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    Bon ' s Bay Company , which nothing but absolute necessity could justify , or they must take it into their own hands to form a separate colony , which might hereafter become a part of the great Canadian system . With regard to the Red Eiver settlement , that part of the territory came under the charter of the Company , and not the license ; but it was not necessary to try the validity of the charter in order to obtain what they immediately required . The Company didnot resist the object which they had in -view , but offered , any portion of the lands held by them for colonization . It had been proposed that Canada should take charge of this territory under

    certain arrangements , which it was not expected Canada would accede to v and in this case the Government " would next Bession be in a position to propose to Parliament that some conciliatory arrangement should be entered into with the Company . With respect to the charter , the Government proposed to submit the whole question to the consideration of the law officers of the Crown ; and , in regard to colonization , which was the immediate object of his lion , and learned friend , he granted the expediency of strengthening our empire in British North America by establishing a direct line of colony as far as they could along the frontier from Vancouver ' s Island to the banks of the St . Lawrence .

    Lord John Russell , observed that , until it was decided what the rights of the Hudson ' s Bay Company are , it would be impossible to deal satisfactorily with the case . Some legal authority—the Privy Council or a court of law—must determine this point in tie first instance . —Mr . A . Wills concurred in the spirit of the resolutions . —Mr . Lowe contended that , as a commercial body alone , the Company is entitled to a fair and reasonable compensation . He should he sorry to see adopted the course that had been suggested of submitting the question of the validity of their charter , ¦ whi ch had long been virtually recognized , to the decision of a court of law . The territory of the Red River would he very difficult of colonization . It is almost

    inaccessible , except through the United States , and it ¦ would not be easy to defend it . —Mr . Chbistie agreed with the remarks of the Colonial Secretary . —Mr . Gilfin inveighed against the rule and policy of the Hudson ' s Bay Company , and read accounts of the cruel dealings of their servants with the Indians . —Mr . Kixxaird took a different view of the conduct of the Company . The evidence b ef ore the committee of last year negatived the conclusiojis of Mr . Gilpin . —Mr . Chichester Fortescite lik jjriSe ^ spoke in vindication of the Company . —Mr . JjB&wnxiAJtt remarked that it was generally thought t-pnBiat the wars that took place were between the traders and the Indians ; but the fact was , that the wars were between the Indians and the emigrants , because they could not understand each other . —BIr . Wtld said that ,

    m consequence of the emigration taking place it-was necessary that som » arrangement should he made to guard the frontier , and to establish proper fiscal arrangements . —Mr . J . D . Fitzg . eral . i > thought it essential that the legal rights of the Company Bhould be determined . They had never been submitted to investigation , because the opinions of the law officers on cases submitted to them were , on questions of this kind , utterly valueless . It should be ascertained whether the charter gave to the Company exclusive rights of trading , and what -were the territorial rigbts it vested in them . He stated without fear of contradiction , in the presence of the Colonial S « cretafy , that , beyond any matter of doubt , no length of time or of possession could give validity or sanction to -what the law condemns . Mr . Roebuck , being satisfied with the effect produced , withdrew his motion . DESTRUCTION OF BMTISII , PROPERTY IN THE QUUT OF BOTHNIA . Mr . Cjrawford moved an address to her Majesty , praying that she would be pleased to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the complaints made by certain of her subjects of the destruction of their property by her Majesty ' s forces at Uleaborg , in the Gulf of Sothnio , during the recent war with Russia , as were particularly sot forth in certain memorials addressed to the Lords of the Treasury . The property of the merchants at Uleaborg during tho war had been destroyed as contraband of war , though a proclamatio n had been issued to the effect that private property would not bo injured . A flag of truce was sont to the Admiral , -with the explanation that this property was destined for exportation to England ; but the reply of

    the Admiral wan , that it was his duty to destroy it , and the owners must apply to the British Government for compensation , if Uu-y eomidercd tho destruction unjustifiable . Ho ( Mr . Orawford ) argued that this property was not to bo considiM-od contraband of war , and based this claim for counmusntion upon tho words of tho Admiral to tho llujj ; of tmce . —Mr . Adams seconded tho motion . —Sir . John I ' akisoton said that tho Government hail mibniiiU'il llio ciiHo to tho lavy officers of tho Crown , whom ) < i |> ii ) i ( . n was dmriodly ngainnt tho claim for compensation , ll , » iw not the fact that tho timber which had bu < : ii diuiiruywl , together with , a largo quantity of pitch niul tar , Ijv Admiral Plumridgc , wns private property : ii \ vu * contraband of war , tho timber "being lit for tin- construction ol" vcshoIs . Besides , no proof had been olVcivil to tlio Admiral that any part of tho property bulonyml to EnglUli merchants . —Mr .

    Milner Gibson said he did not mean to argue that these parties had a legal title to indemnity ; but he contended that tbey had a moral , just , and equitable claim upon the Government for the loss . It was well known that the affair was a mistake . — -Sir Charles Napier said that Admiral Plumridge was perfectly right in the service he performed . It had been stated upon authority that twelve gunboats had been built at Uleaborg , and he thought it was unfair that this matter should be brought before the House four years after the occurrence . —Mr . "Weguelin observed that the question turned upon this point—whether the articles were or were not contraband of war ; and all Mr . Crawford asked was a commission , to inquire into the

    circumstances of the destruction of the property , and of what it consisted . —Tie Solicitor-General remarked that no claim had been made in either of the cases till 1856 , and in one case not till the present year ; and he asked whether it was right to listen to applications for compensation so long after the transaction , when it was difficult to arrive at the truth . " . He disputed the claims , however , upon their merits , maintaining that the articles destroyed were contraband of war . —Mr . Clay avowed that he had advised the delay of the claims until after the termination of the war . —The . motion was supported by Mr . Malins and Mr . Price . —Mr . Crawford made a brief reply , and , upon a division , the motion -was negatived by 105 to 65 .

    The Government of New Caledonia Bill was read a third time , and passed ; the third reading of the Jews Bill was postponed to the following day ; and the House adjourned at a quarter past two o ' clock . Wednesday , July 21 st . The Lords sat for a short time on Wednesday morning , in order to forward several bills . The third reading of the Lsdlv Bill was postponed till Friday ; and , after some matters of a purely routine character had been got through , the House adjourned . THE NATIONAL GALLERY . In the Hotjse of Commons , in answer to llr . Duncombk , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said he thought it desirable that the National Gallery should be opened during Saturday afternoon . He would give h . is attention to the ' subject , and would see if any arrangement could be made .

    PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS . Viscount Godekich complained of the course adopted by Sir De Lacy Evans towards himself ( Lord Goderich ) , and other gentlemen -who acted with Sir De , Lacy Evans , on the committee appointed last February , to inquire respecting the "way in which reinforcements were sent to India last year , and to report upon the best mode of sending them , in future . Of that committee Sir De Lacy Evans was chairman , and prepared a draft report , against which seven members of the committee voted , and in reference to those gentlemen the hon . and . gallant gentleman bad circulated a paper , of which he ( Lord Goderich ) complained . That paper was headed Parliamentary- Proceedings , and therefore had the

    appearance of receiving the sanction of some Parliamentary authority . Copies of that paper were not sent to him ( Lori Goderich ) or to other members of the committee affected by it , and therefore the hon . and gallant member -was wanting in the fairness which one man should display towards another . The paper consisted of the draft report of the hon . and gallant General , preceded by a preface containing a severe criticism on those who differed from him , and severe assertions respecting ' the proceedings of the committee itself . The charge insinuated' in the paper was that the seven or eight gentlemen who voted against taking into consideration the repoTt of the hon . and gallant General were actuated , not by a sense of public duty in accordance with the evidence , but by a desire to screen the

    members of the late Administration from the censure which they deserved . (// e « r . ) On the part of himself and of those who acted with him on the committee , ho ( Lord Goderich ) gave to that charge tho most distinct and positive denial he could . The course adopted was an unusual one , and he would move the adjournment of the House , to enable Sir De Lacy Evans to explain , his views on tho subject . ~ Sir De Lacy Evans said thero had been no secrecy in the circulation of the document ; but , if ho had transgressed any forms , ho was sorry for having done so . He did not mean to impute any unworthy motives to Lord Goderich and his colleagues ; but ho must admit that he did ascribe to them an amiable and a generous desire to assist their friends .

    The Chancellor ok the Exchequer observed that Sir Do Lacy had committed an net which was not only very irregular , but highly improper . However , bo had expressed his regret ; Lord CJodoriuh had fully and completely vindicated hiiusull * uml bin col leagues ; nnd ho ( Mr . Disraeli ) therefore hoped that tho convertuition would not bo prolonged . —Lonl GoiiKisicu said that , after what hud taken place , lie would withdraw the motion for adjournment . Tho Smoke Nuinancks Ahatkmknt (^ Iicj-jioroM .-i ) Bill , tho Mkmhichs' Fueicdom itmim Auitii . vr Uii . i ,, and tho Cnuncii Katks Commutation . Will , wiv withdrawn . JEWS HILL . This bill wns read a third time , niul passed , after a

    discussion in . which Mr . Warren , Mr . Roebuck Mr Spooxer , Mr . Duncombe , and Mr . Newdegate wero the chief speakers . —Mr . Warren : moved to defer th 7 third reading for three months , and observed that " tip bill , if it became the law of the land , would undoubtedlv lead to a separation of Church and State . He belonged to a party called Conservative ; and , if the principles that party had contended for year by year were sacri ficed , there was hardly anything else left worth fiffhtin « - for . ( J . laugh . } The passing of such a bill as the nre ° sent with the sanction of the Government inflicted a deep wound on the members of tlie Conservative partv and he should not be surprised if unlooked-for results were to flow from the measure before the House It might lead to new political combinations , effecting not eltemporary but

    mery permanent changes in the rela tions of parties . " The hon . and learned member then read from a manuscript , by way of protest , an epitome of his reasons for objecting to tho bill Mr . Roebuck made some biting remarks on the strange conduct of the House of Lords in sending down a bill for emancipating the Jews , and at the same time framing certain reasons against such a measure . However , he congratulated the country upon having obtained a right even from the folly of the House of Lords . —Mr . Spooner . denied that his voting for the bill on Monday night was accidcutal " If the question had been that tiie House should resolve itself into committee on that day three mouths , he would have unhesitatingly supported such a motion ; but what was the fact ? Every hon . member who hail spoken against the bill in the course of tlie debate

    recommended that no division should take place , and he concurred in that opinion . A division , however , was suddenly challenged by some two or three hon . gentlemen who sat behind him , and -who did not assign ahv reasons for the course they adopted . The effect of negativing the motion before the House would simply have been to occasion great inconvenience to hon . members , because the Speaker could not have left the chair . The only result would have been the loss of a day ; and , at such an advanced period of the session , he , for one , -was not prepared to make such a sacrifice . ( C / iea-s . ) He -wished it to be understood , therefore , that he had neither given his vote by mistake , nor changed his opinions , "—The general opinion appeared to be that the Lords had stultified themselves ; but , after much discussion , the third reading was affirmed by 129 to 55 .

    THE OATHS BILL On the order for the consideration of the Lords' reasons for insisting on their amendments to this -bill , Lord John Kussbll moved the following resolution : > " That this House does not consider it necessary to examine the reasons offered by the Lords for insisting upon the exclusion of Jews from Parliament , as , by a bill of the present session , their Lord .-sb . ips have provided for the admission o f persons professing the Jewish religiou toaeatain the Legislature . "—Exceptions were taken to the wording of the resolution ; but the only alteration

    adopted was the insertion , at the suggestion of Sir James Graham , of the word " means , " after " provided . "—Mr . Spooner moved to add , at the end of the resolution , " The bill being in direct contravention to the clear and cogent reasons assigned by their Lordships against the enactments of such bill . ' " - —This amendment was negatived , and the resolution was agreed to . — Lord John Russell then moved a further resolution : — " That this House doth not insist upon their disagreement with the Lords in their amendments to tho said hill . " —The resolution was ' agreed ' to ' without opposition .

    A SCANDAL AT SHKEUNESS . Mr . Stai » leton inquired of tlie Home Secretary whether his attention had been called to a statement in tlio public papers , to tho effect that n corpse had been for several days moored to a stake in tho water in the immediate neighbourhood of SJieerness , and whether ho intended to take nny steps to compel tho proper local authorities to put an end to the scandal . —Mr . Wam'oms said he had no information beyond tho newspaper reports ; but ho had been informed that it was a conflict of local authorities which had occasioned this . scandul Ho would make further inquiries , anil lot tho hou . member know tho result . The House adjourned at four o'clock . Thursday , July 22 « r / . THE NEWS FHOJ 1 INI > IA AND CHINA .

    In the House or Louds , Lord Malmicsmtrv , after reading tho telegraphic news which Iiad just arrived from India nnd China , said : — " I think tho country will feel grateful for tho ability aad gallantry with which Sir Hugh Rose has conducted these operations . " At this there wero loud cheers .

    THE INDtA BILL . In reply to the Duko of Newcastle , the Karl of IJkhiiy said that some alterations agreed upon in various clauses of tho India Bill should ho attended to in duo time THIRD RKADING . S . Tim following bills wcro then read a third timo nnd l '» as . si i d : —Tlio Ecclesiastical Juiusdiction ( Continua . nci : ) liji . r , ; tho Ciiaimtaulh Tiiusts Acts ( Cojnti-M'ANOi ;) \\\ IX . \ tjllO TlJUNPlIOil TltUSTS AimA-NOKMENTB Dili . ; the Coi'Yhold and Unclosl / kis Commihhioiw , & «• ., Mill ; the Indemnity Bill ; Ui « Ai » ministkatio . n oi 1 O axils i » v CoMwriTEts Bull ; tho Aiifltr Siatvjcu

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    702 THE LEADER . [ No . 435 , Jtji / t 24185 a

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 24, 1858, page 702, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2252/page/6/