The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS. FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 1860.

which they should meet, sad the time at which they should
assemble, my be mattes for future discussion; but to the
confirms idelf, sad to the very principle upon which that
continues should meet—namely, the reconciling of the
treaty of Vienna with the present state of things and
the treaty which has been lately concluded between
the Emperor and the King of Sardinia—there cannot be
the Wet objection, and the French 'Remnant declare
themselves ready to enter into it. (Hear, hear.) Well,
then, I say it does not depend upon England alone, or upon
our boasting declaration, as I should call it, that we are
reedy to go tower with Frame—r (hear, hear)—it requires that
all the powers of Europe sh ld, in • certain manner, be
agreed with tamed to the guarantee which should be re-
quired, and the precautions which should be taken in order
to give Switherland a future guarantee for her security. (if
this the right honourable gentleman may be assured,
without speaking of other powers, or of what m.y
be their dopes of regard for the interests of Switaer-
land, the government of her Britannic Majesty do feel
the utmost desire to preserve to Switzerland—that free and
independent nation, that refuge for the politically
Ipro
seabed, thatof liberty old and classic land berty—(hear, hear)—
we do wish to preserve to the Swiss people the guarantee
which they have received for the security sad the mainte-
nance of their liberty and independence. (Cheers.) The
right hon. gentleman asks me whet course Fontanel means
to pursue with regard to her treaty enpganeds with the
other powers of Europa That is certainly a very general
I question, and I should be • good deal embossed if I were
to go ery
over ev one of the separate treaties which
we have with different Fern d Europe, and
what course would be taken with regard to estli.
We have • very critical question before us. We have
already partly entered into negotiations upon it, and the
powers of Europe will no doubt consider it. The eiglt
powers who were parties to the Treaty of Vienna will very
probably meet, and it would therefore not only be unveils,
but it would be • positive dereliction of duty in me if I
were now to go farther into details. (Hear, hear.) The
right hon. gentleman seems to think that out location is
One of great disgrace. He considers that this coun-
try is the slave of France, and that we are too
cowardly to stand by our guarantees. If that is
his opinion, the present government must in his
eyes be unworthy to continue at the head of affairs ;
and it would be the duty of the right hon. ggeenntlemen to
veil for hosul hue of policy, and for a decaration that
mane more decided course should be taken in the manage-
ment of affair, in which the government had made the
country a bye-word in Europe. (Hear, hear.) But the
right hon. gentleman has proposed no such thing. He
has only made • speech which had no practical end or pur-
pose. (Hear, hem.) At one time the right hon. gentle-
man somewhat inconsistently represented this country, and
especially those engaged in its manufactures and commerce,
as having been bribed by the advantages to be pined from
the late treaty of commerce with the French government.
Why, it is not six weeks ago since I heard the right hoc.
gentleman, with many others, complaining that we had
been the complete dupes of that treaty • that so far from
gaining any advantage from it, we had dade ourselves the
slaves of France, and that all the benefit would accrue to
France, and all the disadvantages to ourselves. (Hear,
hear.) But now it appears that the treaty offers us a bribe,
and • bribe so valuable, that for the sake of it we have for-
gotten the independence of other nations and the honour of
our own. (Cheers.) That is not very consistent in the
right hon. gentleman. (Hear, hear.) But in spite of the
hon. gentleman's referenoe to that treaty, I do con-
that while these matters concern one of
the nations of Europe in whose independence we
must take much interest, while other questions
may arise with regard to the independence and safety of
other nations, and while they will no doubt require imme-
diate attention, Ido think that the extension of our com-
mercial relations with the advantages that France will
derive from being able to obtain the manufactures of Eng-
land, and that this country will derive from being able to
obtain the produce of a country inhabited by an ingenious
people, possessing a fertile sod and blessed with a fine
climate—l do think that the mutual interchange of them
advantages must tend to bring the two nations nearer to
each other. (Cheers.) Those advantages have a tendency, when
questions arise not involving the forfeit of good faith or the
sacrifice of honour, to make men think how great will be
the loss to both nations if they rush into war. They make
men consider not only the brilliant and showy parte of hos-
tile operations, but also the miseries and losses which war
entails ; and they therefore dispose them to find out peace-
' able means of adjusting their disputes, and endeavour to
see whether their differences are really so wide as they
thought. These are the benefits of a commercial treaty ;
and I hope that when the questions between the govern-
I marts of both countries have entirely lost their interest,
I the treaty which has been entered into will still be
found to unite the peoples of the two countries, and will
prove a more close alliance than any which could be entered
into between cabinets or governmenta. (Cheers.) The
right hon. gentleman asks me whether any despatch has
been written in answer to the last despatch of M.
Thouvenel ? The despatch of her Majesty's government was
one detailing our reasons for not agreeing to the statement
made by France on the subject of the annexation of Savoy.
M. Thouvenel did not answer that despatch. He took a
note that it was not • protest, and contented himself
with that. There was therefore no further argument
to be inaintained. We had each stated our
can. We had gone fully into it; and there wee
no need to continue the controversy any further.
Our notions were entirely different. The French
thought, I believe, with their government, that the annexa-
tion of Savoy was an advantage and a defence to France, and
they were glad tome that their government had put forward
their claim, and that their claim was mental to by
Sardinia. On the other hand, her Majesty's government—
and I believe the people of England—took • different view
of that question ; sod they could cot believe that there was
any geographical necessity for the annexation. (Hear,
hear.) With regard to the future, this is certainly not the
time to enter into that. If this house leaves us to conduct
the negotiations, I trust we shall not be unmindful of the
honour of the country or the interests of Europe ; but I
trust the right hon. gentleman will find, when the papers
relating to those negotiations are produced, that has
done that which becomes her, both as the British nation,
and as part of the general European system. (Cheers.)
Mr. CLIFFORD, having known Lord Cowley for many
years, wished to state his conviction that the country had
never had a more useful or more intelligent diplomatic
agent.
Viscount PALMERSTON—I do not rise to add anything
to the answer which my noble friend has given to the right
hon. gentleman, so ably, and I hope so satisfactorily to the
house and the country. But I wish to advert fur a mo-
ment to sonic remarks which have been made by an hon.
gentleman behind me (Mr. Duff) with regard to the cha-
racter and conduct of Lord Cowley, our ambassador in Ririe
Having known the noble lord for many years, having N-
I lowed him through his course of duty In the various sites-
tious in which he has been placed, and having had the
honour to be his superior in °nice during a period of great
Idifficulty, when the duties which he had to perform re-
qnired all the qualities that en ambassador ought to
—I am bound to say that the dame made on him rt:
hon. member was founded upon the most complete mis-
take, and upon the greatest terror, as to the character and
conduct of the person to whom his obeervationpLalied ;
and it was as ungenerous a censure as wee ever upon
• meritorious and deserving public servant. (Loud theses.)
Lord Cowley, upon all occasions which he has had to
perform the duties of an ambassador, has combined in •
I most remarkable degree that spirit of personal conciliation
which is so necessary to the due discharge of his functions,
with a strict regard to the interests and dignity of this
country. (Cheers.) lam sure that those who sit on the
contrary side of the house, and who had an opportunity
during the period for which they had the conduct of the
public affairs, of marking his conduct, and of examining
the manner in which Lord Cowley performed his duties,
will agree with me, and will bear that testimony he so fully
deserves to his transcendent merits as a representative of
England in • most important foreign country. (Cheers.)
Mr. KINOLAKE admitted that he thought a protest •
I mark rather of weakness than of strength, and would not
press any such course on the government, as a peened
would he the termination of whet he was not anxious to
terminate. He commented on the last despemli of hi.
Thouvenel, which he characterised as greatly deficient in
consideration to the British government, and denied
that the Emperor of the French had fulfilled his
promises of consulting the great powers of Europe,
and the wishes of the population of Savoy and Nice. He
entered at length into the late votes of the people of those
countries, contending that they had in every way been sub-
jected to undue influents. A third promise had been
made that if Savoy was annexed to France, Chablis and
Faucigny should be annexed to Switzerland. The fulfil-
ment of that promise was still incomplete, and yet in it
wee involved the independence of Switzerland, and, in con-
sequence. the safety of Euro
THE DISCOUNT HOUSES.—INCOME-TAX COL-
LEcroRs—INLAND BONDING, ke.
_

. -
Alderman SALOYONh Aid he had given notice of the
following question, which he wished to pat to the Chan.
eellor of the Exchequer—" Whether his attention had been
directed to the Bank of England return, publiabol in the
Gazette of Friday last, in so far as regsnls a diminution of
notes in the hands of the Bank, and en addition to tbcoe in
circulation ; ,-nd whether he could give any information as
to the report that thi. has not been produced by the onli-
nary reqrements of trade, but by some concerted action
on the Bank's reserve, to produce a disturbance in the
eurrency of the country."
Sird.NORTHCOTE wished to put the following question
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer:—" Whether persona
who may have become sureties for income.tax collector, at a
time when the rate of the income tax was sd. or 7d, in the
pound, are liable for any default made by the collector
when the rate of the income tax is 9d. or 1011. in the
pound ; and If they are not, whether in the event al • col-
lector making default, the taxpayer will be held liable
to make a further payment to cover the deickincy."
Mr. HADFIELD wished to ask the Chance/1a of the
Exchequer when he intended to bring in a bill for estab-
lishing bonding warehouses in inLuel towns?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER would an.
ewer the last question int. The rousse to he taken on the
subject of inland bonding depended a good deal on what
the house hest voted or right vote in connexion with the
Customs Duties Bill. As won as that hill had pseud
the house, which be hoped would be very
he would state what he proposed with respect to Wend
bonding. As to the liabilities of income-tax .41...eters and
their sureties, the house was aware that the appointment of
colle-tora and the arrangements in general. were not seder
the direct control of the execeitiv• government, but under