The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING. AUGUST 13, 1853.

ee; of Russia as an net of war. (Hear.,
hear.)' Throughout the whole of these negotiations they
had not taken • step without the assent of the French
goveranseut. There had been communiesktions almost daily
by despatches and the electric telegraph, and in nothing
had the French government been more entirely united with
her Majesty's government, than in the determination not
to treat this act of Russia as a ours both. (Hear, hear.)
Despatches from Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, which crossed
those of her Majesty's government to him, expressiog that
view, contained the same sen.iments as being entertained
by tbr Porte, and stated that such was the advice he had
given to the Sultan. (Hear, hear.) Although negotiations
were still pending, he would not hesitate to state to their
lordships by what steps they had arrived at their present
stage, and what was the present condition of the
question, being most anxious to give to the house
and the country ill the information which he
could safely communicate. (Hear, hear.) After the
. .

note of Count Neaselrode had been rejected by the Porte,
it appeared to her Majesty's govetnment that the uppor
tunity had arisen when mutual friends might take the
matter up, and treat with the contending parties. The oc-
cupation of the principalities assumed an open character,
and the mediation of Afistria—whether asked or offered he
did not exactly know at that moment—took place. The
Austrian government made a most fair and reasonable pro-
position. They said to the Porte—You have rejected the
terms of this note, furnish us with another proposition,
which will net be incompatible with the objects sought to
be effected by Russia, and we will send it to St. Peters-
burgh. Some delay arose, and the Austrian government,
seeing the great danger that would result from delay, called
together the ministers of France, England, Russia, and
Prussia, and prepared to take, as the basis of a note,
• proposition which had originated with the French
government. They proposed that with some slight modifl-
cations that should be laid before the Emperor of Russia
and the Sultan as the means of settling their differences.
Those modifications were referred to London and Faris,
and haying been approved, the note was sent to St. Peters.
burgh and Constantinople on the 2nd of this mon b. The
Russian minister at Vienna had sent the substance of this
note to Petersdorff, and it appeared that it was well re-
ceived, fer on the 3rd of this mouth a telegraphic despatch
was sent to Vienna, stating that the note would meet the
Emperor's views. Since that he (the Earl of Clarendon)
had that very morning heard that Count Nesselrode had
said to Sir Hamilton Seymour that that note would be ac-
cepted. And as that note—slightly modified from a pro-
posal of the French government—most assuredly contained
nothing opposed to the views of the Porte, he
could see no reason why it should not be accepted
by the Ottoman government. (Hear.) His object was,
while these negotiations were pending, and while there was
any risk of their not coming to the solution which they all
desired, to abstain from a more full discussion, and also
from laying any papers on the table which might lead to
debate, for he wished to abstain from doing or saying any-
thing which might endanger that peaceful solution of the
question which they all so earnestly wished for. (Hear.)
Lord BE AUMONT thought the government had not
done what they professed they would do. The demand
made by the French with reference to the Holy Places was
the only justifiable point in all the proceedings of the Em-
peror of Russia, who must have felt that any concession made
to the Latin church was derogatory to the church of which
he was a member, and would lead to a diminution of his
influence. It was the duty of this country closely to have
watched the demands of Russia. He thought the Porte
was justified in refusing those demands ; and it was then
that the interference of England and the other conntris
friendly to the Porte became necessary—negotiation was at
an end, and war was positively declared. Stronger mea-
sures should, in his opinion, have been directed towards
resisting the progress of Russia, rather than an attempt to
induce Turkey to make some modified assent to the terms
which she had before refused. The frontiers of Turkey
were invaded—all the results of war were taking place—
and yet the powers,friendly to Turkey remained passive.
The noble earl had told them that negotiations
were going on, but with whom Not with St. Petersburg,
but merely advice to the Sultan to make concessions, and
then • mediation with the Emperor of Russia. We under-
took to do right and to maintain the law of nations, and
the result of our neglect was, that the party to suffer was
the party who had been injured. Whatever concessions
were obtained would be the result of the violence which we
should have resisted. An offence against the law of nations
had been committed, and the party to benefit by it would
be the party who had given the offence. The ministers of
this country had acted as mediators with the Emperor of
Ruda, not as defenders of the rights of Turkey. The con-
cessions obtained might not be derogatory or injurious to
Turkey, but still a principle had been laid down which in
future would be found to be extremely dangerous. In a
proper state of things Russia should have been forced, not
only to retire behind the Pruth, but to pay all the expenses
of the occupation. He believed that if England and France
bad acted boldly, there would have been no war. He be-
lieved that Russia was not prepared for a protracted war,
and that Turkey had greater means of resistance than her
enemies gave her credit for. On the whole, he could not
felicitate her Majesty's government on the result of their
negotiations.

The Earl of HARDWICHE believed that the pacific
toes of late communications with Russia and Turkey

would lead to stronger language ultimately than if fitm-
Dees had originally been the rule of conduct.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said that the infor-
matioo they had received from the noble earl was of very
grave importance. They now knew that the negotiations
for peace were in a favourable condition. But, still, the
important question remained, of what their joint not* con-
tained? The whole question would, in his opinion, turn
upon how the question had been settled. (Hear, hear.)
The evacuation of the Principalities ought to be thine-
diets, and no promises ought to satisfy them.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH, on the whole, did
did not think that the forbearance of her Majesty's go-
veronica had damaged the Eastern question.
The Earl of ABERDEEN thought that his noble friend
had given a foil and satisfactory account of the
state of the Eastern question. The noble earl op.
posit* had given noble lords some very excellent advice.
He had always felt that it was for the interest of this
country that we should maintain • close alliance with
France, and the Mali feeling had actuated the government
throughout this difficult question. The noble earl found
fault with the government for not having taken more
energetic measures in the early sages of this dispute, but it
was all very nal to indulge in these prldictions when the
crisis was passed. He was satisfied that the beet had been
ions that could be dose under all the circumstances, for the
coarse whisk had bow tablet was approved of by the
four great powers of Europe, and be believed that
it wee aleelated to promote the bat iatereste of
this eeautry and of Europe. Thera was no guarantee or
treaty in existence which compelled this country to enter
into an armed atinventien for the protection of Turkey ;
bat the interest and honour of this country required that
her independence should be maintained, and, whatever
might be the result of the canting negotiations, of this their
lordships might rest satisfied, that neither the interest nor
the honour of the nation would be jeopardised, let alone
sacrificed, by her Majesty's government. (Cheers.)
The Earl of MALMESBURY spoke a few words by
way of reply, and declared that the debate had not changed
his opinion that the government would have acted more
prudently had they made known their policy In the same
way that France had done. It would have set at rest the
anxiety of the public upon the Turkish question, and have
satisfied the world that we were sincere in our desire to
assist the Sultan. (Cheep.) However, as their lordships
appeared to be averse to the production of these papers he
should not press for them, and, therefore, with the permis-
sion of their lordships, be would withdraw his motion.

The motion was accordingly withdrawn.
PARSEE MERCHANTS.

Lord MONTSAGLE presented • petition front certain
Parsee merchants complainkg of certain acts of the govern-
ment of India.

Earl GRANVILLE, considering that there was no mo-
tion before the house, would not detain their lordships at
any length. Entirely concurring in the fact that the MilkCl
had committed an injustice, he could not we that the go.
vernment ought to be held responsible in the matter. Cer-
tain British subjects had advanced money to the Nisem, and
now 'ought to obtain it back through the presence of
the government, notwithstanding that by the Indian law it
was expressly declared that government would not interfere
in such cease. If they were to interfere in this they would
have to interfere in every other debt due from the Nisam.
The government of India had long ago felt the impolicy of
this, end hence bad arisen the regulation not to interfere
to procure the payment of debts due from native princes.
That the case was one of hardship he admitted ; but the
hardship was between the Nixam and the petitioners, and
not between them and the Indian government.
After a conversation,
Lord MONTEAGLE briefly replied, and the subject
then dropped.
PILOTAGE BILL.

Lord STANLEY OFALaliaI moved the second
reading of this bill.
The Eul of HARDWICKE said if the navigation laws
had remained as they were, there would hare beta the
same Mame in shipping which had taken piste, and which