The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-16 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OP LORDS— Last Evening,
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack

at fivo o'clock.

THE SEIZURE OF THE RAMS AT BIRKEN-

HEAD.
Earl RUSSELL said the noble earl opposite, the other
evening, in remarks on the 'detention of the iron-
dads, referred to several despatches written to
Iklr. Adams, and wished to know how far the opinions

and conduct of Governmfmt had been influenced by those

communications. He Bart Russell) had been looking into
dates since that tine, and how the conduct of Government
had been influenced by despatches dated the 4th and sth of
September may be gathered by the fact that on the 3d
of September he (Earl Russell) came to the de-
termination to delay and prevent the departure
of the iron-clads at Birkenhead. On that day Mr. Laird
wrote to the Treasury on the subject of the detention of the
vessels, and he (Earl Russell) also found that from a pri-
vate letter of his:own, written from Scotland, that he
had taken the course he had already mentioned. That

being so, it was impossible that the determi-
nation of the Government could in the slightest
way hays been influenced by anything Mr. Adams may
have written on the 4th of September. Looking, however,
at the correspondence'presented to the Government of the
United States, and more especially that part of it which
he had taken part.in, he felt that had the language of Mr.
Adams been less temperate he should not have desisted
from the course he (Earl Russell) had adopted. It having
come to his knowledge that the iron-clads building at Bir-
kenhead were intended for the Confederates, it was his duty
to take steps to detain them, in order to obtain full evidence
as to their destination. The noble earl then read the cor-
respondence as published in the American papers in support
of What he had said, and concluded by stating that the
noble earl (Earl Derby) who had introduced the question
must have seen the explanation of the difficulty in the cor-
respondence itself. (Hear, hear.'
The Earl of DERBY safd that he had not seen the ex-
planation of the difficulty that presented itself to him, and
it only showed how much better it would be that such a cor-
respondence should be published authoritatively, (Hear.)
With respect to another part of the question, the noble earl
inquired whether Earl Russell had asked on the part of her I
Majesty's Government an explanation from the United States
Government of the circumstances that a despatch written by
Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams, to be communicated to the noble
earl, but which was not so communicated, had been actually
published and laid before the Congress as part of the corres-
pondence between the United States and her Majesty's Go-
verrament.
Earl RUSSELL, in reply, said as he had apparently con-
' eluded too hastily that the noble earl (Derby) had seen the
answer to the question he asked in the correspondence itself,
he wished to withdraw the remark. With regard to the last
question, he (Earl Russell) deemed that it was a wise course
to consider the despatches as received, and to perform that
duty with as much conciliation as possible. He believed
3lr. Adams had pursued that course, and he (Earl Russell)
had communicated to the noble earl opposite the views of
the despatch in question, though not the substance of it.
(Hear, hear.)
After a few words in which Earl GRANVILLE and the
Marquis of CLANRICARDE joined, the subject dropped.
DENMARX AND THE DUC iIIES.

Lord CAMPBELL called attention to the treaties and
conventions by whichthe possession of Schleswig was gua-
ranteed to Denmark, and observed that if it could be shown
that Great Britain was bound by treaties as well as by po-
licy to guarantee the possession of Schleswig to Denmark,
it might have some effect in leading to the earlier restora-
tion of peace. He contended that the guarantee of 1852 did
not supersede or ennui previous treaties, and that the main-
tenance of the Danish monarchy was essential to the balance
of power in Europe.
Earl RUSSELL said it would be rash for the Govern-
ment to come to any positive judgment upon such im-
portant questions without the most careful and searching
examination. That examination had been given ;
but it would be injudicious at the moment to
slate the opinions at which they had arrived. The
relations of Austria and Prussia with Denmark were very
differently affected to those of the other German Powers,
some of whom, and especially Bavaria, had declared that
they thought the Prince of Augustenburg was entitled to
be acknowledged as Duke of Schleswig and Holstein ; and
it followed from that that they would endeavour to put him
in possession. Upon such an attempt being made, however,
it would also follow that England must declare whether or
not sne felt bound by the Treaty of 1720 ; and if so, it would
be her duty at once to go to the support of Denmark, With
regard to Austria and Prussia, their identical communica-
tion of the 31st January distinctly asserted that they did
not contemplate the dismemberment of Denmark ; but, on
the contrary. that they had entered Schleswig to maintain
the integrity of the Danish monarchy ; and that the very
cause of their entrance was to obtain the fulfilment of en-
gagements which the King of Denmark had undertaken as
Duke of Schleswig, and in no other capacity, In this diffi-
cult and complicated state of affairs they had gone to
Schleswig to hold it as a material guarantee, and he thought
it was desirable to endeavour to settle all these questions by
pacific means rather than resort precipitately to anything
in the nature of a threat founded on the guarantee of 1720,
Austria and Prussia were conscious, as indeed all the prin-
cipal Powers must he, that the Duchies could not be trans-
ferred to any other Power than the King of Denmark with-
out the general concert and assent of all the great Powers.
Ha admitted that the Government must make up their
maid with the best advice they could obtain as to the bind-
ing nature of the treaty guarantee of 1720; but ftr the sake
of the peace of Europe everything that could be done by
conference and negotiation ought to be done before any step
was taken which might produce an attitude of hostility be-
tween any of the great Powers of Europe.
Their lordships adjourned at half past six o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening,
The SPEAKER. took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS,

Over 200 private bills were read a second time and
ordered to be committed, and several other bills were read
a first time.

POLAND.

Mr. BUTLER-JOHNSTONE gave notice that on an ,
early day he would draw the attention of the house to the
subject of Poland, and that he would make a motion in
reference to the same.
HERRING FISHERIES.
Mr. CAIRD asked the Lord Advocate, or, in his absence,
the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether
it was the intention of Government to alter or repeal the
recent laws on the subject of the herring fishery in Scot-
land, which the Royal Commissioners appointed in 1862 to
inquire into the operation of these laws report to have "un-
necessarily restricted the operations of fishermen; to have
repressed invention by prohibiting new and more productive
forma of labour; as calculated to be destructive rather than
conservative in relation to the future supply of herring ;
and, although beneficial to certain class interests, as pre-
judicial to the consumer of fish and to the public gene-
rally ?"
Sir G. GREY said he had communicated with his learned
friend the Lord Advocate, and he hoped shortly to be able
to lay on the table a bill on the subject.
TOBACCO IN IRELAND.
In reply to Mr. WE-volt,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
there was no special exclusion of any part of the United
Xingdom for the growth of tobacco, but it extended to all
parts of the kingdom, and the reason was, that it would be
impossible to levy a tax on home grown tobacco that would
suit the purpose of revenue in the same way that a tax on
imported, tobacco would do. As far as he was concerned he
should be happy if tobacco and other articles of import
could be produced at home, but it could not be practically
carried out as regards revenue.
RAILWAYS IN DUBLIN.
Mr. VANCE asked the President of the Board of Trade,
if he would consent for an appointment of a preliminary
select committee, c°mPosed of members of both Houses of
Parliament, to consider and report upon the various rail-
way schemes affecting the
tity of Dublin, such committee
to be nominated in the same manner as that which has
been recently appointed to consider and report upon the
different railway projects affecting the metropolis ?
Mr. M. GIBSON said that it was not intended by Go-
vernment to appoint any such committee.
ALLOWANCES TO GOVERNORS OF COLONIES.
Mr. HO r WOOD asked the Under Secretary of State for
the Colonies when the Government intend to bring forward
the subject of granting retirin3 allowances to governors of
colonies?
Mr. C. FORTESC UE said it was not intended by the
Government to bring forward the subject.
PROTECTION OF IHE METROPOLIS FRO,i

FIRE.
Sir M.
- A•RQUHLR asked the Secretary of State for
Home Department whether he intended to introduce a bill
this year for the better protection of the metropolis from fire ;
and, if so, when he would lay it upon the table of the house ?
Sir G. GR.SY said that he was in communication with
the managers of different insurance companies, And ho be-
liev?,d that a satisfactory arrangement would bo effected.
DI ?ROVE \LENTS IN tiRDNANCE.

Mr. W. EWAILT asked the Under Secretary of State
for War whether any British or offieers, had been
sent to stutly and report upon the recent
en
tapplications of and
improvements in artillery adopted in the war in the United
States and in Denmark?
The Marquis cf HARTINGTON said that Lord Lyons
had recllived instructions to report to the
,Gbouvtemenytoonns
the subject as regarded the United States
wen not of a character sufficiently detailed to meet rtehpeorts
re-
quirements, and three officers had been sent to the United
States to report fill!), on the subject. It had not been con-
sidered necessary to send out a commission to Denmark on
the subject since the outbreak of hcstilities in that country
EXTENSION OF THE COUNTY FRANCHISE.
Mr. A. SMITH gave notice that on the introduction of
the proposed bill for the extension of the county franchise
he would move an amendment.
THE COURT-MARTIAL ON COL. CRAWLEY.
Lord /10 i HAM inquired from what fund the expenses