The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-20 00:00:00

THE PRES'S, MARCH 20, 1858.

274

your lordship the conversation to which I have adverted
above, that such construction was put upon certain
portions of his despatch of January 20th, he would have
had no difficulty in adding to the assurance then given the
further assurance that nothing could have been farther
from his intention than to convey an imputation injurious
alike to the morality and the honour of the British nation.
All the offences which his Excellency enumerates, on
being proved to the satisfaction of a jury, subject the per-
son convicted to the infliction of penalties more or less
severe; and if cases have been brought to the notice of
the Government of his Imperial Majesty, which may
appear to have been overlooked by her Majesty's Govern-
ment, it is not to be doubted but that the advisers of her
Majesty, in abstaining to prosecute, have been influenced
by motives of discretion quite consistent with an earnest
desire to repress such offences.
Subsequently, however, to the late atrocious attempt,
proceedings have been instituted in two cases—one for
eomplicity in the late murderous attempt, another for a
publication " elevating assassination to doctrine," and
another similar cue is now under the consideration of the
law officers of the Crown.

It is hoped that these considerations will satisfy Count
Walewski that either his expressions have been greatly
misunderstood, or that they have been made under an
erroneous apprehension of the state of the law in this
country, and that, in either case, his Excellency will not
hesitate, with that frankness which has characterised his
conduct, to offer an explanation which cannot fail to remove
any existing misconception.
Your lordship will read this despatch to Count Walewski,
and leave a copy with his Excellency.—l am, &z.,
( Signed) MALMESBURT.

In a despatch dated March Bth Lord Cowley
reports that Count Walewski had received very
favourably Lord Malmesbury's assurances, and said
that nothing could have been further from his inten-
tion than to convey any imputation on the morality
or honour of the British nation. He promises to
send a formal reply through the French Ambassador
in London. That reply is as follows :

COUNT WALE WSEI TO COUNT FERSIGNY.---(COMMUNI.
CATED TO THE EARL OF MALMESBURY BY COUNT
PERSIONY, MARCH 12.)

Paris, March 11, 18.i8.
M. le Comte,--Lord Cowley has delivered to me a de-
spatch which has been addressed to him by her Britannic
Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
dated the 4th of March, and of which you will find a copy
annexed hereto.
The Government of the Emperor congratulates itself on
the friendly dispositions of the new Cabinet, and sees, with
sincere satisfoction, that the present Ministers of the
Queen, like their predecessors, are under no misapprehen-
sion either as to our intentions, or as to the grave nature
of the facts which we have signalised to the Government
of her Britannic Majesty.
The Government of the Emperor, M. le Comte, flatters
itself that, for six years, its whole conduct has precluded
the suspicion of its wishing, in any way, to wound the
dignity of the English nation; and his Majesty thinks
that he has seized every opportunity during peace, as well
as during war, of drawing closer the bonds between the two
people. The Emperor, as you are aware, has always enter-
tained this profound conviction, that the reconciliation of
two great nations, after ages of antagonism, could be
sincere and lasting only on one condition—namely, that
the honour of one should never be sacrificed to the honour
of the other.

Such sentiments, attested by the constant acts of the
Government of his Majesty, are a sufficient answer to the
erroneous interpretations of which our communication of
the 20th of January has been the object. Besides, what
has happened! I begged you to signalise to the Govern-
ment of her Britannic Majesty the existence in London
of a sect of foreigners which, in its publications and its
meetings, elevates assassination to doctrine, and which, in
the space of six years, has sent into France not less than
eight assassins to strike a blow at the Emperor, as is
proved by the declarations of the jury.
All these attempts, like that of the 14th January, have
found the Emperor impassive ; putting his trust in the
protection of Heaven, his Majesty views with profound
disdain the attacks which are directed only at his person :
but the country has shown Itself to be deeply moved by
them, and as, at the time when I addressed my despatch
to you, no repressive measure had been taken in London,
public opinion in France, without taking into account the
nature of the institutions of England, nor the motives of
discretion of which Lord Malmeabury's communication
speaks, was astonished that so much audacity should have
remained unpunished.
Moreover, the character of our proceedings was laid
down to you in the clearest manner by the Emperor him•
self, who wrote to you towards the end of January:—" I
do not deceive myself as to the little efficacy of the
measures which could be taken, but it will still be a friendly
act, which will calm much irritation here. Explain our
position clearly to the Ministers of the Queen. It is not
now a question of saving my life ; it is a question of saving
the alliance."

The Emperor, M. le Comte. has never intended to de-
mand the support of foreign Governments Ito increase his
personal security. A more elevated sentiment, an interest
greater in his eyes, have guided him—namely, the main-
tenance of the good relations existing with the neighbour.
ing States.
My despatches of the 20th of January had no other
object than to signalise a state of things which was to be
regretted; but I carefully abstained from expressing any
opinion as to the measures calculated to remedy it ; and I
have been unable to understand how certain expressions
of that despatch have been so misinterpreted. It is, be-
sides, unnecessary for me to tell you that it never entered

my thought to consider English legislation as designedly
sheltering the offender, and, to borrow Lord Malmeseury's
own words, as screening him hom punishment.
In giving these assurances to the Principal Secretary of
State, you will be so good as to add that, as the intentions
of the Emperor have been misapprehended, his Majesty's
Government will abstain from continuing a discussion
which, by being prolonged, might prejudice the dignity
and the good understanding of the two countries; and
that it appeals, purely and simply, to the loyalty of the
English people.
1 request you to read this despatch to Lord Malmes.
bury, and to leave with him a copy of it.—lieceive,
(Signed) A. WitLEWSK I.

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