The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-18 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL. TREATY WITH FRANCE.

In answer to a question from Mr. PARKER,
Mr. LABOUCHERE stated that the government had been
engaged in negotiations with the French government, with
the design to promote, upon fair and honourable terms, the
commercial intercourse between both countries ; and when
the treaty was concluded, there would be no delay in laying
it before the house.
Lord GEORGE LENNOX moved, that there be laid before
the house the names of the military and naval commissioners,
and the date of the appointment of that commission, with a
view to ascertain from the government, or some member of
the commission, the cause of the delay in the publication of
their report.
Allusions having been made to the possibility of a brevet
on the occasion of her Majesty's marriage,
Sir HUSSEY VIVIAN stated that there would be none.
Lord GEORGE LENNOX withdrew his motion.

FINANCE.
Mr. HEnRIES brought forward his motion for certain re-
turns exhibiting the state of the finances of the country. The
only portion of his motion as to which he understood there
was to be any opposition, was that which called for an account
of the income of the consolidated fund, (including therewith
the duties on sugar,) and of the charges thereupon, in the
year 1839 ; distinguished under the principal heads of receipt
and expenditure ; and also an estimate of the same for the
year 1840, showing in each case the surplus applicable to the
supplies voted by parliament. The object was mainly ad-
dressed to that portion of the return which comprised an es-
timate of the pecuniary resources of the country for the cur-
rent year. To the necessity of producing this, in reference
to the present state of the financial affairs of the country, the
main part of his argument on this occasion would be addressed.
The right hon. gentleman concluded with moving for a great
variety of returns calculated to throw light on the various
points urged in the course of his speech.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he would nar-
row the question as much as possible by stating at once what
part of the returns he was willing to give. The part of the
motion to which he objected was " the return of the esti-
mated income of the Consolidated Fund for the year 1840."
It would be almost impossible now to give any thing like a
calculation on which the house could rely. The prospects of
the commercial world for some time past had been gloomy ;
and it was to the opening of the spring trade that govern-
ment must, in a great measure, found its views as regarded
the customs and excise. As to the post-office, nothing but
a sense of public duty would induce him to withhold any in-
formation from the right honourable gentleman ; but he could
not afford at present to the right honourable gentleman the
information he sought on this point.
Mr. HUME said, he must tell the noble lord, the Secretary
for the Colonies, and the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, that he was surprised at their resisting this mo-
tion. If the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer
would send for the heads of the excise, customs, and stamps,
he would in a few days be prepared to give the information
required. If it was said this was a factious motion, be would
say in return, " Defeat it by agreeing to it." To refuse in-
formation, gave the impression that there was something to
conceal.

After a brief reply from Mr. HERRIES, the house divided,
when the motion was carried by a majority of 182 to 172.
A motion was then made by Mr. BROTRERTON, that no
new business which shall be objected to by five members, be
brought on after twelve o'clock at night, which was lost by a
majority of 145 to 25.—Adjourned.