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persons locally acquainted with China , and who vouched for the fact . Within the last few days , they had received an account of the slaughter of eleven persons on board the Thistle . The Government had no desire to pursue in China a system , of conquest , or to make it a part of British India . Those who said that the Chinese are anxious to keep the English out for fear of conquest , were totally misrepresenting fact 3 , and had taken no pains to ascertain the natural course of events . Mr . Cobden , instead of waiting for the development of events ,
had rushed to a conclusion for the purpose of injuring her Majesty ' s Government ; but he would defy any one satisfactorily to make out from his motion whether it was intended to convey a censure upon their minister in China , or upon the Government . Lord Palmerston concluded by protesting against coalitions , to which the country is not wedded , and by expressing a hope that the decision of that night would be such as would maintain the honour , the dignity , and the interests of the country .
After some explanations from Mr . Gladstone , Mr . Disraeli rose amidst cries of " Divide ! " and said that in the course of this discussion the Government had shifted the ground which they bad first taken up . He then proceeded to answer the speech of Lord Palmerston , and concluded by suggesting that , if there were a conspiracy against the Government , as had been alleged , Ministers should appeal to the country , with the programme of "No reform , additional taxes , and Canton blazing . " Mr . Cobden briefly replied , vindicating himself from the charge of "being anti-English , and denying that he had any design to effect a change of ministers , though lie must confess the country seldom lost by such a change . The effect of a change now would be to bring in Mr . Disraeli or Mr . Gladstone as Chancellor of the
Exchequer ; and there would then probably be a reduction of 2 , 000 , 000 ? . of expenditure . If he disposed of the noble lord for that amount of reduction , he thought he should make a capital bargain for the country . { Laughter . ') In all sincerity , he wished the motion to be taken merely upon the merits of the case , and apart from any question of party bias . —After a few words from Mr . Kinnaird , - who spoke against the opium traffic , but intimated his intention to vote for Ministers , The House divided , when there appeared—For Mr . Cobden's resolutions . 263 Against 247 Majority against the Government ...... •——16 An adjournment took place shortly afterwards , at halfpast two o ' clock .
Wednesday , March 4 th . INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL . Sir Stafford Northcote having moved the second reading of this bill , Mr . Alcqoic moved to defer it for six months . Ho thought the bill superfluous , there being already many district and reformatory schools in existence . The compulsory nature of the bill was also objectionable , and it would raise ragged schools into undue importance . —Mr . Hadfield seconded the amendment ; and Mr . Baines , on tho part of the Government , aupported the measure , which he thought was rendered necessary by the large number of destitute children wandering about ^ in great towns . —Lord Stanley also spoke in favour of the measure , because it gives to children who are liable to fall into crime the same
advantages as are now enjoyed by children who are actually delinquent . - — Mr . Baxter , Mr . Gordon , and Mr . Black , who likewise approved of the bill , spoke from their personal experience of the advantages which had resulted in Scotland from the establishment of Industrial Schools . —Mr . Newdegate and Mr . Bowveh supported the amendment ; the latter observing that the practical effect of the bill would be to send Irish Roman Catholics to schools where they would be unfairly proselytized . —The hill was also opposed by Mr . Palk , Sir George Strickland ( whose
objection waa confined to tho principle of a rate ) , and Mr . Barrow . In further support of it , the House was addressed b y Mr . Addkrlby ( who , replying to Mr . Bowyer ' s objection , said the greatest possible care had been taken to prevent unfair proselytizing of Roman Catholics ) , Mr . Spoonbr ( who , however , thought some alterations were required ) , Sir John Paklington , Mr . Euward Ball , Mr . Henley , Mr . Dunloi * , Mr . Liddhxl , Mr . Fouticsque , Mr . Serjeant Shee , and Mr . Warner . —Sir Stafford Northcote , replied ; Mr . Aloock ¦ withdrew his amendment : and the bill was read a socond
time . Sir Joim Pakjngton announced that , having conferred with Lord Stanley and Mr . Cobdon on the subject of Ins Education Bill , ho had resolved to postpone tho second reading till next Wednesday . COURT OF CHAHCERY ( iRKLAND ) ( TITLES OP PURCHASEKS ) BILL . Mr . Wh-teside moved tho . econd roading of thia bill , tho object of which lie stated to bo , to secure tho titles to estates obtained through tho Court of Chancery . —Mr . Georqk Butt seconded tho motion . —Tho At-TORHKY- GkneoAL FOR IRELAND objected to tho bill , on the ground that it only dealt with a fragment of a great subject , and in such a way that it undermined one of the most beneficial roforma over conferred on Ireland —tho Encumbered Estates Court . — Mr . MAOARTHsnr supported the bill , and Sir
Enakine Perky moved that it he read a second time that day six months . —Mr . Whiteside replied . —The Attorney-General tob Ireland suggested that Sir Erskine Perry should withdraw his amendment , and pledged himself to give the hon . member an opportunity , at a future stage of the bill , of recording his vote against
lation in connexion with such benefices , and the n ame of each benefice , and those of them which are without a residence for the incumbent . His lordship remarked that in some of the parishes to which his motion had reference the incomes are as low as 4 : 0 / ., independentlyof pew-rents . —The return was ordered . The Chief Constables Bill , the Public Health Supplemental Bill , and the Ionian Subjects Commission Bill , were respectively read a third time , and passed .
THE MINISTERIAL STATEMENT . Lord Palmerston , in the mids t of considerable cheering , rose to inform the House of the intention of the Government consequent on the adverse vote of Tuesday night . He said that , under ordinary circumstances , there would hardly- have been any alternative for Ministers but to tender tleir resignation to the sovereign . But the circumstances" of the present case were so extraordinary and unusual , that th « y did not conceive it to be their duty so to act . What they had resolved on doing , therefore , was to advise the Crown to call upon the constituencies , at the earliest period at which the state of public business will permit , to exercise that action which the constitution places in their hands It
was true that the division of Tuesday would seem to imply that the Government had lost the confidence of that House ; but , looking to divisions which took place very shortly before , in favour of the Ministry—looking at the majority which the Government had obtained on the Chiuese question in the House of Lords—taking , moreover , into consideration the fact , as he understood it that some of those who concurred in the adverse vote did not mean to regard it as an expression of want of confidence—he believed they were justified in coming to the conclusion that they were bound to take the step ¦ which he had just intimated . The state of parties indicated hy the vote showed , he thought , that it would be very difficult , either for the present Government or for
that which might succeed it ( and he did not speak out of any desire to utter taunts ) , to carry on the business of the country during the remainder of the present session . It would not be possible , however , to dissolve at once . The Estimates had not been voted ; the taxes for the ensuing year had not been passed ; and the Mutiny Act , necessary for the maintenance and discipline of the army , had still to be made law . He proposed , therefore , to do what had been done on previous occasions- —to bring in none but provisional and temporary measures , to continue taxes -which had been voted for three years only for the ensuing year , to vote sums on account of the Estimates , and to continue the Mutiny Act for a proportion of the year , leaving other matters to tho new Parliament , which will assemble in May .
Mr . Disraeli thought the course proposed by Lord Palmerston would be most to the public advantage , and he would give every facility in his power to the progress of business . He believed that the appeal to the country would prove of great benefit to national interests , and he trusted members would be returned with more definite opinions , as an injury to the public business lately by that abandonment of party spirit of which some persons boasted . —Mr . Cobden thought the Government had no right to continue to hold oflicc unless they were prepared to carry out the vote of Tuesday night . The Government had stated that great danger to the English residents in China would Tcsult
an officer and a gentleman stood as high as that of any man in the country ) had withdrawn from the Dntch Folly IToxt because be found that junks could come out and sink impediments which would obstruct the return of his ships . —The Earl of Ellenborough explained that he had said distinctly that his condemnation of the destruction of the suburbs was entirely dependent on the time when the act was committed . He repeated that , if the Admiral had resolved to retire when he destroyed the suburbs , it was an unjustifiable military operation . — Lord Panjniure ( warmly ) : " I deny it . "
PEACE WITH PERSIA . The Earl of Malbiesbcry asked if a treaty of peace had been concluded with Persia , and if the Persian ambassador in Paris possessed full powers to conclude that treaty . —The Earl of Clarendon said the treaty of peace with Persia was signed , and tho negotiations had not been undertaken until her Majesty ' s Government were perfectly satisfied that the Persian ambassador in Paris had ample powers to conclude it .
from the carrying of his ( Mr . Cobden ' s ) motion . In that opinion he did not acquiesce ; but , assuming it to bo the case , the country had a right to know what Ministers meant to do in the emergency . In his opinion , they should send out a competent person by the next steamer , armed with full power to supersede all existing English authority in China , and to act according to circumstances . —Sir Ciiaules Wood assured the House that proper measures liad been taken to collect a sufficient force to protect the English residents in China . — Sir John Walsh , though voting against the Ministry on Tuesday night , did not wish to tie their hands in making all necessary provision for the safety of our countrymen in China . —Mr . Dekdks wished to know what
it . —Mr . Seymour Fitzgerald gave his support to the bill . —The amendment was then withdrawn , and the bill was read a second time . Mr . Whiteside had a second bill on the paper for a second reading , with reference to the Irish Court of Chancery , but he postponed it until next Monday . The House adjourned at half-past five o'clock . Thursday , March 5 th . HOSTILITIES AT CANTON . In the House of Lords , the Earl of Hardwicke called attention to a statement in the papers to the effect that the English troops had been obliged to retreat from Whampoa ; that the Admiral had been compelled to abandon his position ; and that before doing so h . e had burned down the suburbs of Canton . He then begged
to ask if the Government had received any despatches on the subject , and , if received , why they had not been published . He presumed that Ministers had taken measures for the protection of the lives of British subjects in China . —The Earl of Clarendon said that a despatch had been received from Admiral Sir Michael Seymour , stating reasons why he deemed it necessary to withdraw from the Dutch Folly Fort , which he had occupied , and why he thought it compulsory to destroy a portion of the suburbs , which enabled the people of Canton to act against the fleet . It had likewise been necessary to send troops for the better protection of Hong--Kong , in consequence of the disturbed state of the people , and the large rewards offered for acts of incendiarism and for assassinations . —The Earl of Ellenborough
remarked on the importance of their knowing the precise time when the suburbs of Canton were destroyed . If the ships had remained in their old position , the Admiral would be justified in destroying the suburbs that gave a cover to the enemy ; but , if he had retired from , that position , there was no military or moral justification for the destruction of those suburbs . —Lord Panmuke , with much warmth , censured the disposition evinced by some noble Lords to cast blame on the English officials in China before the circumstances under which they had acted became known . Admiral Seymour ( whose character as
SUPERANNUATION OF BI 8 HOPS . In reply to Viscount Dunqannon , the Earl of IIarrowby announced that it is the intention of Government to bring forward a measure with reference to the retirement of , Bishops , when unable , from ago or ill health , to discharge with efficiency their episcopal functions .
THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS . Earl Granvillk made a statement with respect to the Ministerial defeat which had taken place in the House of Commons . His explanation was to tho same effect aa that of Lord Palmerston , an abstract of which will bo found below . —Earl Grey , considering the circumstances of tho case , thought that Sir John B owring ought to be recalled , and another minister bo sontout , empowered to conclude , if possible , a poaco with China . —Earl Granville , while thinking that that question was fitter for the consideration of tho other House than of their Lordships , said he could assure them that , even before the close of tho debate , the Government had taken into consideration tho
tho Government proposed to do with respect to private bills . —Mr . Sidney Hekbeut inquired whether the Government were going to continue the war for the same object—namely , the entry of Sir John Uowring into Canton , and whether tho conduct of affairs there was to be left in tho hands of a man who , in the op inion of tho House , had brought about the present dangerous state of things?—Sir George ; Grey denied that the object of the war was to obtain an entry into Canton . Ho repudiated the dictation of Mr . Cobden , ami trusted that tho House would leave tho honour and interests of tho country in the hands of tho Government .
best moans of coining to a termination of the present unsatisfactory stato of relations botween China and this country . ( Jlear , hear . ') They did not consider that the resolution of tho Houao of Commons was intended to indicate that they should refrain from taking every necessary step for the defence of the livca and property of British subjects in Canton . Nor did they take that resolution as an intimation of tho intention of the House of Commons that they should in a rash and precipitous way patch up a peace without reference to tho condition of things in Canton , or the atato of our relations there . ( Hear . ) Ho boliovod their future stops would not be of a nature to incur blame , in that Houao or elsewhere .
Lord John Russicli , observed that the dissolution was what Mr . Fox called " a penal dissolution ; " that i * *•> my , the House was to bo punished for tho vote it hail given . They were asked to pans certain votes aa rapid !} us they could , in order to assist the Government m making an appeal to the country . If they were asked to give those facilities , there was som « fairness in scuking for an explanation of the policy which is to be pursued during the time which will intervene between the dissolution and tlie meeting of Parliament . ('"[ " "» hear . ) As to tho charge of factious combination whiui had been brought by tho CJovernmenfc against those who voted with Mr . Cobden , it was false and culuniniouB
l'QOR IJHNKPICKS . Viacount Dunoannon moved for a return of tho number of benefices within tho diocoao of London having endowment , undor 200 / . a year ; specifying tho popu-
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220 _____ _ THE . LEAPER . [ No . 363 , ' B ^ jraiu g ^ .
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Leader (1850-1860), March 7, 1857, page 220, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2183/page/4/
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