The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-08 00:00:00

GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL.

On the motion of the Duke of ARGYLL the retort
on this bill was brought up and agreed to.

THE PEACE DEPUTATION TO PARIS.

Lord CAMPBELL said that he wished to advert for
a few minutes to a subject that had occupied their
lordship's attention on a former evening --the deputation
of London merchants who had presented an address to
the French Emperor at Paris. He had then stated that
it had been stated that Mr. Adair, now Sir R. Adair,
had been sent in 1791 to represent to the Empress
Catherine the opinions of a powerful party in this coun-
try. He (Lord Campbell) did not express his own belief
in that statement, but he said that, even if the fact were
incorrectly stated, it would not in the slightest degree
prejudice the high authority of Mr. Burke with respect
to the law which he had laid down as applicable to such
a transaction. In consequence of what he then said, he
had had a very courteous letter from Sir R. Adair, ex-
pressing great mortification that the report' should re
ceive any countenance—pre-supposing that he (Lord
Campbell) had given countenance to it as a fact. Sir R.
Adair had, as he said, furnished him (Lord Campbell)
with this statement merely for his own information, but
he thought he would now mention its substance for the
information of their lordships and the public, and for the
benefit of history. Sir R. Adair. was now in his 90th
year. For many years he had served his country with
great distinction. He was sent by successive govern-
ments to Vienna, Constantinople, Brussels, and Berlin,
where he legitimately represented the Crown of England
on some occasions of great importance and interest ; and
he had uniformly acquitted himself to the satisfaction of
his employers and the benefit of the country. The cha-
racter of such a public-functionary was, therefore, of
importance, and he was sure that their lordships would
be anxious that this statement should have the utmost
publicity. He in the most unequivocal manner denied
that he was employed by Mr. Fox, or by any party in
this country to represent them, or to make any repre-
sentation whatsoever to the Empress Catherine ; and he
furnished the following explanation of the facts which
had given rise to the misapprehension. no said—
" The French Revolution had just broken out ; and
having early in life applied myself to the study of
our foreign interests, I wished to form a true judgment
of the effect it -was likely to produce on our relations with
the great European States more or less interested with
England in the preservation of a balance against French
ascendancy. My countrymen went eagerly to Paris. I
preferred going to Brussels, to Vienna, toWarsaw, and to
St. Petersburg. We all know to what purpose this journey
was converted by Mr. Burke, after his hostile separation
from Mr. Fox; but it was not until their final rupture
in the ensuing year that Mr. Burke's letter to the Duke
of Portland, the source of all this nonsense about my
Embassy,' was published. Thirty years afterwards,
Bishop Prettyman, Mr. Pitt's college tutor, wrote the
Life of Mr. Pitt,' in which he alludes to it as a matter
of notoriety, and he stated that he could prove the
facts of the transaction by authentic documents among
Mr. Pitt's papers, of which, as executor, he had become
possessed. I had borne with composure all the stupid
jokes in the newspapers about myself and my proceed.
ings while I was at St. Petersburg ; but this challenge
from a holy bishop was not to be despised. I accepted
it accordingly, and demanded the production of these
documents, so declared to be in his possession. The
bishop declined to produce them, and until your speech
in the House of Lords yesterday, I have never
heard a word about the matter worth attending to. I
am sure that you have never seen my Two Letters to
the Bishop of Winchester,' published in 1823, or you
would not have stated that I was deputed by any man
or set of men to go on an errand of this nature to St.
Petersburgh, similar to that of the City deputation to the
new Emperor. I think as you do on this deputation, on
the grounds both of policy and the law of nations."
After this disavowal bn the part of Sir It. Adair, than
whom he believed there had never been a more honour-
able man in this country, he hoped that all idea that
there was such a deputation in 1791 would be for ever
set at rest. At the same time, the law laid down by Mr.
Burke on the erroneous supposition of the facts remained
untouched, and lie was happy to find that view corrobo-
rated by Sir R. Adair, who said that he disapproved of
this deputation, both on the ground of policy and as be-
ing contrary to the law of nations. (Hear.)
The Earl of ALBEMARLE said that he wished to
tender his grateful acknowledgments to the noble and
learned lord for the honourable testimony which he had
borne to the high character of his (the Earl of Albe-
marle's) nonagenarian friend and kinsman. It would be
most gratifying to Sir R. Adair, for he felt that he had
been the victim of misapprehension for sixty years.
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
The Earl of HARROWBY then rose to present to the
house a petition, signed by between 6,000 and 7,000 native
inhabitants of Calcutta and the province of Bengal. The
petitioners stated that on the occasion of what was com-
monly, though improperly, called the renewal of the East
India Company's charter, theydesired to call the attentionof
their lordships to various points, in which they considered
that the condition of India required amendment. They
stated that, as subjects of the Crown of Great Britain, the
natives of that country entertained the deepest sentiments
of loyalty and fidelity to her Majesty, and sincerely de-
sired the continuance of British supremacy in India, to
which they owed freedom from foreign incursions and
from the evils of intestine divisions, and of spoliation
either by the Government or individuals. They stated
that those who were placed under the power of the East
India Company enjoyed the benefit of an improved form
of government, and received many advantages incidental
to a connection with one of the greatest and most pros-
perous nations ; and that they were impressed with the
value of these and similar benefits, and of the consequent
obligations which they were under to the nation from
bwuhti cflei e thyl the d
a t
they e riv ehd them. a
dnot
profited
cboyu I d not,t h
ei r h
e ononwe
ee
tvieorn,
with Great Britain to the extent which they had a right
to expect. tfonnThoefythen
governmentrecitedand thet
the
o
changesde oifntroduced
into adminis-
tration at the time of the last renewal of the charter, and
after pointing out their insufficiency they enumerated a
number of special grievances, to which he would ask the
attention of the house. Some of them were no doubt
such as their lordships would not fully sympatkise with,
but their presence in this petition was of importance, as
proving that this petition was not an emanation from the
European population influencing the natives, but that it
was, at any rate to a very great degree, the spontaneous
expression of their own opinions. The noble lord con-
cluded by moving that the petition be referred to the
select committee on Indian affairs.
The Earl of ALBEMARLE bore testimony, from his
personal experience, to the reality of the alleged griev-
ances, and supported the prayer of the petition.
' The Earl of E LLENBOROUGH, while admitting most
of the statements in the petition, looked upon the prayer
as one which their lordships could not entertain for a
moment, as tending to nothing less than a separation of
f the colony from the mother country. Having examined
the prayer at considerable length, and pointed out the
mischiefs to which it might lead, his lordship concluded
by exhorting the government to maintain English rule
of English minds but at the
in India, by the agency

ton. into such charges ; and, without expressing any
opinion as to their truth, he had said that such an inves-
tigation must be the first step that should be taken. He
had also stated that he was by no means anxious to place
the company in any
n
eiwo.thatnofwhich
their
colonists
which
aoaoswn digiven
vtetahewhunaedtyi less advantageous position than
teslitialahaellem(aelrsn:b,dfeboheysrenhe
:woipulaaellnsadxcaiperc
todreuecsopebfiaa
syvrteethbldtieeeht
management
soonmrva;t3igairtitenammbt fromoeteoni
it
that bill this concession, in order 'that the whole ques-
tion might remain open until another year, with the
vi▪
ew of a full investigation. But Parliament had
overruled that opinion ; by a, division in the other house
It had been determined that this concession should
be..at once made, without any investigation, and with-
out waiting for the correspondence which had been laid
on tue table of the House of Commons during the present
session. The bill had come up to their lordship's house
at the end of the session, and he had found that it would.
be useless to divide the house, and that the decision of
Parliament '
was adverse to him • no inquiry was con-
si▪ dered advisable, and none took place. But for what
purpose had he said that an investigation ought to be
made ? For the purpose of deciding whether it was
right that this boon should be conferred. The boon had
been conferred, the question had been so far settled, and
though he by no means bound himself or the 'Govern-
ment with regard to their future conduct on this ques-
tion, when, as he anticipated, it might shortly be raised
again, yet he must say that he thought that this was of
all others the least expedient moment for Parliament to
institute an inquiry either by committee or otherwise.
One additional concession had been demanded last year
by the New Zealand Company, and when that was
under consideration he thought that an inquiry was
right and necessary for the honour of Parliament. He
had been overruled, but now what immediate cause
was there for any investigation ? Ho had said
that the time might arrive when an investiga-
tion would be necessary, and that would be when they
knew how the colonists had received the measure of last
year. He did not think that that measure would be re-
ceived with entire accord and satisfaction. He expressed
that opinion, not in consequence of any communication
which had reached him, but from the mode in which the
colonists had received a bill which had been brought in
at the end of the session before last, to which, as throw-
ing a burden on their finances, they had strongly ob-
jected. They had entrusted to him (the Duke of New-
castle), in November last, two or three petitions on the
subject, and from their tone he certainly anticipated
that there would be remonstrances when the act of last
session reached the colony. But lie did not think that
they ought now to enter on a field of inquiry (without
any distinct object) or broach questions which might be
brought under their notice before many months, or even
weeks had elapsed. (Hear, hear.) He could see no
necessity now for reopening the question, the proper
moment for investigation having (as he said) passed by.
With reference to the statement which the noble earl
bad made, of any individual interest which he might
feel, he (the Duke of Newcastle) hoped that it would
be unnecessary for him to say, that he had never
said, and never believed, that the noble earl, either in
his private or official capacity, had been guilty of
Conniving at or screening any proceedings which he be-
lieved to be inconsistent with the public faith or with the
public interest. In the blue-book which had appeared,
containing the correspondence on this subject, there
were two private letters which showed what had been
the feeling of the noble earl on receiving the first inti-
mation of these transactions, and those letters would
completely exonerate him from any charge of this nature.
He (the Duke of Newcastle) would abstain from express-
ing any opinion with regard to subsequent official com-
munications of the noble earl after he became convinced
of the erroneous view which he had taken in his private
communications, because it was not the intention of the
Government to propose any investigation into these mat-
ters, and it would be unadvisable that be should express
any such opinion ; but, so far as the noble earl himself
Was concerned, whatever may be the case with regard
to ether parties, he (the Delo of Newcastle) entertained

no opinion whatever that his honour was compromised.
(Hear, hear.)
Earl GREY thanked the noble duke for the observa-
tions having special reference to himself, but still he must
express his regret that Government did not intend to
order an investigation. He must also refresh the noble
duke's recollection as to what had really occurred last
year. There was a distinct understanding that in-
vestigation was impracticable then, but was to take
place in the present, and he was really mistaken if
the late administration had not fully intended that an
investigation should take place. Further, he must
beg leave to say, that if the case against the New
Zealand Company was in part their having concealed
certain contingent liabilities, the lapse of time would
now set the question at rest, as the liabilities must
have fallen in, and Government been called upon to
make payment. With respect to the two legal
opinions, the most serious charge was that, by sending out
one of those opinions, and suppressing the other, the
settlers at Nelson had been induced to agree to an ar-
rangement which they would otherwise have resisted.
That was a point in which justice to the settlers and the
honour of Parliament was concerned, and the act of
passing the bill by no means rendered it less necessary.
But more than that, although much had not been said
in their lordships' house of the pecuniary part of the
question, it was confidently stated in the other house of
Parliament that some money which had been advanced
by Parliament for public purposes was misapplied by the
directors to purposes in which they themselves had per-
sonal interest. The present President of the Board of
Works had made that charge, and offered to prove his
charge before a committee of inquiry. Now, if a large
sum of public money had been misapplied, it was the
duty of the Government to insist on investigation, and
if it had taken place to enforce repayment. Charges of
direct malversation had been brought forward, and it
was the duty of Government to institute the fullest in-
quiry.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he had admitted
the necessity of investigation, but denied the fitness of
the present time for the purpose. He thought they
should have the views of the people of Nelson before
they proceeded further, and, in the meantime, he begged
to say that he had made no charge of malversation of
public money. He believed that the parties most in-
terested had expressed a strong wish for inquiry.
Earl GREY admitted that the New Zealand Com-
pany had expressed the utmost anxiety for the fullest
inquiry. He could only say, that if he had brought
forward charges of so hea%y a nature, he should have
taken care they did not fall to the ground. However,
it was a lesson to those who, by their present conscious
reluctance, showed that their former accusations were
groundless, not again to be so rash in circulating slan-
derous imputations against men who were of as high
honour as themselves.

Their lordships adjourned at a quarter to 8 o'clock.

HOUSE 0 F COMMONS.—{YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
ELECTION COMMITTEES.

The members of the Dartmouth and Leicester Elec-
tion Committees were called to the table and sworn, and
appointed to sit to-morrow, at 12 o'clock.

TAUNTON ELECTION.

The Taunton Election Committee was called to the
table and"sworn, and appointed to sit to-morrow at one
o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Bill was
read a third time and passed.

PETITIONS.

Mr. lIINDLEY presented a petition from Lanca-
shire against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sun-
days.
Several petitions were presented to the same effect by
other hon. members.

Sir J. ANDERSON presented a petition from Glas-
gow against the Scotch University Tests.
Sir DE LACY EVANS presented a petition from the
working men of Westminster in favour of the Combina-
tion of Workmen Bill.

Mr. TUFNELL presented a petition from Rye, pray-
ing that the writ for that borough be immediately issued.
The hon. member gave notice that on this day week he
would move the issuing of the writ.
Several petitions were presentedagainst the admission
of Jews into Parliament.
Mr. FITZROY presented petitions from Lewes, Barn-
staple, and other places, in favour of extending the
jurisdiction of county courts in cases of bankruptcy.
Mr. COWAN presented a petition from Linlithgow
and Edinburgh against the Scotch University Tests.
Mr EWART presented a petition from Dumfries against
the clause in the Public Houses (Scotland) Bill, prohibit-
ing the sale of spirituous liquors by grocers.
Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from Lancashire,
in favour of county financial boards.

Sir J. TROLIIO-PE presented a petition from growers
of corn in Surrey, praying for some reform in the mode
of ascertaining the averages of the prico of grain.

Mr. HUMS presented"a petition.from the
of London in favour of the Combination of Workmen
Bill.

Mr. RICARDO presented a petition from the Staf-
fordshire Potteries, praying for the abolition of the mi-
litia.

FLOGGING IN THE NAVY.
On the motion of Mr. HUME, a return was agreed to
of the number of persons flogged in the Navy since 1847.
ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES.
In reply to Mr. HUTCHINGS,
Mr. FITZROY said the Government would have no
objection to the re-appointment of the committee on
accidents in mines, but just now two of the inspectors of
mines bad obtained leave to visit France, in order to
ascertain the means adopted in those countries for
the prevention of such accidents, and it would be
more convenient' if the hon. member postponed his mo-
tion until their return.
Mr. HUTCHINGS said he would consent to that
course.

QUARANTINE LAWS.

In answer to Mr. HUILIC,,

Lord J. RUSSELL said the sanitary regulations
agreed to by the convention which was held in Paris in
1851 were received by the Secretary of State and referred
by him to the Board of Trade. It seemed to them that
they were open to very great objections, but they were
still under their consideration, with the view of arriving
at some regulations which would be useful to all mari-
time Powers.