The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-06 00:00:00

CHARGE AGAINST MR. ISAAC BUTT, M.P.

THE committee met, on Wednesday last for the pur-
pose of considering their report. The proceedings
were private, the public being excluded.
The committee sat in deliberation four hours and
a half. At half past four Sir James Graham in-
formed the representatives of the press that the
committee had come to some general resolutions,
the terms of which he regretted he could not com-
municate to them, as he feared it might not• be con-
sidered respectful to the House of Commons, which
was adjourned for so long a time. Had the house
been sitting, and had he been able to report, he
would at once have given the press the formal reso-
lutions. The right bon. baronet added that, the
effect of the resolutions was cti acquittal of Mr.
Isaac Butt from the charge of improperly employing
his privileges as a member of the House of Com-
mons.

The following are published as the resolutions of
the committee :

1. That Isaac Butt, Esq., Q.C., a member of this house, did
not, as stated in the petition of Edward Le •s Coffey, in or about
the months of July or August, ISbd, corruptly enter into an
agreement with his Highness Ameer Ali Moorad Khan, or his
agents, to the effect that the said Isaac Butt should, fur a sum
of money, advocate and prosecute, in the House of eommoua,
with her Majesty, Government and the Honourable East India
Company, the claims of his Highness for the recovery of his
territory, of which he had been deprived by annexation by the
Honourable East India Company, nor. " in pursuance of such
corrupt agreement, have divers sums of money been actually
paid by the said Ameer Ali Moorad Khan to the said Isaac
Butt." _ _ .

3. That Isaac Butt, Esq., in or about the month of Jnly, 1857,
did enter into sn agreement with his Highness the Ameer All
Moored Khan, to go to India to assist him in prosecuting his
claim with the local Governm3nt ofaunbay, in consideration of
the sum of 10,41001., of which the said Isaac Butt received
2,C001. (1,9)31. net), and the remainder was to be paid in bills
proposed to be drawn or accepted by the Ameer.
3. 'fhet lasso Butt, Esq., did, in the period which elapsed
from the mouth of June, I»sd, to the month of September,
1857, advise and assist his Highness Ali Mooted Khan, in pro-
secuting his claim ou the Government of India, and with that
view had frequent personal interviews is the year 1857, after the
meeting of the present Parliament, with the President of the
Board of Control, and also some communication with the
chairman of the Board of Directoni of the East ludic Company,
and with one other member ct the board.
4. That on the 11th day of August, 1857, Immo Butt, Esq.,
received from his Ifighness Ali Moored Kban a cheek for
another sum of 3001., but it has not been shown to your com-
mittee that such payment to Isaac Butt, Esq., had any reference
to proceedings in Parliament

224

THE RE-ELECTIONS.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY.
Dkortwiert.—The Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington,
Bart., First Lord of the Admiralty, was re-electe.l on
Wednesday. Sir John Pakington, after thanking the
doctors, proceeded to offer a few remarks upon the
present political situation. Alluding to the recent
attempt to assassinate the Emperor Napoleon
having chiefly teen concocted in England, Sir John
Pakington pointed out the critical nature of the cir•
cumstances with which England had to deal. Never
was a Government placed in circumstances demand-
ing greater care and circumspection. But instead of
first investigating the state of the law, they pro-
ceeded at once to legislate :

There, I think, they acted very indiscreetly. But that
is not all. In the meantime there arrived a despatch
from Count Walewski, complaining, in the name of the
French people, of the state of things in this country, and
of the English law. That despatch has, I believe, been
the cause of more offence than it ought to have been. In
the first place, I am bound to say it has not been con-
veyed to the English people very accurately, not having
been very well translated, and I am quite convinced that
the French Government intended no offence by sending
it. But what was the course taken by onr Government ?
They never answered that despatch, but forthwith, on the
receipt of it, came down to Parliament with their bill ; arid,
whether intentionally or otherwise, they held out to the
British people and to the French people the appearance
that they were legislating under foreign dictation. No
policy could have been more unseemly or unwise.
(Cheers.) And I think the feeling of national pride anti
indignation which has been aroused, and has pervaded all
classes, and which influenced the division of the House
of Commons a fortnight ago, was directed not so much
against the bill as an amendment of the law as against
the impolicy and infatuation which induced the Govern-
ment to bring in their measure under circumstances which
had at least the complexion of foreign dictation. (Cheers.)
The Government, from whatever cause, from

whatever motive, forlrot the honour and the interests of
England in not sending a reply to that despatch. That
document was inserted in the columns of the Monileur,
the Government organ of France. No blame attaches to
the French Government for that. But the despatch was
circulated throughout Europe, and I say it ought not to
have been circulated alone. It should have gone forth ac-
companied by the answer of England. That answer
ought to have been clear and decisive, conciliatory to
France, deprecating these foul crimes, but asserting with
a dignity worthy of this country that we would never
abandon that right ofasylurn which all the world has found
in this free land. (Cheers.)
The late Government, however, lacked the decision,
the moral courage, and the wisdom to give that reply,
and hence the difficult and delicate circumstances
with which Lord Derby's Government had now to
deal. Their duty might not be easy, but at least it
was clear :

That duty is twofold. We have first of all to proclaim
and make it patent to Europe that we can not and we will
not surrender the right of asylum to all the world in Eng-
land ; and aide by cde with that declaration we must make
it equally patent that we will not sanction the concocting
of these foul crimes in our land—that we will not allow
our hospitality to be abused, but that those who seek our
protection must submit to the condition that they shall
abstain from crime and render obedience to our laws.
(Cheers.) The second part of oar duty is to maintain
as long as we can maintain with honour that alliance with
France which is so conducive to the peace of the world,
and which I hope may ever flourish in close and increasing
friendship for the mutual benefit of both nations.
(Cheers.)

Sir John Pakington accounted as one of the principal
causes of the fall of the late Government their
having exhibited a want of decision, a want of
opinion on questions of great social import, such as
church rates and education, taking one course one
year, another the next, and on the third half of its
members abstaining from voting at all. With re-
spect to the policy of Lord Derby's Administration,
Sir John Pakington said, that it was hard to expect
a body of men suddenly called into power to decide
upon a policy in it few days. But he frankly ex-
pressed his opinion that Lord Derby, in obedience to
the expressed wish of the House of Commons, would
introduce an India Bill this session, to place India
under the direct authority of the Crown :
I am sanguine in the hope that if we shape our
measure with a •iew not tc increase the patronage of the
Government, but for the welfare and happiness of India
alone, we may be able to overcome this difficulty, and to
pass during the present session a bill which shell pro.
claim the authority of Queen Victoria throughout our
Indian dominions, without in any way swelling unduly the
influence of the Ministry. (Cheers.)

There was another topic not to be passed over,
Parliamentary Reform :

Gentlemen, the won reform has two meanings. It is
the word which for the last twenty or thirty years ha.
perhaps been nlost fregaent on the lips of politicians. It
has a conventional and a party sense. It has a sense in
which those who use it are thinking of great democratic
Innovations in onr Constitution. Taken in that accepts•