The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-18 00:00:00

tofiei r apolitaiii, the said Fathet Curci said not a word nor
did he make any allusion, dire,Ct or indirect; even in the most
remote manner, to or regarding the King of the reaction, or
the improperly called brigandage. We also declare tha. the
said Rev. Father Curci preached about the vice of idleness,
and not about the so-called brigandage; and we further de-
clare that the said Father Curci never preached any other
sermon before His Sacred Majesty the King our Lord, nor
before the Neapolitan emigration residing at Rome. This
we declare to be the simple truth, which we are ready to
affirm on oath before any competent tribunal,"_ _ _

It appeared, therefore, that the statement which had been
quoted against the King was utterly groundless, and he had
no doubt that th, noble lord would have the generosity to
state at once that he had been entirely misinformed, and
woula express his regret that he had made a statement so
derogatory to the character of an illustrious prince, and one
who was in misfortune. (Hear, hear.) He would, there-
fore, say no more, but would leave the matter in the hands
of the noble 10r,,.

Mr. MONSELL, who rose with Lord Palmerston, and to
whom the noble lord gave way, reverting to the ques ion of
the Protestants in Spain, said that his opinions were well
expressed by Father Lacordaire, who said :
" The public conscience will always repel the man who
asks for exclusive liberty, or forgets the rights of others, for
exclusive liberty is but privilege, and liberty forgetful of
the rights of oti.ers is nothing but treason. And there is
iu the heari, of the honest man who speaks for all, and who
in speaking for all sotnetimes seems to be spcakin; against
himself,—theta is in that man a power, a logical and moral
superirity which shwa invariably begets reciprocity. So
Catholics know this well, if you want liberty for yourselves
ask it for all men under Heaven. (Hear.) if you ask it
for yourselves only it will never be granted. Give it when
you are masters, in order that it may be given to you when
you are slaves."

(Hear, hear.) This was a question of extreme delicacy, be-
cause we were dealing, not with the Spanish Government,
out with the involved prejudices of the Spanish people—
prejudices which we could easily understand when we re-
membered t'iat Catholic emancipation, though advocated
by the most eminent men of the day, was long prevented by
the public voice, and saw that from all Ena,an•l or Scot-
land but one Roman Catholic, the noble lord the member
for Arundel, was sent to that house. He could only desire

'hat those persons in Spain who wished to continue these

laws would come over to Ireland and see the working of a
totally opposite principle. He desired that they should see
the strength and life visib e Li the Catholic Church in Ire-
land in spite of the difficulties she had to contend with, be-
cause although she ha no privileges she had complete
liberty. The best means for the spread of the Catholic
Church was for that Church to trust as little as possible to
privileges and to maintain everywhere the cause of religious
liberty, (Hear.) He hoped that Spain would cease to be
the one exception to alt the other countries of Europe, and
he believed of the world, in having laws which were di-
rectly opposed to the first principles of religious liberty.
(Hear, hear.) _ .

Lord PALMERSTON, after expressing the satisfaction
which the house must have felt at the enlightened and libe-
ral opinions which had fallen from lyis right hon. friend
(Mr. Moneell), continued to say that they should make
great allowances for the Spanish people, because of their
geographical position, which cut them off more than any
other country from intercourse with the rest of Europe,
but he could not help hoping and believing, he said, that
the progress of civilisation and enlightenment were
making its way into Spain, and that tne Catholics of
Spain had the sensible and enlightened views which has
right hon. friend had exprevsed. At the same time, their
laws remained— (hear, hear)—and, though the Spanish G-
overnment were, he was persuaded, most anxious upon all
occasions that those laws should be leniently administered,
yet in Spain, like all other countries, public opinion had its
force, and the Government could not go exactly contrary to
that opinion. In the present case, however, the Queen of
Spain, in consequence of the representations made to her,
had exercised her prerogative of pardon, and had remitted
the sentences 01 the persons in question, on condition that
they removed to some other country, which he had no doubt
they were very glad to do. (Hear, hear and laughter.) But
the Spanish laws did not simply apply to the profession of
opinions different from the religion of the State, but they
were at variance with tV- treaties Of the apanish Crown.
By those treaties British subjects were enti►.led to the free
exercise of their religion in private houses, but the law said
that they should not do it, and there were instances lately
in which the law had been enforced by parties of more zeal
than discretion, and the practice of worship in private houses
interfered with, in spite of the representations of the British
Government. Her Majesty's Government contended, and
he thought rightly, that treaties could not be overset and
controlled by the laws of the country which made them—
(hear, hear)--and that the Crown was bound by theta
(Hear, hear.) The question was still pending, and he could
assure hie hon. friend (Mr. Grant Duff) that the Govern-
ment of this country would continue to suggest to the Go-
vernment of Spain a lenient and liberal policy in those cases.
tHear, hear.) With regard to Father Curet, he had told
the hon. baronet at the time that he had read the statement
which he had made in the newspaper, but that he could not
answer for its accuracy. S ince then, however, he had re-
ceived a let ter from Italy giving an account of the transaction.
He was not at liberty to give the name of the writer, and he
should give it for what it was worth. (The noble lord here
read the letter, and continued)—He was free to confess that
the letter did not state exactly that Father Curci had re-
proached the Kiug with sending brigands into the Neapoli-
tan territory; but as to the fact, no one could doubt who
had any knowledge on the subject. (Hear, hear.) They
knew very well that there was a rendezvous at Rome,
where persons were enlisted—

Sir G. BOWYER—Not brigands.
Lord PALMERSTON—Persons might differ as to names
—(hear, hear, and laughter)—but those persons vrtnt into
the Neapolitan territory and performed their operations on
their fellost,subjects, who were very little pleased with their
presence. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the French gar-
rison at Rome were now taking steps to put a stop to those
proceedings—(hear)—and he trusted that in a short time
the Neapolitan territory would be restored to the order and
tranquillity which everybody desired to see. (Hear, hear.)

Sir G. LOWYER—Can the noble lord tell us who is the
writer of the letter which .►he read ?

Lord PALMERSTON—The hon. and learned gentle-
man may take it for what it is worth. I stated that it was
a genuine letter ?
Sir G. B WYER—Yes, we may take it for what an
anonymous letter is worth. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)