river and port of Canton would be established. The commodore, however,
witli several ships, sailed northward in the direction of Cliusan, and
he was followed on the 28th by Admiral Elliot and Captain Elliot. The
Chinese authorities now bestirred themselves vigorously to meet the
danger. By a proclamation issued on the 2nd of July, the people were
called upon to unite heart and hand with the government in opposing
the barbarians. All the proclamations and precautions of the Chinese,
however, were vain. On Sunday, the 5th of June, the British captured
Chusan: for the first time British cannon wrested from his celestial
majesty a portion of his dominions.

The policy of government with reference to the affairs of China was made
the subject of a series of condemnatory resolutions in parliament.
These were brought forward by Sir James Graham on the 7th of April,
who introduced the subject by calling the attention of the house to the
magnitude of the interests involved in our relations with China. The
right honourable baronet then went into a detailed history of the
disputes of which a brief account is given above; and finally concluded
by moving, that "it appears to the house, in consideration of the
papers relating to China, presented to this house by command of
her majesty, that the interruption in our commercial and friendly
intercourse with that country, and the hostilities which have since
taken place, are mainly to be attributed to the want of foresight and
precaution on the part of her majesty's present advisers in respect to
our relations with China; and especially to their neglect to furnish
the superintendent at Canton with powers and instructions calculated to
provide against the growing evils connected with the contraband traffic
in opium, and adapted to the novel and difficult situation in which the
superintendent was placed." Mr. Macauley replied to Sir James Graham;
and a long debate ensued, in which the motion was supported by Sir
W. Follett, Messrs. Thesiger, Sidney Herbert, W. E. Gladstone, and G.
Palmer; and opposed by Sirs George Staunton, S. Lushington, and J. C.
Hobhouse, and Messrs. Hawes, C. Buller, and Ward. The debate was closed
by powerful speeches from Sir Robert Peel in support of the motion, and
Viscount Palmerston against it. On a division the motion was negatived
by a majority of two hundred and seventy-one against two hundred and
sixty-two.

THE IRISH MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL, ETC.