abstains from censuring the proceedings of the Government, it is
because the most unfriendly scrutiny can find nothing in those
proceedings to censure. We by no means deny that he has a
perfect right to propose a vote expressing disapprobation of what
was done in 1837 or 1838. At the same time, we cannot but be
gratified by learning that he approves of our present policy, and
of the measures which we have taken, since the rupture, for the
vindication of the national honour and for the protection of the
national interests.

It is also to be observed that the right honourable Baronet has
not ventured, either in his motion or in his speech, to charge
Her Majesty's Ministers with any unwise or unjust act, with any
act tending to lower the character of England, or to give cause
of offence to China. The only sins which he imputes to them are
sins of omission. His complaint is merely that they did not
foresee the course which events would take at Canton, and that
consequently they did not send sufficient instructions to the
British resident who was stationed there. Now it is evident that
such an accusation is of all accusations that which requires the
fullest and most distinct proof; for it is of all accusations
that which it is easiest to make and hardest to refute. A man
charged with a culpable act which he has not committed has
comparatively little difficulty in proving his innocence. But
when the charge is merely this, that he has not, in a long and
intricate series of transactions, done all that it would have
been wise to do, how is he to vindicate himself? And the case
which we are considering has this peculiarity, that the envoy to
whom the Ministers are said to have left too large a discretion
was fifteen thousand miles from them. The charge against them