The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-23 00:00:00

AMBASSADOR AT PARIS.

The following despatch from her Majesty's Am-
bemador at Parts was yesterday laid before Parlia-
ment by command of her Majesty :

ZAILL OOWLIT TO THII LILL Or OLMILUNDON.
(Eeedved Feb. 21.)
PARIS, FIB. 20, 1868.
My Lord,—Having learnt by telegraph that cer-
tain resolutions imputing blame to her Majesty's go-
vernment for not having made any reply to Count
Walewaki's despatch to Count Peraigny, dated the
20th of January, had been affirmed by a majority of
the House of Commons, I think it a duty to your
lordship to place on record, that although I have not
been charged to make any official communication to
the French government in answer to that despatch,
I have been enabled, by your lordship's private in-
structions, to place before ;the French government
the sentiments, views, and intentions:of her Majesty's
government far more fully, and I cannot but believe
more satisfactorily, than would have been the case
had my language been clothed in a more official garb.
When Count Walewski's despatch was written, the
irritation against the supposed apathy of England
is a matter so important to France as the preserva-
tion of the Emperor's life was excessive. Rightly
or wrongly, the idea prevailed that every conspiracy
against his Majesty had been organised in England,
and that the British laws gave security to the con-
spirators. No counter-assertions on the part of her
Majesty's government would have had any effect at
that moment ; and any official notice on the part of
your lordship of Count Walewski's despatch would
probably have involved the two governments in a
controversial discussion more likely to have in-
creased than to have calmed the excitement which
prevailed. It the object was to soothe, it was im-
portant to let time exert its usual influence, and to
reserve the official answer to Count Walewaki's
despatch until it was known whether parliament I
would answer the appeal which was to be made to it
by her Majesty's government.
But it ought not to be ignored, that while taking
this prudent coarse, your lordship lest no opportu-
niq' of informing the French government, confiden-
tially, of the true bearings of the question which had
been raised. Your lordship's language has been,
from the beginning of this unfortunate affair, clear
and straightforward. I have now your lordship's
letters before me, in which, while vindicating in
language worthy of your lordship's name, the right
of asylum which Great Britain has ever afforded to
strangers of all ranks and nations, and,whilo declar-
ing, in terms as explicit as they are determined, the
impossibility, of infringing on that great principle
of our constitution, you show how utterly insufficient
must any enactment be, to prevent men of desperate
minds from entering upon desperate undertakings.
As your lordship's true, but very inadequate organ, I
have faithfully represented your feelings and your
principlee, and could I call upon the Emperor or
upon Count Walewski, as witnesses, neither, I feel
certain, could belie my words.
I know not what may be the result of last night's
vote ; but, at all events, I lose no time in stating my
conviction that to your lordship's judicious and pru-
dent conduct at a very critical moment it is owing
that, without the shadow of the sacrifice of a single
principle, our relations with this government have
not received a shock which might have been fatal to
the friendship which yet happily prevails between
the two nations.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) COWLEY.