The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-31 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-SATURDAY.

The house met to-day at 12 o'clock.
A number of petitions on various subjects were presented.
In answer to a question by the Marquis of CHANDOS,
Sir G. GREY said, the return moved for relating to the ap-
pointments made by Earl Durham in Canada, was laid on
the table on Thursday last, but had not yet been printed
with the votes. There was no objection on the part of the
government to give every information on the subject.

lord should have thought it necessary to bring forward such
an important measure as the present at so late a period of the
session. He (Sir Jas. Graham) had lent his assistance to
open a free trade with China, and he had never regretted it;
but he though the bill before the house was of so much inter-
est that it ought to receive the coolest and most anxious con-
sideration. (Hear.) It was a bill which might materially
affect the commercial relations of this country with China,
and therefore became a most importantquestiou. He thought
the bill gave a most arbitrary power against British residents
in China, and if it was ever carried into effect, barristers of
this country must be sent to a distant region to administer it,
which would be attended with great expense. He thought
when there was such a friendly feeling between the two coun-
tries, that it would be extremely impolitic for the British par-
liament to disturb that feeling. Without imputing any '
blame to the noble lord for bringing forward this bill at the
end of the-session, he did put it to him whether it would not '
be better to wait for further information from China before
he proceeded further with it. The last accounts show that
the court of China entertained the most conciliatory feelings
towards this country, and therefore he did not wish to do any-
thing to endanger it. He had no objection to the bill going
into committee, for the purpose of discussing its clauses, but
he trusted it would not be pressed further this session.
11]r. WARBURTON trusted the hon. member for Lambeth
would withdraw the resolution, and allow the bill to go into
committee. He thought some of the clauses might with safety
be passed, but that it would be better to postpone others until
further advice had been received from China.
Lord PALMERSTON said,' there was little difference of
opinion between himself and the right hon. hart. (Sir J. Gra-
ham.) He thought, with his right hon. friend, that if the
bill was passed as it at present stood, it would be very ill-
judged and impolitic to attempt to carry its provisions into
effect without previously ascertaining whether the Chinese
authorities had any objection to it. (Hear.) If the measure,
however was agreed to, it will be the best mode of ascertaining
the feeling of the government of China on the subject.
Mr. C. LUSHINGTON was confident from his knowledge of
the Chinese, that they would look with great suspicion, if
they did not altogether reject the authority of courts so con-
stituted.

After a few remarks from Captain Alsager, Mr. Hawes,
and Mr. Warburton,
Lord PA imEitsToN said he would wish to go on wi►h the
bill, but if it was the pleasure of the house, he had no obj ec-
tion to postpone it until pest session.
Mr. H A wEs withdrew his amendment, stating that he
would take the sense of the house on the first clause.

The house went into committee, Mr. Bernal in the chair.
On the'tirst clause being read,
Mr. Fl AWES, at considerable length, opposed it.
Lord PA LAIEIISToN said, as there appeared to be a differ-
ence of opinion on the subject, he would postpone the bi'
until next session. ( Hear.)
The bill was accordingly withdrawn. ,
CORPORATIoNS (IRELAND.)
_ _

Sir J. GRAHAM inquired on wiiat day it-Was intended to
rake the Lords' amendments in the Irish Municipal Corpora-
tions Bill into. consideration.
The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER..—On Thursday
next.

DUCHY OF CORNWALL.
Lord G. SOMERSET wished to know on what day the bill
relating to the Duchy of Cornwall was to be proce4ded with?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.—On Wednesday
next.

CUSTOMS BILL.

The order of the day for the further consideration of the
report on the Customs Bill having been read,
Mr. WARBURTON objected to the 6th clause, authorising
Custoin.;house officers to seize all packages which they sup-
posed contained foreign manufactures.
Mr. P.THOMPSON said he could not consent to the amend-
ment proposed by the hon. member' and should therefore
feel called upon to take the sense of the house on the ques-
tion.

--;-
The house then divided, when there appeared—
For the clause 39
For the amendment

Majority 3l
The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the bill ordered
to be read a third time on Monday.
The committee on the Church Building Acts' Amendment
Bill was postponed until a future day.
The report of the committee on the Mediterranean Post-
age Bill was further considered and agreed to, and the bill
ordered to be engrossed.