The Express.
London, England, 1852-02-09 00:00:00

MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 9, 1852.

FOREIGN REFUGEES IN ENGLAND.

A circular despatch, dated Jan. 13, addressed by
Earl Granville to liar Majesty's Ministers at Vienna and
St. Petersburg, and Her Majesty. Charges d'Affaires at
Paris and Frankfurt, hu just been presented, with other
papers on the same subject, to both Houses of Parliament.
"Foreign-Übe, Jan. 13.
" My Lord (Sir),—Representations have been made to her
Majesty's government on the part of several European go-
vernments, through their representatives at this court, on
the subject of the proceedings of foreign refugees now resid-
ing in England; and it has been urgently demanded that
immediate and effective steps should be taken by her Ma-
jesty's government to put a stop to thole intrigues and ciOn-
opirecies against this governments of various European
powers in which foreign refugees now in England are as-
serted to be engaged.
" By the existing law of Great Britain foreigners have the
unrestricted right of entrance and residence in this country ;
and while they remain in it, are equally with British sub-
juts, under the protection of the law ; nor can they be
punished, except for an offence against the law, and under
the sentence of the ordinary tribunals of justice, after a
public trial, and nn • conviction founded on evidence given
in open court. No fureigner, as such, can be sent out
of this country by the executive government, except persons
removed by virtue of treaties with other States, confirmed
by act of parliament, for the mutual surrender of criminal
offeeders.
" British subjects, however, or the subjects of sr.y other
State residing in this country, and therefore owing obedi-
ence to its laws, may, on conviction of being concerned in
levying war against the government of any state at amity
with Great Britain, be punished by fine and imprisonment.
Offenders in this respect are equally open to prosecution by
individuals or by the government.
" Measures in the form of Alien Acts have been at dif-
ferent times resorted to by the British Legislature, by
which the power of expelling foreigners, in eau of necessity,
has been conferred oa the executive government; but such
powers, even when asked for only for the maintenance of
internal transuillity. have been regarded by the people of
this country with jealousy.
" The general hospitality thus extended by our institu-
tions to all who choose to come to England has from time
to time been the means of affording • secure asylum to
political refugees of all parties, many of them illustrious in
rank and position. Among them Joey be mentioned kings
and princes of the two branches of the Bourbon family and
the prime ministers of France and Austria.
" If a discretionary power of removing foreigners were
vested in the crown, appeals would be constantly made by
the dominant party in foreign countries for the expulsion of
their political opponents who might have taken refuge in
Great Britain. Monarchical government might object to
republican refugees, and republican governments might
object to rovalist refugees; and it would bo difficult to
defend such hospitality, which would then bo founded open
favour, and not upon equal laws.
" It is the earnest wish of her Majesty's government to I
promote, os far as is in their power, the peace, order, and
prosperity of every country with which they are in friendly
alliance; but they do not think that any ground exists
which would justify them, on the present occasion, in ap-
plying to the legislature for any extraordinary or further
powers in reference to foreigners resident in Lnglaud, and
they have no reason to doubt that this opinion is shared
both by the parliament and the public of this country.
" With reference to the intimation that exceptional mea-
sures of precaution may be taken against British subjects
travelling abroad, her Majesty's government cannot com-
plain if, while insurrection is raging, or its flame is scarcely
extinguished, foreign governments should take precautions
lagainst suspected lungliih travellers.
I " Her Majesty's Government adhere to the principle laid
down by Viscount Palmerston in his note on the 30th of
September, ISIS, to the United States' envoy at this court,
lin relation to certain citizens of the United States, who
had come direct thence to Ireland, then in a state of partial
insurrection.

" Lord Palmerston did not then in that note ask for any
change in the American lawn, and he expressly forbore to
press the I'reeident of the United States with representa-
tions against the offenders, but merely said that those who
visited a country in a state of insurrection must take their
chance like persons whom curiosity might lead into a field
of battle ; and that the American Clovernment must not
take it amiss if citizens of the United States who visited
Ireland at that time wore involved in the consequences of

measures aimed at ISM of a different dcscriptiln.—iie.
measures, however, to which be alluded were taken with
reference only to persons to whom, under the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the moment, suspicion attached. But it
would be in the highest degree unjust and unworthy of the
enlightened character of any European government, and
wholly unwarranted by the course pursued 17 the British
government on that occasion, to put vexatious impedimenta
in the way of unoffending English traveller, by way of re-
taliation for the acts of foreign refugees in England.
"While, however, her Msjesty's government cannot con- i
sent, at the request of foreign governments, to propose a
change in the laws of England, they would not only regret,
but would highly condemn, any attempts on the part of
foreign refugees in England to excite insunection against
the governments of their respective countries. Such con-
duct would be considered by her Majesty's government as
a flagrant breach of the hospitality which those persons
enjoy.
" The attention of her Majesty's government will continue
to be directed to the proceedings of suspected foreign re-
fugees in this country, and they will endeavour by every
legal means to prevent them from abusing the hospitality
so liberally accorded to them by the British laws, to the
prejudice of countries and governments in amity and
alliance with Great Britain.

" You will camm•niate • copy of this despatch to the
Secretary of State.—l am, &c. 0 GRANVILLE."

THE ARTCTIC SEARCHING EXPEDITION.—A de-
cisive step towards the renewed search for Sir John Frank-
lin and his companions has at length been taken, by the ap-
pointment of Sir Edward Belcher to the command of the
Arctic expedition. It is understood that the nominations
have included Captain Kellett as the second in com-
mand, and Captain Id'Clintock, and Lieutenant Sherard
Osborn, late of the Pioneers, to one of the steam
tenders.—Horning CAraviee_

TILE WEST INDIA MAIL PACKET. —Tho Royal
West India Mad Packet Company have resolved on ap-
pointing a resident superintending engineer in the West
Indies to examine into and report on the efficiency of the
steam machinery of their beet abroad. This gentleman
will be well able to judge what steamers it is best to place
on the homeward route, in order that no time may be lost
in overhauling or repairing their machinery, by which
means much anxiety will be saved to the company and in
convenience to the public. The importance of having a
resident engineer abroad may be estimated by the fact that
if any steamer requires extensive repairs she has to be sent
home, a distance of sometimes 3,000 or 4,000 miles, to have
them attended to, and such is the extent and requirements
of the West India Mail Packet scheme, that it often hap-
pens that the steamer to be sent home has to be engaged
sn the public service during the whole of her homeward
voyage.
DEPARTURE OP THE CAMBRIA AND THE QUITO
STZAKER.B.—On Saturday, at half past 12 p.m., the Royal
Mail steam-ship, Cambria, Captain {Lang, sailed from the
Mersey for Halifax and Boston, with about 40 passengers
and a full cargo of Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham
goods. At nearly the same time the mail steam-ship
I sailed for Madeira, &a., with about 70 passengers and a fair
II "Tile Loss OP THE AMAZON.—The Oxford Choral
I Society gave a cessert in the Town-hall on the evening of
Thursday last, the pressed' of which (upwards of au.) were
given la aid se the Alai mow Wag Mewl fee the relief of
the widows awl erteao or those who petidtei la the wreck
of the ill-fated Anases. The performer.* esewleted of the
oratorio of " The Creatioa."

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SINKING OF A STEAMBOAT AT LONDON-MUDGE.
—Yesterday, shortly after noon, the Ant steamboat, plying
flan the Adelphi Pier to London-bridge, left the first.
mad plan with • number of passengers. At the
time the aserser shoal it wee dead low water. The vessel
beweso=eisi arm the river as far a Blackfrisrs
reshot with the least accident, but as she
tti the set g order erne of the arches she struck
a heap seem en the bed of the river to strengthen
the of the arches. Her momentum caused a
portion of the balm to give way, and the water entered
through Megaton in the steamer, and caused it to rock to
and fro with gad mistily. The vessel proceeded towards
is death tier he ems considerable distance without any
nee beyond the saw WM aware of what had occurred.
Shortly after raft meter Southwark-bridge the cabin
peemegen became eredally excited owing to the waiter
Sin Cory hat The boat was gat as far as the
et the Pier, and the passengers were
to land in inlay when the water In the hold
of the stseeser 8111111MISISIsl the vessel sank, and last
mersiag the still rise wear. Fortunately the
boat rentein• on time to the comeny's pier that the
nayipelien of the river will not be in tbeleast impeded.
MIL FIBAROtIt O'CosNole AT THE LYCEUM.—On
Saturday Mkt, about seven o'clock, a most extraordinary
excitement woo owed at the Lyceum Theatre by an unex-
pected and strew Mesdames with the band, by Mr.
Peargua O'Connor, whe wee he one of the boxes. The piece
that was bring Waal at the time was " The Oame of Spe-
culation," in whisk ONO is much music. Mr. O'Connor,
when the band began %play, proceeded in a most eccentric
manner to tattoo sad Nip about in his box, to the time of
the band. The weilimes were astounded at such an un-
seemly exhibition, and steady expressed their feeling of
annoyance. Bermmat Morton, 11 A, of the police, went to
the box, and civilly tail the interrupter that the audience
must not bo disturbed in that manner. The answer of the
honourable and learned member for Nottingham was •
severe blow at Sergeant Morton's face, who took him into
custody, and conveyed him to tho Bow-street police station,
where he was allowed to depart oa a promise given to the
inspector on duty that he would appear before the magis-
trate on Monday morning. Mr. O'Connor, when discharged
from Bow-street station house, applied for re-admission at
the theatre, was refused, and had his money returned to
him by the cash-taker. Ilia examination at Bow-street this
day appears in another portion of our paper.
MATKOOTH GRANT.—BIRMINGIIAM.—On Friday
night • bags and enthusiastic meeting of the inhabitants of
Birmingham was held in the Town-hall, for the purpose of
petitioning parliament to repeal the endowment to May-
nooth College. There were about 6,000 persons moments,
' and the proceedings were opened with prayer, by the Rev.
Sibree. James Taylor, ~ took tho chair. The toto-
tattoos proposed were all unanimously adopted.