11 JULY 1840, Page 2

Drbatts artb lprocubings til Vatliament.

RECISTRATION Cl' IRISH VOTERS.

In the House of Commons, on Monday, Lord STANLEY stated the course which, on full consideration, he had resolved to adopt with re- spect to his Irish Registration Bill— The bill had been intro :need early in the present session ; it was read a second time on the -25th of Alarch. Circumstances over which he had no con- trol, stud to which it was not necessary for him to retbr, caused him to postpone Its further consideration fro:a the 6Ili to the 18th of Afier three days' dkrassion, it was tbund impossible to proceed further with it until the 11 flu of June. It was discussed on that day., on the 18th of June, and also on the Ifith of duly. It had undergone the ordeal of ten divisions in its various stages in Shut House. In live of those divisions the whole power of Government had been exerted to throw it out ; and out of those ten divisions there vas only one in which the Government were partially successful. I ii the rem:lining nine divisions the bill stood the test, and remained by them untouched. If the bill encountered an opposition rather unusual, he must say—and he said it with f,elings of gratitude—that it had been supported with a de;ree of cordia- lity at at enthusiasm unpreceden;ed in the history of any conntry. Ile re- peated it—it was supported by a tIe I t of enthusiasm baldly preeedeuted in the annals of Parliament. Ile knew ni no instance hi which, week after week, gentknien would be found coming flown to their places in that 'House, as lied been the case out the present occasion, at the sacrifice of great personal convenience, which he was most unwilling to put theta to—he knew no occasion on which, for three some, solve weeks, three hundred gentlemen, without a single defaulter, recorded their support of a measure brought forward by au individual against the declared determination of opposition by nny Government whatsoever. So long as he felt ma chance of carrying the bill this sessioni, he did not scruple to tax the kindness of honourable friends ; but, looking to what had, occurred, he felt himself obliged to say that he should abstain from calling for their further exertions in favour of his bill. The move cordial their support, the more unwilling was he to tax that support, as it was impassible that it could he ultimately successful. What, he would ask, was the present position of the hill ?- They had now occupied nine days in discussing this measure; five or six of those days had been in Committee ; in five days they had passed five clauses out of a bill which contained forty-six ; and it' the remaining clauses—one of which was a money-clause, and required their peculiar consideration—took a like time, it was absolutely impossible that the hill could pass in the present session. Ile could not anticipate either that the opposition to the bill would he relaxed or the enmity to it diminished. The last day they went into Com- mittee, after they had given live days to its discussion, instead of making any progress, the whole evening was occupied in the disemsion of au instruction which had been already negatived by the !louse. Ile had every reason to be- lieve that the same degree of opposition would be persisted in during the ses- sion, and that it would be ultimately successful. Ile feared, then—even had the opposition been fair and candid—that it would occupy too much time to allow of the bill passing this session. Nevertheless, he wished his supporters to note, that the efforts they had made were not altogether fruitless, and that he should next session reintroduce his bill— They had established by majorities—certainly not by large majorities, but suffieiently so to command the respect of Government, evils in the system of

voting in Ireland so glaring as to require an effectual remedy. The House had

decided in favour of his bill against that of her Majesty's Government. They had tour times affirmed the principle of his bill They had approved of annual registrations in opposition to the quarterly registrutious supported by Govern- ment. They had refused to mix up the question of the franchise with the registration. These are the grounds that they had established. lie might go ou carrying the other clauses, and achieving bans II triumphs; but as he would, by doing this, stand in the way or much public husiness—and unit having the least hope of being able to carry the bill in the present session—he did not, for the mere sake of harassing Government or defeating their measures, think it proper to take this course. They had other very important measures before them, which it would not be expedient to postpone; and he should feel exceed-

ingly sorry if any act of his should be productive of inconycnience to the

public business of the House. Upon that principle he was prepared to rest ; . and if he abstained from pressing this bill in the presaint session, he would dis- tiuctly state, that, malting by the experience of this session), and knowing the opposition Ile was likely to encounter, he should take the earliest opportunity in the next session of again inviting the consideration of the House to this measure, and should bring it forward ot so early a period of that session that he trusted the act would be brought into operation at no later a period than that which he bad proposed for the measure in this session. He moved the order of' the day for the further consideration of the bill, with the view of having it discharged. thought it necessary to advert to— so much about this bill, there was only one part of his statement that lie been the character of that opposition. (Cries " Oh, oh i" and laughter frost in the present session, on the grounds of public convenience, be had nothing to say ; but with regard to what seemed to be imputed with respect to the oppe. , sition to this bill, he thought it his duty to say that fair, candid, and open the Opposition.) There might be a question certainly, whether, Lord Jones RUSSELL observed, that although Lord Stanley hadrissabitihdue Upon the reasons which the noble Lord had given for not pressingafttlei House had agreed to go into Committee on the bill, any motion should be made to prefer any other bill to the bill of the noble Lord. Ile felt he was fully entitled to have made such a motion ; but, in order that them might be no excuse for alleging that he endeavoured to prevent the progress of this bill it had not been his intention to do so.

Such a motion, however, had been made by Mr. Charles Wood, who could not have beets actuated by a desire to offer unfair or uneandid opposition. On another occasion, Mr. O'Connell had moved an instruc- tion to the Committee, but only because Mr. Warburton had been pre- vented by a technical form from snaking a motion to the same effect. In the temper of the House, Lord John did not think it right to dispute the Speaker's decision ; but he had no hesitation in stating thatc the odm.if. fered from the Chair on that question. The House went ; mittee, but the motion for the instruction was never made till 3h. O'Connell made it. As for the prolonged opposition. Lord Smnley him- self was in great Pleasure to Home for it. Ile might have prevented the long speeches made on the other side ; which had induced Lord John to remark to Lord Morpeth, that it never could be intended to pass the bill this session. With regard to that bill, since it was abandoned, he would say nothing ; and he should be ready to discuss any other mea- sure for registering votes in Parliament which might be brought forward, always with the view of enabling voters to register without needless expense or delay— But whatever proposition was introduced under the name of registration to obstruct and destroy the franchise which was given by the Reform Act—he himself haying been concerned in the passing of that act—he should feel it his duty to give the strongest opposition to that measure. He was looking the other day at what had been the course of the discussion in the progress of the Refoem Act, and he Ibund that far forty days his noble friend Lord Spencer and himself hail argued in the Committee in flavour of that measure ; and that bill being theme's out in the House of Lords, they in the next session argued for twenty-two days more in favour of it in Committee ; that was besides all the lengi la and discussion upon going into the Committee and on the third reading, of that hill : but, long as that time was, sixty-two days altogether in Committee, besides %Aims other days of discussion, he was nay to encounter, either for that or a longer period of time, a discussion in this house, ather than submit to an effectual and virtual repeal of an important part of tliat act,

The motion to discharge the order of the day for the Committee on Lord Stanley's Bill was then agreed to.

CILABLES Dos-ci..te asked, did Lord John Ilse:sell intend to prO• ceed with the Right of Voting Bill this session Lord JOHN RUSSELL—" No."

Sir Romer Pcm. put the same question with regard to time Treating and Bribery Bill.

Lord JOHN Russime replied, that some points in that bill required further consideration, and he should not proceed with it.

Sir ROBERT PEEr.—" I presume the English Registration Bi1 will also be abandoned?"

Lord Joust RUSSELL—" Yes."

Sir ROBERT PEEL—" And the same, I presume, with regard to the Irish Registration and Qualification Bills : so that we shall get rid of these five bills at once:"

There was great laughter on the Opposition benches, but no reply from the Ministerial Leader.

REUNION On THE CANADA&

In the House of Lords, on Tuesday, the Earl of HAnnwseKE moved an amendment to the motion for going into Committee on the Canada Go- vernment Bill, that the House should go into Committee that day three months. Ile rested his motion on the speeches delivered on the second reaching of the bill, not only by the Duke of Wellington and Lord Ellenarough, but by Lord Melbourne himself—whose speech did not convey the impression, that even Ministers considered the measure as absolutely necessary, or certain of accomplishing its end, Use good go- vernment of the Canadas. He contended that the plan of giving the British minority a preponderance in the Legislature over the majority who belonged to the French race, would perpetuate the disorders of ! Canada ; and he held it to be impossible by any sort of union to esta- blish a government which would be just to all parties and at the same time insure the preponderance of the British population and the Queen's loyal subjects. Lord Hardwicke read a paper drawn up at his request by Sir Francis Head, and containing a number of reasons (none of them new) why the bill should not pass. He also referred to Sir George Arthur, Chief Justice Robinson, and Mr. Hagerman, as persons whose opinions against the Union were entitled to high consideration. He had no apprehension of any danger from the French population of Lower Canada, restrained as theymust be by the loyal men of Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Lord SEATON felt the greatest apprehension for the probable results of the Union ; but as matters now stood, he thought it snore injurious to the Can:sdas to defer the bill than to stiffer the Union to take place.

The Duke of Wes.mxurox concurred in nearly all that Lord Hardwicke had said ; but be thought it was scarcely worth while to read to

the Ihmse Sir Francis Head's opinions, when he was so well able to express his own. The Duke said he retained his opinion expressed on a previous evening, that the measure was an extremely dangerous one; but he also agreed, that whoever rejected the bill should be prepared with another for the government of these valuable possessions. He proceeded to censure the manner in which the consent of the Upper Canada House of Assembly had been obtained to the union of the Pro.. Nimes. The concurrence of the Tory party was secured by the publi- . cation of Lord John Russell's despatch of the Dith October, respecting the tenure of offices ; and the support of the Republican party, who came from the United States—refugees and others—was secured by the suppression of Lord John Russell's despatch of the 14th of October, which would have discouraged time advocates of Responsible Govern. merit. He considered the responsibility of a Government which had taken such steps to carry the measure as very great, and on that Government the responsibility must rest. He entreated the House to go into Committee on the bill, and adopt such amendments as the Government chose to introduce ; also to consider whether they would adopt amendments which Lord Ellenborough might propose. He recommended that a provision for suspending the measure for one or two years should be introduced, in case such suspension should appear necessary. Within the present week news had been received that

hostilities were again threatened on the frontier, and a steam-boat had been blown up in one of the ports of the St. Lawrence by what was called an infernal machine. As long as any thing of this description continued, the situation of Government must be extremely awkward— unable to carry this bill into execution, and without legal power to govern the Lower Province. Lord Miamoi7RNE admitted that be had introduced the bill with some

feeling of apprehension, lie should hold it monstrous presumption to declare that he had no doubt as to the operation of a measure of such magnitude ; but nevertheless, he did in his conscience believe that it was absolutely necessary. Moreover, taking a larger view of the sub ject than Lord Ilardwieke had presented to the I louse, the measure was a just one—just upon the w.h lie e ‘eas perffetly persuaded, that the only means by which constIttitlimal government could be safely rei'sta- bliiffied in Lower Canada had been adopted. The opinions of several persons had been cited against the bill, but Lord Melbourne begged the liouse to remember that no reasons had been givea for any of these opinions. A very lively gentle:nail, Sir Francis Head, had drawn up a sort of brief for Lord Hardwieke, at his Lordship's request,—and, no doubt, Sir Francis would gladly draw up such a paper at anybody's re- quest; •, but Lord Melbourne was not disposed to pay much attention to its contents. As to the effect of Lord John Russell's despatch on the votes of members of the Upper Canada Legislature, he thought the Duke of Wellington paid those members a very poor compliment when he argued that they supported the UiAon against their consciences, rather than lose their offices. Delay was recommended ; but in his opinion, any thing like irresolution would have the effect of encou- raging opposition in the Colonies; and the sooner the bill passed, the better would its chance be of ultimate success. With respect to the withholding of the despatch of the Ifth October, there might be other reasons than those stated by the Duke of Wellington why its produc- tion would have been imprudent.

The Earl of WICKLOW could not agree to a measure founded on Lord Durham's and Mr. Ponlett Thomson's recommendations, recollecting how brief and slight was their experience of Canadian affairs. I le could not expect good from a measure for uniting two people of dif- ferent tastes, habits, customs, religion, and general feelings. It would only have the effect of exciting ill-will, quarrels, and finally rebellion.

Earl of GOSPOIID opposed the measure, as founded on inisrepre- sentatton, likely to be attended with great injustice, and to prove an in- delible blot on the Legislature of this country.

The Marquis of Nottn:txtiv reminded the House of the great pre- ponderance of opinion in favour of the bill both in the House of Com- mons and in the Canadas. Ile considered that the weight of authority was with the supporters of the measure.

The Earl of IlAnnwiews felt bound on this occasion to follow an ex- ample which the Duke of Wellington had often set—to net in accord- ance with his conscientious conviction, and to divide the House.

A division took place— For going into Cotninittee 107

For Lord Hardwicke's amendment 10 Majority 97

The clauses were agreed to in Committee ; the Duke of Wmuaxorost and Lord ELLENnottoUGH postponing their amendments till the bringing up of the report on Thursday.

On that day, Lord MELBOURNE having moved that the Report be brought up and considered, The Duke of WELLINGTON moved to amend the first clause, by in- serting the word" fifteen" instead of "six." This motion, which post-

pones the commencement of the operation of the act to fifteen instead If six months after its passing, was carried without a single remark.

Lord ELLENE0110 am moved a clause to empower the Governor and two-thirds of the Council to suspend any member guilty of' unworthy and disreputable conduct. Agreed to.

Lord Euttsnonortilt then moved to omit the words " equal number of representatives for ['finer and Lower Canada," on the ground that it was unjust and impolitic to give Lower Canada, with 700,000 inhabit- ants, only the same number of representatives as Upper Canada with 400,000.

Lord MELBOURNE objected to this, and it was not pressed.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH then proposed to make material alterations in theapportionment of Members in Lower Canada. By his plan the Lower Canada Representatives would be 46 and it would be easy to raise the

number for Upper Canada from 42 to 46. He regretted that the clauses relative to District Councils had been struck out of the bill.

The motion was opposed by Lord MmutornsE and Lord LANSDOWNE, and withdrawn.

The Bishop of Exiers.ii called attention to a difficulty which might arise from the provision which required the assent of two-thirds of the whole House of Assembly to any bill for altering the number of repre- sentatives in the Assembly, also to the inconvenience of two languages being spoken.

Lord ASITBURTON said that in Louisiana that difficulty had been soon got over.

The Duke of WELLINGTON gave notice that he should move to insert A clause, of which the purport was not heard by the reporters, on the third reading ; which was fixed for Monday.

CANADA CLERGY RESERVES.

lp the House of Commons, on Monday, Lord Jortx RPSSELL CX- p anted the course he intended to take with respect to the Clergy Re- .A proposition had been made to him by those who had most right to represent the Church of England in Parliament, and which he was also told was considered perfectly fair by persons likely to know the opinion of the Church of Scotland— It was proposed that one-fourth, or rather the proceeds of that one-fourth which was already sold, should be given absolutely to the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, in the proportion of two to one; that is, being divided into three equal parts, two of those parts should he given to the Church of' England and one to the Church of Scotland. It was proposed further, with regard to the remaining three-fourths of the Clergy Reserves, that they should be divided into equal parts, of which one should be given to the Church of England and (larch of Scotland, and the other part should be left to the disposal of the Governor and Executive Council of Canada generally for the purpose of religions worship and instruction. With respect to that part which was to be left to the Churches of England and Scotland, it was proposed that a similar divisbm should take place as was prrpro:ed with regard to the one- tioprth that was already sold,—namelv, two-thirds to the Church of Eng- land and one-third 1mm the Church of Sootland. That division del not rest Ott anv ground of superiority of the Church of England over that Ill ; 'hut if thew took the number of Presbyterians of the Church Ill Scotland alone. :aid flit: number of members of the Church of England in t'alcula they would ...Intl that the latter amotutted in round numbers to .about, :old the Coner only to uhoot .10,000. There was this further proposi-

tion, that sm.]] the general ditiu of the proceeds of the Clergy Re- serves resliect to tlic tmc-fotirth which avas :thready sold, and the proceeds

of Ivhdelt wen.. already partly ilivi.sted in the fends of this country and stand- big ill the names of trustees, it was proposed, reverting to the principle which II -,cp! to 14. adopted and was ie.:1%Na! to by Parliament. but wbieli wiet changed I Iv] ,Ii ',line 311,1:liticut ion was -.made Ity the noble Lord opposite, then er,.1:aiy of State for the Colonies, that the %cloth. of the proceeds now payable to the Chplrelt uf England and the Church of Scotland out of the revenue ot Upper Camola shoilld be guaranteed permailmtly to the Clonal of England and Church of Scotland. The amount now paid to the Church of Eng- Lund v..as 7,700/., mid to the Church of Scotland 1,5s0/. It was now proposed to guarantee the payment permanently. It seemed to him that if that 'payment were to be guaranteed at all, it ought to be done out of the funds of this country ; because the funds of* Canada being already, by the l'nion Bill, bur- dened to a considtirable extent for the Civil List, he thought it would be unfair. to burden them I ill further for this purpose.

On mature consideration, Government had resolved to recommend Parliament to adopt these propositions: and Ile moved to postpone the ciinsideration of the Clergy Reserves liill to the following Thursday, when lie should move amendments to carry them out.

Sir RGIIEBT PEEL took occasion to guard hineself from misapprehen- sion— " think it necessary to state, that the opinions which I have on different treasinns denver.1 nvon the ,nbjeet or Canada remain entirely unchanged. 'With respeet to the Clergy Reserves, I hope this measure will be discussetl in the same spirit as the uniou of the C'ainnIns; and I would appeal to tins (the Oppadtian) side of th.• Ilote.e, if' it could lie asserted in the propositions made to the noble 1.01,1. and by him to the llouse, that the Church of England had I's) /pprerned by a right adherence to her tout intercsts. I think that the pro- loll tunIc hy the Archbishop of Canterbury, thistinguisheil as well for his high ,tai ion as for his inthietation--1 think th.A th,! proposition does in itself come recommend, d by justice II.: well as forisitoaii.i.•. On the part of the Cho!, h of EngLindp zill obstacles arc lemoved freap II oiipasal of the whole ff the Rea rye 1,!,1:•1:. the Chilrch !,1:eks ant 1,1 re-erve to herself any of I tlb.,e lends. A fte.. the &vision of the Judges, the Church of li-"iititland is ad- I mitied to tile S,1,114. a,: the Chitral of ENg1111:11; ;111t1 the only difference which exists is the dill...mince arising from the number of adherents which be- long to each. With this proposition, atspii, seed iiiIty the two churches, per- mitting the entire sale of the whittle of the Reserve Lands, with the guarantee in perpetuity of the present amount with one-third of the proceeds of the future sale, that is It proposal recommended hy its intrinsic importance, as well as by its justice and moderation. It would Is unfortunate indeed if' this ques- tion should remain unsettled. It is one which the 17niteil Legislature of the Canadas would be first called upon to discuss; and it is to me a source of the greatest satisthetion that the noble i,ord acquiesces in the proposal made by the Church of England. In acceding to that proposal, I think the noble Lord has acted wisely it' he has tt prospect of a settlement of this question ; and I sincerely hope that this measure will be discussed in the same spirit as the question of the Union has been diseussed ; and I trust that the two measures will pass into a law with the general concurrence of' the House, and by doing so be the foundation of a happy relation between this country and Canada."

In reply to Mr. ClIARLES BULLER, Lord Joilx RussEia, said, that it was proposed to leave one-half of the three-fourths to the disposal of the Covernor-Oeneral and the Executive Council, for the purposes of religious worship and for education. This was done to promote una- nimity in the House, because there were Opposition Members who would object to any portion being granted to the Roman Catholics.

On Thursday, the Douse being in Committee, Lord Jolts RussELL moved a resolution that provision be made out (tithe Consolidated Fund for payment of such stuns as may be necessary to make good the defi- ciency of the fund to be created by an Act of the present Parliament for the sale of the Clergy Reserves in Upper Canada.

Resolution agreed to. CHINA.

Sir ROBERT PLer., on Monday, put several que,tions to Lord Pal- merston relative to an Order in Council in the ia.,_qte of the previous Friday authorizing the capture of ( 'blues'. vessels:. The substance of Lord Pawn:two:es allSWerS Was, that VeSSels be!Onging to China, or in which Chinese subjects were interested, )1140it be captured, but their final adjudication would depend upon the course of events in China. If the Emperor refused satisfaction, they weld be confiscated; if he made it, they would be released. The property of neutrals would, Lord Palmerston conceived, be untouche)l. The great distance ren- dered it necessary to invest the courts of adjudication with extraordi- nary powers. tressed condition and their desire to emigrate to New Zealand, had f Government with respect to New Zealand. The bill which Lora ha lately fallen under his notice. Ile rejoiced that the inclination to re- move to countries where labour was dear, and land cheap, was growing amongst the working population. With respect to the plan of coloni- zation, he wished that the principle so ably developed by Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and carried iato operation with complete success in South Australia, were adopted by Lord John Russell for the coloniza- tion of New Zealand. The evidence given before the Lords' Com- mittee rendered it unnecessary for him to state to the House the advantages of New Zealand. The publication of that evidence had in- duced many persons to go to the colony. Two points, however, he must distinctly advert to,—first, the right of this country to the sove- reignty of New Zealand; secondly, the best mode of establishing British colonies there. Lord Eliot then recapitulated the various acts of sovereignty performed under the authority of the British Crown; from the discovery Of New Zealand in 1769, when for the first time the flag of a civilized nusion was placed there by Captain Cook, to 1837, when Lord Glenelg wrote a despatch declaring the necessity of establishing an effective amhority in New Zealand for the protection of the natives and of British iaterests. This despatch was written in 1837, but it was not till the summer of 1839 that Captain Hobson was sent to New Zealand by her Majesty's Government. In January 1840, Lord John Russell, in his instructions to the Lord Commissioners, spoke of New Zealand as a principal field for their operations ; so that up to that time no doubt had arisen as to the sovereignty of England. A disclaimer of such sovereignty had, however, been since made by the Colonial de- partment ; and the attention of foreign states had been directed to this derelict colony, which Lord John Russell abandoned. A body of French settlers intended to take possession or part of the Southern Island, which

Captain Hobson represented as being iuhabited by savages, incapable of comprehending atty treaty, and in which her Majesty's authority, founded on the right of discovery, ought to he at once asserted. In this opinion Lord Normanby appeered to coincide. But Lord John Russell denied the right of the British Crown to exchisive dominion in New Zea- land. On this point Lord Eliot quoted an authorityeminent in Europe as well as America—Chancellor Kent, who in his Commentaries distinctly laid down the doctrine that the discovering nation had an exclusive right to sovereignty against all other nations, due regard being paid to the rights of the inhabitants of the soil. The practice of European nations proved the general recognition of this principle of a chains and title to territories given by discovery. Vattel held the same doctrine.- Lord John Russell himself had said the law of England did not recognize as valid the titles to lend acquired by British subjects in New Zealand : but if the Britall Crown had no dominion in New Zealand—if sove- reignty was diselahred—by what right did the British Government in- terfere with what was done in New Zealand ? Lord John Russell had asked him not to press Ida motion, because despatches were expected from Captain 'Hobson : hut nothing that Captain Hobson could do ought to stop inquiry, for the noble Lord was proceeding on vicious principles. One part of his arrangement was to make New Zealand is dependency of New South Wales, twelve hundred miles off—much. to the discon- tent of the people of that colony. Captain Hobson bad by proclama- tion appointed a Commission to inquire into the validity of titles to land ; and the Commissioners were some of the largest holders of land in New Zealand, thus made judge a on their own claims. it was doubt- ful whether these Commissioners could legally make awards, and whether an appeal would not lie metinst their decisions to tha Privy Council. alaulasstly, the Colonial alinister ought to CORIC to Parlia- ment for more power. Again, Captaiu !Larson was authorized to sell land at as. an acre, whilst in South Australia it was it. an acre. The lower price could not be adopted consistently with Mr. Wakefield's principle. This was a point for the Committee. Lord Eliot concluied by saying, that he brought forward the motion witlsoat any communica- tion with any party in the House, and he did not then know whether Sir Robert Peel would support it. lie only sought for inquiry, to enable the House to legislate soundly, wisely, and well, upon a subject of the greatest interest and importanee.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, he had already told Lord Eliot that he saw no practical use in appointing it Committee in the absence of infor- mation which must very soon arrive. He did not dispute the Fin- ciples for which \linters authority hal been quoted. The conduct of Government had been in accordance with those principles. A long period had elapsed since the right of sovereignty from discovery had accrued; and if during the interval acts had been done relaxing, not

confirming that right, some new title was necessary. 'Lord John then referred to recitals in acts of Parliament passed in 1817, and in 182 I, wherein NOY Zealand was mentioned as not within the British domi- nions; and therefore, without alluding to what occurred in 1835, be did isot think he was called 'tient sal at once to assert the sovereignty of the British Crown its New Zealand, merely because a number of gentle- men had formed themselves into a company its London. Lord John then deseauted on the various ways in which it had been usual to found colonies; none of %%hash hitch Leen adopted by the Nese Zealand Com-

pany, whose plan line been laid before Parliament, but did not gain its approval. The Government thee took the suajeet under consideration, and resolved to scud a Consnl to New Zealttud—that country having been mentioued in acts of Parliament as a foreign dominion. Captain Hobson was to proceed to nequire the sovereignty of New Zealand in

the mode prescribed by Vatted. The arrangement whieh made New Zealand a dependency of New Steeth Wales was merely temperary. When New Zealand gathered streugth and prospered, it mental no longer be a dependency of another colony. Lord John Russell antici- pated that there would be a good understanding between the Company and Captain Hobson— Immediately British authority was establish:al itt New Zealand, there was an end to all disputes with the Company. Whet he objected to was, that a company formed in Loudon should go to is country declared by the Crown to be a foreign country, and do what could only be done by the Crown ; in other words, he could not consent that the prerogative of the:Crown ahould be trans -fermi to any private company.

Mr. MACKINNON supported the motion ; and complained of Lord John Russell's misstatement with respect to the salaries of the South Australian Commissioners.

Mr. WARD also supported the motion, and censured the conduct of

alluded to had actually been revised by Lord Howick, and then th rosa out by Government.

Mr. VERNON Salmi hoped the House would not consent to this ras. tion. No information had been received from Captain Hobson. The session was too far advanced for useful inquiry. Lord Eliot had not stated precisely the course lie meant to take, nor the number of wit- flosses he meant to call. lie denied that the Colonial Office treated New Zealand harshly : that Office only wished to show the principles they were resolved to abide by. As for information, the Colonial Office would willingly supply it to n11 who required it.

Mr. Hum; called attention to Captain Hobson's anomalous position, Ile was Consul and also Lieutenant-Governor in a country where the -. Queen disclaimed all authority.

Mr. FRANCIS Baum; said, the New Zealand Company were inae. pendent of the Government, and prepared to go on in uuison with it or s in spite of it.

air. &ems (Mime thought inquiry absolutely necessary ; for there a was so much vacillation in the plans of the Colonial Office, that all peis al sons were in the dark as to the description of government to be esta- Unshed in New Zealand.

Sir IIARRY VERNEY hoped the motion would be deferred till nest session.

Lord SANDON said, Government was shy in stating the extent of Captain llobson's authority in New Zealand— It first appeared cut if it was to extend only to that part now settled by En1. lish subjects; but afterwards it appeared as if the sovereignty of the Crows was to extend over every part of New Zealand where Captain Hobson could, by purchase or otherwise, acquire authority. Was he, wherever he found a colony of his own countrymen, to go and assert his authority ? Another question was thia—Would the Crown object to the establishment of an Epii. copal Church, presided over by a Bishop, in any part of New Zealand colonized by English subjects?

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, it MIAS difficult to lay down definite rules with respect to a country so distant fre.m England— The directions given to Captain Hobson were, to exercise authority over ail S- - her alraesty's subjects who had acquired and were in possession of lands. If he found, in the course of his nrgotiathws with the (duels, that they wished a •• were willing that whole of the country should be subject to the Crown of Dap land, he Ises authorized to consent. But tlas matter was left very much to his discretion. 'With regard to the second question, as to the Episcopal euthority of the Church onEngland, he could only say, that if there were to te • a legal settlement of civ Zealand, he had no doubt that Episcopal authority should be established there.

Lord Fatal' said, the contrndietory statements which had been made . 'showed the necesaity of inquiry— One point Meet, had been it holly lost sight of by the Government, thought)! the utmost. imp:Hance, OctS LOW the interests oh the moires shoula be tied Nvith. Not was said in the papers on this point ; whereas the New Zra. land Company did make a reserve fbr the natives. As to the eviaence whisk a wag to be brought before the Committee, nothing could be easier than to rag before the Comet tee the officers of the Company and hear their staa merits, and to eNmiline the Law Officers or the Crown on the subject of statements made by an officer of the Government_ lie did not think he shoal! be justified in ;weeding to the proposal to withdraw his motion.

Strangers were ordered to witlub•aw, for the division ; when Lord JOHN RUSSELL g,.:Ve way, and the motion was carried, item. eon.

Oct the motiea of Lord Eanrr, on Thursday, the following wets la appointed Menib(-rs of the New Zealand Comnsittee—) ,ord Eliot Sir. Labouchcre, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Tuffnell, Mr. Vernon Smith, Mr. Francis Baring, Mr. Hutt, ale Robert Steuart, Mr. Chapman, ia Mr. 1 Lindley, Captain Bolder°, Mr. Edward Buller, Mr. Briscoe, la Sir William Somerville, and Mr. George William MIN.

COMMERCE WITH AUSTRIA.

On Monday, ale Lanorennets moved that the House agree to a resolution passed pro Anna in a Committee, " that leave be given to • bring in a bill to enable her Majesty to carry into effect certain stipule lions contained in a treaty of commerea and navigation between he Majesty and the Emperor of Atearia, and to empower her Majesty a declare by Order in Council, that ports \silica arc the most natural and CO nvenient shipping ports t,f states whhin whose dominions they are, not situated, may in certain cases be considered, for all pnrposes S• trade wills her aiajesly's dominions, as the national ports of a:uch states. Mr. Iloneras complained that so important a motion, which went to a. rescind a part of the aiavigatioe-laws, should have come before the House without one syllable of coimnent or explanation. It was in. tended to facilitate the execution of the commercial treaty with Aus• trio' —a treaty in which there was something good that was not net and something new not good. All that was good was found in a treaty concluded by Lord Aberdeen. Mr. I terries entered into to minute ere initiation of the treaty, pointing out some mistakes; and he especially - dwelt upon the nealiaence by which so large a portion of the session was allowed to pass away without any application to Parliament to enable the Government to procure the practical benefit of the treaty. Although he censured the she vettliness end the blundering mannera which the treaty had been formed, Ins decidedly approved of its object. which tended to draw closer the bonds of amity between England and Austria.

Mr. LABOUCHERE said, he naturally waited for attack before attempt- ing a defence. It was a mistake to suppose that the treaty comprised little more than Lord Aberdeen's treaty ; and he enumerated sone minor points of difference. No doubt, some relaxation of the Narig.a- tion-laws was intended; but he did not think that large commercial and political advantages were to be sacrificed to preserve the Naviga- tion-laws intact.

Mr. COLQUHOUN' Sir. STRATFORD CANNINC, Enid Sir Eowami S0a ona, blamed the Government. Mr. SHEIL, Mr. lawns, and Nr. ANDREW WHITE, approved or the treaty. Lord Panansesgos admittel that there were verbal inaccuracies, but they were of small coesequenes, He considered the treaty valuable, both as opening a new channel 51 trade and cementing the political connexion of England with Austria. The resolution was agreed to ; and a bill, founded upon it, ordered to be brought in by Mr, Labouchere aud Mr. Sheil.

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.

Mr. Ferznov KELLY carried the second reading of his bill, without opposition ; but Mr. Fox MAULE gave notice that several amendments should be moved in Committee.

Commuter.

On Wednesday, Mr. Sergeant TAIX0PRD confessed that he had Do expectation of carrying his Copyright Bill this session ; and on his mo- tion the order of the day for going into Committee on the bill was dis- charged.

Lord SANDON asked Mr. Hogg, in the absence of Sir John Hoblionse, whether it was the intention of the East India Company to separate themselves from the growth of and traffic in opium?

Mr. Moo, as an individual Director of the East India Company, could only say, that no instructions of the nature indicated by Lord &union had yet been sent out. The question greatly affected the com- mercial and financial affairs o India.

I aim CORPORATION.

The Lords, by a vote of 82 to :15, rejected a motion made by Lord WYNFORD on Monday, to exclude Dublin from the operation of the Irish Municipal Bill; and ordered the report to be brought up on Thursday.

MISCELLANEOUS.

ECCLESIASTICAL DUTIES AND REVENUES BILL. Time remaining clauses of this bill were agreed to in Committee on Thursday.

Poem-LAW Commisstox. The bill to continue the Commission for another year, went through time Committee, a motion by Mr. I ft-ms; to reduce the number of Assistant Commissioners to nine, having been negatived by 61 to 11.

Swan. Mr. How: asked Mr. Labouchere if he was aware that the price of sugar was so high that a quantity of slave-grown sugar, paying the enormous differential duty, had been brought into the market ? Mr. Lanotteuuttu knew that some jiweign sugar had been imported, but could not tell that it was slave-grown.

COLONIAL LANDS. Mr. G. mere, on Wednesday, presented a petition from merchants of London eonneeted with New South Wales, eons- plaining of the application of the funds derived from the sale of lands in that colony to purposes other than the encouragement of emigration, and they prayed that the said funds might not be so applied in future. He moved that the petition be printed with the Votes, as he intended to submit a motion on the subject on a future day.

CHURCH-RATES.

Easmiton, on Tuesday, moved for leave "to bring in a bill to relieve Dissenters from the Established Church of England from the payment of Church-rates." After Mr. Easthope had delivered a long speech in support of his motion, the See:Amt. made a technical objection to its being put,—that it was in substance the same as one made on the 11th of February, and according to the rule of the House, the same question could not be twice discussed in the same session. The question was not put from the Chair, and the motion fell to the ground. SALE OF BEER REGULATION BILL.

The consideration of the report on this bill having been moved, on Wednesday, Lord SANDON proposed to introduce a clause to prevent the consumption of beer on premises to be hereafter licensed. Clause rejected, by 91 to 47. On Thursday, the bill was read a third time, and passed.