The Press. — London, England, 1857-03-21 00:00:00

MARCH 21, 1857. Copies of these treaties, as signed, had not yet been received, and he was therefore unable to answer the questions put to him with confidence, but from the draught he could state their effe.ct, without pledging himself to the accuracy of his statement. By the general treaty the Sound would be opened on the Ist of April, and the compensation to be paid by each power was fixed. By the separate convention between Great Britain and Denmark the amount fixed for this country, subject to the decision of Parliament, was to be paid within three months. The question of hypo thecation was between the Danish Government and the bondholders. Sir H. Wit.r.ouowsv inquired what was the amount of the compensation. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied 1,1.25,206/. MUTINY BILL-AFFAIRS OF ITALY. On the order of the day for considering the Mutiny Bill as amended, Mr. DISR %ELI rose to put a question to Lord Palmerston with reference to the Neapolitan papers laid before the house early in the session : The noble lord stated that the papers did not contain all the correspondence, but that the correspondence omitted referred to a proposition which had led to no result, and that it was therefore unnecessary to place it upon the table. I find, however•, from the foreign journals, and from an English journal, that foreigners and the public out of doors are more favoured than the members of the House of Commons, for the correspondence which was omitted front the papers laid upon the table appears to have transpired, and portions of that correspondence have been published. I wish to address a question to the noble lord with respect to one of the allegations contained in th it correspondence. It is stated that her Majesty's Go vernment tuado an off,a• to a foreign power to undertake that in case there was any attempt to establish repub lican institutions in Vie south of Italy they would prevent the establishment of such institutions even, it' necessary, by force of arms. Now, what I wish to know is whether there is any authority for that statement—whether it be true that a communication of that character, or in that spirit, was ma le to any foreign power by the noble lord's Government; and I hope he will give to that question a frank, and not a technical answer. Lird PALMERSTON : The right hon. gentleman has not represented quite correctly the statement I made on a former occasion. Whit I then said was that the papers laid upon the table contained everything that bore upon the course of policy which her Majesty's Government had adopted, but that certain instructions had been given to our mission at Naples as to the course to be pursued under contingen• cies which had nut happened, and that as those contin• gencies had not occurred the instructions fell to the ground, and there was no necessity for acting upon them. I did riot. refer to communications made to her Majesty's Government, but to instructions from her Majesty's Government to their own agent at Naples. I stated that other instructions had been given upon matters which were totally unimportant, and which had no reference to tit! questions at issue. I understand the right bon. gen tl •man wishes to know whether the British Government made any suggestion to a foreign Government that if an attempt should be made to establish republican install- Cogs in Italy the British Government ought to oppose such a movement by force of arms. Am I correct iu so un ler-tinding the right hon. gentleman? Mr. DISRAELI : I wish to he distinctly understood. L rd PALMERSTON : It is important to be exact. Mr. lltaitsErd : ‘Vliat I wish to know k whether, in the co irse of communications which took place with reference to the affairs of Sicily, her Majesty's Government made any offer to a foreign power that if an attempt were made to establish republican institutions in Southern Italy they were prepared to interfere—if necessary even by force of arms—to prevent the establishment of such iu• stit utions. Lord PALM n ERSTON : No such offer was made by her Majesty's Government. The subject then dropped, but was shortly after renewed by Mr. HENLEY, who said that the impression left upon his mind by Lord Palmerston's reply was that some of those communications made to the British agent in Naples, with respect to certain contingencies which did not occur, did actually contain such an offer of preventing the establishment of republican institutions from our Government. Under these circumstances, I ant anxious to give the noble lord an opportunity of correcting the impression which his statement made upon my mind, if it be an erro neous one. Lird PALMERSTON : I am obliged to the right hon. gentleman, if such an impression prevails, for giving me en opportunity of re moving it. What 1 said was that the instructions sent to the British agents had reference to the emiduct which they should pursue in the event of certain overtures being made to them by the Neapolitan Government. Those overtures never were made, and the instructions forwarded to our agents had no relation whatever to the contingency of republican institutions being established. Wo merely said, "If the Neapolitan Government make an offer to do so and so, you are to act so and so ;" bin, no such offer having been made, the contingency to which the instruc tions applied did not arise, and the instructions had nothing to do with the establishment of republican insti tutions. I sin quite sure that both the right hon. gentle men opposite must feel that the British Government never would think of interposing by force of arms to prevent the THE PRESS. establishment of any form of government which the people of any foreign country might be pleased to adopt. In such a case we should of course have our opinion as to what would be must desirable, but that opinion we should not think ourselves entitled to enforce by appeal to arms. ( Hear, hear.) Mr. tisie kEi.r: Do I distinctly understand the noble lord to state—it is well to be candid in these matters—that no communications took place between the Government of which he is chief and any foreign power in which the con tingency of republican institutions being established in Italy, was contemplated, and the course which her Majes• ty's Government under that contingency were prepared to pursue, was expressed. Lord PALMERSTON : That is a totally different question. The right hon. gentleman asked me whether any offer had been made by the British Government to co-operate with any foreign power in t reventing the establishment of repub lican institn ions in Italy. Mr. DISRAELI : I asked whether any offer had been made to a foreign power, but 1 did not say a word about co•operation.l Lord PALMERSTON : Well, any offer to a foreign power to do something, and that, too, if necessary, by force of arms. I repeat, no communication has been made to any foreign power that we would prevent the establishment of republican institutions in Italy. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY. Leave was given to bring in a bill to authorise the payment of dividends. HOUSE OF LORDS.-WYDNESDkY. The House of Lords sat for a short time in the morning, when several bills were forwarded a stage. HOUSE OF CO NI MON S.-WF:DNFDAY. The Speaker's Retirement Bill was read a third time and passed. The SPEAKER expressed his acknowledgments to the house for this mark of their approbation of his services, and for ►.he noble and generous manner in which those services had been rewarded. DIINISTERS' MONEY BILL. Mr. FAGAN moved the second reading of this bill. Mr. BAGWELL and Mr. MEAGHER supported the measure. Mr. HORSHAM stated the intentions of the Govern ment with regard to this question. Considering the difficulty experienced in collecting the tax, and that the attempt to enforce it by litigation was futile, the Government had come to the conclusion that the only adequate remedy was that suggested by the committee of 1847, the spirit of which was embodied in this bill—namely, the abolition of the tax. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON protested against this mode of dealing with the matter, and moved to defer the second reading of the hill for three weeks. _ _ Admiral JONES seconded this amendment. Lord PALMERSTON said the ministers' money would be provided out of the resources of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, by whom :he amount was at present advanced. The amendment was then negatived, and the bill read (formally) a second time, being ordered to be committed that day three months. INDIAN TELEGRAPHS. Mr. WILSON, in reply to questions by Sir D. Norreys and Mr. Otway, stated that the only line of telegraphic communication between India and Europe with regard to which the Government had entered into any engagements was that from Seleucia to the Persia Gulf, and the only assistance to be given to the company would be in the shape of payment for work done when the liue was com pleted. DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES. Lord PAL3IERSTON, in answer to a question put by Mr. Otway, said that the affairs of the Wallachian provinces were now in a trt.in of settlement; the Austrian troops had began to evacuate the provinces, Divans were about to assemble to make arrangements for the future settlement of the country, and he had no doubt that the Wallachian refugees would be allowed to return to their homes. HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY. NAPLES. The Earl of HARDWICKE inquired the reason why the squadron sent to the Bay of Naples had been withdrawn. Lord CLARENDON replied that the French and English Governments had been induced to withdraw their ships of war in consequence of their apprehen sion that their presence might lead to an insurrec tion in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The matter shortly afterwards was dropped. THE TURNER BEQUEST. Lord Sr. LEONARDS called the attention of the house to the Turner bequest to the nation, and complained of the way in which the testamentary dispositions of that great artist had been neglected or set aside. He also complained of the "dark holes" in Marlhorough-house, in which a portion of the pictures constituting the bequest had been ex hibited to the public. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said, it was clear, though that great artist could draw everything else, be could not draw a will. The result bad been that the nation bad been forced to submit to a compro. 271 miss with the next of kin. With regard to the exhibition of the pictures at Marlborough-house ' that was the only place of exhibition at the disposal of the Government, and rather than not exhibit them at alt the Government had resolved that they should be exhibited at Marlborough-house, though it certainly did not intend theta to remain there. elution flttiligtuct. Acconling to the latest intelligence from the dif ferent counties, boroughs, and towns, we have reason to believe that no serious opposition will be offered to the return of the sitting members for the fol lowing places : Asnovza.—Wdltam Cubitt, LC ; Henry Beaumont Coles, C. Tho Hon. D. Fortescue is a candidate. ANGLESEY.—Sir R. B. W. Bulkeley, Bart., L ARUNDEL—Lord Edward G. F. Howard, L AsumunroN.--George Moffett, L ASTON•UNDER•LYNE.—CharIes Hindley, L B NDURY.-11. W. Tancred, L BEDFORDSHME.—F. C. Hastings Russell, L; Colonel Richard T. Gilpin, C BEDFORD (COUNTY ).—S. Whitbread, L ; 11. Stuart, C BERGS—G. H. 'Vansittart, C ; Robert Palmer, C V - count Barrington, C 13Ewnixv.—Sir T. E. Winnington, Bart., L BIRMINGHANI.—George Frederick Monti. L ; William Soholetieid, L. It is expected that Mr. Muntz will be opposed. 13Lacreutur.—James Pilkington, L ; Major Montague J. Feilden, L BOLTON.—Thomas Barnes, L ; Joseph Crook, L BOSTON.—Benjamin Bond Cabbtll, C ; Herbert In• gram, L BRECKNOCKSIIIRE.--Sir Joseph Bailey, Bart., C BRF:CKNOCK.—Lieut.-Colonel L. V.J.Watkin-, L BRIDGNORTH.—Hriiry Whitmore, C; John P4k:l)6lrd, L C Butnowkrru.—Colonel C. J. K. L; B. Spencer Follett, C. Major Graham (L) is a candidate. Butsvot..—Hon. F. H. F. Berkeley, L ; William H. Gore Langton, L Bucxs.—Caledon George Da Pre, C ; Right Hon. B. Disraeli, C ; Hon. C. C. Cavendish, L BURY.—Frederick Peel, I, CAI NE.—Sir W. F. Williams. Bart. CAMBRIDOESHIRE.—Hon. Eliot T. Yorke, C ; Lord George J. Manners, C ; Edward Ball, C CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY.—Loftus T. Wigram, C ; Right Hon. S. H. Walpole, C CAnntoANsitiar.—Earl of Lisburne, C CLRDIGAN IJOROUGHS.—Mr. Davies C) retires, and Mr. E. L. Pryse (L) will probably be retnrii , 4 CARLISI,E.—Right Hon. Sir J. R. G. Graham, Bart., L C ; Joseph Ferguson, L CARMARTHENSHIRE.—LHIVid A. S. Davies, C ; David Jones, C CARMARTHEN.—David Morris, L CARNARVONSHIRE.—Hon. E. D. O. Pennant, L C CA RsinvoN ltonouous.—W. liulkeley Hughes, L C CHESHIRE ( SOUTH ).—Sir P. de M. G. Eiertou, Bart.. C ; John Tollemache, C CiircilEsmit.—John Abel Smith, L ; Lord H. G. C. G. Lennox, C CHIPPENHAM—Lieut•CoIoneI H. G. Boidero, C; Robert, Parry Nisbet, C CHRISTCHIJRCH.—RearAdmiraI J. E. Walcott, C Curt:Nray.—Right Hun. E. Ellice, L ; Sir Joseph Patton, L CRICKLADE.—John Neeld, C ; Ambrose L. Goddard, C. Mr. C. Munk (L) is a candidate. CUMBERLAND (EAST).—Hon. C. W. EL Howard, L William Marshall, L CumBERLANn (WEST). Lieutenant• Colonel Henry Lowther, C ; Samuel Irton, C DARTMOUTH.—Rear-Admiral Sir T. Herbert, C. Mr. S. Hayne is a candidate. DENBIGHSHIRE.--SiT W. W. Wynn, Bart., C ; Colonel R. M. ltiddulph. DERBYSHIRE (NORTH)—Hon. G. H. Cavendish, L ; W. Pole Thornhill, L DEVON (SOUTH).—Sir J. B. Y. Buller, Bart ,C ; Law. reiice Palk, C DORCHESTER.—Richard Brinsley Sheridan, L ; Captain ; Charles N. Sturt, C DORSETSHIRE—Henry Ker Seymer, C; John Floyer, C ; Henry Gerard Stun, C. DROITWITCII.—Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington, C DucliAlt (Nonni).—li. Duncombe Shaft°, L; Lord A, F. C. W. Vane Tempest, C DT mita' (Sol:1.0.-14rd Harry G. Vane, L ; James Ferrer, C DrutiAm.—William Atherton, L ; John IlJbert Mowbray, LC ESSEX (NOliTll).—Sir John T. Tyrell, Bart. C ; Right Hon. W. lieresfora, C ; Sir J. Tyrell retires, and Mr. Pu Cane (Clla a candidate. ESSEX ( SOUTH ).—Thomas William Bramston, C ; Sir W. B. Smijth, Bart., C EYE.—Sir E. C. Kerrison, C FLINT, &c.—Sir John Hammer, Bait, L C GATESHEAD.—W. Hutt, L GLOUCESTER (FAST).—SiT C. W. Coarington, Bait, C; R. S. Holford, C GLOUCESTER (Wrs7)—LienteColonel R. N. F. Kings cote, L ; Robert Blagden Hale, C. Gnsftswicit lionouows—Moutagu. Chambers, L ; Sir W. J. Codrington, K.C.8., L HALIFAX—Right Hon. Sir C. Wood, Bart., L; Frank Crossley, L. Mr. H. Edwards is a candidate. HAwrixos.—Patrick Francis Robertson, L C; Frederick North, L HELsTon..—Sir R. R. Vyvyan, Bart., L