The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-23 00:00:00

THE -IX,PREEN3jATUESDAY EVENTING, FEBRUARY 23, MOW

received by her Majesty's government as to the embargo te
be placed on Danish embers in German ports or on German
vessels in Danish ports ; whether German vessels were sub-
ject to capture at sea by Danish cruisers ; and whether any
informatioa bad bean received as to the, blockade of Prussian
and German own', and the regulations affecting the game f
Mr. LAYA.RD said he we/ glad to have the opportunity
of answering the questions, because many applications had
been made by the shipping interest to the Foreign-ounce on
the subject. When this unfortunate war broke out em-
bargoes were placed by the Danes on German shipping in
Darkish ports, and by the Prussian and Austrian govern-
ments on Danish vessels is German ports. It was thee
understood, and her Majesty's government were informed,
that six weeks would be allowed for vessels to dear before
they were subjected to the embargo. Sims that informs-
, tine was given to the government of this country a large
number of capture' had been made at ma by Danish
and her Majesty's government bad been requested to eu-
deavour to prevail upon the Danish goveronseut not to
capture German ships by sea. It was thought a very
wrong and extraordinary proceeding ; but her Majeety's
government declined to take away from the DIMS
a fair means of resistiog what they considered an
unjustifiable and unwarrantable aggression on Danish ter-
ritory. (Cheers.) In consequence of the decision of the
Danish government to make these captures her Majesty's
government had now been informed by Austria and
Prussia that the embargo would at once be enforced, and
DO time be allowed for vessels to clear from the ports in
which they had bees seized. He presumed, though he bad
no information on the subject, that the Dan'Sh govern.
meat would pursue the same mauve. In reference to the i
further question of the hon. gentleman, so notice had been
received of an intention to blockade German ports.

is which her Majesty's government had negotiated with the
German powers, and the pledges and advice which they
had gives to Denmark ; sad the. learn how far the honour
and dignity of England had been compromised by the mis-
fortunes which had aims apes Desinark. Hs reminded
the hones that Lord Palmerston lest year said em ti
that if the German Dist entered Souris, it would be found
that Denmark was not aloes. Was Denmark now alone?

08135itlif earnestly protested wield the reticence
of the goverumgpt on their foreign policy, and characterised
the house as tame and meaaly acquiceceot when the honour
of England was at stake, and the prestige of this country
.utterly destroyed all over Europe. He urged that the
house had no right to consider the navy estimates, which
contained a reduction of 5,000 men ; and he moved that the
estimates be postponed until the papers relating to Holstein
were laid on the table, or until that day three weeks.
Sir F. SMITH objected to going no with the estimates so
soon after they were delivered.
Lord C. MONT said the estimates were produced at the
same time DOW as last year.
Mr. ROEBUCK—I do not want the house to be misled.
(Hear, bear.) The question is not now about the estimates.
I quite understand terlazterity of the noble Iced in answer-
ing the question of my hoe. sod gallant Irked, but the
question ie whether we are to know anything about Den-
mark. (Hear, bear.) It is not a matter of the estimates,
for if the government should be put in a minority
we all understand the consequences thereof. (Cheers.)
I hope this question is quite clear to the house sad the
country, for it will be that the House of Commons have no
faith in the government so far as regards their foreign policy.
(Cheers.) Now so fares I myself am ;moaned that is my
opinion,op!on rnlif tthhiilkmuutiio noyntire'inentlemen anoto
themn"
they will vote iu its favour. (Cheers.) encouragement

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCREQUER was not in-
clined to dispute this canstrnetion put upon the vote by Mr.
Roebuck ; but he added that the motion wee altogether in-
consistent with the sales and proceedings of parlisment.
Mr. OSBORNE said it was impossible for him to know
what was the foreign policy of the government until he had
seen the papers.
Mr. DISRAELI here interposed to observe that he had
never concealed his opinion of that policy, which he con-
sidered deplorable and disastrous, and as having reduced
the influence of the House of Commons and of the country,
and he should not refrain. if an issue were plated before
the house, from acting upon his opinion. Bat it was im-
portant that the government should Dot be able to say
that the decision arrived at by the house hid taken them
by surprise. He thought; therefore, that DO decision should
be taken in the absence of the Prime Minister.

—Sir G. GREY explained that the premier was ablaut
from the house in oonsequeoce of indisposition.
Mr. DISRAELI regretted the circumstanos, but sug-
gested that it might as well have been communicated to
the house earlier. That, however, was an additional me-
son why the house should not proceed with undue haste.
Sir G. GREY assured the hones that there was DO ob-
ject minirters more desired than the deliberate opinion of
the country and the house on their foreign policy ; but to
oome to a rote ape that policy when hon. members did
not know what it was was a proceeding that would be un-
worthy of the house.
_ _ .

Hr. CLAY,
eyeshot for Mr. Osborne, said it was not
his hon. friend's meaning by his motion to take • vote upon
fornitta_polio,.
Mr. iii.INGLARE repudiated altogether the construction
pot by Mr. Roebuck upon the motion of Mr. Osborne.
Mr. DAHBYGIU77I7II and Lord R. MOSTAGO recommended
the withdrawal of the motion.
Lord DUNKELLIN considered it but reasonable that
before the house was asked to vote the men for the navy it
should know what that navy might have to do. He sug-
gested that at all events the navy estimates ought not to be
proceeded with that evening.
Lord L'iGESTRE, while declining to give • hasty
opinion on the subject, was still willing to take a division
on the narrow issue as to whether it was desirable to post-
pone tie navy estimates for three weeks.
Mr. WALTZ' and Mr. Nauru deprecated a division.
Mr. LAIRD was in favour of postponement for • week.
Mr. HENLEY recommended the withdrawal of the mo-
tion, in the hope that the other business on the paper
would be protracted to so late an hour that the navy esti-
mates could not come on until Thursday, and thus give time
for the prodaction of the Danish papers.
The SPEAKER now put the question that be should
leave the chair in order that the navy estimates might be
considered M committee, and the amendment postponing
such consideration for three weeks, declaring that the com-
mittee had been carried ; but this decision having been
questioned by Mr. Osborne and some other members the
hones was ordered to be cleared for a division, when Mr.
Disraeli and • large body of leading conservatives left the
house.

The bones then divided and the numbers were—
For the original question
For the amendment
The amendment was consequently lag.
THE MALTA DOCK.

Captain TALBOT moved that the limiest of constricting
a dock at the head of the Maria at Slats be abandoned,
and that the ate at the head of the French creek be se-
lected for the purpose.
Lord C. PAGET stated that the site for the dock had
I been chosen by the Admiralty on the advice of experi•sced
officers and engineers, and the board was not specially in
favour of any particular site, but only desired to here the
lest dock.

This matter vras discussed in detail, but as a division bad
already taken place on the question of foiag into committee
of supply, no vote could be taken on the motion. Sir J.
Patine,' and Oaptala Jorris acmcurred in the views anus.
elated by Captain Talbot, an
Mr. Whitbread defended the
Admiralty. - .

THE DOCKYARDS.
Mr. LINDSAY directed attention to the mod of the
commissionen appointed in 1860 to inquire into the control
sad management of our naval yards, sod contended that
the recoonoendatious of the mid commissiooers, emocgst
which was ace in the constitution of the Admiralty
ought to be carried into effect. Unless there wan a radical
change in the administration of naval affairs, he believed the
country would not have that eeonomy (*whined with
salciency which the house professed to desire.
Mr. BENTINCK wondered at the credulity of Mr. Lied.
say, in supposiog that men who had a direct interest in
abuses smolt as those he wan anxious to remove would
abolish them at his biddies, or area at the instance of the
House of Commons.

Sir F. SMITH wee gratified at the lateens of the hour
precluding the bones from then entering upon the orthidere-
iiiDU of the save' estimate& The &ley would give them the
opportunity of studying the very valuable documents by
which the estimates were seeempanied, and without which
they were not intelligible. The boa. gentleman &be salmi
on what granola the Admiralty had declined to apply to
pertiameet for • grant of money in aid of the amities of •
thumb sad sebeth at Brampton, it being ethentood that
the Admiralty did apply for a grant of 4,0001. for the IMO. I
Sin of the Church of St. Jams, Dthooport.
Mr. YERRAND called attention to • portion of the
evidence taken by the royal oorniniesiothrs with regard to
the dockyards, criticised the management of those sok-
Ithelimente, and &emoted at much length epee the tyranny
arereised by encesesive whig Boards of Admiralty over
dockyard workmen possessing the electoral fracchies, es
pecially la the borough of Devouport. The boo. gentleman
amid that be eaderstood • slime bad recently gone forth
from the Admiralty that he wee never again to be yeti:woad
for that tows ; but he had mare faith in the independence
and integrity et the constitneocy then to suppose that it
would have any hifinence eke/over oat their determination,
and be believed be should have the bother of repremealieg
it for seany years to come.
After • few words from Yr. DALCLISH,
The house went ir to committee pro /ones, the Chairmen
reported pregress, and the diamusion on the estimates wee
postponed mail Thursday next.

THE SCOTTISH LAW COURTS.
This LORD ADVOCATE obtained leave to brieg l the
follow* to snake provision for uniformity of
in snzaary criminal proseentioes, sad round est.
=in
Hies in the ieferier courts io Scotland. Bill to pro-
vide for the alterations of the circuits of the Court of Justi-
ciary in Scotland, aod for boiling additioeal circuit courts.
The hoagie adjournad at halfleirt 10 °Week.

10 Intdliwutt.

TEM QUESTION OF PRECEDENCY
BETWEEN EDINDUEGH AND DUBLIN.
BEFORE THE PRIVY COUNC/11.-Po. 22.

Preeent—Berl Granville, Yuman' Sidney, the Welt Hon.
It, Lowe, M.P., Lord Kingdom', "ud Lord Evader.

NATTER 0, TIER RRLATIVZ CLAMS OF THE CORPO-
BATTO:qS OP DUBLIN AND iLDENBOROH FOR PIRCIDENCC
AND PEE-AUDIENCE IN FRIFANTLNO THEIR ADDRESSZEI TO
THE SOVEREIGN.

The question at issue in this case has arisen out of the
relative niche of the corporations of Dublin and Edinburgh
for precedence and preaudieoce in presenting addresses to
the Sovereign, arising out of a cantata's as to which should
first present their address to her Majesty on the marriage
of the Prince of Wales. the corporation of Dublin con-
feedlot that the matter is simply a question as between two
corporations, while the Scotch place the matter on higher
grand, conteteliog that it is • question as to the right of
precedency of the two nations.
Sir H. Cairns and Mr. Serjeant Burke appeared on behalf
of the corporation of Dublin ; and the Lord Advocate and
Mr. Itolt reprowieted the sorporatioo of Edinburgh.
Their lordships intimated at the commencement of the
proceedings that they should only bear eon counsel of a side.
Sr H. Cairns, in opening the case, said he had the honour
to appear before their lordships on behalf of the corporation
of Dublin, and the questions involved were the relative
claims of that corporation and the corporation of Edinburgh
to precedence and pre-endwise° in presenting addresses to
the Boracite, which bed been referred to their lordships
by her Majesty. It would be necessary to consider the his-
tory of past times, so far as it regarded these corporatioos,
in order to enable their lordships to come to a decision as to
what their advice to her Majesty would be in the matter. He
would at once proceed to offer to their lordships the data
upon which it seemed to him their decision must depend.
The learned counsel then entered into the data referred to,
and concluded by saying he trusted, under all the circum-
stances that their lordships would advise her Majesty that
Dublin was setitled to precedence.
The Lord Advocate then addressed their lordships on
behalf of the corporation of Edinburgh, and submitted that
the question (or their decision was not one of the mere pre-
cedency between two rival corporations, but of two capitals,
which must depend entirely upon the relative importance
and pre-eminence of the two countries to which they be-
longed ; and that the precedency in presenting addresses
to the sovereign must depend entirely upon the pre-eminence
of the two countries. His learned friend had not dwelt with
great force upon the fact that Dublin had been first in pre-
senting an address pencoally to the sovereign, for it was
impossible to contend that even if that was
so, and the right were the other way, it
would have any effect upon their lordships decision,
or else he would show that the protestant diesentere of
London and Westminster had • right of precedency over
the city of Dublin. Bat such was not the practice : parties
did not address her Majesty in the order in which they had
first delivered their addressee, bat according to their
precedence. Now, although it was an undoubted fact
in days when communication was not so easy as at present,
Edinburgh bad not gone to the expense of sending her pro-
vost 400 mike to present an address, yet she had not
thereby lost her right of precedenceif it had ever existed.
He must also state that Sir H. Cairns had made a mistake
in stating that the HOMO of Commons had rejected the ap-
plication to permit the Lord Provost to present petitions at
the bar o the house.

Sir H Cairns admitted that he had been in error upon
that point.
The Lord Advocate then proceeded to contend that there
had always been • question as to the precedence of the
nations of Europe, sad he should also contend that there
most always be precedency between nations )cued in a
federation, or under the some crown. His learned friend
had treated Dublin as the mooed capital of the English
empire, but bad forgotten that the English empire had
been abrogated, sod the British empire substituted in it.
steed, so that all Sir H. Cairns argument stout Dublin
being the second city of the empire fell to the 'rowed.
Dublin had always been the chief town of a dependency
upon the English crows, sod had become a dependency upon
Great Britain, and upon Scotland, after the union, as a por-
tion of that empire, whilst Edinburgh had always been the
capital of an independent kingdom. There could be no
doubt but that Scotland, u an independent kingdom entering
into a union by treaty with another kingdom, mast take
precedency of • dependency upon one of them, and it seemed
to him that the capitals muss possess, as • matter of course.
the dignity and pro-emitienes of their respective countries.
H. should contend that the charter of 1128, describing
Edinburgh as • royal burgh and sa a seat of royal residence, was
a proof of the asistenos of • charter of incorporation, and he
accounted for Edinburgh not obtaining • sword of honour
nor • cap of matuteoance on the ground that such
dignities were unknown in Scotland. The documents
clearly showed that the city of Edinburgh had centuries ago
not only the tight of personal presentation, but also of per.
Donal audience. The arms of Scotland had been planed first
upon the aims of Greet Britain, sod the oven of Scotland
bed been made to reek next after those of England. Under
these circumstances be contended that it must be takes that
Scotland held a position pre-eminent over Ireland, and
that therefore Edinburgh was entitled to precedency over
Dublin.

Sir H. Cairns haviag briefly replied.
Thai: lordships took time to oonsider their opinion.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—Fra. 22.
(Before Mr. Commissioner O.:album)
IN BB JAM& --TIN BIITISH COLUMBIA °VINLAND
TRANSIT COMPAIIT."
An adjournment was mimed fora cleadeney aroma.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(Before the Assistant-Judge.)
William MarcAant, 25, was Indicted for steeling two
metal letters, fixed cm the Achilles statue in Hyde-park.
The prisoner, in his defence, said he west on to the statue
far • very urgent purpose, but he denied all knowledge of
the letters, or how they had been removed from the statue.
The jury ()and the prisoner Guilty.
The Assistant-Judge severely moseyed the prisoner tot
the wanton mischief he had committed opal the statue,
and sentenced him to be imprisoned sad kept to bard
labour for six mouths.

ise-square; and Ju. Carmen. s rcessei victualler, of the
George Inn, in the Old Bailey.
Bans of she amused wire disposed of summarily by short
imprisoomenta, and the zetaa.uder sere reimandal fur far-
ther 'awry.