POSTSCRIPT.
SA'IIIRDAY MORNING.
The House of Lords was occupied last night in debating the Chinese question. Earl GREY moved than an estimate should be laid before Par- liament of the probable cost of the expedition to China up to the close of the financial year 1860-1. He said he had no desire to call upon the Government to furnish more than an approximate estimate, which would show, in round numbers, the probable cost of the measures already taken or ordered, supposing that no unforseen contingency arose. He strongly condemned the course which the Government had taken in reference to China, and regretted that a war should have been undertaken which might last for years, and cost millions of money, without the previous assent of Parliament having been obtained. He believed that every blow aimed at China, would be more or less felt by the country; and he asked, what benefit our trade and commerce would derive from the burning of Chinese cities, and the indiscriminate slaughter of the Chinese people. The Duke of SOMERSET denied that the Government were responsible for the recent occurrences in China, but thought that, when the news reached this country, they would have laid themselves open to severe censure if they had not taken prompt steps to obtain reparation for the outrage to which the British fleet had been subjected. There could be no doubt that the outrage was premiditated, and he was at a loss to con- ceive what milder course the Government could have taken in the mat- ter. For many years, our relations with China had been most unsatis- factory, and sooner or later must have terminated in hostilities. With re- gard to the probable cost of the expedition, it was impossible to form an estimate at present; but, so far as the Admiralty were concerned, he did not anticipate that the cost of the naval operations during the present year would exceed 850,0001.
The Earl of MazatEssuar defended the policy of Lord Derby's Go- vernment, in reference to China, and accused Mr. Bruce of having acted with undue precipitation in his endeavour to obtain the ratification of the treaty of Tien-tain.
The Earl of Mann contended that it was impossible for Mr. Bruce to have acted otherwise than he did. Had he retired from the Pei-ho, the time for the ratification of the treaty would have expired, and he would have been held responsible for the consequences. Lord Elgin would not have accepted a new mission to China if he believed that it involved any personal slight upon Mr. Bruce. He strongly insisted upon the necessity of our adhering to that article of the treaty which gave us the right of sending an Ambassador to Pekin' when occasion required. He believed that a very exaggerated idea had been formed of the probable cost of the expedition, and he expressed a hope that concessions on the part of the Chinese would render recourse to hostilities unnecessary. The Earl of ELLEssoitoron thought the new mission could not be en- trusted to more able hands than those of the noble lord who negotiated the former treaty, and he sincerely trusted that his noble friend would be enabled to secure peace, with honour to this country, without entailing further bloodshed and the expenditure of millions of money. He viewed the probable outbreak of a new war with China with horror and alarm, and he held it to be not only unjust, but absolutely unlawful, to make war for the purpose of making money.
After a few words from Earl Gass-, in reply, the motion was with- drawn.
The Earl of CAMPERDOWX asked what steps had been taken by the Government in order to secure for the country the benefit of Mr. Whit- worth's inventions in rifled fire-arms and projectiles ? Earl de Garr and RIPON said the attention of the Government had been called to Mr. Whitworth's inventions, and a trial would shortly be instituted at Shoebnryness, under the supervision of the officers especially appointed by the Government for that purpose.
In the House of Commons, taking advantage of the motion for the ad- journment until Monday, Mr. HENNESSY complained of the backward- ness of Irish bills ; Mr. WarrEsron of the appointment of Mr. Lyle as Lord-Lieutenant of Londonderry; and Mr. Etraca inquired what the Government would do in the case of the reports of the Commissioners in regard to electoral corruption at Gloucester and Wakefield ? In reply to this question, Sir GEORGE GREY said that the Government would not re- commend the House to issue writs to those boroughs during the present Parliament.
Sir ROBERT PEEL then rose to call the attention of the House to the position of Switzerland with reference to the recent annexation of Savoy to France. He said it was desirable that, before the House adjourned for the Easter holidays, there should be some expression of opinion on the part of Parliament in reference to the dangers which at present threatened Switzerland. He believed that Mr. Bright had grossly mis- represented the general feeling of the country upon the subject, and that the recent declaration of Lord John Russell had considerably enhanced the confidence of the country in the foreign policy of the Government. He thought, however, that that policy ought to be more fully explained; and that it was especially their duty to produce their reply to the despatch of M. ThouveneL in order to enable the House to form an estimate of the spiritin which it was couched. A most wanton outrage, fraught with danger to the peace, happiness, and independence of Europe, had just been perpetrated by Prance; and he contended that it was the duty of Parliament to strengthen the hands of the Government by a decided expression of opinion. It had been said that her Majesty's Government had connived at the annexation of Savoy ; but he wholly acquitted them of such a charge, though he thought they had listened too credulously to the assurances of France. The annexation of Savoy would, probably, act as an in- centive to more extended aims, and assist the possible realization of the ambitious schemes which France appeared to entertain. The House of Commons ought to protest before it was too late. He admitted that Russia might be engaged in internal improvements which induced her to regard the annexation of Savoy with apathy, that Austria was oppressed by re- ligious and financial difficulties, and that Prussia was always slow to move ; but, at the same time, he believed that the general feeling of Eu- rope was favourable to any step which might be taken to check the am- bitious designs of the Emperor of the French. Sir Robert then glanced at the relations of Savoy with France, Sardinia, and Switzerland, his- torically and geographically, and inquired whether it was worth while to give liberty to Italy, when the concession of liberty involved the sacri- fice of Savoy and Switzerland ? He denied that the general feeling of the people of Savoy was favourable to annexation ; but he believed, not- withstanding that annexation must be regarded as a fat accompli. In conclusion, he said he had no desire to see any active interference on the part of this country, but he thought Parliament ought to enter an energetic protest.
The rest of the sitting was devoted to the forwarding of the Income- tax Bill, Stamp Duties Bill, and other orders of the day. The Reform Bill was again postponed; this time until after Easter.
The Berwick-upon-Tweed Election Committee have found that Mr. Majoribanks has been duly elected. They specify several acts of bribery on both sides, but find that neither Mr. Hodgson nor Mr. Majoribanks consented to or knew of these acts.
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