The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-30 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY

After a short discussion upon a petition respecting a
compromise in the case of the Sligo election petition, the
house resolved itself into committee on the Public Health
Bill, and was engaged during the rest of the evening in
the discussion of its clauses.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY
ie house sat only for a short tinie.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

•TUESDAY

After a short conversation on Lord G. Bentinck's pro-
position to adjourn over the Derby day, which was duly
carried upon a division,
Lord G. BENTINCK moved for a variety of returns,
showing the quantities and prices, duties paid, of Canadian
timber sold by public sale in London on the 10th of March
last, the quantities of thrown silks and Indian silks, and
also of raw and waste silk, imported in the years 1842,

1845, and 1846, since the reduction had been made in the
duties on those articles ; and the quantities and value of
all articles of cotton, woollen, silk, &c., imported into the
port of London in the four months ending the sth of May,
1848, as compared with the corresponding three months
of 1845, 1846, and 1847. He also moved for a continua-
tion of a former return, showing the increase or decrease
in the numbers and cost of the Customs department and
per centage cost of collection consequent upon the reduc-
tion of the Customs' duties in 1846—the object of his
motion, which he supported in an able speech, being to
prove that free trade had, according to present experience,
turned out a complete failure.
Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply, contended, that although
Lord G. Bentinck had shown that great distress existed in

the country, be had not raised the slightest presumption
to show that that distress was attributable to our recent
commercial legislation. He went through all the statistics
by which Lord George had endeavoured to support his
theory of trade, pointing out its fallacy in every instance,
and concluded by expressing his satisfaction that " the bit
was now in his lordship's mouth." His commercial opi-

believed that if parliament coma consent w place useu
under his lordship's guidance, its measures would soon
receive a check by the disgrace and ruin which they would
bring down on the country.
Mr. NEWOEGATE followed on the same side as Lord G.
Bentinck, and Sir G. CLERK defended the policy of Sir
R. Peel at considerable length. He was, he said, anxious
for the production of these returns, for the more informa-
tion was given on these different branches of trade, the
more the wisdom of Sir R. Peel's commercial policy would
become apparent.

Mr. LABOUCHERE defended his department from car-
tain charges which Lord G. Bentinck had alleged against
it as to the accuracy of its returns, but expressed his wil-
lingness to furnish all the papers which formed the subject

of his lordship's motion. - -
Mr. M. GIBsoN and Mr. HENLEY also spoke, and after
a few words in reply from Lord G. BENTINCK the returns

were granted

Mr: HumE_then postponed his motion for a sweeping

Mr. F. O'CONNOR moved the adjournment of the house
in order to deliver an objurgatory speech against Mr.
Hume, for which he received a severe castigation from
Mr. Cobden.
Lord JOHN RE
sent