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    for the Speaker leaving the chair ; but , should that coarse succeed , and Mr . Disraeli ' s resolution be proposed ,, he must oppose that too . —Mr . Newjdegate was in favour of Mr . Bentinek ' s amendment . Sir Charles Wood was surprised at the reasons offered by Mr . Gladstone for supporting the amendment . He was also surprised at the excitement displayed by him when he used language towards the Chancellor of the Exchequer which it was hardly decent for one gentleman to apply to another . Mr . Gladstone had lectured them , and told the House that he would not allow them t © ' go into Committee of Supply unless they were fettered and bound by the resolution " of Mr . Disraeli to adjust the income and expenditure . He ( Sir Charles Wood ) denied that any eompa-ct was entered into in 1852 to abolish the income-tax : in 1860 , whatever the

    circumstances of the country might be , or whether it ¦ was at -war or not . What the Government then proposed to do only rendered it possible for Parliament in 1860 to repeal the income-tax . Mr .. Gladstone had acted upon the principle of Arthur Young -with reference to , the taxation of a variety of articles to a greater extent than the Chancellor of the Exchequer had done ; and yet the right hon . gentleman turned round upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer , and said he had departed from the policy adopted for the last fifteen years , though he had merely done in a less degTee what the right hon . gentleman himself had clone in a greater degree . He denied the right of Mr . Gladstone to lecture them as he had done . With regard to the Estimates for the present year , he believed it to be impossible to reduce them more .

    Mr . GI / AKstone explained that nothing conld be further from his intention than to accuse Sir George Cornewall Lewis of intentional deceit and falsehood , as some had supposed . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the word 3 of Mr . Gladstone had certainly conveyed to him the impression that he meant to charge him with making substantially deceptive statements . The House first divided upon Mr . Bentinck ' s motion for an adjournment of ihe debate , which was negatived by 477 to 25 . A second division then took place -upon Mr . Disrakli's resolution : and this was set aside by 286 to 206 .

    The Chancellor ot- the Excheqceh said that , if any objection were made to his proceeding with the resolutions on the income-tax , he should of course be ready to move that the chairman do report progress ; but , if there were no objection , ho would propose , with a -view to the introduction of a bill , resolutions to the effect that for the next three years a . tax of 7 d . in the pound be levied on incomes of 150 ? . and upwards , and a tax of 5 d . on incomes from 1001 . to 150 / . — The House having gone into committee , and the resolutions having been read , Mr . Disraeli observed that , as the resolutions would , no doubt , lead to a discussion , he hoped the right hon . gentleman would not press them . —The House then resumed , and the chairman reported progress .

    The Ionian Subjects Ccoimittke Bill , and the Public Health Supplemental Bill ( 1857 ) , were read a third time and passed . —The House adjourned at one o'clock .

    Tuesday , February 2 ± th . Tn . the House op Lords , after the Royal Marine Forces Bill had been read a third time and passed , the debate commenced on Lord Derby ' s motion with respect to THE ATTACK ON CANTON . The Earl of Derby moved a series of resolutions condemning t ] ie recent hostilities in China . The lorcha Arrow , he contended , - was not a British , but a Chinese vessel , being owned and manned by Chinese . Whatever doubt there might be as to whether the English Hug was flying at the time , or not , there could bo none that the Arrow had no leg ; al right to cany that flag ; and Sir John Bowring had himself acknowledged , in two

    documents , that the English license had expired before the events which led to the hostilities . Yet Sir John had made a directly contrary statement to Commissioner Yeh—an act of insincerity which wan the reverse of that straightforwardness -which should always characterise the dealings of English officials . With respect to the claims of English subjec t * to free admission into tho city of Canton , it was true that the treaty of 184 G conferred that power , and ho had no doubt that here wo were in the right , and the Chinese in thu wrong ; but it was a question whether it was politic to press our claim at that particular moment . In 1848 and 1819 , the Governmen t , on the authority of Sir George Bonham , Jiad come to the conclusion that it was not expedient to assert our right to enter the oily ; and , in the latter venr , Sir

    Bowringaccused the Chinese of shamefully violating had remained unfulfilled with the fall acquiescence of our own Government . Lord Derby concluded by appealing to the Bishops to declare themselves strongly against an attack which violated every principle of religion . " If the Chinese unbeliever , to whom they described the maxims of their religion as maxims of forbearance and long suffering , should find them , to be uncharitable , relentless , and bloodthirsty , he would say to them ' Away -with your religion ! 1 will act according to ray own light . Your religion is worth nothing ; your practice is in contradiction to your morals . ' ( Cheers . ) The Chinese should be made aware that in the countrv from -which the officials came who ill-treated

    them there is a high assembly , composed of the nobles of the land , and that they will stand up as the opponents of tyranny and injustice . ( Cheers . ') They should know that in that assembly there are men -who are the guardians of religion , and that they especially rebuked those distant officials , and vindicated the character of the country from the consequences of an unchristian outrage . He looked to them with confidence not to leave a false impression upon the minds of ignorant people , but to stand forth , as the defenders of humanity and of religion . He should deeply deplore if the representatives in that House of the Church throughout this empire uttered an uncertain voice on this occasion , or if by their

    hesitation they , gave rise to the impression that their high and hol y sanction was given to deeds of violence , which in their consciences they could not palliate . But , if he should be disappointed in his . appeal to them , he would turn with confidence to the hereditary peers of England . ( C / ieerv ? . ) To them he would make an appeal , earnestly , humbly , and with confidence . He would ask them not to tolerate the capture of commercial vessels , the destruction of the forts of a friendly country , or the shelling of an xmdefended commercial city ; and he would beg that they would not , under any consideration , give the sanction of their voices to the shedding of innocent blood , without warran t of law and without moral justification . " ( Lond cheers . )

    Lord Clairkndon said Lord Derby had erred in describing the relations between England and China as pacific previous to this rupture . The Chinese had long sought to violate British rights acquired by treaty ; and the state of things had become intolerable . The granting of licenses to ships the property of foreigners is constantly recognized , and is practised not only in China , but at Malta , Gibraltar , and Singapore , the legality being bej'oncl a doubt . The Arrow had not forfeited her license , because the . vessel was still at sea , and therefore still entitled to bear the English flag . Mr . Parkes was bound to do as he had done , and indeed he had acted with great moderation and discretion . The Chinese had no conception of international law ; and it was therefore necessary

    to make them sensible of the law of force . Various measures had been adopted , but in vain , to induce the Chinese authorities to fulfil their treaty engagements . The Government , ho-wever , would have been content to let the question of the entry of the English into Canton remain in abeyance , if the affair of the Arrow had been satisfactorily arranged . Were we to be told that a British force sent out to a distant part of the world should sue English lives and property jeopardised , and not interfere ? . { Hear , hear . ) Yet the third resolution of his friend would bo considered out there as an order to engage in no offensive operations ; it would cause consternation not only in Canton , but on all our British residents in Cliina ; the position of every British resident would bo ono , not only of dismay , but of the greatest danger ; and the result would be the probable

    renunciation ot nationality , and allegiance to the English flag , toseek for safety with some foreign power . What the Chinese could do , tho House had heard not long since . A . missionary , after being tortured three days , was burnt to death , and hia heart was roasted and eaten by the executioner . In conclusion , Lord Clarendon urged that the only instructions that could be sent out to the Admiral must bo general instructions , or they would be of no use . If h < s waited for orders , tho Chinese might Bpond the intervening four months in fortilications ; and the result would be , that the opposing force which was sufficient at tho time , would , after that interval , 1 > r useless , lie trusted that their Lordships would not , agree to ( . lie resolutions , which would crump the hands of her Majesty's servants in China , find bring diBgraco on our nninc und on our flag .

    was a very dangerous thing- to allow subordinate officers to resort to offensive measures without reference to the Home Government . Aa long as our policy towards China had been one of conciliation , we had succeededbut the late outrage had been a scandal to Christianity Should the resolution be carried , be trusted Sir John Bowring . would be immediately recalled . —The Duke of Argyll , said that the Government would hold itself responsible for the acts of its agents , and h < j argued that Sir John Bowring and the others had acted in accordance with the strictest right . On the motion of the Earl of Caritarvoh , the debate was adjourned to Thursday , and tlie House rose at twelve clock

    o ' * U OJUCH ., THIS TEA DUTIES . In the House of Commons , Lord John- Busselx gave notice of an Amendment on the tea duties—that a duty of Is . 4 d . shall be imposed for 1857-8 and 1858-9 ( instead of Is . 7 d . and Is . 5 d . ); and that in . 1860 the duty shall fall to Is ., as proposed in the Budget .

    STATUTE CONSOLIDATION . In answer to Mr . Apsley Pelxatt , the Attorney-GtEWeral said that the statutes relating to masters and workmen had been consolidated by the statute law commissioners . The consolidation bill was now under the revision of that body , and he believed it would be brought in and laid on the table . He was not aware that there was aity intention on the part of the Government to introduce any other measure . on the subject . QKXEtlAL BEATSON . la answer to Colonel Dunne , Mr . Frederick Peel said the court of inquiry into the charges against General Beatson would only be open to the parties concerned , and not to the public . It was simply a preliminary proceeding , analogous to the grand jury in civil cases .

    JOINT-STOCK BANKS . In answer to Mr . Wilkinsoj ? , tho Chancellor op the Excuequkii stated that the Government had prepared a measure on the subject of joint-stock banks , which would be introduced by the Vicc-President of tho Board of Trade as soon as there -was a probability of its being considered .

    OUR ItEritESETCTATrVE SYSTEM . Sir Joshua Walmsley , in moving for a select coinmitteeto consider and report upon the most practicable means for lessening the existing inequalities in our representative system , and for extending to the unenfranchised a share of political power , urged the necessity for this inquiry , and the reasons why the House should take the subject into consideration . Out of a population of 28 , 000 , 000 , there being 5 , 500 , 000 adult males , only 1 , 000 , 000 are electors , and , among these , coercion and influence exert a restrictive efFect . Besi-de . s the limitation of the franchise and the existence of nomination boroughs , there are inequalities in thesystem which call for correction . Ho cited various authorities in

    support of his views , and insisted that it is due to the people of this country that 4 , 500 , 000 adults should not be debarred from the elective franchise . —Tho motion was seconded by Mr . Hadfikliv . —Sir Gkorgk Strickland said that , though an old reformer-, he could not support this motion . It was mere waste of time to move for " a rumbling and fishing committee , " without a , specific and defined purpose . —Mr . STAb-iroun satirised the Government , and culled on them to state when they expected the fitting season ' would arrive for a comprehensive measure of reform . —Mr . Dunoombk , like Sir George Strickland , regretted he could not support the motion , tlie objects of which were too vague . —Mr . W . J . Pox , in supporting tho motion , observed that the very notion of representation included

    tlie reform of imperfect representation . That imperfection is tlie gdrtn of agitation , tho yielding' to which- ' is tlio worst system of policy , as it wonlcon . f tho confidonce of tho people in their governors , subjectH thorn totheinflueneo of demagogues , and initiates tiiem in nil the tricks and arts of faction . —Lord PalmkkMton considered the matter of too great importance , and that it involved too many and material interests , to bo thrown loose to tho chance , docirtioii of a committee ; it tihould be placed before ; the House in the . shape of Home definite proposition . Ho thought Sir JfiHhua Wahnsley must bog that tho concurrence of opinion in the flouso was against his motion . —Admiral Biskkki , k ¥ , Mr . Loarcrc Kino , and Mr . Waknku , Bpoko against tho motion , which wan negatived by JiJO to T . i .

    Lord Ly ndiii'ust thought the recent proceedings could not bti justified upon any principle ! * , dither of . law or of reason . Tliu lorcha was not an English . ship , und , evun had it been clothed with the privileges of jm Knglish ship a . i n ^ ain . st oui'ridvoH , no law , ordinance ! , or rogiHler , could give those privileges us iii . jaiii . st forcigul-r i . il « concurred with all tho . •¦ ciituru'iits enunciated by Lord Derby , and -would cordially support , hi . s .. motion . —The Lom > Cjiatvckllok reminded the Jlou . 'ie that there wn «

    'ITIK OATITKDHAL CMVRCtt OV CATTLIHLE . Mr . I'V . noiiHON obtained leave to reintrodnce lite bill to appropriate tlio income of th « first vacant canonry of the Cathedral Church of Carlisle to Hie augmentation of certain ecclesiastical incumbencies -within tho . said city .

    ix treaty by which tho Cliineso w < t « bound nut ( o Hei / . o sn-peeled criminals on board English hhipu without this intervention of the Knglinh consul * . An overwhelming amount of evidence . showed that tlio Knglioh / Ing was Hying at tho time , and therefore the- . ship was beneath I he protection of this country . ThoChincso , con . sorjuently , had no right whatever to hoard the Arrow , Avhich enjoyed a Ik'diise within the prerogative of t . h « Crown to grant . — Kurl Gurcr , on tlio contrary , contended that tho Arrow wft * not an English veisel ; and he thought it

    AOrmi ' . NTH ON rCATLAVAYM . Mr . HrcNTriWic obtained a select committee ( o inquire into tlio causes of accidents on railways , and into t ! i « possibility of removing 1 any auch ciiisci by further legislation . rrrn ; civil bkuvicm ( inici , ANn ) . Mr . Diiasv called attention to tho m-orle of conducting the examinations of candidates for admission into tho Civil S « rvi (! is in Ireland ; and moved thai , an address l » n presented to her Majesty , praying that she will bo pleased to ( jivfi directions to huvo such examination *! conducted , us in England , by cxuniiucni whose

    charnu-Goorgc issued a proclamation prohibiting tho English from entering Canton . Sir John Bowring possessed a nionomania on that subject , and he would run an }' risk to nccomplish the privilege lie so greatly desired ; but the Chinese were not without apprehension of a collision with tho English , should tho latter enter Canton—a fear which wan . shared liy . Sir George- Bonham . Tlio correspondence between the Chinese and English oflicinls in connexion with the lorcha affair showed . uniform courtesy and forbearance on tho part of tho former , and , with hardly an oxcoirtion , disrespectful and arrogant mouacos on that of tho latter . Hostilities were resorted to with great precipitancy , and in a very bIiort timo tho question of nceoss to Canton made ita appearance , Thu treaties which Sir John

    Untitled Article

    Fjsbhuahy 28 , 1857 . ] THE LEADER . 196

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 28, 1857, page 195, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2182/page/3/