The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-26 00:00:00

referred to another committee.

Lord REDY.SDALE tbounht the committee had acted
rightly in reftcing to receive this petition.

The committee was then reappointed.
AFFAIRS OF SPAIN.
The Earl of ABERDEEN rose to ask the question of
which he had given notice. He thought their lordships
would be of opinion that if it had not been for the
many and great events which had occurred in various parte
of the continent of Europe, it was probable that the anoma-
lous cemdition of our toles& All with the Spanish government
would have c-lied for some notice from parliament and the
country. It was in the belief of the great importance of the
subject that he was led to seek for information upon it from
the noble marquis opposite. It was now more than a year
since our diplomatic relati-us with the court of Madrid were
abruptly terminated under circumeances of much indignity
to the representative of her Majesty at that court. (liar,
hear.) He did not understand that any satiaration or re-
paration had been mode fir the violence then com-
mitted. At the same time the dismissal of any fu-

reign minister by • government was not a measure
which admitted of no justification. Every government
leered this power, and had exercised It when they had
thought their essential interest or safety was concerned.
When the Regent Orleans dismissed the Spanish ambassador
from the court of France, he did not confine himself to
merely sending his passports, but he had him arrested and
conducted as a prisoner to the frontier: the regent, however,
entered into an explanation which was pronounced by all
Europa to be satisfactory. Now the late proceeding in Spain,
violent as it was, did not amount to anything of that descrip-
tion ; but he was bound to say that for that proceeding it
appeared to him no justification existed. (Hear) The right
hon. gentleman who had been treated with so much indig-
nity bad received the anprobation of his own government,
honours had been bestowed upon him, and an appointment
of, if anythieg, greater imprrtance. There was, therefore,
no reason why s t od undemanding should not be arrived
at on an early day. But if our relations should be re-
newed, ha trusted i • would not be the means of renewing a
spirit of meddling, threatening, or tormenting; but that we
should extend that( ncoura yement and mice, ion which it was
our duty to afford to all the ailim of her Majesty. There
could not let a doubt tnat the existing Spanish Foyetnment
had shown that it had b ,th the power sad the will to govern
the country in peace and tranquillity during • period of the
greatest revolutionary excitement, and it was on the eve of
amending its tariff on a principle which would admit our
manufactures at much more moderate duties than those at
present in force. He would now venture to ask whether
there was any prospect of a speedy renewal of our diplo.
matic and friendly retell ms with the Spanish government ?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE hardly expected that the
Question of which the noble earl had given notice would have
Seen prefaced by views so general and extensive upon the
internal and external policy of Spain, even extending to the
expedition to Italy. Tee noble earl said it was in
the power of any ft:melte government to send away its mi-
nister ; but there was no occasion on which such en act bad
been done where a justification bad not been given. That
justifiention, in the ease of Stein, had not up to the present
moment been satisfactory. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl
had said he understood that. the Spanish government had
expressed a desire to give ample reparation. If the noble
earl knew this, it was more than he knew. (Hear, hear.)
No such reparation bad been offered. Her Majesty's
government had been at all times, and was at the
present moment, prepared to receive any such offer
of ample reparation—(bear, hear) and the best
proof they could give of that fact was the readi.
nem witk which last year they accepted the proposal
from his majesty the King of the Belgians to mediate.
The noble earl had truly stated that the eminent and
distinguished individual who had been compelled to
submit to such an unmerited insult on the part of
the government of Spain had since been appointed to an
important situation, which bad proved the confidence and
favourable opinion entertained of him by the government.
But although he had been so appointed it was not the less
necessary that in any explaniei et from Spain, not only the
honour of this country, but the personal honour of that
gentleman, should be consulted.
THE FRENCH INTERVENTION IN ITALY.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE 'gala rose, and said, as
the subject of foreign relations was before the hearse, he
might take that opvrtunity of stating, in reference to a con-
versation which had taken place some time before in
that house, what was the precise nature of the communica-
tion which had been made by the government of France to
- the government of this country, on the subject of the inter-
vention at Rome. He had stated on the former occasion
that, although there could be no objection, on the part
of her Majesty's government, to communicate in general
terms what was cinmunicated to them by the government
of France, they did cot think that, properly speaking, they
could make suck communication without first consulting the
government of that country, and endeavouring to ascertain
how far such commune Mon might or might not be consistent
with their interests. Such communication had since taken
place, and he bad now to state to their lordships that the
government of Francs had given their consent. He now
laid on the table the papers referred to.
RETURNS. _

The Marquis of LAlngliOCiquiSlso laid on the table of
the house returns relating to poor-law unions in Ireland;
copies of the instructions issued by the Home-office with
reference to the vontslation of mines ; and returns from the
Marshalsea and Palue Courts.
PORTPATRICK AND DONAGHADEE PACKET
STATION.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY, after presenting the
petitions above notic. d, moved "That a select committee
be appointed to inquire and examine into the expeeiency
end advantage of removing the Post-oftlee Packet Station
and communication between the south-west of Seetlar d
and the north of Ireland ; and to ascertain the public
grounds upon which the safe sea passage of eighteen
miles between the harbours of Portpatriek and Dona.
gbadee is to be sow abandoned, and those harbours
which have cost the country nearly 400,0001. consequently
ruined, in order fa the sake of a trifling saving to substi-
tute a long sea voyage of ninety miles, front Greenock to
Belfast, which is now the object proposed by her Ma-
jesty's government ; and to report thereon to the house."
The Earl of CAWDOR moved that these words be added to
the motion : " and also to inquire into the reasons which led
to the post-dam communication between Milford Haven and
Waterford."

The Hari of H ADDINGTON said that when he was First
Lord of the Admiralty, and that it was a question between
a long land end short sea voyage, or long 'ea and short land,
the decision was slwa” in Woof of the long land and short
sea passage. He could state, too, that this volition having
been then mooted, competent persons had been appointed to
inquire into it, and they had reported to Mai that for a
variety of teams, and especially that of seocomy, it was
desirable to keep up the packet station between Port Patrick
and Honaghadee. He therefore thought the case was one
foe inquiry.

- • -
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that the subject
was one witch in no degree required a committee. There
me no dispute of facts, no theorise in to each
other, and any further infnmation that~m lem required
*mild be had on being called for in the mid way. The
subject was therefore one on which their lanlihipe could at
once judge. The c, menutides of the Warm district on one
side, and of the eastern pert of Thant oaths other, wen of
• different opinion to that expressed in the pawn pni,„ted
by the noble marquis. Those connunitiee had nee.