addressed to their Lordships in September last, or in reference to any observations which he might make in respect of the committee to be moved for. He agreed with the noble Lord as to the importance of the subject, which, when it was brought forward, would, doubtless, receive that attention from their Lordships, which the noble Lord thought it entitled to. The noble Lord had yesterday mentioned to him, that he intended to ask a question on this subject, and he then told the noble Lord, that no answer had yet been received in reply to the inquiry made by Lord Ellenborough, at the period alluded to. He was not prepared to say, nor did he think, that any one was competent to give the information to the noble Lord, as to the nature of the inquiries directed to be made by Lord Ellenborough. Nor did he know how much or how little of the speech alluded to by the noble Lord had been communicated by Lord Ellenborough to the parties in India, to whom the interrogations were sent. This was what he had stated yesterday to the noble Lord; but to-day he observed in the mail that had been received from India, a private communication to Lord Ellenborough from Lord Auckland, in which it was stated, that the information he could give on the subject, was generally imperfect, and not very satisfactory. As soon as he could make himself master of the question, he would lay the information, such as it was, before their Lordships, but he was afraid it was not so satisfactory as it might have been, had more time been allowed for inquiry. Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MINUTES.] Bills. 1. Copyright Registration.-3o and passed:-Appropriation Act (1841) Amendment. Petitions presented. By Mr. Hindley, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Strutt, Mr. Wilson, Dr. Bowring, Mr. Brotherton, Lord Dalmeny, Mr. Ewart, and a number of other Members, from a great many places, for the Total Abolition of the Corn-laws.-By Mr. Compton, from Wymorney, and Porchester, against the Repeal of the Ashline, and by Mr. Litton, from Presbyterians of Coleraine, for an Alteration of the Marriage Law (Ireland).By Mr. Ferrand, from Keighly, and by Mr. T. Dun Corn-laws.-By Captain Beresford, from Presbyterians of combe, from Lyndhurst, against the Poor-law. By Mr. O'Brien, from Paisley, in favour of Emigration.-By Mr. Rennie, from Ship Builders of Ipswich, for an Equalization of the Timber Duties.-By Mr. T. Duncombe, from an individual, for improving the condition of the Working Classes, MUNICIPAL LAW-(IRELAND).] Mr. Powell begged leave to ask the noble Secretary for Ireland whether it was in the contemplation of the Government to introduce a bill for the purpose of remedying the technical defects of the Irish Municipal Reform Act. These defects had been productive of great practical inconvenience. Lord Eliot would take that opportunity of expressing a hope that any hon. Gentleman who might be desirous of putting questions to the Government of a nature similar to that which the hon. Member had asked would, in the first place, give previous notice of his intention. He did not wish to enter at that moment into the subject to which the hon. Member had alluded, and, as he had not the honour of a seat in the Cabinet, he was the less able to intimate the intention of her Majesty's Ministers. He was, however, convinced that if any practical grievances were pointed out, the Government would be anxious to apply a remedy as speedily as possible. As to the particular question which the hon. Gentleman had put to him, he was not aware that her Majesty's Ministers had any measure in contemplation on the subject. Mr. Powell did not wish to press any question improperly upon the noble Lord. He would give notice, however, that he would to-morrow renew his question on this subject. RAILWAYS-(IRELAND).] Mr. French wished to ask the noble Lord, the Secretary for Ireland, whether it were the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce this Session any measure for the promotion of railroad communication in Ireland? And also, whether it were intended to introduce any measure for the better administration of medical charities in that country? Lord Eliot said, in reply to the first question, that various propositions had been made on the subject by parties in Ireland; but he believed it was not the intention of Government to bring forward any measure on the subject of railroads in Ireland, the effect of which would be to involve any outlay of public money, or to entail on this country any pecuniary liability. In other respects, Government were willing, by every means in their Power, to encourage railroad communications in Ireland by private enterprise. As to the second question of the hon. Mem- | Baronet was, whether the treaty as it was ber, a measure with reference to medical concluded had been altered in any material charities had been prepared, and would be respect from the draught as it stood at the brought forward hereafter. It was not in period when the late Government left a sufficiently forward state, however, to be office; and he also wished to know wheintroduced immediately. ther the ratifications of any of the contracting parties had been received, and if so, whether they had been exchanged for the ratifications on the part of the British Crown? He might be allowed to say, that never perhaps did any of the five Powers conclude a treaty more honourable to themselves, or one which was founded on purer motives or more complete disinterestedness, than that to which he referred. If the right hon. Baronet thought that it would be inconvenient to answer these questions he would be satisfied with such an intimation. Sir R. Peel observed, that he did not foresee any public inconvenience in replying to the questions which had been proposed by the noble Lord. He could fully confirm, if indeed any confirmation were necessary, the accuracy of the statement made by the noble Lord with respect to the circumstances under which this treaty was considered and signed. The invita tion was addressed jointly by England and France to the three other powers, requesting them to join in an united effort for the purpose of suppressing that traffic which had been declared to be odious and infamous by the voice of this country. The treaty was signed by the five powers, subsequent to the appointment of the present Ministers. He was not, however, aware that any important alterations had from the treaty as it was originally agreed been made in the treaty, as it was signed, upon at an earlier period. There were, he believed, some modifications, but they SLAVE TRADE TREATY.] Viscount Palmerston was desirous to ask a question of the right hon. Baronet opposite on a subject which had been mentioned in the Speech from the Throne - namely, the treaty between the five Powers for the suppression of the Slave Trade. In order that the House might properly comprehend the bearing of the question he would first state to the House the course of proceedings which led to that treaty. The treaty, as the House knew by the papers which had been laid before it, was the result of a conference held in December, 1838, at the Foreign-office, and whieh was assembled in order that the plenipotentiaries of France and England might propose to the plenipotentiaries of Austria, Russia, and Prussia the continuation of the negotiatious for the suppression of the Slave-trade that had been begun at the Congress of Vienna. There was this remarkable circumstance in that conference, that whereas, at the Congress of Vienna, England stood almost alone in urging the other powers of Europe to take measures for that purpose, on this occasion, in December, 1838. France occupied the same honourable position which England had before occupied alone, and the proposal to enter into this treaty proceeded as much from France as from England, and the two countries were equally entitled to the honour of making the proposition. At that conference a draught of the treaty was proposed by the plenipotentiaries of France and England were not of a nature that would at all to the plenipotentiaries of the other powers. The other three plenipotentiaries said justify him in characterising them as imthey would refer it to their respective portant. They were modifications intended courts for instructions; and the plenipo- to further the general objects of the treaty. tentiaries of France and England stated The noble Lord's second question was, that they hoped that the detailed provisi- whether the ratifications of any of the conons of that draught would be found recon- tracting parties had been received, and cileable with the rights and interests of whether they had been exchanged with the subjects of the other powers. Many those of this country. No such exchange communications passed on this subject, of ratifications had taken place. The and towards the end of last summer the period allowed for the exchange of ratificamatter stood in this situation-the treaty tions would not expire till the 20th of this had been agreed to by the three Powers, month. He had, however, reason to believe and nothing but the signatures and the ar-that the ratifications of some of the conrangement of some matters of form were necessary to make it effectual. What he wished, then, to ask of the right hon. tracting powers had been received in London; but, as the period allowed for the exchange would not terminate till the 20th of February, no surprise could be felt that the exchange had not yet taken place. CONVICTS-HULKS.] Viscount Mahon wished to ask his right hon. Friend, the Secretary for the Home Department, whether it was his intention to act on the decision of that House, and to diminish the number of convicts permanently detained in the hulks at the different seaports in this country, although they had been sentenced to transportation? He wished to know whether his right hon. Friend in the administration of his department had endeavonred to diminish the number of convicts so detained at home, and to increase those sent abroad? Sir J. Graham could assure his noble Friend that the Government had not lost sight of the decision to which the House had come last Session on the motion of his noble Friend. The Government were now endeavouring gradually, and he hoped successfully, to diminish the number of convicts detained at home. During the past year, 1,000 convicts had been sent to Gibraltar to labour at the repairs of that fortress; and his noble Friend at the head of the Admiralty was favourable to sending a number of convicts to the settlement of Gambier, in South Australia. During the next year, he believed the number of convicts at home would be diminished by 1,000 or 1,500. reference to personal convenience, but to the public interest alone. He should make his statement as soon as the immediate votes of supply were granted. After that step was taken, he should not lose a day. He was sure the hon. Gentleman would not wish him to make any partial disclosures. WEST INDIAN BISHOPRICS.] Lord Stanley rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to amend the act 6 Geo. 4th., cap. 88, for making provision for the salaries of certain bishops, and other ecclesiastical dignitaries and ministers, in the diocese of Jamaica, and in the diocese of Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, and to enable her Majesty to separate such diocese. He did not think that any objection would be raised to the introduction of the bill for leave to introduce which he now intended to move. It might be in the recollection of the House, that in the year 1825, a bill had been introduced, authorising the establishment of the bishoprics of Barbadoes and Jamaica, and assigning salaries to bishops and archdeacons respectively. Since then, he need hardly say, that from circumstances the labours of the clergy in our West Indian colonies, had increased to a great extent. It was one of the happy circumstances attendant on emancipation, that there had been of late an increasing and chapels had risen in every direction, desire for spiritual instruction. Churches and there had been an increasing desire to have the superintendence of the clergy. AFFGHANISTAN AND CABUL.] H. Elphinstone adverted to the very dis-But of course this spread of religious feelastrous accounts that had just appeared in the public journals with respect to our warlike proceedings in Afghanistan and Cabul, and begged to ask the right hon. Baronet whether any further and official accounts of the alleged insurrection had been received by the Government? Sir R. Peel answered, that despatches had been received; but, as they had only just reached his hands, he had not been able to inform himself of their contents. FINANCIAL STATEMENT.] Mr. Barclay begged to inquire of the right hon. Baronet when he would bring forward his financial statement. Sir R. Peel said, it was his intention to develope his financial views with the least possible delay, but public convenience would compel him to postpone his statement for a short time. This postponement had no ing entailed increased duties on the superintendance of the Bishop of Jamaica, and included all the Leeward Islands and Deon the Bishop of Barbadoes, whose diocese merara, and which could not all be performed by him. At this moment the Bishop of Barbadoes had tendered the resignation of his see, and in conformity with the provisions of the act, 6th of George 4th, c. 88, by which, after ten years' service, the bishop was entitled to a retiring allowance. The Bishop of Barbadoes had now served sixteen years, and had laboured most zealously in his office. That Prelate now claimed the benefit of the act, and had placed his appointment at the disposalof her Majesty. He had felt that it was desirable, as the noble Lord who had preceded him in his office had done, to make more effectual provision for the discharge of the episcopal functions of that island; and he was happy to inform the House, that in accordance with an arrangement he had made, with the consent of the Archbishop here, and of the Bishop of Barbadoes, he proposed to subdivide that diocese into three dioceses instead of one, without involving any increased expenditure either to this country, or to any other party. The salary assigned to the Bishop of Barbadoes. and charged on the consolidated fund, was 4,000l. a year, with a retiring allowance of 1,000l. a-year. There were also two archdeacons, to whom salaries of 2,000l. a year each were assigned, though only 1,500l. a year each had been drawn, the rest having been contributed for a third archdeacon, who received 500l. additional from the colony of Demerara. This left a disposable amount of 8,500l. a year. Instead of giving to the Bishop of Barbadoes 4,000l. a year, and to each of the archdeacons 2,000l. a year, the intention of the bill which he was about to lay before the House was, to appoint three bishops, and to give to the first 2,500/ a year, to the second 2,000l. a year, and to the third 1,500l. a year, with 500l. added by the colony of Demerara, and he proposed to assign to the three archdeacons the salary of 500l. a year each, instead of their present salary of 2,000l. a year, which appeared to him to be exorbitant. He proposed also to add two clergymen to the establishments in Trinidad, and at St. Kitt's, to perform the duties of rural deans; and the same amount of money which went to provide for one bishop, and three archdeacons, would go to provide the services of three bishops, three achdeacons, and two rural deans. He trusted that he had exhibited a proper regard for economy in this arrangement for subdividing the important functions performed by the bishop of the diocese, and obtaining an adequate superintendence in the episcopal government of these colonies. It was only due to the Bishop of Barbadoes to state, that although the pension for his services was not granted till his resignation was actually given, and though the resignatiou was tendered in August last, owing to a doubt as to the form of it, it had not yet been actually received; the bishop had said, though in form he was entitled to receive the salary of the bishopric, he was willing to receive the quarterly sum of 250l. alone, under the pension he had accepted, though this had not in form been confirmed upon him. He proposed to make similar arrangements with regard to the diocese of Jamaica. He proposed to take power to her Majesty, by letters patent, if she should so think fit, to appoint one or two or more dioceses in Jamaica, providing that the expense of two dioceses should not exceed the sum of 6,000l., appropriated to the support of the present diocese. He did not anticipate any opposition to the proposition, and should conclude with moving for leave to bring in a bill to amend the act 6th Geo. 4th., c. 88, for making provision for the salaries of certain bishops, and other ecclesiastical dignitaries and ministers in the diocese of Jamaica, and in the diocese of Barbadoes, and the Leeward Islands, aud to enable her Majesty to separate such diocese." Leave given. COLONIAL TRADE-CUSTOMS DUTIES.] On the motion of Mr. Gladstone, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House on the Acts relative to the Customs Duties now levied on importations into the British Possessions in America and the Mauritius. Mr. Gladstone said, in introducing to the notice of the Committee, or, he should rather have said, on re-introducing to the notice of the Committee a subject of considerable importance, it was a great satisfaction to him to think that he should not have to trouble them at any considerable length by the detail of the main grounds of the proposition which he had to make. It would be in the recollection of all those who heard him that the right hon. Gentleman opposite, the late President of the Board of Trade, had twelve months ago introduced a plan to the House for the purpose of relieving the American colonies from the weight of duties now levied on them under the authority of the Imperial Parliament; and it would be in the recollection of the House that the plan was generally welcomed by the House in its details. It would, therefore, be illjudged in him to go over at any great length the details of a subject on which the right hon. Gentleman had then dilated with great ability, and in a manner superior to any to which he (Mr. Gladstone) could pretend. He should content himself with stating the general grounds of the bill, and referring to the main propositions which he intended to bring forward. That right hon. Gentleman had shown that the colonial system as it existed between this country and its dependencies was one of extreme strictness in a commercial sense. The relaxation of the late system had commenced sixty years ago, and since the peace in 1815 material changes had been effected in the policy of the commercial system of the colonies. In the year 1822, under the present Lord Ripon, then Mr. Robinson, and agaiu in the year 1825, under the lamented Mr. Huskisson, measures were introduced into the British Parliament, the general effect of which was to substitute protective duties for the prohibitory duties before levied. Although this had been done, and although the result had been, so far as it went, satisfactory, and although the apprehensions of those who opposed that measure had been proved to be unfounded, yet the duties which were still leviable by authority of the Imperial Parliament were fixed at rates which could not be justified either with regard to the interests of the revenues of the colonies themselves, or with regard to the principles laid down by Parliament with respect to its colonial legislation; and in certain cases the operation of the system, as it at present stood on the statute-book, was extremely onerous. He did not think that, saving one or more exceptions, there were any hon. Members who were prepared to object to the statements of the right hon. Gentleman. But if there were alarm existing in any quarter on this subject, he must refer to an illustration which that right hon. Gentleman had used to the example of our eastern colonies. While we had a system of severe taxation, and almost of prohibition, in our colonies in the West, the Crown, acting under the authority of Parliament, had applied to our eastern possessions, and to the mighty empire of India, principles completely different from those which had been applied to our colonies in the western hemisphere. He was not exactly aware whether the same line of policy was pursued in those countries under the rule of the East India Company, although he believed that such was the case; but he believed that there was not a single case with respect to our eastern colonies in which any differential duty amounting to more than 4, 5, 6, or 7 per cent. was levied for the purpose of protecting British manufactures. When they considered that this had long been the case, and when they considered that it was really impossible to say whether our trade with our eastern or with our western colonies was the most valuable to the mother country,-of such invaluable importance were both,-he thought it would be believed that he had stated sufficient to quell the apprehensions of those who considered it necessary, on account of British interests, that the present rate of duties should be levied in our Western possessions, and that they could not fail to arrive at the conviction that their apprehensions were altogether groundless. At the time when the right hon. Gentleman introduced his measure before Parliament last year, as it was a measure which referred to a great variety of interests, and to places situated at distances so remote, it was to be expected that some Gentlemen would feel that there was a difficulty in submitting propositions of a general nature to Parliament, intended to affect distant dependencies, without having some means of ascertaining how those provisions would be welcomed by the people of those dependencies. For that reason, he considered it a happy circumstance, that the measure had not passed into a law last year, because, from the time which had elapsed, the bearing of those measures had become known in our colonies, in the West Indies, and North America, and were generally approved of by their inhabitants. The right hon. Gentleman, in bringing forward the measure last year had said he brought it forward on its own merits, and on that ground he asked the sanction of the House, so far as regarded English interests, which might be supposed to be prejudicially affected by the measures proposed. The right hon. Gentleman himself, who was at that time at the head of the Board of Trade, and who had, consequently, the best opportunities of being acquainted with public feeling on the subject, had stated in a subsequent discussion, that the measure he had proposed, received a larger share of approbation from the general commercial interests of the country, than any measure that had ever been proposed. He was not going to dispute any of the principles which the right hon. Gentleman then propounded; but, on the contrary, to recommend to the committee the application to a somewhat larger extent, of certain of those principles. He thought, that the right hon. Gentleman had shown, by undeniable authority, that he was treading in the course which had been taken by those before him. The right hon. Gentleman had not trusted merely to speculative reasoning, he had been able to point to what had been already done in commercial relaxation; and, on those grounds, he also asked for the support of the House. He was further disposed to take this course, because he thought, that in the time which had elapsed since the plan of the right hon. |