The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-18 00:00:00

THE REV. FATHER CUROIN.

Sir G. BOW YER then proceeded to draw the attention
of the noble lord at the head of the government to • ler-
mon alleged to have been preached at Rouse by • distin-
guished ecclesiastic, the Rev. Father Curcin, in which be
was said to utter reproaches most injurious to the feelings
of the Neapolitan emigrants in that city. It was alleged
that the rev. father had accused au illustrious propos with
the great offence of having wantonly sod withoutany advan-
tage, political or otherwise—which indeed would not have
excused such a step—sent a bend of robbers sod murders=
to commit the most atrocious deeds within the dominions
which had recently been usurped from him by his neighbour
and relation the King of Sardinia. This assertion had caused
great pain and dismay not only to the family of the illus-
trious prince, wbo was utterly incapable of such an act,
but also to many respectable and hooourable gentlemen who
were attached to his came. He (the hon. baronet) had
received from Father Curcin • letter stating that be had
never made the smallest allusion in his sermon to any
metier wherever ; and he had also bad letters met
him from • greet riumber of purses of the highest rank in
Soothers Italy to the same affect.
Mr. HONSELL said he believed there were only Ave
countries in Europe in which religious toleration did not
prevail. One of those countries was Russia, where the
people professed the Greek religion. One was Spain,
which was c•tholic ; end three, Mecklenberg, Holstsio, and
Sweden, were protestant. Therefore this was not • ques-
tion of protestant sod catholic, but the broad question of
religious toleration. He wished that the Spaniards could
see the working of the catholic church in Ireland.
There it had no privileges, but had complete liberty, and
that was the state in which he wished to see the catholic
church all over the world.

Lord PALMERSTON observed that owing to their
geoxmphical position, the Spaniards had not much inter-
pongee with other countries ; but be still hoped that they
were coming round to more enlightened views. At the
same time their laws remained, and though the Spanish
government were anxious that they should be administered
with indulgence, public opinion had its force. In the use
referred to, the Queen of Spain had exercised her pre-
rogative of pardon, and had remitted the seateoce, upon
the condition of the persona convicted quitting the coun-
try. With regard to the sermon alluded to by Sir G.
Bowyer, he (Lord Palmerston) had told him at the
time that he had read the statement in a newspaper, and
could not vouch for its accuracy. But be also had bad a
letter from Italy (whit* he read), and, though it did not
my that the sermon contained the expressions mentioned
in the newspaper, it showed that the sermon had a strong
political bearing.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE then called attention to the pro-
posals which had been made for the establishment of the
route to Australia by the way of Panama and asked what
were the intantioes of coveromeot on the subject..
Mr. PEEL considered the route vii Suez preferable to
that of Panama, and said that the government would not
le justified in incurring the additional expense. Au offer
had been received from the Peninsular mid Oriental Com-
pany to double the communication between Ceylon and
Australia for an addition of 50,0001. to the sum of 134,0001.
now paid to them ; and that offer was deserving of and
would receive due consideratioo.

Mr. BENTINCK then called attention to the general
question of the Poet-office packet service, contending that
the vote of 956,8001. for that service wee one of the most
exclusive and unjust vote ever submitted to the house,
insomuch as it was intended to save the pockets of the great
mercantile community at the expense of the tax-paying
public.
Subsequently the house went into committee of supply,
and Mr. PEEL moved the estimate for the Post-office
packet service.
The motion led to considerable discussion, in the course
of which the system of subsidiaing foreign governments for
the conveyance of English mails was strongly censured,
especially by Sir S. Northcote, Mr. Corry, sod Mr. Ayrtoo.
Mr. AYRTON proposed that the vote should be reduced
by 3,1101., the amount payable under the new arrangement
to the Belgian government for the packet servicewith
Ostend._ _ .

On :division the proposed reduction was negatived by
75 to 26, and the vote, the last of supply, was agreed to.