The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-27 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 27, 1867.

IMP=LiL P.

HOUSE OP LORDS.—FRIDAT, JULY 26.
ls th? lioyas of Lou.; yesterday, she Railway
Companies Bill passed through committee, with
some amendments ; as did also the Railway Com-
panies (Scotland) Bill.
The Vaccination Bill was read a third time and
postal.
The house adjourned at S t;Juck.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Fainer, Jui.v 26.
IN the Hoi-Ni: of COMMONS, Mr. Lases gave
notice that on the motion for going into committee
on the Meeting in Royal Parke Bill he will move
that it is inexpedient to proceed further with any
bill touching that subject this session.
On the motion for going into committee of
supply, Mr. BLAKE called attention to the dietary
in the county prisons in Ireland.
_ .

" The staite. of Ireland and the legislation
for that country proposed this session by her
Majesty's government," was brought under'
review by Sir C. O'Lotau.r.N, who, in a speech
of some length, attributed the discontent which
exists in Ireland to the bad state of the law in
reference to the relations between landlord and
tenant ; to the existence of what the Chancellor of
the Chancellor in a speech made in 1844 termed an
"alien" church establishment ; to the unsatisfac-
tory state of the education question ; and to the
prevalence of abacnteeism, the latter being an
evil which he suggested might be removed if the
Queen or some members of the royal family would
oocasionally reside in that country. With regard
to legislation, only one measure which addressed
itself to the evils of Ireland had been introduced
by the government, and that had been withdrawn.
Sir P. O'Brien Mr. Maguire, and Mr. Whalley
luring addressed the house,
The CHANORLIOR of the Ex•lieet en agreed with
Sir C.O'Loghlen that parliament was about to sepa-
rate, and that the state of Ireland was not satisfac-
tory, but the hon. baronet had not said that the
peculiar condition of Ireland was attributable
either to the present government or to their pre-
decessors. He was glad to say that emigration was
diminishing. It was said that the emigration was
owing to the state of the land question, and that
all that was wanted was the tenant-right which
prevailed in Ulster. But when he found that the
emigration from Ulster was as great as from any
other part of Ireland he was perplexed. The
government had introduced a measure to amend
the law of landlord and tenant, but it was received
with hostile criticism, and they were told that com-
palmation was all moonshine. With regard to the
question of education, he admitted that it ought to
be settled, but it was a question of great difficulty
and must be met by a combination, he would not
say on one side or both sides, but of all parties in
the house. With regard to the Irish church, he
thought that those who spoke of it as only a badge
of conquest were indulging a feeling which could
not conduce to the interest of that country. He
was not for destroying that institution, and he put
it to those who said that absenteeism was one of
the great evils of Ireland whether it was wise to
drive from Ireland the protestant clergymen, who
lived there in some degree of opulence. Then,
referring to the extract from his speech of 1844,
which had been quoted by Sir Colman O'Loghlcn,
in which he spoke of the Irish church as an alien
church, he described it as " a rhetorical passage,"
and Said the circumstances of Ireland had changed.
At that time the population was eight mil-
lions • it was now five millions and a half.
Ireland must be dealt with now in ac-
eordence with her altered circumstances. He
trusted that by the improvement of its agricul-
ture, by the promotion ui that country of warm-
factures, by a combination of various industries,
the condition of Ireland would soon be greatly
improved.

After some observations from Sir J. Gray, Mr.
Pim, Lord R. Montagu, and Mr. Monsell,
Lord N•AS observed that whatever might be
said as to the details of the government bill on the
land question, nobody could deny that its object
was good. He should be glad to see the practice
of giving leases in Ireland much more prevalent.
At the same time, he reminded hon. members that
before they recommended a system of compul-
sory. leasing they must be prepared to prove
that the effect of giving leases had led to
improvement ; and if the discussion had gone on
be should have shown that the granting of lease;
in Ireland had not been a panacea. The bill was
withdrawn because the Reform Bill had occupied
so much of the attention of the house, but in a
future session this and other kindred measures
would receive more of the attention of the house.
With regard to education, he believed the general
desire of the Irish people was that it should not be
aeparated from religious teaching.
Mr. H. SZYMOUR called attention to the case of
the Abyssinian captives, and the following discus-
sion ensued :

Sir H. RAWLINSON said that, in rising to second
the motion, it was not his intention to enter into the past
history of the Abyssinian difficulty. The immediate
matter for their consideration was what might be the best
wiz of extricating ourselves from the painful, humiliating,
an he might almost say, intolerable position we °cm-
p with regard to the Abyssinian people. He would
venture to remind the house that two employes of the
erowu—one an officer in her Majesty's consular service,
and another an envoy accredited from the Foreign.
office—now languished in • dungeon, were emaciated
with felons, and were daily—sometimes hourly—running
risk of their lives, and he would remind the house that
they bad been brought into that position, not by any
ishortoomaittaerirt their own, but simply because they had
loyally their duty to the government which
they served. n this simple showing of the cue he did
not think there could be any difference of opinion as
to the duty that devolved on ns to liberate the captives
and to clear the national honour. What was the
reason we had hesitated, and why did we still
hesitate— we, who had been used to boast
that the British subject, like the old civic Romanic,
could roam through the whole world, and still be protected
by the national ffigis. He had heard only those argu-
ments against the proposition which had just been brought
before the house, namely, that an expedition should be
sent to Abyssinia for the release of the captives. The first,
was that by sending an expedition we should endanger the
lives of the captives, numbering about 50 souls, it being
feared that King Theodore, on being attacked, might in
desperation murder his prisoners previous to flying to the
mountains. The second argument was the hazard end
difficulty of the expedition, and the danger of having
matters rendered worse by failure. The third objection
was on the score of expense, • matter of great importance.
The appeal to arms was the last resource. Every other
means to obtain the liberation of the captives bad
failed. If we abandoned sny further effort, and let
matters take their own coulee, that the unfortunate cap-
tives 'would sink under their prolonged sufferings was
almost certain. We bad therefore to choose between two
evils. In one case, inactivity would almost certainly be
followed by the death of the captives ; in the other, there
was a chance, and it seemed to -him a very go-el chance, of
saving them. If we made a demonstration in force, King
Theodore might be induced to send the captives to us, or
some rival chief might rescue them, and by giv-
ing them up, be enabled to make his own terms.
The 'only two similar oases that occurred to him
in which the effort to obtain the release of captives by
force was successful were those of Cabul and China. In
sachem° as our troops advanced the captives were better
treated, and at length they were sent in unscathed. The
question of the hazards and difficulties of such a demon-
stration in Abyssinia was a serious one. He had collected
information upon this subject, and must oonfees that an
invasion of Abyssinia from the seacoast would be a most
arduous undertaking. Bus if it were arduous that was no
reason why we should shrink from performing • duty.
(Hear, hear.) When an objection was made to the advance
of • force for the relief of Candahar on account of the
difficulties in the way of the expedition General Nott
wrote upon the subject es follows :—" I am obliged to you
for pointing out the many difficulties attending our posi-
tion ; but you are aware it is our first and only duty to
overcome difficulties where the national honour and mili-
tary reputation ire concerned. Nothing can be done with-
out effort and perseverance." (Hear, hear.) Great as the
difficultimbfbacending the Abyssinian plateau might be, he
could not regard them as insuperable to troops who had
penetrated the puss and scaled the peaks of northern
India is the recent campaign. The word " impossible"
ought to be as nearly obliterated from our vocabulary
as it was from that of the French. (Hear, hear.)
With the sea for the base of operations unlimited supplies
could be poured in, and with en energetic commander and
• picked body of men numbering from 5,000 to
10,000 for the advanced columns and supports be did not
see why an expedition should not advance triumphantly
from the coast to Magdala and achieve its object. The
objession of expeass wee one that was urged by those who
aid use understand the value of what was called prestige.
Ilia own views on therewith's of prestige were not merely
theoretical, but as he had been employed in the Exit in
immediate connexion with native court, the opinions he
bad famed as this subject were the result of actual ex-

perience and observation. (Hear, hear.) Prestige in
politics was like credit in finance— it was the power that
enabled us to achieve great results with small means.
Prestige might not be of paramount importance in Europe,
but in the East the truth was that our whole position de-
pended on prestige. It was a fallacy to suppose that we
held India by the sword: the foundation of our tenure.
the talisman by which 100,000 Europeans were enabled to
hold in subjection a native popula'ion of 150,0110,000, was
the belief in our unassailable power and ear inexhimetible
resources. (Hear, hear.) Any circumstance which led the
natives to mistrust our complete superiority, and to place
us on an *quality with themselves, was a grievous shook to I
our political position. In hie belief the Sepoy outbreak
was mainly, though not solely, attributable to the
loss of prestige which we incuned through our
exhibition of weakness during the Atfghan war in I
permitting Colonel Stoddart and Captaiu Conolly to be
murdered without taking any means to avenge their deaths,
and in confessing, by retiring from the country, our inability
to hold it. The Nemesis overtook us in that instance,
and might overtake us now if we exhibited in the East inch
a miserable example of moral cowardice and military
wenkness as to allow our envoys to perish in chains in the
court of a native pi:nee without taking any means either
to rescues them or to avenge their fate. (Hear.) With
regard to the question of expense, although he did
not like to weigh the honour of a country against mere
pounds, shillings, and pence— (hear, hear)--he could
not but think that the sending of an armed expedition
to Abyssinia would in reality be a measure of economy.
(Hear, hear.) If by remaining inactive we allowed the
fuel seed of mistrust in our power to be sown broadcast
in India, that seed would geminate in secret, :Lad might
crop rap afterwards, bearing in its fruits* harvest of dims-
ter, which would more than counterbalance any money
saving that could be effected by declining to undertake the
proposed expedition. (Cheers.) There were two points
on which be should like to have an assurance from the
government. He should like, in the first place,
to have an assurance that if an expedition
were sent it should be free from the entangle.
ment of foreign co-operation. (Hear, hear.) This was
a matter of great importance, although be was
aware that as Abyssinia could only be approached through
an Egyptian port, a friendly undentanding with the
F.gyptian government would of course be indispensable. '
The second point on which he should like to have an assn. ,
ranee was that we should be kept free from any future en-
tanglement with regard to the goeernment of Abyssinia.
Our object was immediate and direct ; it was that we
should rescue she captives and punish the King who had
insulted us; but it would be most inconvenient to be tied
in any way to the question of maintaining another chief in
power, or to make any otherengagement of the sort. (Hear.)
It had been rumoured out of doors that there had been
considerable discussion as to whether the expenses of such
an expedition should fall upon the imperial or Indian trea-
sury. That was a matter of considerable consequence.
Upon that point he would only observe that though the
quarrel was an imperial one all the officers had been cre-
dited by, and all the negotiations bad been under, the
control of the Foreign-office. Still, inasmuch as the
1 evils which they sought to avert would if an
expedition were not sent out, fall upon India, it
seemed to him only fair that India should to a
esrtsin extent pay a moiety of the expenses for these
advantages which she would receive from such an expedi-
tion. The loss of prestige would not be so much felt in
Europe as in 'lndia. He should support the motion of
his hon. friend. He would ask whether any other nation
in Europe would hesitate under similar circumstances, or
whether this country would if it had any other person
to deal with than King Theodore Was he to consider
himself safe from the greatest naval power in the world
because he twirled 250 miles from the sea coast? He
would also ask whether this country intended to abdicate
its position in Europe, and sit down under the scorn and
pity of the East? He did not believe that they would
pursue such a suicidal course. They were not only bound,
indeed it was their positive duty to send out an expedition
to rune these captives, and that without delay. Too
much pruderce in such • case became almost a betrayal of
political honour. Those who recommended that they
should sit down quietly under this intolerable indignity
undertook a most awful responsibility, and must have to
be called to a most severe account. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. LAYARD said the question was one of no common
difficulty. During the time he had the honour of being at
the Foreign-office no question came under his considera-
tion which caused him greater anxiety. Whatever view
might have been taken of the question, he now unformed
that matters had gone to that length that something must
be done to procure relief for these unfortunate persons
who had been kept in captivity in Abyssinia. This ques-
tion had from the very beginning been treated by some
persons as one of antagonism with the Foreign-office, and
consequently the difficulties of that department had been
very greatly increased. Part of the press of this country
had misrepresented the case from the beginning. He
knew how those articles bad been sent out to Abyssinia,
and that they had had the most mischievous effect. In
another plsoe a noble lord had made a mischievous
and dangerous speech, which had added to the difficulties
of the Foreign-offioe. He alluded to Lord Chelmsford.
(Oh, ob.) A report of that speech, as contained in the
Stoadard, was sent out to that country, but was
most mercifully intercepted by Mr. Remain, for if
it had reached the King most probably every one of those
persons would have been put to death. Mr. Seymour
Fitzgerald had been requested by the same persons to
bring the question forward in that house., but that gentle.
man went to the Foreign-of iee ; and when he saw how the
matter stood he most honourably refused to do so. Mr.
Rama= was selected, and he went to the King, and was
kindly received and treated by him. Unfortunately, an
opposition mission was sent out under Dr. Beke, contrary
to the wishes of the Foreign-office. Mr. Raman% wrote to
say that after that mission arrived the conduct of
the King changed towards him. The ease was surrounded
with difficulties, and the Foreign-office had not had
fair play. It was not a quarrel between the two
governments. The statement of the King put it upon the
ground that Mr. Cameron had gone amongst some tribes
at war with the King, and that the origin of the quarrel
was as to the extending of British protection to certain
tribes on the frontier. The question, however, now was
how to liberate these unfortunate persons. He was most
anxious that anything like a threat of an expedition should
have been avoided. He had hoped that by the negotia-
tions of Mr. Rasura—a man most singularly qualified for
his position—these unfortunate persons would have been
liberated ; but Mr. Remain had been imprisoned--
he was chained at the feet, while the others 'had
chains upon their hands ag well. Mr. Reese= was in
communication with the King, and bad received from him
most friendly letters, and bad been supplied with previ-
sions. The question was now bow to get these persons
out of captivity, and he had with great reluctance come
to the conclusion that there was only one course left open
to them, and that was to send an expedition to Abm
minis. They must not conceal from themselves that this
would be a very arduous expedition, but the credit and
honour of the country were at stake. If he had the re-
motest hope that these persons would be relieved be
should be opposed toa military expedition, but with full
knowledge of, and complete aciluaintruice with the views
of the King, he bad been compelled to give up all hope
that anything short of an expedition would cause their re'
lease. He hoped that the arrival of an expedition would
secure its object without its being sent op the country.
From all he could hear the King was reduced to consider.
able straits. Nearly all his troops bad left him, and
he wen now confined to only one province, and had
only the small army which wail immediately around
him upon which be could rely. (Hear, hear.)
An Egyptian expedition had beensuggested ; but he trusted
the noble lord would not entertain such a proposition,
which could only have the effect of rallying all the insur-
gent chiefs back to their allegiance. He certainly agreed
with his hon. and gallant friend who bad just spoken,
that they must go only for the release of the captives, and
that that being obtained the sooner we left the country
the better. He agreed also as to the effect this captivity
had in the East. There were tens of thousands of Indian
pilgrims proceeding every year to Mecca, puling almost
within sight of Abyssinia., and they would proclaim to our
Indian fellow-subjects that a number of Englishmen were
confined in dungeons, and that nothing was being done by
the British government to release them. The noble lord
opposite laughed, but he could amine him that this was a
very serious question. Nobody could speak with
greater anthority than his hon. and gallant friend on the
effect which had already been produced in the F.ast by our
conduct in this matter. With regard to the sort of expe-
dition that was to be undertaken be would not give a word
of advice. With regard to the troops and their supplies,
Colonel Merewetber could give the best advice, and
there were other officers who bad served on the coast
of Arabia wbocould be of great assistance. But he must im-
press this upon the noble lord, that whatever was to he
done must be done at once. September was approaching
rapidly, and if that month were allowed to pass the ex.
pedition must be put off for another year. If there were
any chance of negotiations proving successful, it would be
through the King Imowinig that we were making active
preparations for an expedition.

Lord STANLEY—I can assure the house that almost
from the first day the present government came into
power the question of what could be done for these unfor-
tunate Abyssinian captives has occupied our attention.
(Hear.) It is useless to go back to the question
of, whether it was well in the first instance to send a
mission to Abyssinia, or whether any valuable commercial
Of political results could have reasonably been expected
from such a mission. What was done was no doubt done
for the best, and it is but justice to the originators of the
mission to say that the detention of thee. unfortunate
seen without reason was an event so little to be anticipated
and so entirely beyond the bounds of ordinary calculation,
that it would not be just to hold them (the originators of
the mission) responsible. I think that in **yin* so I em
doing only justice to those with whom the matter began,
although I must say that the hon. member for South•
wark hardly did justice to the speech of my
noble friend, Lord Chelmsford, to whom he referred,
Our business now is how to get these men released.
(Hear, hear.) If that can be dons I am sure that neither
the house, nor the public,nor the government call show any
ry great inclination to: concern themselves any further
" with Abyssinian politics. (Hear, bear.) The question is,
how is the liberation of these men to be achieved ? Them
are only two means possible—conciliation and force. It
will be admitted by every one that it was our duty, before
we adopted a different line of policy, to exhaust the rea-
sonable means and chances of conciliation. We had this
to consider, that an expedition sent to their mew mast in

auy cue be very expensive, and inevitably be attended
with loss of life—(bear. hear)—if not by military opera-
tions, yet by climate, dived*, and fatigue—that it would,
in feet, be the sacrifice of 500 or GOO men to save five or
six, and that it was quite possible that the send-
ing out of au expedition might lead to the
massacre of the captives. We also know that the sending
out of an expedition might be wholly unnecessary, es mina
the detention of these men was the result of caprice of
King Theodore, caprice might lead to their release with-
out any action on our part. We therefore determined to
try peaceable means in the first instance. I may mention
that I received numerous offers from gentlemen who were
willing to undertake the risk of taking out a fresh mis-
sion tothat country, but all those offer' we thought it
right to decline for obvious reasons. What the original
motives for detaining the prisoners might have been it was
clear that it hail become a matter of policy with King
Theodore to get into his hands as many Europeans
an possible, and therefore we did not think it de-
sirable that the number should be increased. We
therefore did not send out any one, but we availed
ourselves of the return of the German missionary who hes
been referred to, and whose family were residing there,
and who therefore was, in any case, cons lled to return
to look after their safety, and we forwardedthrough him,
• communication which will appear on the printed papers.
At the same time we sent by Colonel Merwetber pre-
sents of various articles such as we understood King Theo.
dote desired. But at this point a difficulty arose. The
King had expressed • strong wish to have the
assistance of some European artisans, and those
who knew him best stated that unless we
sent out the artisans the presents would be of no use.
I therefore, determined to send those artisans as far as
ieseowa, or rather to allow them to go there, carefully
explaining to them the nature of the risk they ran
king sure that they clearly understood the position,
and at the same time providing that they should not be
encouraged or allowed, so far as we could prevent it, to
go up the country, unless in the first instance we had
obtained the release of the prisoner,. Of course, if that
release took place, we should have been justified in sup-
posing that the King was acting with us in good
faith, and we should then have less reason for
apprehension in trusting these artisans to bins
because, from the value of their services, he would
have every inducement for treating them well. So the
matte- stood a month ago. I regret to say that that
attempt to settle it amicably appears to have failed, and
the prisoners have been treated during the last few
months with greater severity than before. The King
made an effort to get hold of the artisans at once, but
this, of course, we refused to allow until ho released the
pelsonees. That he would not do, and since that time we
have not heard from him. I then wrote again, warning
him that unless these men were liberated he could ex-
pect no friendly intercourse on the part of the British go-
verment. I did not acoom peny that communication with any
expression of menace whatever, because I wished to leave
the hands of the government entirely free to take what
course they might consider necessary. lam afraid, how-
ever, that, looking at all the circumstances, we must now
see that the policy of conciliation has been tried and has
failed, and the questinn now arises—and it is a serious
one—what further steps should be taken. On the one hand
I quite agree that nothing could be more repugnant to our
feelings as a nation, nothing more disagreeable to us as a
government, than to leave, not merely our fellow-country-
men, but men who had received • commission from their
sovereign—(bear, bear)—in the hands of a mirage. (Hear,
hear.) On the other hand, I sin bound to tell the house
frankly and fairly that to obtain the release of these
men by forceis not so easy a matter as they may think.
(Hear, hear.) I do not speak of military resistance—that,
in all probability, would be insignificant—but we have to
consider the country, the climate, the heat at one season,
the rains at another, the want of supplies, the absence
of all means of transport, the want of roads, and
our toted ignorance of the feeling of the popula-
tion through which the troops should pm. All
these are circumstances to be emidered, sad they
. . .

make operations naiad Abyssinia, a very serious matter.
Something was said about Aden being a convenient point
of debarkat;on, but Aden is a place without stores or re-
sources. The stores would have to be brought from Egypt
on the one hand or Bombay on the other, and the point
where the prisoners are detained is about 300 miles from
the coast, in a mountainous district difficult of access, and
said to be destitute of supplies of water sufficient for large
muses of men. I am sure, therefore, the house
will feel that, however anxious we may be, and are, to
obtain the object we have in view, it would be madness
to throw a British army into an unknown country with-
out having first fully inquired into the means of supplying
them. (Hear, bear.) I have been in frequent communi-
cation with the War Deparement and the India-office as to
the best means of attaining our object, and my right hoe.
friend the Secretary of State for India has given directions
to the Indian government to send an officer or officers to
meet Colonel Merewether at Ades, and to consult
as to various points on which we require information.
I hope the house, when it sees the papers, will be of
opinion that we have done our duty. On the one hand,
we cannotconsent to leave these men to their fate without
some endeavour to rescue them, if there is a reasonable
chance of its swamis ; on the other hand, by acting pre-
cipitately or in the dark, we should run the risk of invol-
ving ourselves in great calamity, and incurring, not merely
political discredit, but possibly military defeat. (Hew,
hear.) It is possible that when King Theodore sees,
or is led to believe, that we axe in earnest,
he may take warning and release the p • ass
without further action on our part. That would be the
aided, and for all parties the most satisfactory solution.
It is a solution for which we may hve, but upon which
we have no right to count. If that fails,the responsibility
rests with the government to decide upon our future
course. Obviously, we must in a very great degree be
guided by the reports which we receive from those whom
we employ to conduct the investigation of which I have
spoken ; and I do not think that I ought even now to give
any pledge on the part of the government that an expedi-
tion will be undertaken unless it be found practicable to
carry it on with only a reasonable expenditure
of men and means. (Hear, hear.) Sons -Wmui we
bear it said, " Send an expedition to the coast, that will
be enough." It may, but if it fails you cannot stop there.
This is a matter wlueh you are, comparatively speaking,
live to begin, but which having you are not free
to leave off. If you undertake this Wiener at all you are
bound, cost what it may, to carry it through. (Hear,
bear) I hope the house will leave the decision where the
responsibility must necessarily rest. Hon. members will
see by the papers which will be in their hands in a very
few days that, whether or not we have taken the beet and
wisest course, which is of course a matter upon which
differences of opinion may exist, at any rate we have not
been guilty of neglecting or treating with indifference this
most painful and unfortunate question. (Cheers.)
Colonel SYKES said that there must have been some
cause for the change in the conduct of the King, who at
one time was on very good terms with us. When Consul
Plowden was in AD Tins everything went on amicably.
Mr. Plowden would not permit Turkish raids, and the
Abyssinian Christians at Jerusalem were protected by our
consul there. Soon after Mr. Cameron went out, a com-
plete change took place. The Egyptians made a most
atrocious raid into the Abyssinian territory, and the
Abyssinian Christians at Jerusalem were withdrawn from
the pretection of our consul, and left at the mercy of the
Turkish authorities. The Foreign-office Dent Mr. Cameron
into an insurgent province to inquire about cotton, and the
King, who met him on his return, was angry, because
although he had received instructions from home, he had
not obtained an answer to a letter which his Abyssinian
Majesty had addressed to the Queen. The ill feeling on
the part of the King originated entirely in the conduct
of the Foreign-office, not then under the direction
of the noble lord. As a soldier, he should of course sympa.
this* with those who were anxious to undertake an ex-
pedition to release these prisoners ; but as a repre-
sentative of the people he was bound to look at its
cost. Nothing leas than 10,000 men would be sufficient
He did not think that if an expedition were sent into the
interior the loss from sickness alone would be lime than •
thousand men, and it must be remembered that the lives
of the captives were not actually in danger, and that the
',Trice of the King might at any moment give the captives
their liberty.
Mr. AYRTON regretted that no leading member of the
late government was present to repudiate the idea that
member •on the opposition side of the house were
anxious to press the government into hostilities
with the King of Abyssinia. (Hear.) He was sorry
to hear the Secretary of State say that he had
exhausted all amicable means of obtaining the release of
the prisoners, because it appeared to him that the best
means had not been tried. The natives who conducted the
trade from the coast to the interior were much better able
to arrange a difficult matter of this kind than European
diplomatists, and if, indeed of spending half • million of
money in an expedition, • premium of 5,0001. was offered
for the release of the captives, it would be more likely to
be suooesedul.
The amendment was then withdrawn.
The Canongate Annuity Tax (Edinburgh) Bill,
the Justices of the Peace Disqualification Removal
Bill, the Weights and Measures (Dublin) Bill, and
the Dublin Metropolitan Police Bill were read a
third time and passed.
Several other bills were forwarded a stage, and
the house adjourned at half-past 1 o'clock.

Szvartz STORM TN LONDON.—Yesterday morning
a storm of considerable violence pared over Loudon. Rain
began to fall on Thursday night about 10 o'clock. Shortly
after 3 yesterday morning there was lightning, followed by
loud claps of thunder, and at half-past 1 there was a tre-
mendous clap, after which the storm somewhat abated.
The rain, however, which had fallen all night, continued
with little or no intermission until 10 or 11 o'clock at
night. Many ports of the Throws lialsaaktnent wore
flooded, and the work in some pillow entirely otopped.
The low-lying land. around London as leaded,

HL&LTB REBToRID BY Du RUM'S FOOD TO THI
rittnacii, ner•ea, Inn" sad liver ed eid nod Pane.
4.2(241 findlilts), na=dionfeee, oddity,
yeterist. , ateepluesesi, debility,
=Joga,ese=4, &Mama, revere, dem spirit'. dale*
annual cares which had abed
Wadies Qat et
14. Helios. the-NAP& —The. ltd.i led.; Be. • lila, sta.
sla ata—Dn any and llegentatteet•,
Modem ; aloe at
di, Orseeeburebateeet ; 6, Cliespaide; *I and 160, Oziordaireet;
and an pacers nod ebeniala. - wiverthesasall

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH-COAST
RAILWAY.

After our report left the International Hote
yesterday,
Mr. Fthont protested against the directors having the
power of going into the market and offering as they pleased
the stock of a proprietor who refused to take up his allot-
ment. He suggested that there should be allotments—one,
two, three, kc., until every shareholder notified that he
did not wish for any more. He proposed " That the stock
or shares issued by the authority of this meeting be offered
pro rata to each ordinary stock shareholder ; that the stock
or shares not accepted be again offered pro rata to those
proprietors who shall have accepted their allotments ; that
such offers be continued to such proprietors until each ex-
presses his desire to have no further offer of
such stock or shares; that the said stock or
shares be not issued on any pretence what-
ever at a less price or higher rate of interest than the
price or rate of interest at which they shall have been
offered to the proprietors without their express sanction in
general or special meeting." He hoped the directors, con-
sidering the rumours floating about respecting the Qom-
paiiy, would adopt this resolution as their own.
Mr. ADAMS seconded Mr. Samuda's amendment. To
postpone the mating for a month wee after all a very
small
boon to ask, in order that the shareholders might
form an idea as to how their own property was to be
affected. The directors bad sacrificed 62,0001. of stock to
raise 550,0001., for that was the meaning of the transaction
with the Union Bank, although the present board had
loudly condemned lne culpable conduct of the same kind
in their predecessors. The debenture powers to which
reference had been made were too great to be entrusted
to the hands of this or any board. He believed the
majority of the wealthy proprietors were in favour of
dispensing with this issue of stock, as well as the
agreement. After the present meeting was over he sug-
gested the formation of a committee to prevent the property
being sacrificed, and to see that stock was not issued at
ruinous discount. Mr. Adams continued until he was
greeted with perpetual cries of " Time."
It was explained by the chairman and solicitor that
the matters proposed in Mr. Filder's amendment had been
already provided for, as appeared in the recently issued
circular.

Mr. Runyon seconded Mr. Filder's motion, hoping that
it would be withdrawn after the chairman's explanation.
Mr. Hann condemned the proposal !or issuing stock, as
neither necessary, economical, politic, nor useful. He
spoke of it as a profligate transaction, and severely criticised
Mr. Ling's chairmanship.
A shareholder, who said he represented 14,000!. or
15,0001. of stock, defended the chairman, and said his pro-
position was the only honourable way of proceeding.
Mr. Corns CHILD said he did not wish to throw any
difficulty in the way of raising this money, but he wished
to ask the chairman and the board's legal adviser whether
the issue of stock at 4rk, which was less than one half the
nominal value, would give the necessary debenture powers.
For himself he should, although very unwillingly, take up
his share, notwithstanding it was hard to come down
from 1034, which he paid, to 45. There was good argument
for a little delay, to give time for considering whether this
sum of money, which he admitted to be pressing, could
not be raised upon terms less onerous to ordinary share-
holden than the scheme now before the meeting.
Some questions were raked.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said the falling of the value
of the stock was not his fault, but was due to the state of
things disclosed by the investigation committee. The
argument against the Moue of this stock, because of the
hardship to proprietors who could not take it up, equal)
applied to the case of preference stock ; and with regard
to the debenture power, the board were advised they could
raise stock in respect to the whole nominal capital thus
issued. Irrespective of this, beyond all question they
could issue it upon the pro rata amount of money ob-
tained. The reports published by the auditors of the
London and North Western Railway, who were called in
to report upon the company's aocounts, proved the accu-
racy of the statements made in the circular, that sufficient
provision had not been made for the payment of the deben-
ture interest due on the 15th of July. As to the question
of fares, the proprietors probably knew that the maximum
fares allowed by government were reduced by the late direc-
tors in consequence of the competition to Brighton ; but the
present board had bad the list of fires carefully revised, so
that unless there was an exceptional canes they would be
raised to the parliamentary maximum. (Hear, hear.) The
board invited those shareholders who were willing to take
more than their pro rata allotment to do so. If any
balance remained of stock which the proprietors would
not take up, the board, who bad many difficulties to
grapple with, must be left free to do what was necessary to
keep the company out of Chancery. The meeting must
see clearly what was meant by the attempt to get an
adjournment for a month; before the month was over
they would be in Chancery. There was not a
moment to be lost if they would extricate themselves
from their embarrassments. He was glad of the di?curdint
. . . . .

that bad taken place, because the proPrietore could see the
kind of opposition with which the board had to deal. In
taking charge as they had done of this per
amounting to nearly 18,000,000 t. sterling, treireard found
themselves face to face with a most difficult financial
problem. Past amount& showed that the company had
gone on straining their credit to the last shred, inning
preference stock as long as it was possible to issue it to
get !coney out of the shareholders and the public, and
paying delusive dividends out of capital, in order to con-
ceal the real state of things, until the system broke down.
If the change had not been made when it was, complete in-
solvency and the ruin of the whole concern must have
been the result. A great step had been made
in the diminution of the fleeting debt, and all that was
now required was for every shareholder to exert himself
in taking up the new stock. It was always plausible and
popular to say at meetings, " Don't use proxies ;' but re-
Ming as they did such enormous Interests amongst
shareholders, the board would be neglecting the
and most sacred duty if, upon large financial
questions like this, involving future ruin or success, they
were to expose themselves to the risk of having their
policy defeated by the opposition of two or three gentle-
men who held some 50 shares each. (Cheers.) He ap-
pealed to the movers of these amendments to withdraw
them, and thus to prevent the serious delay that must
otherwise arise. The board had 1,291 proxies, represent-
ing 1,705,5651. ; against them there had been received
eiirtrzies.draTenting wire lsolouont 12,0001.
oilki:gdhster, 2id a
delay and some confusion took one
in consequence of
Mr. Filder and Mr. Sammie refusing to withdraw their
demands for a poll. They were besought most earnestly
by the meenng,. by the chairman palimony, by the direc-
tors, by the solicitor, not to persist in a vain policy that
must be mat disastrous to the interests of the concern,
hut they would not yield. They were then hissed ; the
were cries of " Shame " and ' Monstrous,* but with gibe
same result. At length redoubled persuasions prevailed
and the demands were withdrawn.

The chairman's motion was than put and carried, with
one dissentient.
A vote of thanks to the chairman and board concluded
the proceedings.

ITALIAN IRRIGATION CANAL COMPANY
(CANAL CAYOUB).

Yesterday, at one o'clock, a meeting of the bond-
holders in this company was held at the London Tavern,
called in conaequenoe of one of the Italian creditors having
thrown the concern into bankruptcy. Mr. W. Evade, one
of the directors of the oompany, presided, sad ex-
pressed his mortification and that of the other directors
at having to call the bondholders together under the pre-
sent painful circumstances. That unfortunate concern,
the Italian Irrigation Company (Canal Cavour) had been
declared in a state of bankruptcy, and that under circum-
stances peculiarly mortifying to the directors, inasmuch as
it was not many weeks ago when they were summoned to
Turin by the intimation that the government of Italy had
at length seen it right to do the company justice. In con-
sequence, he, accompanied by the chairman of the board,
went to Florence. They had various interviews with
the government, and thought they saw a chance
of the oonoern—not having patios done, for that
after what bad occurred, was scarcely to be expected.
but of getting something out of the money which had
been laid out on the undertaking at the instance of and on
the faith of the guarantee of the Italian government. At
length Signor liattaxxi, the Italian prime minister, told
them it was no use going for any scheme of settlement
which would involve the sanction of the legislature,
because the legislature would make no concession ; but
that as far as the minister himself had the power he would
exercise it in their favour. When they came to consider
the terms offered it was found that they amounted to
this: that the oompany should press the Sella convention,
the effect of which would be to knock off • million of the debt.
Then the government insisted on having a oertsin number
of the coupons given up, and although he and Mr. Spiatt
tried hard to limit the sacrifice to two, and then to three
coupons, the minister insisted upon four. He also insisted
that no legislation should be required, that the company
should arrange terms with the creditors, and that the ante-
rest should begin from January, payable in July ; and in
return for all this the government agreed that the canal,
which was opened in 1866, should be declared "in exeec
Mae." When he urged bow hard this would be on the
bond and share holders, the reply of the minister was,
" Oh, all will be well in time." On the faith of this offer
the directors entered into negotiations with Mr. Young
and the other creditors, and had every prospect of bring-
ing them to • successful issue, when they were informed
that the concern had been thrown into bankruptcy. All
they could now do was to put what pressure they could
upon the Italian government to induce them to annul the
bankruptcy, and for that union of interests was absolutely
necessary.

Mr. Srterr, the chairman of the company, said—We are
set here to-day under the most gloomy prospects. The
Canal amour Company has been declared bankrupt. The
government of Italy, after having solemnly promieed, so late as the 20th of June last, to a deputation of four
director of the company, that the canals should be de-
clared in exercise at and from January, MG, provided that
the obligation holders, bondholders, and shareholders
would sacridoe two pan' interest, with which interest,
amounting to about 350,0001., the government engaged to
finish the canals both main and subsidiary. The shove-
-1 holders to make their own arrangements with the bond_
hoiden sad creditors, as may be agreed upon between

these parties. The government, however, expressly stated
at if the company should be thrown into bankruptcy,
the offer of the 20th of June would not in that
ease bind the government. The directors, as already
intimated to you by circular, although fully im-
with the grievous morificos required, were
For;Zdendeavouring to give effect to the arrangement
by the government, and were making progress proposedZrl:::lesd
a settlement with the creditors, when they
were startled by • telegram stating that an Italian
creditor had applied to the court to place the
company in bankruptcy. Telegraphic instructions
were at once lobed to oppose that course, but
without success, and the company on the 20th instant
was declared bankrupt, the judge at the time of giving the
decision not scrupling to state in open court that be WY
instructed by the government to declare the company
bankrupt. The Italian creditor who planed the company
in bankruptcy luta no doubt been grossly deluded by cer-
tain promises made to him by the government, which pro-
mime, like all previous ones from the same quarter, will
be disavowed, now they have accomplished their object of
getting the company declared bankrupt, which not only
effectually gets rid of the government promises of the 20th
of June, but also destroys the charter, thus paving the
way for the emy and evidently intended confiscation
of the entire property, which fraudulent deign there
is too much reason to believe has always been the deli-
berate and wicked resolve of the Italian government.
Let us here go back a little and see how far Ws view of
the case is borne out. In the filet place it is well-known
that the government, by false returns, obtained from the
company 812,000/. in cash for the crown canals, it being
always equally well-known that the said canals were •
very bad purchase at 400,000/. The next step was by
means and in consequence of a delusive convention
solemnly signed by two ministers of state, the comparey
was indeed to borrow not less than 500,0001. to push on
the works. That convention has never yet been placed
before parliament, and is at lend virtually repudiated.
the Pnme Minister having stated to the directors that the
government had no power to pass it. Then there were the
promises of Cordova, of December 1866, openly repudiated
in his dishonest speech to the Chamber of Deputies on
the 24th of January last, his only excuse being a certi-
ficate from the office of Public Works, made to the order
of the government, which of course declared the canal not
in exercise, or anything else the government de-
sired to snit its designs against the company,
and to deprive it of its just right.; and
lastly, we have the repudiation of the further
promises made so recently as the 20th of June last. The
bankruptcy is thus traced to be the natural and inevitable
result of the broken promises, bad faith, and deliberate
design of the government. What, then, is to be done in
the present emergency? It is my duty to inform this
meeting of bondholders that unless the bankruptcy can be
superseded and the charter restored, there is, there can be,
no legal means of compelling the government to fulfil its
obligations to us, for without oar charter we are like a
ship at sea without a crew or compass. Our first object
should therefore be to put such • premure upon the
Italian government as will compel it to supersede the
bankruptcy, and perform the obligations which were so
solemnly promisd to the directors on the 20th of June
last. Fortunately, there are some means at this juncture
which may be need to aid our views. The Prime Minister,
Signor Rattarsi is expected in Paris at the end of the pre-
sent month for the purpose of endeavouring to
I obtain a very large loan for his country ; a depute-
ti on from the bondholders, creditors, ands hareholders of
the Canal Cavour Company should therefore be emnowered
to meet the minister in Perin, and at once inform him that
unless he will sign a paper engaging to supersede the
bankruptcy within fourteen days, and also promising that
the government agent pledges itself to fulfil the obligations
promised to the directors on the 20th of June, every effort
will be exerted both in Paris and London to prevent the
possibility of Italy obtaining a loan, not only at the pre-
sent time, but always until the government has acted
justly to the Canal Cavour Company. Indeed, it would
be essential to stipulate that the 350,0001. promised to finish
canals should be at once paid over out of the coming loan
to • trust to finish canals as promised, otherwise we are
certain to be again deceived. Bat in order to effect this
great object it is absolutely necesisry that the bondholders,
creditors, and shareholders should not only be in accord,
but resolved to act unitedly together. If they do not do
so I again once more, and perhaps for the but time
solemnly remind them that the property will be, must be,
entirely lost.
Mr. THORNTON 'eked if any communication had been
made with the Italian creditor who had sued out the bank-
ruMr.p.
tc7
Srixer replied that there had ; but they had the
strongest remiss to believe that the creditor was the mere
tool of the government. The debt was 80,000/.
A BONDHOLDIR wished to know whether a notarial pro-
test had been made against the act of the Italian govern.
went.

The CHAT Me AS was not aware that • notarial protest
bad been made, but the solicitor and counsel of the
company had taken the legal steps which they thought
=REIS, the solicitor, remarked that the effect of
the Italian law was that under bankruptcy the property
must be sold and divided among all the creditors ; but
that would amount to confiscation of the property of the
bond and share holders. He urged unity of all the interests,
the want of it having been one cause of their difficulties,
and of the action of the Italian government. Unleea they
united to fares upon the government to ppeecct their just
claims, and to arsons terms, there was the~daager, even if
they succeeded in arranging with the creditor who had
placed the concern in bankruptcy, of the Bane° Himont°
coming in with the obligations they held, and insisting
upon the whole thing being wound up. They must
endeavour to be represented at the choice of the assignees,
which was fixed for the ffikli of August. He suggested
that Yr. Brownie,, the present president of the company
in Italy, should be the assignee.

Mr. DENT, referring to the proceedings at a preliminary
meeting held on Wednesday, recommended the confirmation
of the appointment of Mr. Creaswell to represent the inte-
rests of the bondholders at Turin. He understood that the
bondholders and the obligation holders, as well as the gene-
ral creditors, had the right to be represented at the bank-
ruptcy, bui not the shareholder who were the hankru.
He recommended amicable negcltiations with the Italian
government and the avoidance of threats. He concluded
by moving a resolution that Mr. Cromwell, who, he mid,
ted 500,000 i. of bonds in connection with the Bond-
holders'rele
Protection Association, be appointed.
Mr. J. P. GABBIOT seconded the inotioa.
The Cusnusair objected that Mr. Cromwell would he
but a sectional representative.
Mr. DENT—No, he would go out representing the entire
body of bondholders.
Mr. CREISSWILL having made some remarks stating
that, hisrelations with the Italian government being of a
very intimate character, be must have full powers said he
must also stipulate that no information should be pub-
lished until the negotiations failed. He believed he should
succeed, but if he failed it would be owing to the intem-
perate speech of Mr. Splatt, against whose attacks he
stood there to defend the character and the honour of the
Italian government. (Oh, oh.) He read • letter from
MOO Italian statesman whom he would not name,
ascribing the difficulties of the company to their own dis-
sensions and mistakes. He called upon the meeting to
repudiate the views of Mr. Splatt, and invited them to sign
a paper making themselves members of the Bondholders'
Protection Society, and appointing the General Agency
Company (of which it appeared be was the chairman) to
act for them at • remuneration of one per cent, on the
amount of the bonds in the event of swarm

After some further discussion, principally in re-
ference to the committee of the Bondholders' Protection
Association and its objects, the proposition appoint.
ing Mr. Cresswell to act on the part of the bondholders
generally, with the directors with full power to negotiate
with the government ofly, or with the company
for the settlement of the bondholders' claims, was carried
unanimously. A committee consisting of the same mem-
bers as were upon the committee previously appointed,
with some modifications, was nominated and agreed to, as
a channel of communication between Mr. Cresswell and
the bondholders. It was explained by the solicitor that to
enable bondholders to vote in the choice of assignees they
must deposit their bonds at the Italian consulate not
later than Monday, and that facilities for doing so would
be afforded at the offices of the company in Crosby-square.
Two hours later a meeting of shareholders was held
under the same circumstances and with the same chair-

man, who repeat;ithe explanations-previously fivers to
the bondholders. He added that they were en debt
500,0001. and bad no money to pay it, and that
they must be prepared to make some concessions of their
rights as the only means of getting the bankruptcy an-
nulled and the charter restored. Mr. Sphitt also offered some
further explanations. He said it had been proposed that
the shareholders should surrender half their guaranteed in-
terest to the creditors, which would give them 10e. in the
pound, and they had other assets which would perhaps pay
Is. in the pound ; but that the creditors were not =doffed
with that, and demanded one-half of the suspense and of
the reserve fund. He thought the demand too exacting
under the circumstances, seeing that without the action of
the shareholders in getting rid of the bankruptcy and the
recovering the charter the creditors would nothing.
For hie own part he would rather lose every milling of his
share capital than submit to such terms.
Colonel Joggeog regarded the demand of the creditors
as practically confiscation, and foe his part he would rather
let the baiikreptcy go on.
Mr. Finto recommended the appointment of some
person to act with the repewntatives of the other interests
in negotiation with the Italian government.
Mr. Baustrrina, while advocating reasonable coneerelons
to the creditors, pointed out that after all the creditors
were in the hands of the shareholders, without whose
action, in the recovery of the charter the property was
gone. He thought it a fortunate thing for the share-
holders that the creditors had taken the extreme course of
throwing the company into bankruptcy.
Colonel WOOD advised that all interests should unite in
endeavouring to get the company out of bankruptcy, and
then in negotiating with the Italian government to induce
them to concede justice to the company. If the company
were to go to smash the creditors would not get half-a-
Groom in the pound ; he therefore advised the shareholders
to rest quiet, and leave the creditors to do ea they
pleased. He was not prepared to make the concession
indicated by the chairman.
A genetics having been put lie to who were the
er(Alt°rs•

Mr. dicarr mentioned the Imperial Yercentile Credit

Company as one, and he added that they owed 500,000 t,
to the contractors.

A long and desultory discussion ensued, and in the end
resolutions were agreed to expressive of the confidence of
the shareholders in the beard, willingness to leave the whole
negotiations in their hands, and appointing Mr. Evans
their representative at the forthcoming couferance at
Turin.

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the buil.
DIY of the meeting.

VAL ANTIGORIA GOLD MINING COMPANY
(LIMITSDI.

Yesterday the almond general meeting was held
at the ekes of the company, Great Bt. Helen's, Mr.
STArNTON in the chair. The notice convening the meeting
having been read,
The CHAIRMAN said the shareholders were aware that
but compritively little pretreat had been made at the
mine during the past year. That bad arisen from two
muses—the war in Italy, which took away toms of the
best men from the mine, and the monetary crisia, which
had induced the direstess to think it would not be prudent
to make a call upon the shareholders. The ma-
chines', however, bad now been or necessary
be
ready to be sent to Italy in the course of a few days, so
i that n the course of a few months they would have eight
new milk at work, when the returns of gold would be
considerably increased. He moved that the balanoesheet
be remised and adopted.
Chev. Fameeroirr entered at some length into explana-
tions with reference to the position and prospects of the
mine, pointing out the advantage it possessed for an
economical development, while the auriferous value of
the ore was far above the average. He regarded the Val
Antigoria mine as ma of great promise, sad When de.
veloped would return handsome profits. It bad been
notorious for its rich ore, and when the amalgamating
mills were completed profitable returns would be niade.
Mr. SLous (Stock Exchange) stated that he had visited
the Italian gold mines, and it afforded him much pleasure
in being able to state that he was convinced everything
was being done that skill and energy could bring to beat
the realisation of profitable results.
The balance-sheet was received and adopted.
The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
chairman, directors, and the manager.