The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-09 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

now exercised by the Ecclesiastical Courts, and also for
checking fraudulent breaches of trust.
Her Majesty commands us to express to von her heart-
felt gratification at witnessing the continued well-being
and contentment of her people, and the progressive de-
velopment of productive industry throughout her domi-
nions.
Her Majesty confidently commits to your wisdom and
care the great interests of her e•npire, and fervently prays
that the blessing of Almighty God may be vouchsafed to
your deliberations, and may lead you to conclusions con-
ducive to the objects of her Majesty's constant solicitude,
the welfare and happiness of her loyal and faithful people.
After the Royal Speech had been read, the Speaker
and the members retired, and their lordships ad-
jout•ned until live o'clock.

At a quarter past five the House of Lords re-
assembled, when the LORD CIIANCELLOR having read
her Majesty's Speech,
The Marquis of TOWNS/TEND moved the Address.
Adverting to the wars in Persia and China, he coun-
selled a policy of firmness and energy, declaring that
barbarous nations must, upon occasion, be forced
into civilisation. Among topics not mentioned in the
Speech, but " sure to find discussion in Parliament," he
noticed parliamentary reform, the abolition of Jewish
disabilities—if which he professed himself an earnest
advocate, willing to see a Jew sitting, not only in the
House of Commons, but in the hereditary branch of
legislature—and the settlement of the question of
church rates. He had no doubt the noble lord at
the head of the Government would propose a
measure of reform quite as extensive as most of their
lordships desired, and perhaps a good deal more so
than some of them would like.
The Earl of PORTSMOUTH seconded the Address.

The Earl of MALSIESBURY, regretting the absence
of the Earl of Derby, and expressing his hope that
there would he no difference or opinion among; their
lordships on the subject of the Address, observed that
the noble marquis in moving the Address had intro-
duced one or two topics not in the 11,-iyal Speech—
parliamentary reform and church rates :

Now, I do think that if any one desired to raise a dis-
cussion, the best thing he could do would be to select
either one or both of those subjects, which her Majesty, in
my
opinion,
wised, omitted front the Speech, but which the
noble marquis introduced. However, the speech of the
noble marquis was subsequent to the Speech of her
Majesty, and it is the Speech of her Majesty alone which is
to be looked upon as authentic in this house, and in respect
to which the Address is to be voted. 1 think, then, that the
Government do not take too sanguine a view when they
express a hope that "there will be found sufficient time
during the present session to deal with various important
in itters," fur though the time be short I must say that the
list of measures proposed to be brom;lit forward is also so
small that we may fairly hope to get through it in the
present session. We sitting on this side of the house
cannot but share in the pleasure expressed by the mover
and seconder of the Address in reference to that paragraph
of the Royal Speech which announces that the peace of
Europe is likely to continue undisturbed ; and I wish it
could have been added that peace in Asia is also assured. I
am of opinion that the peace of Europe is secure so long as
that important alliance now upon so happy a footing be-
tween ourselves and France continues; an I I believe that
for its continuance nothing is required but a judicious con
sideration of the different positions of France mid England,
both geographically and constitutionally. I say this be-
cause I have sometimes remarked a natural impatience on
the part of the English people in consequence of their
neighbours not having a Constitution as free as their own,
forgetting what ought not to be forgotten, that the Con-
stitutions of both countries were created by the popular
voice, and therefore, though differing in detail, they pro-
ceed from the. same foundation. The next point to which
the Royal Speech adverts is that which remains to be ac-
complished in respect to the stipulations of the Treaty of
Paris, the arrangements relative to the rrincipalities of
Wallachia and Moldavia having been left in an incomplete
state. Upon this point I shall only remark that I hope
my noble friend opposite (the Earl of Clarendon) will
not forget the original object of the war with Russia,
which has now happily ceased. That object I understood
to be to secure the future independence and integrity of
the Turkish empire against any attack from its powerful
neighbour. Now, however it might be desired to take up
the cause of nationalities, I trust that the original object
of the war will he kept in view, and the Turkish frontier
rendered secure in the must effective manner, whether by
a union of the two Principalities or by keeping them
separate. In reference to the settlement of the affair of
Neufchatel your lordships cannot but expresagreat pleasure,
for there is always felt in this country the greatest possible
sympathy with SAitzerlanil, on account of resemblance in
religious and constitutional matters. With respect to the
peace fortunately concluded with Persia, I trust that the
Government will inform the house at what date they ex-
pect that the news of that peace would reach Sir James
Ontram and his army, so that we may have some hope of
soon hearing of an end being put to the unnecessary
shedding of blood.
As for the Chinese war—the most important subject
of all—all he would say was, that those who had
acted with him on that side of the house hid been
influenced solely by a sense of duty ; and though
they had been accused by Lord Palmerston of
willingness to accept the degradation of the British

SATURDAY,

declare
fly for the sake of office, he would simply
that such a charge was at once absurd and unworthy
a the great reputation of the man who made it.
With regard to the estimates, he I oped they would
be framed with a due regard to economy, for in the
present position of the country it could not afford to
throw away a shilling. _ _

Lord GRANVILLE rose and stated that a telegraphic
message had been just received to the effect that Sir
James Outran had been made aware on the sth of
April of the conclusion of peace between Persia and
England. There need not, therefore, be any further
fear of renewed hostilities in that quarter. He was
glad to hear the observations of Lord Malmesbury
with regard to the propriety of a unanimous
Address, but he could not admit that the expressions
of Lord ealmerston, who had been violently attacked
by Lord Derby, ooro the construction put upon
them by Lord Malmesbury. However, he did not
wish to disturb the harmony of the house by
matters of personal dispute, and therefore would
only, after the courteous manner in which Lord
Malmesbury had requested the house to adopt
the Address, ask their lordships to concur in that
Address, and to present it unanimously to her
Majesty.
The MARQUIS of CLANRICARDE called the attention
of the Government to the attacks upon General Ash.
burnham.

Lord PAN MERE had no hesitation in saying that
the authors of those attacks were utterly unfit to
hold the Queen's commission, and warmly deiended
General Ashburnham. He trusted that General
AshLurnham, who had behaved with great gallantry,
who had simply obeyed i.rder.4 at Sobraon, and who
had been rewarded by being made an aide-de-camp
to her Majesty, would treat these attacks and their
authors with the contempt they deserved.
Lord GREY agreed that a stop should be put to the
pernicious practice of attacks by junior officers on
their superiors. He also agreed in thinking that
the Address ought to be presented unanimously to
her Majesty, but he wished to remark that, as dis-
cussion must take place on the policy of the Persian
war, it was desirable that the papers connected with
that war should be laid before the house as speedily
as possible. Again, with regard to China, it was
absolutely neusssary that some definite information
as to the real object of the expedition recently sent
to that empire should be afforded to the house. At
present all it knew was, that some vague extension
of commerce an.l new facilities of trade were pro-
mised as the result of the expedition. With regard
to the opinion expressed by a minority of that house
as to the policy pursued by the British officials in
China, he quite agreed with Lord Malmeshury in
thinking that those who voted against the Govern-
ment had a right t complain that their motives had
been misrepresented, and it appeared to him that a
heavy responsibility rested with those who thus
vilified their political opponents and stirred up the
angry feelings of the nation against the Chinese.
The Address was then agreed to.
_ .

Lord REDESDALE was re elected Chairman of
Committees, and the usual standing orders were
agreed to.
Their lordships then adjourned.