DEBATES ON THE CHINESE WAR-DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY.
The grand party struggle in parliament took place upon the subject of the Chinese war. The opposition had previously made attempts, led by Lord Grey and Mr. Disraeli, to overturn the cabinet on the subject of the Persian war, but signally failed. Lord Derby proposed a vote of censure, in the lords, against Dr. Bowring, for his conduct at Canton, and the policy of the cabinet by which he was supported. The lords, by a considerable majority, upheld the government. Mr. Cobden made a motion in the commons similar to that made by Lord Derby in the House of Peers. The Peelites and the Manchester school coalesced, Lord John Russell, Mr. Roebuck, and other independent “members,” fell in with the coalition, and the government was beaten by a majority of sixteen. The ministry did not resign, but adopted the alternative of dissolving parliament.