The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-07-05 00:00:00

Emptrial Varlianunt.

HOtdE OF LORDS—TIMR.SDAY.

Lord GRANVILLE made the following statement in be-
half of Her Majesty's Govennuent :—On the resigns.
Hon of the late Government he had received Her
Majesty's commands to form an Administration, but he
soon found that a far more satisfactory arrangement
could be made under the auspices of Lord Palmerston.
Lord Palmerston had succeeded in forming an Adminis-
tration which contained many whose past political ser-
vices and character gave them a claim to the confidence
of the country. In respect to Reform, it would have
been a great advantage to deal with that question at
once, especially as public opinion was so strongly fixed
upon that measure, and as the late elections had princi-
pally turned on that very point. Several weeks, how-
ever, had been lost to legislation, and, considering the
urgent necessity of bringing forward the necessary
financial measures for the year it would not be possible
to bring forward • Reform Bill this iiession. The sub-
ject would in the meantime receive the deepest conside-
ration of Her Majesty's Government, the result of which
would be the introduction of a Bill in the ensuing session.
He proceeded to contradict the rumours which had pre-
vailed in regard to • reduction of our present armaments,
and stated that it was the decided opinion of the Govern-
ment that the defences of the country, holding as it did
so high and powerful a position in Europe, should be
placed in • state of thorough efficiency. In respect to
foreign affairs, the policy which would be pursued by
the Government would be one of strict neutrality, to
keep the country out of the war, and to promote peace,
not by a too early intermeddling, but by carefully watch-
ing the course of events, and, in co-operation with the
other European Powers, endeavouring at an appropriate
moment to re-establish • secure peace. Reverting to
Lord Derby's promise of offering no factious opposition,
be thought it would be unsafe to build too confidently on
such a sandy foundation, yet it impressed him with the
certainty that whenever the country required it all
parties would forego their differences to forward the
true Interests of the nation _

After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM and the
Luke Of RUTLAND,
Lord MALMESBURY wished to give an answer to
charges which had been brought against the late Go-
vernment by Lord Palmerston in another place. He
felt convinced that Lord Granville would now be candid
enough to confess that the late Government had done
everything in their power to preserve the peace of
Europe. He repelled the charges of Lord Palmerston,
who had declared that the late Government had pro-
duced the war by the course it had pursued, that its
language had been patronising to Austria, but threaten-
ing to France and :Urdinia, and that it did not, there-
fore. deserve the confidence of the country.
The Duke of,Ngwcssyts thought the present occasion
ill-suited to enter upon a question so momentous, es.
pccially as a notice of motion on the Italian corres-
pondence had been given for Friday week. Without
considering who was to blame for the present state of
affairs or who had begun the war, he assured the House
that the policy of Her Majesty's Government was to up-
hold a strict neutrality, and when possible to offer their
mediation.

Lord HOW/MN hoped that Her Majesty's Govern-
ment would ascertain whether the phrase of the Milan
proclamation, that Italy must be freed from the Aus-
trian from the Alps to the Adriatic, was to be acted
upon, or whether it was a mere turn of expression to
round a sentence. Ho exposed at some length the
different intrigues of the French Government iii Italy,
and expressed his opinion that nothing was intended to
be gained but the promulgation of an idea among all
classes on the Continent that England had been the
cause why Italian independence had not been conquered,
while the noble efforts of France would elevate her in
the eyes of all. This, and not the freedom of Italy,
was the object the French Emperor had in view.
The House then adjourned, at 20 minutes to 7
o'clock.