A motion by Mr. ROEBUCK, in the House of Commons
last night, for papers and correspondence relative to the Russian blockade of the Circe.sien coast, the commerce of the Black Sea, arid the capture of the Vixen, produced a debate of considerable length and animation On the law of nations, the power of Russia. the honour of Eng- land, and the protection of commerce. Mr. ROEBUCK made a clever and striking speech, little complimentary to the protocolling po- licy of Lord Palmerston. He wished tor vigorous proceedings he could not see why, with our naval power, we should be bullied by Russia. He talked rather at random, we suspect, about the treaty of London arid the treaty of Adrienople. For the balance of power and the territorial acquisitions of Russia he cared nothing, but maintained that an attack on British commerce must be resented, and resisted immediately. He wished that in these matters England would follow the example of the United States. Mr. HUME, Mr. O'CONNELL, Sir EDWARD COMING- TON, nod Lord DUDLEY STUART, supported Mr. Roebuck. Lord DUD- LEY STUART, in particular, contrasted the tame proceedings of Lord Palmerston with the pugnacious energy displayed by Mr. Pitt, when any otaroge, however slight, in parts however remote, was committed on Banish commerce. Lord PALMERSTON would not give the papers moved for, as their publication during the progress of certain negotia- tions would be dangerous. The speech of the noble Secretary reminded Mr. O'CONNELL of the saying that "the use of language is to conceal our thoughts :" certainly a more vague and unsatisfying speech than that of Lord Palmerston could not well have been delivered. Mr. MACLEAN said, that the Vixen was seized as a smuggler ; but having landed no part of her cargo, she was not a smuggler. Dr. LUSH1NGTON set Mr. Maclean right on that point : a vessel laden with prohibited goods could not approach within three miles of the coast without being liable to seizure. The Doctor took part with Lord Palmerston ; and inclined to think, that it might turn out after all, that Russia had done CO more than the law of nations would permit in seizing the Vixen. The upshot of the debate was tbe withdrawal of the motion. Not atingle new fact of any importance has been elicited, or the least por- tion of new light thrown upon the subject by the wordy display.
The Black Sea and Vixen discussion being ended, the House went Into a Committee of Supply on the Navy Estimates ; and then there was more of the old story about Spain and Portugal, and the Penin- sular policy of the Whigs. This discussion was not more interesting or profitable than the preceding one ; but its result was something tangible—a vote of about two millions to pay the wages of seamen, and for the purchase of marine stores.
The next business was important; and why it was suffered to he Slurred over so easily, we should like to hear a good reason air exruse. Lord Howler got the House into a Committee am the Aumy Esti- metes ; and moved that 81.311 men be allowed for the seri ice of the year 1837: he said that if this vote were not permitted to pass. he should be puzzled how to get his Mutiny Bill thmugh Parlia- ment before Easter. Mr. Hums: said, he would not resist the mo. lion; though he saw that the number of men was 25,000 more than it Was seventeen years ago. so the vote was agreed to: and now we ask Mr. HOME, having voted the men, how can be demur to the demur] of money to pay them with ? There will be no reduction this year. we see, of the Army Estimates. Mr. WALLACE obtained an order for some Post-office papers rela- tive to a newspaper published at the eost of the country and to the profits of certain clerks et the Post-office. The name of this !surrep- titious journel is the London Commercial end Shipping List: it is fed and petted by the Post-office authorities. ita opposition to the Shipping Gazette, is very superior paper, conducted on private resources. Mr. ABOUCIIERE intimated that the subject was under" consideration." When we get the papers moved for by Mr. WALL/ace, we shall pro- bably have a word to say with our old friends of St. Alarrin'e-le- Grand, with respect to this newspaper. Jobbing seems to flourish under the MABESLEY as well as under the old displaced Enemata dynasty.
The Tamworth and Rugby Railway Bill Was rejected, by 90 to 33. More petitions in favour of Chureb-rates were presented in the Lords last night. Some of these were from Leicestershire, by the Duke of RUTLAND ; and his Grace told the House, that the good folks in his neighbourhood, who had slept through all tile political turbulence that had gone by, were quite alive and alarmed at the notion of abolishing Church-rates. No doubt, his Grace's steward has stirred up the bumpkins, whom be formerly kept quiet ; and the Duke therefore imagines that the ecuntry is inflamed with zeal for the Church, from one end of it to the other.
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