The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-15 00:00:00

TRANSATLANTIC STEAMERS.

On the motion of Mr. V. SCULLY,
.a return in a tabular
form was ordered of all transatlantic steamers (British or
foreign, and whether carrying or, not carrying mails),
which, during the year 1863, left any port or ports in the
United Kingdom for any port or parts in North America,
arranged in chronological order, according to the dates of
their respective departures, as well as other details con-
nected with the transatlantic mail service.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Col. TAYLOR, a writ was ordered for
the election of a member for the county of Armagh, in the
room of Mr. Close, resigned.

THE SLAVE TRADE ON THE COAST OF
AFRICA.

In reply to Lord A. CHURCHILL,

Mr. LAYARD said that, unfortunately, notwithstand-
ing the vigilance of her Majesty's cruisers, they were the
few in number on the east coast of Africa to operate effec-
tually for tim suppression of the slave trade, and their
efforts were impeded by the conduct of the subordinates of
the Portuguese Government at Zanzibar.

BRITISU HERRINGS.
Mr. W. MILLER asked the Under Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, if any attempts had been made to in-
duce the Government of Austria to reduce the prohibitory
duty charged on the importation of British cured herrings
into that country; if so, what success had attended such
endeavours, and if he was willing to lay upon the table
of the house copies of the correspondence that may have
passed for the attainment of that object.
Mr. LAYARD said that the Austrian Government had
declined to enter Into any negociations cn the subject at
present ; nor until they had revisel their tariff in 1865,
when they promised that the subject should receive their
earnest attention.

THE COURT MARTIAL ON COL. CRAWLEY.
Sir J. FERGUSSON asked the Judge Advocate whether
the witnessea sent home from India for the defence of Col.
Ctawley wero privately cross-examined by the deputy judge
advocate et any time previous to their appearance before
the court martial at Aldershot

Mr. HEADLAM replied in the affirmative, stating that
it was necessary to make such examination for the purposes
of the court martial.

THE ARMSTRONG GUNS.

Admiral DUNCOMBE asked the Secretary to the Ad-
miralty it he would lay upon the table of the house Admiral
Kaper's official report of the performance of the Armstrong
guns in the action at Kagosima.
Lord C. PAGET said that he had no objection to pro-
duce the report in question.
SOLDIERS WHOSE TERM OF SERVICE IS
EX PIRING.
Mr. D. DAMER asked the Under Secretary of State for
War if, in consequence of service of so many " ten years'
men in the army, expiring in ISG4-5, the Government was
prepared with any proposition by which they may secure
the services of these old soldiers for a farther period of 11
years, or, through them, making a sort of reserve in addi-
tion to the pensioners ?
The Marquis of HARTINGTON said he would take an
early opportunity of making a statement on this subject.
GARDENS FOR SOLDIERS.
Mr. W. EWART asked the Under Secretary of State for
War whether it was proposed to afford soldiers, in the diffe-
rent camps in the country, and generally, where practicable,
facilities for cultivating gardens, as was the practice on the
continent, and as had been recommended by a military
commission?
The Marquis of MARTIN GTON said that the subject
was under consideration.

THE BLOCKADE,
Mr. FEN WICK asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, whether her Majesty's Government had
received information that the Danish Government will
permit vessels that have been delayed by ice in the
port of Lubeck to leave that port without being subject to
capture; and whether her Majesty's Government would
urge on the Danish Government the justice of permitting
German ships which had been delayed by ico in German'
ports before the commencement of the war, and having car•
goes on board belonging to British merchants, to leave such
Port without being subject to capture ?

Mr. LAYARD said that the regulations made by the
Danish Government had been published in the Gazette, and
in the regulations it was stated that reasonable time would
be given to vessels which might be delayed by unforeseen
circumstances. her 'Majesty's Government had received no
official information dt the blockade of Lubeck, but they had
just receive! the notification of the blockade of Stralsund.
Swinemunde, Bahl, and another port the Same of which
could not be heard in the gdlery.
OUR FOREIGN POLICY-
On the motion for going into committee Of Supply',
ROEBG Cli naked; "Ae tho Solic jtor•Gencral has

stated that it is the intention of her Majesty's Government
to remonstrate with the Government of the Confederate
States upon their employment of agents for illeg it ; urposes'
and as the First Lord of the Treasury has decl 'roc: that the
Government of her Majesty desired to maintain the strictest
neutrality between the Confederate and Fedora States,was
it intended to remonstrate with the Government of the
Federal States upon the employment by them of agents in
Ireland for the 'purpose of enlisting as soldiers the subjects
of her Majesty;" The hon. gentleman, alluding to the
second portion of his question, proceeded to say : I believe
the noble lord at the head of the Government really desires
to maintain the strictest neutrality ; but I am afraid that
the noble lord is not altogether master of the situation.
There are other powers in the Government—there is one
great power which I think somewhat overshadows the noble
lord and tha whole administration. Now, the noble lord
not only has the confidence of the country, but their affec
tion and regard—(hear, hear)—and if he says he will do
anything, we have perfect confidence that ha intends doing
it. But, sir, there is another power by the side of the noble
lord—a power which has always appeared in the liberal Go-
♦ernments of this country since the days of the rev olution.
The person to whom I allade is Earl Russell, and I will say
that the honour of England in his hands has not shone forth
with such lustre as I could have wished, Igo from China
and Japan to Poland, to Denmark, and, lastly, to America,
and in every case the honour and name of England has been
tarnished by what has taken place. I read the despatches,
and the feeling in my mind was that of dire humiliation.
I felt that England was not upheld as she ought to be
upheld, and that that strict neutrality which the noble
lord professes—and professes honestly, I am sure—was
not maintained. Why the tone was like the screams of
a cockatoo, or of an angry woman—(laughter)—but the
performance was not equal to the outset. The words were
big, buc the doings were the least possible. The noble earl
seemed frightened ; and, from the moment that Mr. Adams
threatened war, the noble earl crouched before the threats.
That being the case, I feel I have a right to inquire, what
is the neutrality which the noble earl professes, and what
is the state of the two peoples betweern whom we profess to
be neutral? The hon. member than recapitulated the cir-
cumstances attending the alleged Federal enlistments in
Ireland, and characterised the whole proceedings of the
American war as a blot on human nature, and Washington
as a sink of political iniquity. He was told, he said, that

he should have sympathy with the Northern States, but he
maintained that they were loose, cowardly, and cruel.
(Hear, hear, and oh, oh.) In conclusion, he asked the
noble lord whether it was the intention of the Government,
having determined to remonstrate with the Confederate
States, to remonstrate also with the Federal States for
using agents in Ireland with the view of endeavouring to
enlist men for the Northern army. (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON—My hon. and learned friend
has been kind enough to pay me some compliments—
but I beg to say that I cannot accept from any one com-
pliments at the expense of my colleagues. (Cheers.) My
lion. and learned friend ought to know that it is vain to
endeavour to single out a member of the Govern-
ment for the purpose of holding him up to public obloquy;
and, in order to make amends for that, to pay compli-
ments and praises to others. (Cheers.) My noble friend
at the head of the Foreign Office is no doubt the organ of
the Government in all its communications, and with
regard to all our relations with foreign Powers ; but my
noble friend takes no step except in concert with his col-
leagues ; and I must declare to my hon. and learned
friend, who has endeavoured to separate my noble friend
from the rest of his colleagues, that I am equally respon-
sible with him for every step that has been taken in the
coneinct of these negotiations, which seem unhappily to
have excited feelings of humiliation in the mind of my
hon. and :,earned friend(—laughter)—feelings which I be-
lieve are no.`
shared by the people of this country—
(cheers)—net shared in by any man of impartial mind who
has looked with atter.: tion to the different steps we have taken
in all these great transa:tions. But, once for all, I beg most
distinctly and positively to state that those who attempt to
separate my noble friend iron his colleagues will fail
in their endeavours ; and will, at the same time, betray an
ignorance of the practice of the Government of this country
(hear, hear)—and henceforward I beg that my declara-
tion shall be recorded, that we are all, and I especially am,
equally responsible with my noble friend for every step
which has been taken by him. (Cheers.) We have declared
our intention to observe a strict neutrality in the contest
which unfortunately is being carried on in America, and I
maintain that we have kept our word, and that we have acted
upon our declaration. The hon. and learned gentleman pre-
tends that we have dealt a different measure of justice to one
side to that which we have dealt to the other. But it must
be remembered that the two sides stand—unfortunately for
one of them—in a very different position with regard to the
assistance which they may obtain, either with this or any
othor neutral country. (Hear, hear.) The Northerns com-
mand' the sea, and all their ports are open. They can go
to Birmingham, Liege, or any other important town, for
arms and munitions of war, where they can buy what
they like, and hire ships to convey them to their own
ports; and therefore they have the command of the mar-
kets of Europe for the purpose of supplying their army
with everything they may want to carry on the war. The
Confederates, on the other hand, have not these advantages.
They are shut out from the sea, and they can only get their
supplies by means of blockade-runners, many of which have
been captured; therefore the conditions of the two parties
are unequal under an equal law of neutrality with regard to
both. It is true that there is also a great difference between
the building of ships in a neutral country—especially in
this country—and the obtaining of arms and ammunition.
I do not at all dispute, in point of principle, and indepen-
dent of our municipal law, that these two things stand upon
an equal footing, that is to say, that by international law
and the obligations of a belligerent if .!'e goes into a neutral
country and buys arms wherewith to ar,7l large forces for
the purpose of deciding a campaign—which canPaign is to
decide a war—that is a greater assistance which he' derives
from a neutral power than the purchase of one or Clore
cruisers, which can have no ultimate effect upon the issue
of the war. But we have a municipal law which overrides
in some respects international relations, and by which we
are bound to prevent certain things being done in this coun-
try by one belligerent against another. We are bound, for
instance, not to permit the enlistment or organisation of
men, and the equipment or armament of ships. The one is
an easy thing to prevent, for the arming and equipment of
ships is a matter of notoriety. It is a substantial thing.
You can see the progress which is made in the construc-
tion and equipment. You can interpose at the proper mo-
ment, and lay your hand on the breach of the law that is
being committed. With regard to the enlistment of men,
you have not the same means. My hon. and learned friend
says that there is great recruiting of men going on in Ire•
land for the Federal army. This may or may not be the
case ; but, in order to punish those guilty of this breach
of our law, you must have proof of the offence
—a proof we have not obtained. It is very likely,
I dare say, that there aro in Ireland agents acting
under the ceders of the Federal Government, who are try-
ing to induce fighting men to go and enlist in the Federal
army. But they are much too wise and too cunning to
make tho-e enlistments in Ireland. We know that there is
such a difference between the wages of labour in Ireland and
the United States that it is sufficient to induce Irishmen to
go out as labourers on the railway and other works, where
instead of Is. or 18d. a day, they will get 10s. or lls. a day.
When they land in New York they are told there is a bounty
of 100 dole, if they enlist in the Federal army, with a chance
of plunder and heaven knows what. (A laugh.) I therefore
say, although the statement of the hon. and learned gentle-
man may be substantially true—that is to say, that induce-
ments are being held out in Ireland to persuade people to
go to the United States, and when they get there to be in-
veigled into the arms—to found a prosecution upon these
transactions you must have proof, which we have not as yet
obtained. But we have remonstrated generally on the sub.
ject ; and if my hon. and learned friend will only look at the
papers which were laid upon the table of the house last year
he will see that representations have been made to the
United States Government founded on the repots and ru-
mours on the subject which had reached her Majestst's Go-
vernment. There was lately a transaction which called .e.'ll'
the very serious attention of the Government, viz., the Ker-
sage Federal cruiser, which, whilst in the harbour of Cork,
was accused of having enlisted a certain number of men as
her crew. When inquiry was made, the United States con-
sul at Cork declared there was no truth in the charge, "Ap-
noation was made to Mr. Adams on the subject, and the
men returned to shore. If there was sufficient proof
afforded to identify that transaction, no doubt a prosecu-
tion would have been commenced, With regard to some
who are croved to have been accessories, there is
a prosecution pending. If that prosecution succeeds,
and you can prove the municipal law has been
violated, representations will be made to the United
States Government with regard to the conduct of the officers
implicated in the offence. I can only say that, in order to
found a distinct and formal remonstrance to the United
States Government upon transactions of this kind, you
must have proofs, but these proofs are difficult to obtain;
and we have not obtained such proofs as would enable us
to make a distinct remonstrance. My hon. and learned
friend at the head of the Foreign-office will be just as ready
as the rest of his colleagues to vindicate the honour and the
laws of this country against any infraction of the same by
agents authorised by the Federal Government. (Cheers.)
Sir J. FE RGUSSON thought there ought to be a fuller
inquiry into these matters, for he had been assured by an
admiral in her Majesty's navy that offers of mossy had
been made to induce sailors on board the ships under his
command to enter the navy of the United States.
Mr. BRIGHT—I ries not to prolong the discussion, but
to make one or two remarks upon the course taken by the
hon.. and learned member for Sheffield, who, in appealing
for impartiality between North and South has used len-
guaeee unworthy of a member of this House, when speak-
ing of a foreign Government and foreign people. (Hear,
hear.) But only foreign in one sense, for they are only
another English nation growing up on the other side of
the Atlantic, and with none of those differences which en-
title them to be called foreign in the ordinary signification.
The hon. and learned member put a question to the noble
lord with regard to Ireland; but if he recollected what took
place last year he should be aware that proof was given of
the emigration of a large number of people from Ireland to
America. It was said that the noble lord at the head of the
Qum:anent generously contributed to send not a few poor

persons from his own estate in Ireland across the Atlantic.
The Chief Sercetary for Ireland last year, and again a few
nights ago, gave proof that emigration is going on, and that
about 60,000 men had crossed the Atlantic in the course of last
year. The noble lord now tells us, but not correctly, that
the wages in Ireland are from is to is 6d a day, but I have
been told by gentlemen from Ireland that the wages in the
south-west are not more than 10d to Is. If that be so, how
dare the hon. and learned member, with his logical mind,
assume that the American Government is breaking inter-
national law or municipal law, in order to induce Irishmen
to emigrate to America, when he must know that already an
overwhelming attraction apart from the question of war is
drawing Irishmen to America ? The noble lord spoke of
the bounty to the soldier being 100 dols., but it amounts
nearer to £100; and the only marvel is, that any Irishman,
who is not the owner of land or a man of some capital,
should remain in that blighted and unhappy country. Now,
I happen to know the gentleman who fills the office of con-
sul for the United States in the port of Liverpool, and that
gentleman told me that, since the war began, there was not
a day his office was open that he had not to answer questions
of Englishmen as well as Irishmen, who came to him to
know if he could help them to go over to America, and they
would enlist in the American army. I think it not unlikely,
when £lOO is offered in America, that some shrewd fellow
should try to persuade Englishmen and Irishmen to go
over to America, so that he might receive handsome remu-
neration for taking them there, if they chose to enlist in the
army and received a bounty. The hon. and learned mem-
ber has been travelling in foreign countries upon commer-
cial speculations.
Mr. ROEBUCK—That is not true.
Mr. B RIGHT—If it is not true I retract it ; but, at any
rate, I am quite sure if there is an American as shrewd as the
hon, and learned member he might make money by taking
men to America. (Laughter.) I undertake to say that those
who will read the speech of the hon. and learned member will
not consider him a fair critic ; and more than that, although
I have no inclination to defend the character of the noble
lord at the head of the Foreign-office, yet, turning back to the
events of last session, and the course which the hon. and
learned member took upon the floor of this house, I under-
take to say that there does not exist at this moment in this
country a minister or statesman who has done so much to
humiliate this house and the country as the hon, and learned
gentleman did after his return from his expedition to Paris,
(Hear, hear.)
Lord H. CECIL thought the hon. member for Birming-

ham had mistaken the case which had been put before the

house, and in which he was inclined to agree. Now, what
the hon. and learned member for Sheffield complained of
was, that her Majesty's Government proceeded towards the
Confederate Government upon pure suspicion, and remon-
strated with them while they refused to remonstrate with
the Federals. He had lately seen in the American news

that agents had been sent over from America for the pur-
pose of inducing people to emigrate. There was not a strong
power in the world that Government had not remonstrated
with, and they would go on remonstrating to the end of the
chapter ; and although we do not hear of the slightest effect
arising from these remonstrances, he trusted they would
go on remonstrating as long as they felt the slightest plea-
sure in that agreeable occupation.

Mr. KINGLAKE thought the words " abuse,"

"cowardly," and "corrupt," were words not fit to apply to
the Government of Washington. He wished to say the
opinions of the hon. gentleman (Mr. Roebuck) did not re-
present the opinions of that house. (Hear, hear.) They did
not represent the opinions of any party in that house; they
did not represent the opinions of any fraction of that house;
but they did represent that for which the hon. gentleman
has great respect—the opinions of the hon. gentleman,
(Laughter,) If, therefore, the American people became
indignant, they would be able to show to them what
manner of man it was who had thought fit to use to them
language of that description. They might imagine that
name was a kind of oracle in that house. He admitted

that so far that the right hon. gentleman did speak with a
kind of mystery and a degree of precision which were attri-
buted to the oracles of old ; but there was another attribute
required of an oracle—that an oracle should be an oracle
whom somebody consulted. (Laughter.) Now ha had
been for some years in the house, and he never heard of any
man, or any group of men, who went to consult that oracle.

(Laughter.) "The screaming of a cockatoo," and the
"language of an old woman," were terms in which the hon.
member thought fit to express the conduct of Lord Russell;
and he hoped the American Government would be as in-
different to the language of the hon. gentleman, as the noble
lord would be whose name had been vilipended by the hon.
gentleman.
Mr. CAIRD, from what he had seen in the Western and
some parts of the Northern States, was of opinion that the
Irish portion of the population was averse to war. When
they found advertisements offering 7s. per day to railway
labourers, the board not to exceed 12s. a week, it was not
surprising that the Irish people could not resist the induce-
ment. There were countries in America capable of absorb-
ing with ease, and keeping in abundance, something like
seventy millions of population; and he was very much
afraid that a silent revolution was beginnin; in the labour
market, which would settle the question of the law of re-
moval, and others that had arisen from fear of too redundant
population. (Hear, hear.)
QUARTERMASTER ACRES.

Mr. POLLARD-URQUHART called the attention of

the house to the circumstances attending the dismissal of
Quartermaster Acres from the North Tipperary Militia
(laughter) ; and to move for papers. An investigation was
held, which ended in his dismissal ; but no attention was
paid to his complaints; and although the other side brought
forward witnesses, he was not allowed to bring forward
any; and now only wished to defend his conduct.