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

be most calamitous to Poland and dangerous to the peace
of Europe.
REDUCTION OF INDIAN REGIMEN S.

In reply to Col. SYKES,
The Marquis of HARTINGTON stated th it it had been
determined to reduce by a troop each of i.e ian cavalry
regiments, so as to place them on a 'cot ng with the
English regiments.

POLAND.
Mr. HORSMAN asked the Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs on what day the English and French notes
were received at St. Petersburg; on what day the
Austrian note was receivei ; on what day the several
notes were presented to the Russian Minister ; and, whether
the British Ambassador was instructed to keep back the
English note till the Austrian note arrived ?
Mr. LAYARD replied that the three notes were re-
ceived together, and delivered by the representatives of
the three Powers to Prince Gortschakoff on the 27th,
who said he should at once refer them for a reply to the
Emperor. No inctructiona were given to the English Am-
bassador to keep back the English note till the Austrian
no'e arrived. No reply had yet been received, nor could he
undertake to say when there would be a reply.
DISTRESS IN IRELAND.
Sir R. PEEL stated, in reply to Mr. BAGWELL, that he
was aware that some distress prevailed in Ireland. A good
many exaggerated statements were put forward in the
newspapers. He had not received any communication from
the Poor Law Commissioners. No case of actual starva-
tion had 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
1 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. CONIN GRAM—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 Moniteur 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.
POLAN U.