The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-10 00:00:00

CASE OF CAPTAIN WHYTE MELVILLE.

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The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said that last semi= he
had celled the attention of his noble friend the Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs to the claims of Captain
Whyte Melville on the meat of Peru. The noble
earl stated tbat they been referred for arbiavtion to
the moat" of Heather'. He wished now to know what
rrthe: arbitration was making.
laii RUSSELL replied that the last intelligence he had
oaths suhject wee in the month of December end it wee
to the effect that the Clllll had been referred to a very
Lofted pence, who had not yet made his report.
DENMARK AND GERMANY.

r.arl RUSSELL io reply to the Earl of Malmenhury,
was uoderstoal to say that he could not imagine any-
one would cut a word of blame on the noble earl oppo-
site for his conduct in reference to this question while
Secretary of State for Foreign Altai's. The noble lord bad
asked him three quiet:one ; bat with respect to the Bret be
had taken iso erroneous view when he said that her Majesty's
goveromeot bad allowed this question to pass from so Euro-
pean to • German one. Oa the contrary thee had always
maintained—and he believed it world hirdlj be denied by
the most ,00tdent partisans of Germany—that the question
of Sleswig must be conadsred an international one— (cheers)
—that Sleswig bait no pert of the German territory, any
queerer, of the obligations of Denmark towards Sleety*
must be considered sa one in which the other powers of
Europe had a right to take such part as they might choose.
In answer to that question, be must my that the government
bad received no communiestiots from Austria or Prussia.
The next question related to the observance of the treaty of
London, and whether that was to be considered abrogated
by a state of war. In the first place he would say that he
could not consider that that treaty would be in any way
abrogated by the state of war so far as it regarded the &t-
-hreat powers. It was quite impowrible that a treaty made
with France, Great Britain, Anemia. and Sweden, could be
abrogated as regarded those powers by a war between Aus-
tria end Prawns and Denmark. (Hear, hear.) He tam
tint such an argument had been stated, bat be thought
the general principle of the law of nations would militate
against it. as in the analogous cane of the treaty which was
signed by the great powers of Europe and the Ottoman
Porte in Intl with ert to the pelage of the Dardanelles
wed, as be underabod, from the answer which had been
given by the repreneotatives of Austria and Prussia, that the
treaty of London was binding on those powers. He held
that an Austria and Preemie were now violating the
engagements of the treaty of London, they were bound
to Great Britais, France, Russia, and Swedes to maintain
sad respect the integrity of Deamark. (Cheers.) That was
his interpretation of the sense of the obligations of Austria
and Prussia. (Hear. haw.)
The Earl of DERBY—I think the answer given by the
noble earl is vary dowered distinct, and on the whole sails-
betory, but there was one point put by my noble friend
which the noble earl omitted to answer. He answered—and
I was sorry to bear it—that her Majesty's government had
obtained no guarantee from Prussia and Austria that, in the
event of compliance with their demands by Denmark,
they would forthwith withdraw from Sleswig. Dun mom
her Majesty's government have not obtained that. bat I
boos -shall hear that they have prayed on the Australia
and Prussian governments for such a guarantee and
aernranee. (Hear, bear.)
Earl RUSSELL said that her Majesty's government had
net expressly asked for • guarantee, but had always seemed
that when • constitution was repealed the Austrian sad
Prussian troop would evacuate Siesing.

COREESPON DMICK WITH THE UNITED STATES.
The Earl of DERBY said he had another question to put
wpm a different subject. bat ea he had not given notice of
it he would, if the *obis lord pleased, repeat it as Thom
day. The noble earl. by command of her Majesty, bad laid
Tarim; papers upon the table of the home, and anmegst
others correspondence with the Federal States of MIMICS
11•1 the subject of the Alabama. They had nem elsewhere
that a considerable amount of correspondence bad taken
place upon an aoalogous subject—namely, with regard to
rensonstrances made as to iojunes apprehended or sustained
by American common:le from vessels minim from British
ports. Be wished to know whether her Majesty's govern-
ment were prepared to lay upon the table the ccerespoo-
-401109 on that subject as well as the despatches relating to
the Alabama ; and further, whether they were prepared to
1101111011 any correspondence containing repreeentatioos
cm the part of the government against the apparent viola.
Mosso( the law byAmericao cruisers is enforcing their rights,
and alw with respect to same very curious decisions which
7=to ham bees given by the prize courts of the
d dStates.

Sari RUSSELL—I should be able to answer the question
latter on Thursday, but if the noble earl refers to the die
cessions that have taken place with the American govern-
seat news the subject of the iron-clad steamers at Militia-
bead, I can only say that am that natter is about to be laid
before a court of law, I shall object to the productioe of the
earrespoodeoce. As the noble earl has raised the question,
I nay mention that on the first eight of the session the sable
earl referred to the despatch of the American Secretary of
State, Mr. Seward, and he expressed the hops that I had
answered the despatch in beaming terms. At the moment
I did not remember having sees any such despatch. I have
&sad aims, however, that it was a despatch wrists. by
&ward to Mr. Adana, but Mr. Adams never thought proper
to bring the dispatch before me— laughter)— and, therefore,
I was spored the difficulty and pain of giving en appropriate
answer. t Renewed laughter.)
The Earl of DERBY—I apprehend that there will be no
difficulty in producing that despatch now. I presume thrt
it has been laid before the noble seri. for I see that in the
late despatches which have been published reference is
mete by Mr. Adams to the noble earl having received
towards the latter sod of August an answer to several der
patches, in which are included that of the 11th of July,
to which I referred.
Earl RUSSELL—I oertainly do net find among the papers
the despatch of the 11th of July, and Mr. Adams informed
me expressly that he had received the despatch, and had
set headed it to me. That being so, 1 should not attempt
Ile do so useless a thing as to get ups wrangle with respect to
a despatch which bra Dever been presented.
The Earl of DERBY—My reams for salting the question
L that the whole of these men have 'roared ma having
been laid before magma.
METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS.

Os the resolution of the Cameo= with respect to the ap.
peinesnent of a joint committee to consider the metropolitan
seaway schemes of the pressed maim.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY. is the absences of the
President of the Council. gave notice for Thursday neat of
• motion for the appointment of a committee of are peers
to ant with the committee of the lower house.
MARINE ARTILLERY.

Lord HARDWICHE, after referring to some moset ex-
periments, asked when the nary would be supplied with a
gun cod projectile that would be effective against ships
plated with 4 inches of iron.
The Dttke of somEßser gave a detailed statement of
what bad been dews towards eupplyieg the navy with effee•
tire artillery. The 'armament bed obtained 130 to 150-
gonadal; that would pierce ham plating. but the difficulty
was to procure an effective broadaide gun.
Lord 1)E GREY explained the reuses of the delay in the
CZedins. of the committee, and discl►imd on the jaart of
overnmeot any wish to favour one competitor for the
sappily of arms more than another.

The subject then dropped, and their lordships adjouraad
at 21J minutes to 7 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tozwar, Fn. 9.

The SPLAJUR took the chair at a few miaatee Wore 4
o'clock.

A lar;• number privM. balm won road • first time.
HER MAJESTY'S REPLY TO THE ADDRESS.
_ _ _

I and PROSY, the comptrollor of the household, appeared
at Ow her is the tuliform of hie office, sad laid—l have had
so audience of her Majesty, in which she has commanded toe
le read the following answer to the address of this house :

" I return yon toy heartfelt thanks for your loyal and
&Alfa eddies". I receive with sincere satiafactioe your
weal eongratulations ea the birth of the Priam, my fraud.
fry Your &mummies of devoted loyalty to my meson and
family me most gratifying to me. You may rely on my
williog co-operatioo with you in promoting whatever is eon-
theirs to the welfare and happiness of my faithful people."