The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-08-22 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

On the order for the third reading of the Chelsea Pen-
sinners Bill, Mr. BRIGHT complained of the government
for having instituted no measure to relieve the working
people. He understood that many of them were in so
emaciated a state from want and suffering as to have been
incapable of accepting employment offered to them.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE took a good-humoured farewell of
the bill, as one which had been carried, against his own
efforts, by an overwhelming 'majority, he would not say a
subservient one. but an independtnt majority of officials.
On the question for the third reading of the Defamation
and Ltbel Bill, Mr. Escorr proposed to restore the third
clause; but the ATTORNEY-GENERAL having satisfied
the house that such a clause was inexpedient, the bill
passed in its present state without a division.
The order for going into committee on the Slave-trade
Suppression Bill was opposed by Mr. T. DIINCOMBE and
Mr. FORSTER, who charged it with folly, and complained
that it had come from the Lords as a surprise upon the
Commons. Mr. Forster laid the blame of it upon Lord
Brougham's inconsiderate precipitancy.
Sir T. WILDE defended Lord Brougham, and the main
principle of the bill, which was to prevent the employ-
ment of British capital in encouraging the slave trade.
This principle was no new one, and could not be said to
come upon the house without ample notice ; for the house
had always recognized and affirmed it.
Sir R. PEEL supported the motion for going into com-
mittee. It was a dangerous doctrine that no important
measure could be considered in August. Notice had been
given in the last session that the attention of parliament
would be called to the question whether British capital
should he permitted to employ itself in the encourage-
ment of the slave trade. The prevention of such traffic
was just in itself, and due to our own colonists, who ought
not to be placed under a disadvantageous competition with
countries glowing sugar by slave labour. He felt, in-
deed, that the subject was one in which parliament ought
not to legislate precipitately, but it was fully entitled to
consideration.

Mr. BERNA.L and Mr. BROTHERTON supported the bill,
which at length went into committee.
In committee, Lord SANDON said, he was anxious to
understand clearly the bearing of the clause which it was
proposed to amend ; owing to its length, it was difficult,
unless some time were given for consideration, to alter it.
He understood that the object was to extend the provi-
sions of the Consolidated Slave Act, which was now ap-
plied to British subjects either at sea or in British do-
minions, and to British subjects in foreign countries. He
quite agreed that, if it was practicable to do so, without
inflicting gross injustice, and even more serious evils than
those which it was proposed to remedy, it was right that
they should prevent the employment of British capital in
connexion with the slave trade or slave labour ; but he be-
lieved, since the enactment of the clause of the Consoli-
dated Slave Act, which it was proposed to extend the
operation of, had been the law of the land, no British sub-
ject had been connected with the slave trade. At all events,
there was nothing in the evidence taken by the committee
to prove the contrary, so far as the coast of Africa was
concerned. Another committee, which was composed of
many gentlemen who were deeply interested in putting
down the slave trade, were generally of that opinion.
They did not say that the practice of employing British
capital in the slave trade did not exist, but that there was
no evidence brought before them to show that •it did.
'filen, with regard to the high seas and our own domi-
nions, the provisions of the Slave Act bad been effectual,
and the question then was, could they make them equally
effectual in places not within the British jurisdiction? He
thought this was the first attempt that had been made to
carry our municipal laws into countries under foreign
jurisdiction. How could they make such a principle
effective ? British subjects were charged with contravening
one of the provisions of the Slave Act by employing slaves
within the dominions of the Emperor of Brazils, and by
what means could they bring that charge under the cog-
n zance of British tribunals? What opportunity would
the defendants have to disprove the charge, or what autho-
rity would the court have to go to the heart of the Andes
to obtain evidence for or against the charge? He con-
ceived that the bill was going beyond the proper limits of
the British Legislature. It was not sufficient in matters
of legislation or in private affairs that the object was good,
but it was also essential to foresee that greater evils were
not created than those proposed to be remedied. (Hear,
hear.)

After some discussion,
Lord PALNIERSTON deprecated any tenderness to Eng-
lish holders and employers of slavesj and exhorted the
house to show to other countries that England was sincere
in her declarations against slavery.
The bill, after some further comments, was allowed to
pass through committee, with an understanding that cer-
tain amendments were to be discussed upon the report.

THE COURT. •

Prince George of Cambridge took leave of the Queen,
on Saturday, on his departure for Mecklenburgh Sta.Utz,
on a visit to his sister and brother-in-law ; thenco pro-
ceeding to assume the Governorship of the lonian Islands.

TH E KING OF H ANOVER.—It is stated in circles usu-
ally well informed, though we are unable to trace the re-
port to any positive authority, that an illustrious personage
—t: e monarch of an independent kingdom, now on a
visit to this country—has it in contemplation to resign
his sovereignty in favour of his son, and once more take
up his residence in England.—Britannia.
THE PRINCE OF WALES'S "TURN-OUT."—During
the usnll early walk of her Majesty and Prince Albert on
Tuesday morning, in the private enclosures and shrub-
beries in the Home Palk, indsor. a pair of beautiful
foreign goats, milk white, and of an extraordinary size,
were taken into the private grounds for the inspection of
the Queen and the Prince. These two goats have been
for the last two or three months, in training to go in har-
ness, to he used by the Prince of Wales, and the infant
princesses, in their excursions through the private grounds.
They were harnessed to an elegantly and lightly constructed
carriage, and proceeded, with the greatest ease, at the
rate of six and seven miles an hour. Her Majesty and
Prince Albert appeared much pleased with the novelty and
compact appearance of the new " turn-out," which was
used by their royal highnesses on the following day.

BRlGllTON.—lnstructions have just been received at
Brighton, from the Lord Chamberlain's office, to stop all
orders to view the palace ; so that there is now no doubt
of her Majesty's intention to visit Brighton very shortly.
All the necessary arrangements have been made connected,
with the marine excursion of the Queen and her illustri-
ous consort. during the sojourn of the court at Brighton.
The Black Eagle steam vessel will be one of the squadron
which will accompany the royal yacht. There is now very
little doubt that her Majesty will honour. Plymouth, and
probably Pembroke dockyard, with a visit during the royal
trip. It is likewise expected the Queen and her illustri-
ous consort will honour the Earl and Countess Cawdor
with a short visit, at their mansion, Stackpole Court, in
the County of Pembroke.

The Right Hon. Sir R. Peel will leave town next week
for Drayton Manor, to join Lady Peel and family. A
select party will assemble at the Manor next month.
The Duke of Wellington is expected to leave Apsley_
house on Monday week for Weimer Castle, where the
noble Duke purposes to reside until the 2d week in Oc-
tober, and then go to Strathfieldsaye.
THE DUKE'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND.—It is now ascer-
tained beyond a doubt that the Duke of Wellington will
visit Scotland in the autumn, and that he will for a few
days be the guest of the Duke of Hamilton. Shooting,
being one object of his grace's visit, it is deemed not im-
probable that the victor of a hundred battles may cross to
Arran, and enjoy the splendid sport that is to be expe-
rienced on this island.—Glasgow Chronicle.
WILL OF THE DUKE OF SLSSEX.—The will of his
Royal Highness Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex has
just passed the seal of the Perogative Court of Canterbury.
The executors named in the will are Lord Dinorben,
C. K. K. Tynte, Esq., and Mr. Walker--(comptroller of
the Duke's household.) His *royal -highness directs that,
a bond held by his daughter for £lO,OOO be discharged ;
and the whole of his property to go to his wife, the Duchess
of Inverness ; that his plate, jewels, and many other arti-
cles, too numerous to mention, be sold by auction : (they
have since realized the sum of £37,713 Os. Ild.) Heals°
directs that if government does not purchase his library
within a year it is also to be sold by auction. The will is
very short, and is written on a small sheet of paper. The
property has been sworn under £6o,ooo.—Britannia.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.—We believe that
we may state with certainty that the Queen will prorogue
parliament in person on Thursday next, the 24th in-
stant.

The Bight Hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons
gave his annual entertainment to the officers connected
with that branch of the legislature, on Saturday week,
previous to the prorogation of Parliament.
THE DUOIIAM ELECTION.-Mr. Austin, the eminent
parliamentary barrister, was retained to defend Mr.
Bright's seat for Durham long before any intimation of
the intention of the conservative party to petition was'
made known. What could have led to this hasty step but
a perfect conviction that it was only by the forsenic talent •
of the most talented practitioner that the seat could be
retained.

PACIFIC STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.—The first
annual meeting. of this company was held in London on
Friday. No dividend was declared, and a strong feeling
in favour of the dissolution of the company in preference
to raising. more money prevailed, but the report held out
Prospects of a dividend of 141 per cent., and this satisfied
the majority. The sum of £20,000 is to be raised to put
a third steamer on the station for the increase of trade
the amount to be raised by the issue of new shares. The
coal mines in Tulcahuano have been :worked for the sup.
Ply of the vessels with great success.