The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-08 00:00:00

imptrtiti Varitaireitt,

HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY,
CLERGY RESERVES.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved that the learned judges
then in attendance should deliver their decision in answer to
the questions submitted to them with regard to the clergy re-
serves bill.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, of the Court of Common Pleas
said, that he had the honour of representing to their lord-
ships, that all the judges of England, with the exception of
Lord Denman and Lord Abinger. had met at Serjeant's Inn,
for the purpose of taking into consideration the several ques-
tions which their lordships had been pleased to propose to
them ; and that after discussion and deliberation on the sub-
ject, they had agreed unanimously in the answers to be re-
turned to those questions. In answer to the first question,
they were all of opinion that the words " protestant clergy
in the statute 31st George 111. included other clergy besides
those of Church of England. They thought that the words of
the statute were meant principally to refer to the doctrines of
the Church of Rome, and that their aim was to encourage the
protestant doctrines in opposition to those of the Romish
church. They answered to the second question, that the es-
tablished Church of Scotland constituted one instance of a
clergy included in the act. They had come to that opinion,
as the expressions, " established Church of Scotland," were
to be found in the statute book. Although, in answer to their
lordships' question, they specified no other church than the
Church of Scotland, they did not mean to decide that the
ministers of no other churches might not be included in the
term, " protestant clergy." At the same time, as they did
not find in the statute book any other denomination of Chris-
tians, to which the statute of George 111. could apply, they
were unable to specify any others to their lordships as falling
within the statute. They were of opinion; that the 41st sec-
tion of the statute was prospective only, and that the power
given by it could not affect lands which had been appropri-
ated under other acts. In answer to the last question proposed
by their lordships, they all agreed in opinion that the legis-
lative council assembled in the province of Upper Canada,
had exceeded their authority in passing an act to provide for
the sale of clergy reserves, and for the distribution thereof in
respect of both the enactments specified in their lordships'
questions.—The judges afterwards retired.
Earl STANHOPE presented the petition adopted at the Free-
masons'-hall meeting against the opium trade.
The Earl of ROSEBCRRY complained of the conduct of
parties at that meeting, in having prejudged the whole ques-
tion.
Earl STANHOPE said that he approved of the whole pro-
ceedings, and that he was quite prepared to take his share of
the blame imputed by the noble earl.
. .

YLord
STRANGFORD directed attention to a revival, by
France, of the slave trade on the western coast of Africa.
Lord MELEOURNE promised to make inquiry into the
matter. _ _ _

Lord MELBOURNE moved the second reading of the mu-
nicipal corporations.(lreland) bill.
The Duke of WELLINGTON said that he should not op-
pose the second reading, but in the committee he hoped to
see several amendments.

The Earl of WINCHELSEA moved, as as amendment, that
the bill be read a second time that day six months. Their
lordships eventually divided. There were for the second
reading 131; against it 32—majority 99.
The committee was fixed for Thursday week ; after which
their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY.
After the presentation of many petitions, on many sub

jects,
Mr. LABOUCHERE intimated his intention of moving
amendments on the resolution to be proposed by Mr. Herries
on Tuesday evening.
Mr. HOME (having got Lord Palmerston into the house)
put to him, agreeably to notice, the following questions : 1.
Whether, as stated in public papers, the British government
has again interfered, through Lord Ponsonby, to prevent the
Sultan from entering into direct negotiations with Mehemet
Ali for a settlement of their differences ; and whether, on
that occasion, it has acted in concert with the other European
powers, or their ministers at Constantinople. 2. Whether
any orders have been issued by her Majesty's government
for reprisals against Mehemet Ali ; whether. as stated in
public journals, two ships sent by Mehemet Ali to bring re-
cruits from Albania to Candia, had been detained by a Bri-
tish frigate, and conducted to Corfu; and, whether returned
or not. 3. Whether orders had been issued by her Majesty's
ministers, or by Lord Ponsonby, to Colonel Hodges, the
British Consul-General in Egypt, to interfere in the affairs of
Egypt, by giving subjects of the Sultan passports, to leave
Egypt under protection of English passports.
Lord PALMERSTON announced that the same state of affairs
now existed as when the produbtion of correspondence with
regard to negociations was moved for; but that he was quite
ready to answer the questions. In the first place, in July
last, the representatives of the Five Powers, fearing that the
sultan might make unnecessary and injurious concessions to
Mehemet Ali, presented' a note in the name of their respec-
tive courts, requesting him not to enter into negotiations
with Mehemet Ali respecting anything that had been done
without the concurrence of the Five Powers. As to the affair
of the ships, information having been received by the High
Commissioner of the lonian Islands that two ships had ar-
rived to recruit, inquiries were made with regard to the
officer, who was an agent of Mehemet Ali, and it was found
that they were there for the purpose of decoying certain sub-
jects of the Porte of Albania to proceed to Egypt to form
troops to act against the sultan, and Sir Howard Douglas
took steps accordingly, and two Greek ships, that were hired
for the purpose, were taken. The ships were detained for a
short time, and were afterwards released. With regard to
the third question, no orders had been given to Col. Hodges,
because, as was well known, it was not the practice, except
in peculiar cases to give passports to any but British sub-
jects ; but as this question concerned the officers of the
Turkish empire, he had no hesitation in saying that Col.
Hodges would only perform his duty if he afforded any pro-
tection he was able to give it to any subjects of the sultan
who, having been engaged in rebellion, were desirous of re-
turning to their allegiance.
Sir R. PEEL asked whether the mediation of the French
government for the settlement of the existing differences
between England and Naples had been offered; and, if so,
whether it had been accepted.
Lord PALMERSTON answered that the good offices of the
French government for the arrangement of the differences
between her Majesty's government and that of Naples were
made some time ago, and had been immediately accepted by her
Majesty's government. At the same time a similar offer had
been made by the French government to the government of
Naples; and it appeared, from the latest despatches received
both from Naples and Paris, that that offer had been accepted
by the government at Naples.
Sir R. PEEL thereupon asked whether the order for repri-
sals had in consequence been rescinded ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied, that it had been agreed that as
soon as our representative at the Court of Naples should be
officially informed of the arrival of any French diplomatist
charged to exercise the good offices of the French Govern
went, he was immediately to transmit to the officers com-
manding her Majesty's ships instructions to suspend re-
prisals for a certain time, but from despatches received he
learned that at the moment that the French mediation was
accepted by the King of Naples. and when, according to the
agreement, the reprisals would have been stopped, the Nea-
politan government laid an embargo on all British vessels in
Neapolitan ports, and, consequently, the order for reprisals
had not yet been suspended.
Lord J. RUSSELL, in answer to inquiries said, that it was
not now the intention of her Majesty s government to pro-
pose, this session, any grant on the subject of " emigration."
Mr. P. SCROPE asked what progress had been made in the
negotiations for compensation to British merchants for
losses sustained by them in consequence of the bombard-
ment of Antwerp.
Lord PALMERSTON answered, that claims had been made
by the representatives of the British government on the
Belgian government, at the same time that similar claims had
been made on the Belgian government by the representatives
of other governments for losses sustained by their subjects
at Antwerp. Those claims were made some time ago. A
written reply had been received, which was at present under
the consideration of her Majesty's government.
Mr. F. FRENCH asked what step was intended to be taken
with regard to the re-appointment of the medical committee.
Mr. F. MAULE answered that the subject was entirely in
the hands of Mr. Warburton, and therefore he could not
answer the question.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in answer to Mr.
Goulburn's inquiry, said that it was the intention of the
government, during the session, to bring forward the sub-
ject of the mode of paying the expenses of the armament
preparing for service in China.
Mr. R. GORDON, in answer to Col. Sibthorp's inquiry,
stated that he should soon present a return of the expenses
attending Dr. Bowring's mission.
Mr. HUME observed, in reference to a notice that he had
on the paper, to move for the immediate production of Dr.
Bowring's report with regard to our commercial relations
with Egypt and Syria, he wished to know whether that re-
port would soon be laid before the house.
Lord PALMERSTON answered that considerable part of
Dr. Bowring's report referred to political subjects, and that
it would not, therefore, he proper to .ay it before the house ;
but that part which referred to our commercial relations
would shortly he produced.

Mr. Hvad thereupon withdrew his contemplated motion.
The house then resolved into committee of supply, in.
which Mr. R. GORDON mbved many resolutions for grants,
on the " miscellaneous estimates ;" and many of them called
forth observations on the new buildings of the British Mu-,
sewn, the " Parliament houses," &c.
The report of the resolutions adopted in the estimates was
ordered to be received on Tuesday.
Lord J. RUSSELL moved for leave to bring in two bills :-
1. "For the registration of parliamentary electors." 2. "To
make further provisions respecting certain rights of voting
in the election of members of parliament." In doing so he
entered into details of the leading provisions of the proposed
bills.
The.remaining business having been disposed of, the house
adjourned.

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

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY.

The Commons sat for a short time.
Mr. Bruce took his seat for Elgin, and Sir A. Brook for
Fermanagh, both on tha opposition benches.
Petitions were presented in great numbers, and on various
subjects ;

After which Lord MORPETH, alluding to the violent and
awful death of a near relative of his noble friend the Secre-
tary for the Colonies, said it was due to the interest of the
question involved in the discussion of the Irish registration
bill,, as well as to the position which the noble lord the Se-
cretary for the Colonies held in the house, that he should, if
possible, be present at the discussion, and he (Lord Morpeth)
therefore ventured to express a hope that the noble lord
(Lord Stanley) would consent to the postponement of the
order for going into committee.
Lord STANLEY said, that though he felt the great impor-
tance which was attached to the question, of which the nu-
merous attendance, in expectation of its discussion, was the
best proof, yet after the appeal which had been made to him,
and seeing how desirable it was that the noble lord, the Se-
cretary for the Colonies, should he present at the considera-
tion of so important a measure, he felt that he could not do
otherwise than consent. He must at the same time say, that
as the question was one of such vital importance, he might
fairly expect, on the part of her Majesty's ministers, that
some other day, and at no distant period, should be appoint.
ed for the discussion. The only object which he had in view
was to secure for the question a full, fair, and impartial dis-
cussion. He only desired that the bill should stand or fall
by its own merits.
It was ultimately settled that the committee should be
postponed till Monday, the 18th, on the understanding that
the motion should have precedence of all others on that day,
even if any adjourned debate should be the order of the day.
Sir It. Isoi.is for 'the same melancholy cause which had
occasioned the postponement of Lord Stanley's bill, stated
that he should not proceed with the motion respecting religi-
ous instruction, of which he had given notice, for Thursday.
Sir R. PEEL said, that as the education vote would be one
of those contained in the miscellaneous estimates on Friday,
it would be well, for the same melancholy reason, to post-
pone that, or any other vote which might lead to discussion.
The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER would not propose
any vote which might lead to such a result.
Sir J. WALSH wished to know when the evidence before
the Cambridge election committee would belaid upon the
table ?
Mr. GOULBURN said he had heard that it would be ready
on Friday.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of.
On the Lotion of Mr, Rom, the ;elcct coomittc. on