The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-13 00:00:00

HOOKS OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY, inrs 12.

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The house resumed at six Ado*.
FORCED LABOUR ON THE SUEZ CANAL.
Hr. D. GRIFFITH 'dud the Find Lord of the Treasury
whether a statement published by H. Lamps had reached
the government, asserting that the Turkish despatch, pro-
lifbitioc forced labour on the Sues Canal, he_ was anterior
conventions of the kith and 20th March loot, by which
all the question relating to the cutting of the canal were
rattled in conformity with the engagements of the Egyptian
government ; and whether these latter expressions were to
be wandered to men the ocotinuanoe of forced labour ;
mad If ao, whether the British government would oppose any

arch traniectioe.
Lord PALMERSTON said her Majesty's government bad
se knowledge of the eomatunication from H. Leeseps to
width the Ina. geotlensam alluded. The Sultan, is virtue
of his sovereign rights over the whole of his dominions, al
whet, Egypt termed a part, had extended to Egypt the laws
against forced labour for say purpose which bad long pre-
vailed in other parts of the empire. Her Majesty's govern-
ment conceived that he had a perfect right to do that within
his own dornikes, and so foreigner, whether be were •
pence engaged is aesasaercW speculations ore rspe..eats-
stve of any foreiga govenmest,had any right to obstruct the
Salton in csrrying into execution that law, which was
founded on a just consideration of the intonate of his sub-
jects, sod which already prevailed
dine very other part of his
dominions. Of coarse her Mas government would
give him every support in carrying that law into execution.
THE PROTESTANT PRISONERS IN SPALC.
Mr. WHALLEY asked whether any isformatioa bad
been reoeived by the government is referee*, to the final
depose of the Protestant prisoners Matamoros, Alhama.
sod Trip, lately condemned in Spain for reading the Bible.
Me. LAY AHD said, u the house was probably aware
that dapntatioos from this country, one of them consisting
of members of the Society of Quakers, proceeded a short time
ego to Madrid, in order to intercede with the, Queen of SPsit
ea behalf of those unhappy run who were oudenuied to •
Period of seven years imprisonment on account of their
conversion to prosestantism. Memorials were also sent to
the Queen of Specs from different countries is Europe, and
deputatioas from those countries also wept to Madrid. One
memorial was from catholic, ladies in Holland, praying the
Qaven to grant to those prisouro the came freedom of con-
science as the protestant government of Holland &worded
to the oatholics of that enintry. Another memoirist was
from the protestant' of Austria, also asking from the
Oathelic Queen of Spain to grant to her subjects the same
liberty of conscience which the memorialists enjoyed in
Anstris tinder a catholic government. her
jetty's goversimest, whilst taking the deepest ht-
toast in those negotiations, and desiring that the
West for whir& they had proceededto Madrid
might be attained, were unable to give them any Wad
'Oland support, although theypve them every satiates.*
they maid reasonably afar& It appeared. he serioned ia
soosequeoce of those representations, that tie autence on
those persons was commuted to banitheneot. He could not
inform the hon. gentlemen whether that banishment was to
eMend over an indefinite period or was confined to the
tone for which they were condemned to imprisonment
It appeared to be the impression of the deputation who went
to Madrid that the term of banishment was limited to the
seven years which was to hare been the teem of imprison-
ment. He wed not say that he rejoiced exceedingly at the
result of these ispetationa, sad although • great popish-
mart was still inflicted, it was Ism than the URA and inhu-
mes sentence whack was ceiginally pronounced.