The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-03 00:00:00

DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

Sir It. PEEL stated, in reply to Mr. BAGWELL, that he
was aware that some distress prevailed in Ireland. A good
many exaggerated statements were put fo-ward in the
newspapers. He had not receiveQ any ric mmunication from
the Poor Law Commissioners. No case of actual starva-
tion bad reached him.
lONIAN ISLANDS.

Col. FRENCH asked the Under Secretary of State for
the Colonies, in what manner the desire of the inhabitants
of the lonian Islands to be annexed to the Kingdom of
Greece was to be tested ?

Mr. FORTESCUE apprehended by summoning the
local Parliament for that specific purpose. Communica-
tions were now going on.
THE WAR IN AMERICA.—MEDIATION.
Mr. FORSTER, alluding to the debate the other evening,
and the recent visit of two members of that house to Paris
(Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Lindsay), called upon the hon.
gentleman the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs for some
explanation,
Mr. LAYARD rose and asked the indulgence of the
house whilst he entered at more than usual length into a
reply to the question. (Cheers.)
Mr. ROEBUCK would accede to this request provided
the hon. gentleman would move the adjournment of the
house. (Oh, oh.)
Mr. LAYARD said grave and unprecedented charges
had been made against the Government, and he claimed
the indulgence of the house.
Mr. ROEBUCK rose to order. (Much noise, and cries
of "Oh, oh.")

Mr. CONINGHAM—The hon. and learned member is
not the dictator of this house. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Mr. ROEBUCK desired to say that he hoped nothing
would be put forward by the hon. member, to which a reply
could not be immediately given.

The SPEAKER ruled that the Under Secretary was in
.
order.

Mr. LAYARD then explained at some length the whole
course of proceeding. The hon. and learned member had
charged the Government with a breach of confidence in
improperly furnishing a confidential document to
the Minister of a foreign Sovereign. He (Mr.
Layard) stated on Tuesday that no communication
had been received from the French Government tending to
intervention or any other proceeding affecting the Northern
and Southern States. He repeated now that no communi-
cation had been received to this effect since that of Novem-
ber last. (Hear, hear.) The French Minister for Foreign
Affairs wrote to the French Ambassador in London
on the 10th of October, but it was not com-
municated to her Majesty's Government till the
10th of November, and then only verbally, as no copy was
furnished. Before the reply of the Government could be
given, this document appeared in the ltioniteur on the 30th
of November. (Hear, hear.) The Government, following
that of France, published their reply in the Gazette on the
14th, The despatch was duly communicated to the Ame-
rican Government, but it was the 2d of December when
Mr. Seward spoke to Lord Lyons—and for the first time—
on the matter. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. ROEBUCK asked if a comment had not been re-
ceived from the French Government in the spring of the
present year again suggesting intervention ?
Mr. LAYARD had made a strict search at the Foreign
Office and could find nothing of the kind. (Hear, hear.)
Lord R. CECIL asked if any verbal communication had
been made?

Mr. LAYARD replied that it was his solemn conviction
that no communication of the kind had been made. (Hear,
hear.)
The subject then dropped.
POLAND.
In reply to Mr. BENTINCK,

Mr. HENNESSY stated that he should endeavour to
bring on his motion when all the papers were on the table
of the house.