The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-21 00:00:00

THE NEAPOLITAN PAPERS.

Lord PALMERSTON—in reply to Mr. Cochrane
whether the Neapolitan papers presented to Parlia-
ment comprised all the despatches from Lord Cla-
rendon to the British Misston at Naples between the
19th of May. when her Majesty's Government re-
commended the Government of the Two Sicilies to
grant a general amnesty, and October the 10th, when
the British Mission was instructed to leave Naples?
also, at what period and on what conditions her Ma-
jesty's Government intended resuming diplomatic
relations with the kingdom of the Two Sicilies—
said

In answer to the first question, T have to state that the
papers which have been presented do not contain all the
despatches sent from the Foreign•office, bat that they do
contain all the despatches which bear upon the matters
connected with the purpose for which the papers were
presented. There are some despatches containing instruc-
tions with reference to contingencies which did not happen,
and there are one or two upon totally unimportant matters
which have not been laid before the houses. I hope I
may be allowed without offence to answer the hon. gentle-
man's second question by another question—whether the
hon. gentleman has full powers from the King of Naples
to arrange the matters in dispute? If his answer be in
the affirmative I should suggest that he had better put his
question to my noble friend Lord Clarendon, in Downing•
street, than to me in the House of Commons. But,
seriously, the question is one which the hon. gentleman
will feel upon reflection, or if he does not the house will,
that it would be quite improper for me to answer.

CASE OF THE " ARROW " PROCEEDINGS AT
CANTON. - .

Lord PALMERSTOS—In reply to Viscount Goderich
whether it was true that the case of the lorcha Arrow
was net the only one in which the authorities or
wanton bad recently seized or entered upon boats

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sailing under British colours, or furnished with
British register ; and, if so, whether he would lay upon
the table of the house any papers relating to such
proceedings; and also, whether he would have any
objection to lay before the house any instructions
which might have been seat by the Home Govern-
ment to Sir John Bowling on his appointment as
governor of Hong Kong, or at any subsequent period
previous to October last, on the subject of the exclu-
sion of the British authorities and merchants from
the city of Canton—said :
The papers which have been presented to the house
show that there were two former occasions on which lorchas
had been molested by the Chinese authorities, and state
the steps taken by Sir J. llowring on the subject. I will
undertake that the instructions to which my noble friend
has alluded shell be laid before the house.
Sir J. PAKINGTAN

1 wish to put a question to the noble lord in reference to
a statement which has appeared in the newspapers on the
subject of the bombardment of Canton. That statement
is to the effect that the admiral of the station has been
bombarding Canton with red.hot shot. I wish to know,
therefore, whether the Government have received any in.
formation confirming that statement, and, if they have,
whether they will object to lay the papers containing such
information before the house?
Lord PALMERSTON :

The only foundation for the report to which the right
hon. baronet alludes is this :—The Chinese had set fire to
some of the Hongs, and, as there were numbers of them
congregated in the space near the Hongs, it was thought
desirable to disperse them. Some shells were accordingly
thrown into that space for the purpose of driving away the
crowd that had collected there ; they had the desired effect,
and the place was cleared, but there was no bombardment
of the town, no red•hot shot was ever tired, and the admiral
retained his position in the river.