The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-20 00:00:00

THE CAPTURE OF BRITISH VESSELS.

In reply to Mr. S. FITZGERA.LD,
Mr. L A.YARD repeated the statement ho had made the
other evening as to instructions having been given to Lord
Lyons on the subject of the Saxon, who had communicated
with the American Government, and an investigation
was ordered by Mr, Seward, which was going on. He
believed that his noble friend (Earl Russell) had been
misunderstood as to what he was raported to have said on
this subject,but the papers that were laid on the table of the
other house would be presented as a matter of course to this
house,

RUMOURED INTENTION OF THE AUSTRIAN
AND PRUSSIAN FORCES TO ENTER JUT-

LAND,

Mr. NEWDEGATE asked the First Lord of the Trea-
sury, whether, in the event of the Austrian and Prussian
forces entering, or proposing to enter, Jutland, her Majes-
ty's Government would not consider such action or inten-
tion as inconsistent with the plea upon which the German
forces have entered Holstein and Schleswig, and, therefore,
requiring more energetic and decisive action, diplomatic or
otherwise, on the part of her Majesty's Government in the
sense of the treaty of 1852 ?
Lord PALMERSTON—We have no definite accounts
cf the intentions of these Governments to enter Jutland.
The only information on the subject was that contained in
the newspapers ; it is to the effect described by the hon.
member. No doubt such an entrance would be considered
an aggravation of the violent outrage and injustice which,
in our opinion, has been committed by the entrance into
Schleswig, by hi 1,
great sacrifice and bloodshed had taken
place, and for which thus two Governments (Austria and
Prussia) were answerable. (Hear, hear.) With regard to
the latter part of the question as to what change of course
the Government would be ready to take in the event
i
alluded to, without intending disrespect to the hon. mem-
ber or the house, I must decline any answer as to the future
policy.
GOVERNMENT ANNUITIES BILL.
Mr. SHERIDAN asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it was his intention to proceed with the Govern-
ment Annuities Bill this evening ; and whether, considering
that the title of the bill does not fully coney the real oh.
jects of the bill, and that the bill hitherto has passed through
two stages, without being fully understood, and, further,
considering the groat interests affected by the proposed
alteration of the law, he would have any objection to post-
pone for a short time the further consideration of the
measure.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said ho
had no objection to postpone for a short time the further
consideration of the measure, the objects of which he re-
gretted had not been perfectly understood. He would post-
pone the committee until Monday week.
THE MURDER OF MR. GRAY.
Ivfr. S. FITZGERALD wished to know what was the
date of the despatch addressed to the American Government
with reference to the murder of Mr. Gray. At the same
time he would ask another question. On Friday last he
had MOVC:i for papers relating to the case of the Margaret
and Jessie and other vessels, but the Government refused
to produced them. Since than the noble lord at the head of
the Foreign-office had consented to the production of those
despatches. (Hear.) He wished to know whether they
would be laid on the table of this house also. With regard
to the Saxon, he might state that he referred to the murder,
not to the capture of the prize.
Mr. LAYARD said the first information was received
by her Majesty's Government towards the end of Decem-
-I;e., but the depositions were not received from New York
until about the 20th of January, They were imme-
diately sent to the law officers of the Crown. Their re-
port was received on the 30th, and the same afternoon

instructions were sent to Lord Lyons to ask for such re-
dress as we were entitled to from the American Govern-
ment : but before the receipt of any instructions Lord
Lyons had communicated with Mr. Seward, on the
30th of January, orderel an inquiry to be m into what
had taken place. The last information roc, iced was that
that investigation was going on. With retard to the second
question, the hon. gentleman was slightl in error as to
what Earl Russell promised to give the other night. He
promised that a certain list of claims should be laid upon
the table of the house. There was no objection on the part
of the Government to give a list of all the claims ; but they
were naturally anxious not to do anything which might in-
terfere with the interests of any persons who had claims
against the Government of the United States. Of course,
the papers laid before the other house would be laid before
this house also.

BANK ACTS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Sir E. COLEBROOK asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer whether he intended to proceed with the second
reading of the Bank Acts (Scotland) Bill this eTening.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied in
thee affirmative; but there would be a committee on the
bill, when a Curther discussion might take place.