The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-16 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS-FRIDAy

The debate on the Corn Bill was resumed by the Mar-
quis of EXETER, who opposed it.
The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S defended himself and such
of his right reverend brethren as had voted with him from
the imputations which had been cast upon them by cer-
tain noble lords opposed to the government. He (the
right reverend prelate) denied that the measure was not
likely to affect the clergy in the manner they had des-
cribed. The clergy had been perfectly neutral on the
question ; they had presented no petitions, and had never,
to his knowledge, privately signified to members of the
bench of bishops the course they desired to have pursued.
His lordship commended the clergy for their abstinence.
They might suffer some temporary loss, but he believed
that they would ultimately sustain no injury. Were it
otherwise, he could not consent to oppose the interests
of so limited a class as that of the clergy to those of the
public at large. The votes of himself and his right rev.
brethren would be given with a view to the general in-
terest, let the effect of the bill upon the clergy be what it
might. His lordship argued on the hypothesis that the
bill would secure cheap bread for the poorer classes. He
denied that the legislature would, by passing it, abdicate
their power in the event of its disappointing their expecta-
tions. He believed that if it were found injurious to the
interests of any particular class, the government would
have the power of remedying the evil.
The Bishop of EXETER, in a speech of considerable
power, opposed the bill, and commented in stringent
terms upon certain passages of the speech of the right
reverend prelate who had preceded him. He differed from
his lordship in his opinion that the interests of so insig-
nificant a class as the clergy ought not to be placed in
competition with those of the great body of the people. It
was not because the interests of from 10,000 to 12,000
clergy were likely to be damaged that the appeal, which
had hem so imperfectly understood, had been made to the
right reverend bench, but because the best interests of the
poor were at stake on the event—the interests of morals
and religion—and because the rich and the poor would
both suffer if any injury were inflicted on the Church.
He considered that their lordships were perfectly justified
in appealing to the right reverend prelates on such a mat.
ter. He should not be restrained from declaring that
something more than cheap provisions was necessary to
the comfort and well-being of the labouring classes, by
the taunt that no one could be the labourers' friend who
opposed the measure. It was because he considered that
the interests of the poor would, in no respect, be pro-
moted by it, that he opposed it. He saw a great number
of the agricultural population of the country suffering, but
did not think their condition would be improved by bring-
ing them into direct competition with the serfs of Poland.
He did not sympathise with the right reverend prelate in
his apprehensions in the event of the rejection of the mea-
sure. If he were to follow the example of appealing to
other parties, he would call upon the noble lords now
about him to give their votes in this matter as in a judicial
cause, and laying their hands on their hearts, say, " con-
tent" or "non-content," upon my honour.

The Bishop of Oxford, Lord Monteagle, Lord Grey,
and Lord Brougham spoke in favour of the bill; and Earl
Warwick, Lord Stauley, and Lord Ashburton azainst it;
when the motion was withdrawn, and the house would go
into committee on the bill last (Monday) night.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—FRIDAY.
The debate on the Coercion Bill was resumed, and the
most remarkable features were the approval of Mr. O'Con-
nel of Lord Lincoln's measure for improving the relations
of landlord and tenant in Ireland, the speeches of Mr.
Milnes and Mr. Scrope upon the Irish Coercion Bill, the
onslaught of Mr. Shaw upon Ministers and the ministe-
rial policy, and the defence of Sir R. Peel of his motives
in introducing the Corn Bill, and his reply to Lord G.
Bentinck's charge that he had "hunted Mr. Canning to
death."

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES

The British and North American steam-ship, Britan-
nia, arrived at this port on Saturday night from Boston
and Halifax, and has brought some important intelli-
gence from the seat of hostilities in Mexico. From this
we learn that the United States army, under General
Taylor, had achieved two successive victories over the
Mexican forces, on the Bth and 9th of May, on the west
bank of the " Great River," or " Rio del Norte." The
effect of this success had been to avenge the previous de-
feats of portions of the American army, including the
slaughter of a body of Texican Rangers under Captain
Walker, by the Mexicans, on the Ist of May, near the
same spot, and had also reopened communications with
Point Isabel. Preparations were also being made by the
now conquerors to invade the town of Matamoras, on the
opposite side of the river, and one small Mexican town
had already been taken possession of. By this time the
American army have probably made inroads into the
enemy's territory, as well as blockaded the Mexican sea-
ports,—and, it may be, attacked the castle of St. Juan de
Ulloa, at Vera Cruz, which, however, is a fortress so
strong that if at all well defended, may be considered the
Gibraltar of the South, and would stand out a prolonged

It will be remembered that Captain 'Walker, after the
disastrous havoc amongst his small force, determined to
march the surviving troops to join General Taylor, whose
position he had learned, and he succeeded in conducting
them to Point Isabel, without interception by any of the
enemy. On the 3rd, a heavy cannonading was heard in
the direction of Nlatamoras, which continued during the
day, at intervals through the night, and during the day of
the 4th ; and on the sth an expedition, which had been
despatched to ascertain the cause, returned with intelli-
gence that the Mexicans, discovering the absence of Gen.
Taylor and his division, had thrown over the river a force
estimated at six thousand men, and opened a brisk fire
upon the fort from their batteries. The bombardment
was maintained until the evening of the 6th, but without
effect. On the 7th, having obtained reinforcements, am-
munition, and supplies, General Taylor set out on his
return to the camp ; and in the course of the Bth, at Palo
Alto, came in front of a Mexican force estimated at 6000
men, with seven pieces of artillery, and 800 cavalry. The
American force numbered 2,300, with two eighteen-
pounders and a couple of light batteries. An engagement
ensued, and after a spirited struggle of five hours' dura-
tion the Mexicans were dislodged from their position and
forced to retreat. The American force encamped upon the
field. On the 9th, the General renewed the march with
the main body of the army, having previously thrown for-
ward a body of light infantry into the forest which covers
the route. to Matamoras. At Reseca de la Palma a ravine
crossing the road was discovered to have been occupied
by the enemy with artillery. The action took place on the
edge of the ravine, and one mile from the chapporal, which
wag near twelve miles in width. The Mexicans com-
menced the action with their artillery, which was posted
so as to sweep a narrow passage through which General
Taylor was advancing, there being a swamp on the other
hand. General Taylor immediately ordered a charge in
the teeth of the eriemy's destructive fire, and the troops,
promptly responding, carried the enemy's guns at the
point of the bayonet.
Eight pieces of artillery fell into
the hands of the Americans, and an innumerable quantity
of small arms, munitions, baggage, camp equipage, a
military chest, containing a large quantity,ot sold, General
Arista's carriage, baggage, portfolio, with all his official
correspondence with the government, with full plans of
the campaign and instructions from the Mexican govern-
ment, authorizing him to send General Taylor and his
army, when taken prisoners, to the city of Mexico, and to