The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL P

HOUSE OF LORDS.—Last Evening.
The ton CRANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Milford Haven Docks Railway—London, Brighton,
and South Coast Railway (South London, Tooting,
and Junction Railways)—Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway—Kettet ing and Thrapstone Railway—Mid-
land Railway (Bristol Line) Edinburgh and
Dunfermline and Perth (North British) Railway
—Mistley, Thorp., and Wal'on Railway—North
British Railway (Wansbeck Railway, &c.)—South York-
shire Railway (Alteration, &c )—tireat Northern Railway
(Cheshire Lines)—Galway Water—Balasholgelly Railway
—:,.;orth Eastern Railway (Hull and Doncaster Branch)
—A'henry and Ennis Junction Railway (Extension
of Time)—Frieston Reclamation, Glasgow and South
Nestern and Ayr, and Maybole Junction Railways—
Glasgow and South-Western Railway (Additional Powers)
—Lancaster Canal and Landon and North-Western Railway
—and the Scottish Central Railway and Dundee and Perth
and Aberdeen Railway Junction Companies Bills were
read a second time.
The Ogmore Valley Railways (Amendments) and the
London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway (Dorking to
Leatherhead) (Amendments) Bills were read a third time
and passed.
FLOGGING LADIES IN POLAND.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said the. other evening
when he stated that General Mouravi.ff had issued an
order to the effect that ladies appeari g in
n mourning in the
streets of Poland should be flogged, the noble earl, the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, wai of opinion
that the statement was wholly untrue. Since that
that time he (Earl of Shaftesbury) had heard that the exact
terms of the order were, that if ladies appeared in mourn-
ing after the publication of the general ord, r, they were to
be fined in va ious sums ranging from between 25 to 100
roubles, and in the event of their not plying the fine they
were to be subjected to the punishment of the knout. The
consequence of the order had been a rising at `Vilna; and
be wished to ask the noble earl opposite whether he had
now received any information confirming such a report.
Earl RUSSELL said h- had received a communication
from her Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg
in answer to an inquiry which he had made,
and it only went the length of saying that, in
the event of ladies appearing in mourning after the
issue of the order, they would incur the penalty of a fine.
Nothing was said about subjecting them to the inhuman
b ,rbarity of the knout.

AMERICA.
In answer to a question from Lord STRATHEDEN,
Earl RUSSELL said that about an hour before
.he meeting of the house the French Ambassa-
dor had called on him at the Foreign Office,
and said that he had heard it very generally rumoured that
he had received orders to make a communication to her Ma-
jesty's Government relative to America. The French Am-
bassador then informed him that he had no orders to make
ny proposition from the Emperor of the French such as
bad been reported ; but the Emperor was desirous of
acting in concert with the British Government to
bring about a cessation of hostilities in America.
The Sheep and Cattle (Scotland) and the Oath Relief
(Scotland) bills were read a second time.
The Sale of Mill Si'es (Ireland) Bill passed through
committee and was reported.
The reports of amendments in the Volunteers and Regi-
mental Debts bills wet e brought up and received.
The Postmaster-General's Sale of Lands Bill was read a
second time.
The Local Government (No. 2) Bill passed through com-
mittee.
The Waywarden's Contracts Bill was read a third time
and passed.
The District Parochial Churches (Ireland) Bill passed
through committee.
The Inclosure (No. 2) Bill was read a third time and
passed.

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.
The Earl of DERBY said that in moving for a copy of
;he proclamation issued by Sir Henry Storks, for the an-
nexation otthe lonian Islands to Greece, it was not his in-
tention to enter at any length into the question of the
policy which had dictated the annexation. He sheuld
merely take that opportunity of expressing his disapproval
of that poliey, and his dissent from the assertion made by
the noble viscount at the head ot the Government, in ano-
ther place, that as they were making a cession of that
which was not part of the territories of the Crown, the
-.ubject was not a fit cne for discussion in Parliament. He
(the Earl of Derby) maintained, on the contrary, that every
:tot of a responsible Minister was a fit subject for discussion
in Parliament. (Hear.) He had a very strong opinion as
to the inexpediency of the surrender of the protectorate,
which would be eminently disadvantageous to the lonian
Islands themselves, and not conducive to the interests
either of this country or of Europe. Her Majesty's Govern-
ment ha 1 exhibite'l a rather romantic generosity on the
subject. Their only thought seemed to be the interests and
the gratification of the lonian Isles. They never seemed to
think that the interests and advantage of England ought to
be consulted. The Powers who were parties to the treaties
which established the protectorate all wish that England
:hould hold those islands. Surely it was not love merely for
the people of the islands and attention to their interests
which actuated the plenipotent aries. Other matters en-
tered into the arrangement, such as the prevention of other
powerful maritime states getting possession of Corfu, and
the general question of preserving peace and the balance of
power in Europe. High naval authorities had stated that
the port of Corm was a most important position for Great
Britain to hold; and the only change which in his opinion
had been effected by steam, was to make the possession
of Corfu more than ever important. (Hear, hear.) They
were bringing into the kingdom of Greece a restless and
aggressive people at a time when they wanted to secure the
peaceful condition at d unaggressive character of the new
kingdom. The islands themselves would be material suf-
terers. A restless and dissatisfied portion of the population
were opposed to the British protectorate, and anxious for
union with Greece, but the thinking people had no such
desire. They were too well aware of the advantages which
they derived from the protectorate. They had enjoyed a large
amount of material prosperity. They had the advantage
.f well-regulated institutions, and they had a large and
well disciplined force of British soldiers in garrison. It'
my portion of the Greek army were to be introduced instead
of the British, when soldiers should be withdrawn, he con d
Cut help wishing the lotaians joy of the change. (Hear,
and a laugh) But, as regarded the European question, the
at st great maritime Power that could seize Corfu would
certainly do so in the next war that might break out, The
noble earl would not surely assert that the vast expenditure
which had been made in stret gthening the fortrications
of Corfu had been done solely for the benefit and advan-
tage of the lonians. We had had British interests in
view there. (Hear, hear.) Some of the most exalted
statesmen of England had declared the importance of the
possession of Corfu, and some rather sudden change
must have come over the opinions of some even of her
Majesty's present Ministers; for the noble duke (New-
castle) had declared, in a despatch sent out not very
long since, and in debates in. that house, that the protec-
torate should be maintained at all hazards. The noble
earl, after the revolution which took place in Glee:saki:
October last, had been looking for a King for the Greeks,
and he promised to cede the lonian Islands providedo the
lonians wished, and the Powers that were parties to
treaty of 1815 consented. But when the young 71,
der 1,
William of Denmark was offered the crown,
hlthough the
puland that the lonian Isles should be added,
other Powers had not been asked to consent. a Lie wished
to know if the noble earl had taken any pi:Zion w secure
entitled to
the lonian
the payment of pensions to persons wf
• illy in
them for serving her Majesty
What was to be done
Islands. He wished also to knitrwth
vito be demolished
with the works at Corfu? Were they or
ring powers r hey were
eselfytheY were to be left
B,l;e,rossfoolr.
lett to act as a temptation to war
now garrisoned by British troopse.
consisted ot
to find sold'
to the Greek army, it might not understood
them. That army he under:no_
rather a strange
diers, and 4,000 officers (a hitog range pro-
know what
portion. He should like alto Was to be done
And he trusted that
with the guns and stores.
Greek
loanthe noble
earl had provided for thef which had been raised
und by
in this country. "e
ofe Greece, the agreement entered
into with the new sing Prince William of Den-
mark, mark, chat the three Powers are to endow him with L 4,000
a year each, in addition to his civil list.
He would not go
lie supposed there wasp no further.use in contending
against that which was ten fait accompli.
Earl RUSSELL Baia that his noble friend (Lord Pal-
merston) was perfectly right in • •
saying that the assent of
parliament was not necessary for the cession of the lonian
Islands, which were not part of the dominions or territory
belonging to the British Crown. The noble earl seemed
to think it very strange that the Powers who were parties
to the treaty of Vienna should have any regard to the
welfare or h • appiness of the people of the lonian Islands.
The British Government was not anxious for the pro-
tectorate. The Austrian Government would like to have
had it. But the Russian
and Prussian arguments pre-
vailed, and Englasid finally undertook it. He did not
think it was a very heavy charge that her Majesty's Go-
vernment should have had a wish to forward the happiness
and contentment of the lonians ; and, as to the suddenness
of their resolution to give up the protectorate, the noble lord
should remember the tact that the revolution in Greece
which led to the proposition had been very precipitate.
(Hear.) Her Majesty's Government wished to prevent the
kingdom of Greece from falling into disorder.' They wished
to see it under a strong constitutional monarchy, and they
directed all their efforts to effect that end. As to the Prince
of Denmark stipulating fcr the cession of the lonian Islands
it was only a condition which was likely to be fulfilled. if
it were not, then the Prince would not be bound to accept
the throne. But the people and the parliament of the lonian
Islands had often declared their deliberate desire to be
united to Greece, and it appeared to her Majesty's Govern-
ment to be a very natural wish. lie would not depreciate
the value of Corfu as a military station; but he thought
that they had too many military foreign stations all over the'
world—(hear)—More than the'y might find it convenient to