The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-18 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

Or The Earl of MALMESBURY asked the noble earl
at the head of foreign affairs, whether her Majesty's
Government intended to answer the two circular notes
in the same public manner as they had been given to the
world, and in the same manner as the French Govern-
ment had answered them. He himself did not agree in
the premises of those notes, but he thought the time was
now come when the dignityof this countrydemanded that
they should be answered, for if longer delay took place,
the silence of her Majesty's Government might be con-
strued into a sign of their being unable or afraid to
answer them.
The Earl of CLARENDON said her Majesty's Go-
vernment had only delayed the discussion of this ques-
tion from a consideration of interests of peace. The
mode of producing and affording information was very
different in Russia and France to what it was in this
country. In these countries the Government could pro-
duce information in what manner it pleased, but here it was
the custom to lay all the papers bearing upon the subject
at once before Parliament. That would shortly be done.
Of course it was not for him to speak with regard to the
ability of her Majesty's Government to answer the Rus-
sian circular, but as to there being any fear of answering
them he could assure the noble earl that no such appre-
hension rested either in his own mind or in that of her
Majesty's Government. No regular answer had yet been
sent to the first note because the greater part of it al-
luded to proceedings which originated with the French
Embassy with regard to the Holy Places. The points
of it however had been considered in substance, though
not in the form of a regular answer. With regard to
the second circular note, which was one of a different
character, and which certainly did require a regular
answer, it was answered immediately, and the answer
was sent to St. Petersburgh. That answer was entirely
in conformity with the note of the French Government,
as he might add the whole of our proceedings had been.
The Earl of MALMESBURY said the circular notes
being an appeal to all Europe, and intended to be read
by every person in Europe who could read, they could
scarcely be considered in the light of private correspond.
ence, and he could not help regretting that her Ma-
jesty's Government had not made a public answer to
them.

Lord BEAUMONT wished to know when her Ma-
jesty's Government thought they would be able to lay
their papers before Parliament. The utmost publicity
was given to the actions and policy of Russia, while the
actions and policy of this country were enveloped in
mystery. Sure, it was said that negotiations were still
going on, but Russia was acting as if no negotiations
whatever was on foot.

The Earl of CLARENDON said that it had been no
small sacrifice to the Government to ask for a postpone-
ment of the discussions on this subject, or to delay laying
the papers on the table. Her Majesty's Government felt
that Parliament had a right to discuss the subject in the
fullest manner, and to be furnished with the fullest infor-
information. A few days, a very few days, would be
sufficient to show whether the negotiations going on
would succeed ; and whether they succeeded or not, the
whore papers should be laid upon the table. (Cheers.)
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE asked whether
the Government had received any information at to the
Russians hauing assumed to civil government, of
Moldavia.

The Earl of CLARFNDON said the Government
had received no information of the kind, but he had
every reason to believe that the Hospodar was still in
possession of the administration of the country.
The subject then dropped.
TRANSPORTATION BILL.

The house then went into committee on this bill, and
was

[LEFT SITTING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS EVENING.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.
Mr. DANIEL O'CONNELL and Mr. CORNELIUS O'BRIEN
took the oaths and their seats, the one for Tralee and
the other for the county of Clare.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Lords' amendments to the following bills were
considered and agreed to :
Bideford Extension Railway, Great Southern and
Western Railway (Ireland), Great Western Railway
(Henley), Llanidloes and Newton Railway, Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway (Barnsley), Moore's
(Brown's Trustees) Estate, Waveney Valley Railway,
and Whitechapel Improvement Bill.
The following bills were read a third time and
passed :
Castlemaine Estuary Reclamation, Poulnassherry In-
closure, South Wales Railway (Deviation), and War-
rington and Altrincham Junction Railway (Warrington,
&c.)

The following bill was considered, and ordered to be
read a third time :
Dean Forest, Monmouth, Usk, and Pontypool Rail.
way.

The following bills were read a second time, and
ordered to be committed :
Clitheree School Estate, Earl of Egremont's Estate,
and Sunderland Town Moor and Freemen's Orphan
Asylum.

PETITIONS.
Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition from a
Baptist congregation against the Government Educa-
tion Bill.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from the
Trustees and Governors of St. Bartholomew's Hospital
against the Charitable Trusts Bill.
Mr. INGHAM presented a petition from South
Shields against the sale of intoxicating drinks on
Sundays.
Uol. BLAIR presented four petitions from Ayrshire,
praying the house to pass the Inspection of Nunneries
Bill.

Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY presented a petition
to the same effect.

Mr. V. SMITH presented a petition from the Nor-
thampton Savings Bank, suggesting alterations in the
F.aving4 Banks Bill.

WOODS AND FORESTS.

Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to ask the Secretary
to the Treasury when the Commissioners of the Trea.
sury will place on the table of the house copies of the
annual accounts to the 30th day of November, 1852, of
the Commissioners of Woods and Forests and of Works
and Public Buildings, according to the provisions of the
act 14th and 15th Victoria, c. 42, s. 39, which,direct
that such accounts, duly audited, should be presented
on or before the 31st day of March, 1853 ?
Mr. WILSON said what the hon. baronet stated was
quite true, but by some accident the accounts were not
presented to the Audit-office until late in March, but
they were in an advanced state of preparation, and they
would be laid on the table before the end of the session.
PIT ACCIDENT.
the l*,
HUTCHINS drew the attention of the house to
circumstances connected with the recent accident in
Butt
worth's coal-mine, Oldham, which was attributable
to defective
ventilation
, and inasmuch as a similar acci-
dent from the same cause occurred two or three years
ago, he wished to
red to send knewa whether the Government was
matter. commissioner to inquire into the
Mr. FITZROY said the proceedings of the coroner's
inquest were only received at theflo
Horn office this morn-
ing, but no doubt his noble friend at the head of the
Home Department would take all the steps which the
case might require.

THE CAMP AT CROBITA.m,
Sir J. V. SHELLEY drew attention to the dreadful
state of the Camp at Chobham, and read an extract from
the Morning Post to show the pass to which matters
had
come through the rain. He wished to know whether,
under such circumstances, it was not the duty of the
military authorities to remove the troops from this
swamp?
Lord J. RUSSELL said he could give no other
answer than that he believed the subject would receive

every attention at the hands of the Commander-in-Chief
and the Secretary-at-War.

CHATHAM DOCKYARD.

In reply to a question,
Sir J. GRAHAM said that the statement which
had appeared in a morning print relative to the appoint-
ment of a Pipe Inspector to Chatham Dockyard was
substantially correct, but political considerations were
not allowed to influence the decision whic'a had been
come to,

SAVINGS BANKS DEPOSITS.
Sir 11. WILLOUGHBY wished to ask the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer if any moneys of the savings
banks of the United Kingdom have been employed in
the purchase of Exchequer Bills since the 20th day of
November, 1852 ; and if so, to what amount and by
what authority ; and whether he has any objection to
palace the account of such moneys and date of the pur-
chases on the table of the house?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that moneys received from the trustees of the savings
banks had been invested in Exchequer Bills upon the
authority of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and there
would be no objection to produce the account. It was
right, however, that he should state that portions of the
account had already been laid before Parliament.