The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-05 00:00:00

PENALTIES LAW AMENDMENT BILL.

Lord DENMAN, on the order for the third reading of
this bill, moved as an amendment that it should be road a
third time that day threo months.

The house then divided.
For the third reading
Against
Majority —B
The bill was accordingly read a third time and passed.
IMPRISONMENT OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN
ABYSSINIA.

Lord CHELMSFORD called the attention of the house
to the papers relating to the imprisonment of British sub-
jects in Abyssinia, presented by command of her Majesty.
The noble and learned lord contended that tho honour and
dignity of this country wore not vindicated by the course
which the Foreign-office had pursued in reference to the
British subjects imprisoned in Abyssinia.

Earl RUSSELL defended the conduct of the Govern-
ment, and said that very strict instructions had been given
to Consul Cameron. The noble earl then entered into a
detail of the negotiations between Mr. Plowden and Ras
Alli, and quoted, from a pamphlet by Dr. Beke, a descrip-
tion of the character and career of King Theodore. He also
referred to the death of Consul Plowden, and said that after
that event he proposed that Capt. Cameron should be sent
to Massawah. He did not care whether ho was Consul to
Abyssinia or not. His duty was to reside principally at
Massawah, and he was not accredited to King Theodore.
He received the most stringent and precise instructions to
take no part in the internal affairs or the domestic dis-
putes of Abyssinia. But Consul Cameron did not follow
those instructions. On reaching Gondar the Consul was
at first well received by the King. Subsequently his tone
changed, and it is said that, in consequence of the delay in
answering the King's letter to the Queen, Consul Cameron
and other Englishmen wore thrown into prison. But Dr.
Beke expressed his disbelief that this was the real cause of
complaint against Consul Cameron ; and he (Earl Russell)
was of the same opinion. It was impossible to say in
what way an arbitrary and capricious monarch like King
Theodore might be offended. The Government could
not form a positive opinion on that point ; but they lid
know that Captain Cameron had disobeyed his instruc-
tions, and had interfered in the internal affairs of
Abyssinia. The Government had been blamed for sending
to Abyssinia a person of no more consequence than Mr.
Rassam; but Mr. Cameron had, on the contrary, expressed
his fear that Mr. Rassam was a person of too much con-
sequence, being next to the governor of Aden. Bpsides
Mr. Rassam was accompanied by a British naval officer ;
and the King of Abyssinia might have received him if ho
would not receive Mr. Rassam. His opinion was that
the non-reception of the Queen's letter was duo either to
the King of Abyssinia's being unable to guarantee the
safety of tho bearer, or to his desire to get a large mis-
sion into his power, and thus to compal us to take part
with him in his wars against Turkey and Egypt. The
Government would, however, have been justly blamed
if they had sent such a mission ; if that mission had been
imprisoned ; if we had then been compelled to make war
against Abyssinia for their rescue. Ho was satisfied that
the course taken by the Government was more prudent,
and was more likely to lead to the end in view, without
involving us in any of the embarrassments which might
attend the sending out of a_ great mission. It was true
that 500 stand of arms had been sent out at as a present to

the King of Abyssinia, but they would not be delivered
until the prisoners wore released. The Government was
not going to war with the King of Abyssinia on account of
a consul who had disobeyed his instructions.
Lord HOUGHTON expressed his regret that Earl Rus-
sell had not accepted the offer of Dr. Beke to proceed on a
mission to Abyssinia.
Tho Earl of MALMESBURY also insisted on the pro-
priety of sending out Dr. Bake as an ambassador to King
Theodore. That gentleman was a man of great courage,
knowledge, and experience, and was the most likely man
to obtain from the king, with whom he had a personal ac-
quaintance, the release of the captives. The Government
had no more right to refuse to give Dr. Beke the mission
he sought than they would prevent a brave soldier leading
a forlorn hope. The honour of England was concerned in
our obtaining the release of these men.
The subject then dropped.
CATHERINE GAUGHAN.

The Marquis of WESTMEATH wished to inquire of
her Majesty's Government—it being true that Sub-inspec-
tor Mark Burke, of the Irish Constabulary, having been
convicted before a bench of magistrates in Ireland, in the
month of February last, of a gross neglect of his duty, and
in violation of his oath, in a remarkable case of cruelty
and oppression inflicted on a poor female named Cathe-
rine Gaughan, and his misconduct having been laid before
tho Irish Administration for judgment thereon, and the
Inspector-General of the Irish Constabulary having in his
turn condemned the said Mark Burke, alleging against
him that he had not offered a word in his defence indicating,
he added, that the accused knew how censurable his con-
duct had been—how it is, and at whose suggestion and in-
fluence it is, that tho said Mark Burke is retained in his
pay and allowances and in the public service ?
Earl GRANVILLE said that Sub-Inspector Burke had
lately sent in his resignation. Ho had been nearly 41 years
in the service, and had acted with perfect fidelity up to the
present time, although no doubt he had been guilty of a
certain degree of negligence in tho case of Catherine
Gaughan, for which he had been censured, and for which
he would have been removed from Ballisodare had he not
become ill. As he had already said, ho had since sent in
his resignation.