The Press.
London, England, 1853-05-28 00:00:00

ytt lortgg.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1853.

HOUSE OF LORDS---FutnAv.
THE AFFAIItS OF Tummy.
The Earl of MALMESUURY iuter►Ogated the Foreign
Secretary on the subject 4)1 the negotiations pending
between her Majesty's Gove►nment and the Govern-
ment o 1 Turkey. Having referred to the current
rtunours on the subject, he inked whether it was t►ue
that the Emperor had demanded of the Sultan,
through Prince Menschikoff, that &convention should
be signed by the Emperor and the Sultan securing to
the Greek subjects of the Porte all those privileges
and immunities which had been enjoyed previously
to the reig►► of the present Sultan? The effect of
such it convention would be to make Russia the
arbiter between the Sultan of Turkey and a portion of
his subjects. He wished to know whether such a
propoaal had been made an uniumtunt by the Russian
Ambassador, and also whether the Ambassadors of
France and England were acting in concert with each
other, and from their respective Governments►.
The Earl of Cr.mteseos, pending negotiations,
declined to enter at length into the subject. The
last despatch of Lord Stratford de Redclitfe was
dated the 9th May. No doubt a treaty was pre-
sented by Prince Menschikoff for signature on the
:►th May, but not in the nature of an ultimatum.
What the answer was to be to that proposal had net
been intimated. On the 10th May her Majesty's
Government learned by telegraphic despatch that a
change had taken place in the Government of Tur-
key, and that Redschid Paella had been made chief
Minister. The most perfect cordiality existed be-
tween the Ambassadors of France and England on
these affairs ; and the Russian Ambassador was still
at Constantinople on the 10th May.
The Earl of HARDWICKE deemed the above expla-
nation most unsatisfactory.
Lord BeAumotir went at some length into our rela-
tions with Turkey ; but, on Lord lluouuttAm depre-
cating, protracted discussion on negotiations still

pending,
The subject dropped.
The Earl of MALmEsurftv then moved for a select
committee to inquire into the probable effect of ex-
tending to the case of successions to real property
and property under settlement the stamp duties now
payable in respect to legacies. He considered the
question to be one of great difficulty, and one he be-
lieved very little understood, if be might judge from
the debates elsewhere. The measure proposed by
the other house he characterised as unjust and inex-

pedient.
The Earl of ABERDF.F.N opposed the motion, as
being obstructive. The nnent were fully pre-
pared to stand by the wisdom and justice of a tax on
successions.
The Earl of REMIT said that their lordships would
not fulfil their duty if they merely registered the de-
cisions of the other house. It was their duty to
judge of measures for themselves. They were bound
to consider such measures on their merits ; and,
judging by this standard, the succession tax had no
ground whatever to stand upon.
Earl GRANVILLE supported the tax on successions
as a perfectly just and expedient tax.
Lord ST. LEONARD'S, on the contrary, regarded it
as one detrimental to the interests of property.
The Loan Cluscwon supported the tax, to
which Lord Frrzwitmx also gave a qualified

support.
The Duke of AUGNI,T, denied that the land was un-
fairly dealt with by the present imago,.
Their lordships then divided, when the numbers
were--
For the motion 1.26
Against it 139
Majmity against the motion —l3
Their lordships then adjourned.

1-101.75 F. OF COMMONS—FarnAv.
Mr. liEvriNo signified his intention, when the
evidence recently taken by the dockyards appoint-
►nents committee should have been fully considered
by the house, of submitting a motion on the subject,
not with reference to the conduct of particular indi-
viduals, but of the late Board of Admiralty with re-
gard to the subject of patronage.
RUSSIA AND TITREV.
Mr. DISRAELI drew attention to the state of our
relations with the Ottoman Porte, referring to the
demand of Colony Rose at Constantinople for the
presence of the English squadron there, and the sub-
sequent withdrawal of that demand, and concluded

THE PRESS.

by asking whether the English and French Afuhas-
sadoN at Constantinople were at this moment acting
in concert together, and, if so, whether there would
be any difficulty in communicating to the house the
general scope and tendency of the instructions under
which those ambassadors were thus acting in
concert ?
Lord JOHN Rresrte seidthe facts were these. The
English Government had been informed by the
Government of Russia that the Empemrhad thought
it necessary to despatch a special leis: to cm
stantinople with a view to obtain a confirmation of
certain concest,ions on the subject of the Greek
Churelt and the holy places in Jernsalene They
were lammed at the same time that the Emperor evey
ilaitted that the former concession had hem with-
drawn. or materially modified, by the Sultan. and
required some security against the withdrawal of such
concessions for the future. The terms of such secu-
rity, however, were not stated. The Russian Ambas-
sador arrived at Constantinople, and the Turkish
Vizier applied to Colonel Rose for the assistattee of
our fleet in the neighbourhood of the Dardanelles.
That request was forwarded to Admiral Inmilas at
Malta, who forwarded it to the government at home.
Two or three days after the original request, however,
the Turkish Minister recalled it, and Colonel Rose
sent another despatch to Admiral Pandas stating
that the presence of the fleet was not necessary.
The negotiations between the respective parties went
on, and Lord Stratford de Redeliffe was enabled ma-
terially to promote them, by aiding Prince Menschi-
kotf in obtaining sufficient declarations from the
Sultan. It was hoped that the differences in this
respect. would thus be settled, and the mission of the
Russian Antbassiutor cease. But other proposals
followed on the part of Prince Mensehikoff to which
our minister could not agree, as he considered them
dangerous to the interests of the Porte. Lord John
'Russell added that the muscat perfect concert pre-
• •
veiled between the Ambassadors of France and
England with regard to the protocol or convention
which should he agreed to. In the present state of
the negotiations it would not he consistent with a
sense of public duty to furnish the instructions under
which Lord Stratford do Redefine acted. ma ho
might state that the general spirit of the instructions
under which he acted was to maintain inviolate
all
the faith of treaties and the integrity of the Turkish
Empire. Although the British Government had
received no official information on the point, and
notwithstanding appearances, they trusted the
Russian titwernment would seek for no other secu-
rities from Turkey thorn were consistent with the
dignity of the Sultan and with the maintenance of
the integrity of the Turkish empire.
The house then went into committee on the N-
I come-tax Bill.
Clauses 1. 1, :1 and 4 were agreed to.
Considerable diseussi arose on clause 5, which
re-enacts the machinery by which it is proposed to
assess the tax, and incorporates parts of eight previous

acts.
It was objected by several Irish members that this
wholesale re-enactment of past provisions was unfair
towards lreltutil, which was now to be taxed for the

first time.
Mr. MIGHT and others suggested the !impiety of
one consolidated bill on the subject.
On a division, the clause was carried by a majority
of tNi to 2fi.
The remainder of the evening was consumed in
the Ilisenssion of the subsequent clauses.
Clauses up to 25 were agreed to after some dis-
cussion.
On clause la,
Mr. llt vrT moved the exemption of incomes between
MIL and trot O.
After a brief discussion Mr. Butt's amendment was
negatived on a division by /IC) to 49.
The CHAIRMAN having reported progress, the house
adjourned.

TI'IIKF.Y.
The follooing telegrnpltie 414'4001+ 1144 been re-
ceived from Vienna, tinder date of 'fhttntolay evening,
the :Vali inst. Like other itin.lligenee arriving by the
same route. it requires confirmation :
" Prince MeuseMkt ft tool his suite have left, einn•
staittinople.
" Itnss►sm subjects tit Constantinople are pliteed under
the protection of the I tallil4ll AlUlWOUttlinr.
" Tli, Fretielt..tleet is said to have received per
to pass the I tarthmelles."

THE TURKISH QUESTION.
We have received a communication, dated Con-
stantinople, May the .20th, stating that the negotia-
tions •which had been opened with the Divan by
Prince Mensehikoff have fallen to the ground.
Prince Mensehikoff gave out that he would leave
Constantinople that night. Nevertheless, it was not
believed that he would carry his purpose into
execution.