number of non-re-
*:
sident incumbents through England and Wales ; also of the
ates in each diocese, with the amount of their incomes ;
0, of the incumbents admitted by the presentation of the
crown, distinguishing those of the lord chancellor, and of the
first lord of the treasury, and of the chancellor of the duchy
of Lancaster, with the dates in each case of the entry and of
the admission into holy orders, and the amount of the living ;
also the aggregate period for which each person actually per-
formed duty since admission.
Several other notices were given and some explanations
offered.
-----

POST-OFFICE.
Sir R. PEEL wished to know from the Chancellor of the
Exchequer when the papers, for which he had moved, rela-
tive to the Post-office, would be laid before the house ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER:—They have been
presented. (A. laugh.)
Sir R. PEEL.—But have they been printed ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER believed not.
PATENTS. - _

Sir R. PEEL also wished to know whether the papers for
which he had moved respecting the decisions of the commit-
tee of privy council on patents had been presented.
The ATTOANEY-GENERAL said the papers would be laid
before the house as soon as possible.
CHINA.

Sir JAMES GRAIIAi, seeing the noble lord, the secretary
of foreign affairs, in his place, wished to ask him two ques-
tions. The first question with respect to opium. It appeared
that a certain quantity of opium had been delivered by the
superintendent at Canton, under certificate. There was
reason to believe that a further quantity of opium had been
purchased by the superintendent, and had been delivered up
by the Chinese authorities, in order to make up the quantity
mentioned in the certificates ; no such transaction appeared
from the papers which had been laid upon the table. He
wished to ask the noble lord whether such a transaction had
taken place, and if there would be any objection to produce
the papers relating thereto ? The second question be wished
to ask related to the supposed destruction of the opium sur-
rendered to, and destroyed by, the Chinese authorities ?
From those papers it did not appear that the destruction of
the opium had taken place ; the only mention made of it
seemed to show that it had been transmitted to Pekin for the
use of the Chinese government. He asked the noble lord
whether he had any other information upon the subject,
showing that it had been destroyed or so sent to Pekin3 and
if so, whether there would be any objection to its produc-
tion.

Lord PALMERSTON said, with respect to the first question.
what happened was this—the parties in Canton having agreed
to deliver up the opium in their or their agents' hands, each
house made out a statement of the quantity they had in China,
and the aggregate amount was given to the Chinese commis-
sioner. One of the ships containing the opium disobeyed
the orders of the superintendent, and sailed away ; the con-
sequence was, that there was a deficiency to the amount that
ship contained. Capt, Elliot purchased a quantity which
had subsequently arrived, in order to make up the aggtegate
quantity. He was not aware that there were any ether
papers in the office, but if there were, of course they would
be produced. With regard to the destruction of the opium,
he had no other accounts than those contained in the papers
which had been presented. Of course he had seen accounts
in the newspapers, but he knew nothing further officially
than that contained in the papers.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM saw by the instructions to the super-
intendent in 1833, reference was made to an order in council
for regulating the trade with the port of China. He wished
to ask the noble lord if he had any objection to the produc-
tion of that order in council. His second question was,
whether the noble lord had received and was ready to pro-
duce the remonstrance said to have been made by certain
American merchants at Canton against the blockade?
Lord PALMERSTON said, with respect to these papers, he
produced every thing that appeared to him necessary to
elucidate the matter, and he had not the least objection to
the production of those to which the right hon. baronet
alluded. With regard to the second question, he had not
received any report of the remonstrance said to have been
made by the American merchants at Canton.