The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-11 00:00:00

THE PACKET SERVICE.

Mr. HEYGATE asked the Secretary to the Treasury,
under what contract or engagement her Majesty's mails
were now carried between Dover and Calais, and Dover and
Ostend respectively; and when any contract which might
have been entered into by her Majesty's Government would
be laid upon the table of the house.
_ _

Mr. F. PEEL replied that these services were at pre-
sent being carried on under conditions which had been
agreed on between the Post-office, the railway companies,
and the 13elgian Government respectively. The contract
for the Dover service, embodying those conditions, had
been prepared and sent to the railway companies for their
examination and approval, and they had been urged to
send a speedy answer. With respect to Belgium, it was
proposed to have an additional convention.
RECOGNITION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES.
Sir J . FERGUSSON rose to ask his hon. and learned
friend the member for Sheffield a question of which he had
given him notice; but as it was necessary, considering the
importance of the subject, that he should make some obser-
vations, with a view of putting himself in order, he moved
the adjournment of the house. He should, however, ab-
stain from saying a word on the merits of the question, and
all ho wished to express was a feeling which he believed
was shared in by many hon. members on both sides of the
house, who concurred in the object the hon. and learned
member had in view, that the present moment was one in
which the question could not be discussed and a judgment
pronounced with advantage to Great Britain or the Southern
or Northern States. Since the hon. and learned member
brought his resolution before the house, a great change had
taken place in the state of the contest between the two re-
publics in North America. A war, which up to that time
had been defensive, now appeared to have assumed the
character of one carried on for the purposes of retribution
on the part of the South against the North. It must be
evident to all who had noticed the intelligence that had
reached us within the last few days, that it might fairly be
presumed that events greater than any that had hitherto
taken place were approaching, and it was not improbable
that the solution of the question at issue might be at hand.
(Hear, hear.) Under those circumstances, he ventured to
submit to the hon. and learned member for Sheffield and
the house, that a decision now come to by the house could
not express their real feelings upon the question, or operate
with any beneficial influence on the question in America,
It was evident that if the debate was resumed on Monday,
it would be either negatived unanimously or defeated
by a very large majority. (Hear, hear.) In that case, a
false impression of the feeling of the House would go
forth. (Hear. hear.) The action of the Government
would be hindered thereby if they saw their way at an early
period to a recognition of the South, and a feeling of irrita-
tion and deep disappointment would rest on the minds of the
people of the Southern States, A few months ago, if recog-
nition had been generously proposed by this country, it
might have been attended by beneficial results, and have
stayed the effusion of blood, and have established in the
minds of the South a claim of gratitude for the action this
country had taken. (Hear, hear.) But now, if the motion
should be successful, should the action of the South force a
peace on the North, they would not thank us for the action
we were taking. If, on the other hand, the expedition of
the South into the North should prove a failure, in what
position would the house stand ? (Hear, hear.) Therefore
whether the motion was successful or unsuccessful, he ven-
tured to submit that the hon. and learned member could
produce no beneficial result, and that it had better be with-
drawn till a convenient time. (Hear, hear.) The present
was not a time for action, but silent observation. With re-
gard to the personal matters that had been introduced into
the debate, he felt sure the house would give the hon. and
learned member an opportunity of explaining. (Hear.)
Lord YALmEttb".l. ON—rcihaps my non, and learned
friend will allow me to second the request that has been
made to him by the hon. and gallant officer, viz., that he
would consent to drop the continuance of the debate
which stands for Monday. I think the circumstances
which have been adverted to by the hon. and gallant officer
are of themselves sufficient to show that this is not a mo-
ment when it is desirable for a discussion of that kind.
(Hear, hear.) Events of the utmost importance are now
taking place in America. We may hear in a few days of re-
sults commensurate with their importance, and it is un-
doubtedly not a proper moment to ask her Majesty's Govern-
ment to pledge itself with regard to future action. It is not
likely, I think, that the house would agree either to the
motion of my hon. and learned friend, or the amendments
suggested. I think it would be very disadvantageous to the
public service that auy such resolution should be adopted—
(hear, hear)—and therefore the discussion, for any practical
results, would have no important effict. I can assure my
hen. friend and the house that, whereas I think it is now
plainly acknowledged by everybody that the wishes of the
Emperor of the French to find a fitting opportunity for that
acknowledgment are not altered or changed, and, on the other
hand, her Majesty's Government, who at the present mo-
ment do not see that that fitting opportunity has arisen, are
willing at all times tJ exchange opinions with the French
Government, not only on that, but on every other matter of
great interest in which we have a common concern. (Hear.)
On public and general grounds, therefore, I should urge him
to comply with that request. But there is another circum-
stance, peculiar to the present debate, which I think makes
it still more desirable. It is hardly possible that the debate
could be resumed without the resumption of the discussion
of what passed between my hon. and learned friend and the
hon. member for Sunderland, in their interview with the
Emperor of the French. Now it was quite natural that they
should have sought that interview. My hon. friend the
member for Sunderland, as we well know, has frequently
had interviews with the Emperor of the French upon those
questions on which he has taken a very active part in this
house, viz., questions relating to navigation; and we knew
and were perfectly cognisant of those interviews. There-
fore, it was quite natural that they should see the Emperor
of the French, and it was equally so his seeing them, and
that they should express their opinions upon American
questions. But I humbly venture to submit to them that
the question as to what passed in an interview between
two private gentlemen, even though they are members of
this house, and a foreign sovereign, is not a question
fitting to be discussed in this house. (Cheers.) It
must naturally lead to explanations on both sides,
and that, like all public explanations of private conversa-
tions, lead not only to unpleasant feelings on both sides,
but tend to prevent the Emperor of the French from con-
tinuing that courteous and useful reception which he so
graciously is pleased to give to all Englishmen of note—
(hear, hear)—who come furnished with information that
may be useful to the friendly relations of the two countries.
It is obvious that that disposition which he has so eminently,
and which is so useful, so honourable to him, so useful to
the interests of the two countries, must be changed if he
feels that what passes in the abandon of private intercourse
is to be made the subject of public discussion in the British
House of Commons. (Hear.) It is impossible the debate
can be resumed without leading in some way or other to the
revival of that discussion, and therefore I hope my hon. and
learned friend will consent to drop it ; and that my hon.
friend the member for Sunderland, who has hitherto taken
no part in this discussion, would continue that discreet
passiveness which he has hitherto preserved, and that he
will be content to let the matter rest. No onehas any right
to blame him for the part he took in going to the Emperor
of the French, and communicating with him as he did, but
I think he would feel, as the house must feel, that, with a
view not only to the good relations between the two powers,
but with a view to the continuance of that access to the
person of the Emperor by British subjects of note which it
is desirable to maintain, it is much better that nothing
should be said further on the subject, either in future dis-
cussions on this subject, or when my hon. and learned friend
the member for Sheffield rises to state his acquiescence in
the recommendation that has been made to him. (Hear.)
Mr. LINDSAY—I have borne in silence the reproaches
that have been cast upon me by the organ of her Majesty's
Government. I have been condemned before I have been
heard. I will not go into the subject, but I may be
allowed to state one or two matters. The house will be
aware that I brought under its consideration, three or
four years ago, a resolution that her Majesty would be
pleased to enter into negotiations with the Emperor of the
French for the abolition of certain duties. By the request
of the Government, I had a long interview with the Em-
peror and Lord Cowley on that important subject, and I
had reason to believe that the Emperor was pleased with
the views I placed before him. I have been labouring for
three years almost alone upon this great subject ; and his
Majesty was pleased to appcint a council to inquire into the
subject, and I have reason to hope that he still feels that
this great change would be for the advantage of his people
as well as for this country. In the course of the discussion,
which Lord Cowley did not presume to understand, it was
necessary
for me to see the Emperor's Ministers very often;
but all that ever took place was known both to Lord Cowley
and the Ministry in this country. Knowing that I had
been in America, it was his Majesty's pleasure to speak to