The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-24 00:00:00

DIPERIAI. PARLIAMENT.

HOIjaX.,QF LORDEL—MoNoox, APRIL 23.
ROYAL COMMISSION.
The royal assent was given by commission to the follow-
ing bills : —The County Courts, the Cattle Plague and
Contagious Diseases, and the Manchester Royal Exchange
Bills.
The royal oommiasioners were the Lord Cheapener, the
!real of Beseborough, and the
Viscount Sydney.
The 1."1:0 Citi-Yetu.ton took his seat on the woolsack at
5 o'clock.
THE ABYSSINIAN CAPTIVBS.
The Earl of CLARENDON mid—My lards, es your lord-
ships take a deep interest in all that concerns the
Abyssinian captives, I have no doubt you will allow me to
read a despatch which has this day been received at the
Fereign from the British Resident at Aden, dated
the :Mb March :—" My. Lord,-1 have the honour to re-
c:::your lordship's information, that the Victoria has
est returned from Maasowah bringing news from Mr.
up to the 7th February, dated from Ajan Muder in
south-west Abyssinia, and stating that the 'paperer had
ten him a most magnificent recerion ; a regularly oonsti-
ted embassy from hug
lend could not have been treated
with greater honour and attention. A few hours after
his first interview with his Majesty a letter
was written ordering the release of all the Eu-
ropean prisoners, including the missionaries and the
Frenchmen, and directing that they should all be
made over to Mr. Bassani to take out with him from
Abyssinia, which he hoped to leave about the end of
Meech. The King sent his chamberlain to Magdala to un-
fetter the prisoners and to bring them to meet Mr. RSIIBIM
at Debra Tabor, to which place they were proceeding from
the court, then in Codjam, and where he expected to re-
ceive the released captives at the end of February. The
Emperor has written a most polite letter to the Queen,
which Mr. Raman felt sure would please her Majesty and
the British nation. The Emperor had also made Mr.
R1L5.3171 hen some presents, and he was preparing more to
give to the mission before they left the country. The above
was received at Maseowah on March 18, and we may there-
fore expect to hear of Mr. llassam having actually met and
received the released captives about the 10th or 12th
proximo, when the Victoria will again visit Massowah."
The Earl of DERBY—My lords, nothing can be more
gratifying than to hear what my noble friend has just read,
and I am very sorry my noble and learned friend who has
taken such interest in the matter (Lord Chelmsford) is not
present in his place. lam not aware whether my noble
friend has aunt this important information to the Times ;
I suppose it is genuine. (Laughter).
The Earl of CLARENDO- N—This is the only mode I
have adopted of making the despatch public. It is
genuine information.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
On the motion of Lord REDESDALE, the following bills
were read a second time :—Kidwelly and Burry Port Rail-
way and Burry Port Amalgamation, Cambridge University
Sind Town Water, Derwent and Shotley Bridge-road,
Stockton Gas, and Tynemonth Improvement Bills •, and
the following bills were read a third time and passed :
Gas, Delsbole Railway and Bossinney Harbour,
Southgate and Colney Hatch Gas, East Barnet Gas and
Water, Brighton West Pier, Furness Railway, Cornwall
County Lunatic Asylum, end the Central Wales Extension
Railway Bills.