The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 6, 1863.

At the evening sitting of the House of Lords, the
Prince of Wales took the oaths and his seat.
Lord DUDLEY moved and Lord GRANARD se-
conded the Address, and in an appropriate style
touched upon the chief points in the Royal Speech.
The Earl of DERBY commenced by an allusion to
the happier circumstances under which Parliament
met this year than last. Then the nation was
mourning for the affliction that had befallen the
Royal Household, now it was called upon to rejoice
at the approaching marriage of the heir apparent,
and he could form no better wish for the Princess
about to share his dignities than that she might
partake of a happiness like that which had been the
portion of his Royal mother, and he trusted in
Providence that it might be more lasting. Allud-
ing to America, the noble earl remarked that he
approved of the Government's policy of non-inter-
vention, but he thought at the same time that they
might have done wisely in agreeing to the plan
proposed by the Emperor of the French, which
might have given the belligerents an opening for
coming to terms, and thus solving the difficulty
they were placed in. He did not think with many
in this country who urged us to recognise the
Southern Confederacy, for such a policy always en-
tailed something else afterwards. He firmly be-
lieved, for his part, that the United States would
never again be in their former position. One seri-
ous consequence of this war was the effect that it
had produced upon the industry of this country.
Notwithstanding the liberality of the country, be
feared there would be many more demands upon it.
In regard to Denmark, he could not admire the
policy of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Lord
Melbourne always advised the members of his
Cabinet, when they came across a difficult subject,
"to let it alone." He thought Lord Russell had
better have followed this plan in two or three in-
stances lately. He strongly disapproved of the
Cession of the lonian Islands, and trusted it was not
yet too late to stop so suicidal an act. The noble
earl concluded by making reference to the death of
Lord Lansdowne in his usual eloquent manner in
touching on such topics. •
Lord RUSSELL defended the refusal of the Govern-
ment to mediate in America, and denied the charge
of meddling. He had given advice toDenmark to
preserve the peace of Europe, and had thereby pre-
vented a rupture between Denmark and Germany.
The offer of an asylum to the Pope was made
solely in answer to a question put by the Pope him-
self, and he believed that the offer bad created a
favourable impression on the Continent. As to the
kingdom of Greece her Majesty's Ministers had
been the first to proposea joint declaration that the
three protecting Powers should be incapable of
accepting the throne, and it was only in consequence
of Russia's refusal, that they did not at once de-
clare that Prince Alfred would not accept it, The
lonian Islands, being a republic, were no part of
our dominions. If the people of those islands ex-
pressed a wish for union with Greece they had a
right to it.

Lord MALMESBURY approved of the general
policy With respect to America, but regretted that
advantage had not been taken of the French Em-
peror's Proposal to mediate. He censured Lord
Russell's officious interference with Denmark and
considered the vacillation of the Ministry in re-
gard to Prince Alfred had been unjust to the
Greeks, and wanting in respect to the Royal
Family. The cession of the lonian Isles would be
a precedent for the surrender of Malta and Gib-
raltar. Corfu was one of the best ports and the
strongest fortresses of the Miediterranean, and if it
passed out of the hands of England it Would in-
evitably fall into those of France or Russia.
Earl GREY supported the policy of the Govern.

runt_
The Earl of CARNARVON deprecated the manner
of cession.
Lord WODEHOUSE condemned the course pur.
sued. with reference to Schleswig-Holstein.
Their lordships adjourned at half•past nine.

The Address in the Commons was moved by
CA LTHORPE; who adverted to the principal points in
the Speech, and, during his discourse on American
affairs, paid the highest compliments to the Confe-
derate troops for their dashing spirit and daring
energy. He sincerely hoped that the time ap-
proached when an honourable and permanent peace
would be established in these distracted States. He
quite approved of the neutrality of the Government,
as he was of opinion that intervention would do
more harm than good.

Mr. BAZLEY, one of the members for Manchester,

seconded the Address, and referred at some length
to the distress in the North and the future pros-
pects of the cotton trade. He hoped as we were
now at peace the Government would reduce the
taxation, and so give a stimulus to the industrial
energies of the pecple.
Mr. DISRAELI observed that the passage in the
Royal Speech which referred to the marriage of
the Prince of Wales would be received in that
House with the most cordial and complete sym-
pathy. Royal marriages were once political affairs,
but happily now domestic interests were consulted
ire their arrangements. Another topic of unity was
the reference to Lancashire in her Majesty's Speech,
and all must agree in the expressions of admiration
for the fortitude with which our suffering fellow-
countrymen had borne their trials. Still, consider-
ing their matchless endurance, we might expect
some moral compensation for material loss, and
ultimately this great visitation might be looked
upon as a misfortune rather than a calamity. As
concerned America, subsequent events had only.
confirmed his previous conviction, that the struggle
there was a great revolution. Those who lived to
see the ultimate conclusion of the consequences of this
civil war would find a different America from that of
our fathers. It would be an America of armies, diplo-
macj , rival States, manceavering Cabinets, frequent
turbulence and probably of frequent wars. The course
which her MAJESTY'S Government professed to fol-
low was honourable to the country and beneficial
to the community. 'therefore he deprecated the
tone adopted by some of the Ministers during the
recess in their various speeches. He exposed some
of the inconsistencies in these several addresses, and
said that one of the Cabinet Ministers had recently
declared that the cause of the war was the existence
of slavery, and denounced that pestilent institution.
Another member of the Government not admitted
to the Cabinet, but whose lips are steeped in the
gravity of the Privy Council, told his:hearers that
" the Lord of Hosts was on the side of the Southern
States." He observed that the Government had
confined the practice of non-interference to America,
since they employed the autumn by interfering in
almost every other part of the world. One country
not mentioned in the Speech was China
concerning which it was very desirable to
have some precise notion of the state of
affairs. The consequence of supporting the
Emperor against the Taepings might occasion
another Chinese War, and involve us in serious
expense. They were promised papers in reference
to Greece, Italy, and Denmark, and on all those
subjeets they were very necessary. Lord Russell's
despatch in regard to Schleswig-Holstein especially
called for explanation. With regard to Italy, he
had before now stated that the settlement of the
Raman question would not be so easy as some hon.
gentlemen supposed, and he had been told by the
Foreign Secretary that he contemplated the occur-
rence of contingencies which would never come to
pass. In the mellow harvest of autumnal indis-
cretion, the noble lord had not been content
with disturbing the waters of the Baltic,
but appeared to have been very active in the
Mediterranean. Lord Russell widely differed
from Lord Palmerston in regard to the policy that
ought to be pursued towards Turkey. They had
' been told that day that diplomatic engagements
prevented the acceptance of the throne of Greece
by Prince Alfred, but if that were the case why
had the Greeks been kept in a state of suspense
both trying and injurious. The Cession of the
lonian Islands was a serious question, which re-
quired time and thought. They proposed to give
that settlement, which had been fostered by the
power of England, and which abounded in wealth
and public spirit, to the Provisional Government
of what at present certainly was a distracted coun-
try. He trusted such a policy would not preci-
pitately
be adopted. He offered no objection to the
passing of the address, which he understood did
not imply approbe.tion of the policy indicated in the
Speech.
Col. SYKES made some observation on the supply
of cotton to be expected from. India, and denounced
our present policy in China.
Lord R. MONTAGII remarked upon the enormous
public expenditure, and deprecated the cession of
the lonian Islands.

Mr. MAGUIRE dilated on the distress in Ireland,
and complained that no mention of it was made in
the Queen's Speech.
Mr. FORSTER insisted on the necessity of reform-
ing the manner of assessing the income tax.
Mr. COCHRANE inquired whether the Duke of
Saxe. Coburg would accept the Crown of Greece?

After a few words from Sir J. HANMER on the
Royal Marriage,
Sir P. O'BRIEN and Mr. HENNESSY spoke of the
distress in Ireland. Mr. Hennessy also remarked
on the state of Poland, and denounced the policy
pursued on the Papal question as inconsistent.

Mr. SMOLLETT hoped that the affairs of India
would be brought before the house.
Lord PALMERSTON, who was cheered on rising,
said he was sure the country must be gratified at
the manner in which the House had received the
announcement of the marriage of the Prince of
Wales. He remarked that his Royal Highness was
peculiarly fortunate, since the alliance was in every
sense of the word " a love-match." He then pro-
ceeded to answer the charges brought against him
by the leader of the Opposition, and indignantly
denied the accusation of an intriguing policy. He
referred to the unanimous selection of an English
Prince by the Greeks as a testimony of the just and
honourable influence possessed by this country.
With regard to our relations with China we were
on the most friendly footing with the Government
there. Their great object had been to promote the
commercial interests of England, and it had now
been happily attained. They were withdrawing
tioops from China instead of sending more thither.
The Taepings had marked their course by destruction
and plunder, and by everything that destroys com-
merce. But the Government were not making war
upon them, except that they insisted on the Tae-
pings respecting the neighbourhoods where Eng-
lish commercial establishments were fixed. The
right hon. gentleman had said he found it impos-
sible to understand the policy of the Government
with regard to Denmark, a proof of the necessity of
the Ministers fulfilling their pledge of producing
the papers relative to foreign subjects. It was a
mistake to suppose that Lord Russell had acted
hastily ; he had for several years been endeavouring
to mediate between Denmark and Germany. In
the course of last year the Diet of Frankfort threat-
ened to march troops into Holstein—the noble lord
persuaded them to suspend operations, and having
done so, he was bound to try to arrange matters
amicably. He (Lord Palmerston) could not say
that they had succeeded in the effort, but it was
only a link in the chain, and not an isolated act.
Respecting Greece, the Government had, on the
first mention of the proposed election of Prince
Alfred, stated that the protocol of 1830 would ren-
der him ineligible as a candidate for the Greek
throne. He could not say what might be the result
of the negotiations still pending with the Duke of
Saxe Coburg. The cession of thelonian
belslandsefi benefit
tto
was a wise and generous measure of great
the lonians. The right hon. gentleman had adverted
to certain communications between Mr. Odo Russell
and the Pope. They had been mis-stated The
fact was that the Pope had sent for Mr. Russell,
and had asked him whether in the event of his
leaving Rome he could find an asylum in England,
to which Mr. Russell had replied that it was the
English: custom to afford protection to any one
who might come to the country. Mr. Russell had
subsequently carried a despatch to Cardinal An-
the Pope in such an event a suitable
asylum in Malta. The noble lord then answered
other objections raised in the course of the debate,
and referring to Ireland expressed his regret at the
disastrous effects of three bad harvests, but thought
that there was 1%,3
granting
money no ground for
money for public works.
Sir G. BOWYER contradicted Lord Palmerston's
version of the affair with the Pope. He denounced
he Piedmontese Administration in strong terms,
and defended the Papal Government.

Mr. FITZGERALD commented on the omission
of America from Lord Palmerston's speech, al-
though the Government had taken the respoosibi.
lityof refusing to mediate, and another strange omis-
sion was the subject of Polund. Thd policy of

THE SUN, LONDO

England had been suddenly changed with regard
to 'Denmark without any reason. He considered
the cession of the lonian isles, impolitic, inexpe-
dient, and unjustifiable, and censured the general
foreign policy of the Government.
Mr. WHALLEY considered the great Powers
should have been consulted with reference to the
cession of the Islands, and regretted that any hon.
members should have defended the policy of the
Papal Government.

Last night will be for ever memorable in the
History of England as that on which the Heir
Apparent to the Throne of these realms took his
seat in the highest assembly of this land, the House
of Lords. It is impossible to overrate the interest
of this occurrence, whether in an historic or a per-
sonal point of view. In the case of this young
PRINCE so many associations attend his entry into
public life, that it assumes an aspect at once pecu-
liar and distinctive among the princes of the
world. There is, first and foremost, the memory
of his mother; a Sovereign who has won golden
opinions from all ranks of her people; and all
classes of the community, however widely they may
differ in other points, always unite in the testimony
of respect and reverence to her who so wisely and
graciously sways the sceptre of these realms. No
reign in English history, indeed, we may say in the
annals of the world, bears so many records of per-
sonal attachment and public homage as that which
is the bright and happy era in which the present
generation has the good fortune to live. If any-
thing could cement the attachment still further it
would be the intense sympathy which all feel for
the calamity that has overtaken the QUEEN in
the meridian of her days. All know how, in the
first hour of her widowhood she called her children
around her, and bade them remember that they
had a duty to their country which they must fulfil,
even while mourning for the noble dead. This
principle of duty has always been the ruling pas-
sion, the prevailing influence, in the lives of the
QUEEN and her Royal Consort. One has been sum-
moned from this changing scene, the other survives,
let us trust, for many loug and happy years to
watch the development of the characters of those
children they have trained up with such care and
skill. There is no higher end to human
labour, no brighter repayment for arduous
exertion than to see the young tread the paths of
virtue and peace. The Prince of WALES begins his
career under the happiest auspices, and under the
blessing of Providence we may trust that he will
be worthy of his high calling, and that the bright
promise he now gives may be fulfilled in the right
understanding of his lofty station, and the worthy
employment of his high trust. Our interest is in-
creased by the prospect of an occurrence that will
in all probability be the source of domestic happi-
ness, his approaching marriage. Lord DERBY
happily observed last night that all who knew
the Princess thought her worthy of being the
partner of the Sovereign of the greatest country in
the world. His lordship also added, and his tes-
timony is invaluable, that " we tender our congra-
tulations to the PRINCE, not alone as the heir to the
throne, but as one who has already, by the courtesy
of his demeanour and the affability of his manners,
won the affectionate regard of all those who have
been privileged to associate with him, and one
who, at a very early age, when placed in circum-
stances of no inconsiderable difficulty, displayed a
tact, a judgment, kind a discernment which promise
well for the future." No better man than Lord
DERBY could pronounce this eulogy. From one who
represents the spirit of Englishmen in the higher
classes of the community in their native integrity
and independence we willingly accept this tribute
to our future KING, and doubt not that when cir-
cumstances shall call his Royal Highness more
prominently forward, the various branches of the
community and the nation at large will ratify from
public knowledge what the noble earl so eloquently
and so feelingly expressed from his private experi-
ence in the House last night. The ceremony of
introducing his Royal Highness to the Parlia-
ment and his taking his seat in the higher
branch of the Legislature was his virtual
entry into public life. Mr. DISRAELI in the
Commons also alluded to the subject of the Prince's
marriage in very forcible language. He said that
he was confident his Royal Highness would imitate
the example of his Sovereign parent, and so endear
himself to the hearts of Englishmen, also that he
would not forget that other parent so recently
mourned over, and " who built up a Royal hearth
on the principle of household love, and who yet by
his refined and profound intelligence elevated it
above the majesty of thrones." The present moment
is rife with memory and hope for the Prince of
WALES. We are confident with the majority of
her MAJESTY,S subjects, that the future
will realise the wishes, and answer the
prayers of the nation. By the example of
his mother, which, it is to be trusted, will long
be before him, by the recollection of his
father, who, being dead, yet speaketh to him, by
the thoughts of the mighty nation he is called upon
to rule over, by the sense of responsibility so early
thrust upon him, and by the conviction that his
trust is imposed upon him from above, we are con-
vinced that VICTORIA'S son will not disappoint the
expectation of the foremost country in the world.
When, by the dispensation of Providence, he is
called to reign over us, some of this genera-
tion and the new one, he will be most likely
spared to see, will turn with pride to the
auspicious inauguration of ALBERT EDWARD
among the Peers of the realm, as to the com-
mencement of a career that has been bright and
blessed, and a life at once happy and glorious. At
present he is the chief object of a nation's hopes,
and he must make it his earnest endeavour not to
disappoint the multitudes who pray, through the
confines of an empire on which the sun never sets,
that Heaven may shower down on him its choicest
gifts, and that when summoned from his earthly
throne to receive his reward from the KING of
KINGS, he may leave behind him a long line of
princes, the heirs to his honours, the recipients of
his homage, and the bright exponents of his virtues
to the remotest limits of the English Empire.

The debate in both Houses on the opening
night of the session carries out our recent assertion
that the Parliamentary warfare will be merely ver-
bal until after the approaching royal marriage. It
would be felt to be in some measure disloyal and
uncourteous to mar the festivities attending that
happy event by the jar of parties and the confusion
of a ministerial crisis. Nevertheless, though the
necessity of an armistice is tacitly admitted, the
Opposition chiefs are not inclined to suffer the
opening of the Parliamentary campaign to pass over
without a skirmish. Lord DERBY in the Upper House
and Mr. DISRAELI in the Lower, proved that their
weapons were not rusted by disuse, and contrived,
while shrinking from immediate action, to leave
plenty of ground for a subsequent attack upon
Ministerial policy.
most of the main points of the
We must confess that, with regard to the foreign
Policy at least, there was ground for in-
quiry ; and we apprehend that a good
many who do not rank themselves among
Lord DERBY'S followers must have awaited with
considerable curiosity the explanation of the
lnoble earl at the head of our Foreign Affairs with