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

CHINA COURTS RILL

Lord PALMERSTON moved that the house go into committee
on the China courts bill.

Mr. HAWES wished to ask the noble lord whether the
Chinese government authorised or sanctioned this interfe-
rence with their independent authority? If not, the verdicts
obtained in these courts never could be enforced, and conse-
quently the bill was useless. He was fearful that if the bill
passed into a law it would greatly endanger the commerce of
this country with China, and therefore he called upon the
house to pause and well consider before they agreed to the
measure before them. He could not understand the object
the noble lord had in bringing in a bill like the present. The
hon. member concluded by laving the resolution given notice
of by Sir G. Staunton, to the effect that the bill should be post-
poned until such time as the government of China had given
their sanction and approbation of such a measure.
Lord PALMERSTON said he could not agree to the resolu-
tion just proposed by the hon. member. The hon. member
said it would be useless to establish courts in China without
the sanction and approbation of the Emperor, as their de-
crees could not be acted upon. It was necessary for the well-
being of the British residents in China to establish civil and
criminal courts, and there was no reason to suppose the Em-
peror would make any objection to such a plan. (Hear, hear.)
Every one was aware that there existed no diplomatic rela-
tion between this country and China—all attempts to establish
such relations had failed, and consequently it would be diffi-
cult to obtain the express consent of the Emperor to any pro-
position. The only mode which could be attempted would be
to send another embassy to the court of Pekin ; but after the
manner in which former embassies had been received, he
did not think any member of that house would recommend
the government to undertake another experiment. (Hear.)
The noble lord then read long extracts from works published
by Sir George Staunton and others, to prove the necessity of
establishing courts in China for the protection, and to enforce
the rights of British subjects resident in that country.
Sir J. GRAHAM said he greatly regretted that the noble

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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, be 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.
Mr. 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-littie difference of
opinion between himself and the right hon. bart. (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. LUSH INGTON 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 PALMERSTON said he would wish to go on with the
bill, but if it was the pleasure of the house, he had no objec-
tion to postpone it until next session.
Mr. HAWES 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 first clause being read,
Mr. HAWES, at considerable length, opposed it.
Lord PALMERSTON said, as there appeared to be a differ-
ence of opinion on the subject, he would postpone the bill
until next session. (Hear.)
The bill was accordingly withdrawn.
CORPORATIONS (IRELAND.)
Sir J. GRAHAM inquired on what day it was intended to
take 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 proceeded with?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.—On Wednesday
next.