The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-13 00:00:00

TO EARL RUSSELL.

Lord R. CECIL asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether he intended to adhere to his state-
ment that no verbal communication was made by Mr. Adams
to Earl Russell of the substance of the despatch addressed
by Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams on the 11th July, or whether
he desired to withdraw it.

Mr. LAYARD said he thought the house would agree

with hiai that this question ought not then to be brought
forward. (Hear.) There had been no such communica-
tion to Earl Russell, nor had there been any verbal com-
munication to that effect.
Lord R. CECIL—Was there any verbal communica-

tion intimating the contents of this despatch?

Mr.LAYAIID— Members of this house are understood to
give answers as gentlemen and not as special pleaders.
(Hear, hear.)

THE PROTOCOL.

Mr. PE A.COCKE asked the First Lori of the Treasury
whether, after the answer of the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs to a question put to him by the hon.
baronet the member for Buckingham, he was prepared
to abide by or to withdraw a statement to the following
effect :—" We proposed that a protocol, which is
equivalent to a treaty, should be signed by representatives
of England, France, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, and
that by that protocol Denmark should promise to take the
earliest step to revoke that Constitution, asking that time
should be given to her, that England, France, Russia, and
Sweden should give, as it were, a pledge to Austria and
Prusain, or the fulfilment of that condition, and that Aus-
tria and Prussia should accept that treaty guarantee instead
'.)f a territorial guarantee ;" and, in the event of his wish-
ing to abide by it, asked him what was the nature of the
guarantee.

Lord PiLISIERSTON said them was a good deal of
laugh)—pleading on certain subjects. The
course the Government had proposed to pursue was to ob-
tain a diplomatic engagement signed by Denmark which
would have more security than a mere assertion. By that
agreement Denmark was to stipulate that the Rigsdad at
its first meeting should revoke the constitution. The
engagement was to be witnessed by England,
France, and Sweden. The Government of this country
gave no further guarantee than the moral effect of being
witness to the agreement, which, they considered might be
accepted by Prussia and Austria instead of a territorial
occupation. It was decided, however, that the proposition
was too late.
RUMOURED ARMISTICE,
Lord R. CECIL then asked the noble lord if he would
state whether there was any foundation foy.
a rumour which
pap?r generally well informed, that an
had appeared in a
armistice had been agreed upon for the evacuation of Den.
mark ?

Lord PALMERSTO.N said such an arrangement had
been suggested to Prussia, as he understood with the con.
currence of Austria,
CAPTURE OF BRITISH VESSELS.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD called attention to the circum.
stances attcoding the capture of certain British vessels,
viz., the Springbok, the barque Science, captured
at Matamoras; the ship Margaret and Jessie and
the Saxon, captured withia the jurisdiction of
the colony of the Cape of Good Hope ; and to
move an
in address for papers. The hon, member com-
mented very severe terms on the course which had been
pursued by the American Government, which he desig-
nated as an outrage on the British flag, and one that de-
manded redress.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that while it was
necessary for him to exercise certain reserve, he was desir-
ous of aff,rding, all the information be could con-
veniently give. With regard to these captures
in. one case the American captain denied the charge
that hPd been made against him, and the case was in course
of investigation in AtBOTiCa. Ihe case of the Springbok
had been heard before a court in America, and there was
an appeal to a higher court. With reference to
the Saxon, instructions had been forwarded to
Lord Lyons requesting him to bring the subject
before the American Government with a view to