The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 31, 1863.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
In answer to Lord BRouGunisf,
Lord CAMPBELL said he had been so much engaged
of late, that he had not been able to attend the com-
mittee to which this bill for the consolidation of the
Criminal Law had been referred, and the progress of the
bill had in consequence been delayed.
The Earl of BANDON presented petitions in favour
of the inspection of nunneries.
Lord BERNERS presented a petition in favour of an
alteration of an amendment of the law relating to the
removal of the poor.
RUSSIA AND THE PORTE.

The Earl of HARDlVlClCEasked&Crovernment
whether instructions had been sent to the Admiral at
Malta, to hasten his departure to Constantinople. He
bad been induced to do so in consequence of the public
now being put in possession of information that Prince
Menschikoff had left Constantinople on the even-
ing of the 22d instant. If that were true, it
was not at all improbable that the Prince would
have dispatched a courier that same evening to St.
Petersburg, who would arrive there on this very day.
If the Emperor decided on a warlike movement, be

must dispatch a oourier to Sebastopol, where the bulk
of his forces were stationed, who would arrive there on
the 3d of June, and the Commander of the Forces might,
by using all possible diligence, arrive in the Dardanelles
and the 12th of June. On the other hand, supposing
that Admiral Dundas were at Malta on Saturday last,
on the Government decided on forwarding any new
orders to him, they were to reach him on Wednesday
next, and all the favourable circumstances of the
wind in his favour, he might arrive at Constanti
nople on the 10th of June. He thought this calculation,
grounded on the probability of the case, afforded him
sufficient ground for putting the question.
The Earl of CLARENDON (who was by this time in
his place) said, he had to apologize to the noble lord for
not having been present in time to hear bis .speech, but
the -fact was that he had been unavoidably detained
elsewhere. (Hear, hear.) As far as lie had been able
to gather from what he had heard of the noble lord's
remarks, his inquiry was whether any orders had been
sent to Admiral Dundas to proceed from Malta to the
Dardanelles. Now, he was quite sure, after what had

occurred in the house only on Friday night last, when
their lordships seemed to concur in the propriety of her
Majesty's Government not giving any explanations on a
matter .in which they were imperfectly informed,—he

was sure that they would still more concur in the pro-
priety of his declining altogether to state what orders
had been given. (Hear, hear.)

to the slave captain's head, made him steer straight to : information which had been communicated. It was no
the other schooners and captured both, and found that I small step to have obtained a promise that the liberated
they contained slave decks, manacles, and all the usual 1 slaves should be followed to the estates on which they
fittings of vessels intended for the slave trade, besides I were settled. The existence of the slave-trade at Cuba
several letters implicating persons in the town and yes- depended entirely on the conduct of the authorities, as
sels in the harbour. When the Vestal returned to Ha- was evident from the fact that when slaves could no
vannah towing in her three prizes, an old American said longer be landed at Porto Rico they were taken to Cuba
"It makes my heart flow over to see the old country under false papers. After hearing such information as
coming out so proud." (Cheers.) Now, if such things he had done that evening, he thought there was a chance
were done in the harbour under the windows of the Cap- of improvement even in Cuba. Of all the infamies prac-
tain General's palace, and the guns of the Moro, what tised in Cuba, none exceeded the treatment to which
might not their lordships expect to take place in the the emancipados were subjected • and he feared that if
more unfrequented parts of the island. "If these things the island fell into the hands of the United States neither
are done in the green tree, what may be done in the their position nor that of the actual slaves would be at
dry." He did not mean to blame her Majesty's Go- all ameliorated.
vernment ;he knew what had been the indefatigable ex- The petition was then ordered to lie on the table,
ertions of Lord Palmerston, and he had no doubt that
his noble friend was well seconded by the late administra- AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS BILL.
.
tion. Neither did he fear that the cause was neglected This bill passed through committee.
in the hands of his noble friend opposite, whose inti- COMMON LODGING-HOUSES BILL.
mate acquaintance with Spanish character and officers . This bill was reported, with amendments.
would give him an advantage not enjoyed by either of
COMMISSION ON THE BOROUGH OF MALDON.
his predecessors. He was sure his noble friend would
not deny that there had been a gross dereliction of duty The Earl of ABERDEEN said he had to move their
on the part of the Spanish authorities, but he would lordships to agree to an address of the House of Com-
not be understood as . conveying the opinion that this mons to inquire into corrupt practices in the borough of
country ought to go to war with Spain for the purpose Malden. He understood that a noble and learned lord
of putting down the slave trade. Ile I:new the apathy
that existed in this country with respect to such exter-
motion opposite
hadon ; but ,
he was unable to conjecture on what his
given notice of his intention to oppose this
nal topics, and that a large party who were most hos-
tile to the slave trade would be the first to oppose any opposition as to be based. In the case of Clitheroe
va
physical inter
meddling. But he thought that Spain them
lordships
th rod that declined to agreecommittee did
to such an address on
did not report that exten-
ought.to be taught that, if she did not mend her ways, aaun
if she alone, of all the nations of the earth, was to per- sive treating or corruption prevailed ; whereas in the
sist in this infernal traffic, she need not expect, should present case the coannitteereiearted that corrupt prac-
Cuba ever be in daeger, that England would hold any tices had extensively prevailed.. Three or four cases of
other than a neutral position in the conflict. (Heals) bribery also were given, and it was not to be supposed
He was not sure that Spain was more to blame than that those were all the cases that existed. The general
the United States, which had passed the abominable eerecter of the evidence appeared te him to bar out
fugitive slave law, but there was this difference in the the descriptionb given of the elections in this borough ;
cases, that we had a right by treaty to demand the abo- and Maldonad one of the worst reputations of all the
lition of the traffic from Spain, whereas in the case of boroughs in England for corruption on former occasions.
the United States we had no such power. (Cheers.)
In fact, Irepeated, he wasquite at a loss to understand
The noble lord concluded by presenting the petition. on
what ieground the motion was to be opposed.
.
Lord ST. LEONARD'S said he thought the mode in
The Earl of CLARENDON said that although his
noble friend had declined making any specific inquiry which the noble earl had dealt with this question was
very unsatisfactory. He was opposed to the motion on
of the Government he (Lord Clarendon) felt that he the ground that there was not sufficient evidencetby the
to sup-
shouldbe wanting to his noble friend and to his own port finding of the House of Commons bu
feelings did he not express his admiration of the eo. course which he had pursued the noblen n
earl had left him
quent speech which they had just heard delivered, and nothing to answer.
if he did not bear his testimony to the perfect correct- Lord BROUGHAM said he should vote for, themotion, on the ground that a committee of the House
ness of all the melancholy facts which his noble friend of Commons, after inquiry, had come to a unanimous
had brought before the house. He only wished it was resolution. (No, no.) He said, " Aye,aye." It was
in his power to give to his noble friend any other an. true that bribery in theof3 to 2. Their
case of parti-
c
swer than that he had given a few nights previously to 1
lordshipsarin individuals
how such tribunals were constituted.
a noble and learned friend, but he could only express They were generally composed of two gentlemen on one
the same regret, and admit that the provisions 9f the side and two on the other ; to . these were added the
treaty to which his noble friend alluded, were consis- chairman ; and it depended on the cast of his opinions
tently and feloniously violated. (Hear, hear.) What what the result would be. (Laughter.) In this case
his noble friend had said of the Captains-General of Cuba, the
ethe members
divided rationally,
two on one side and two
decided in the affirma-
he also believed was the fact, but he was glad, however,
n rive. other,(Laughter and the chairman
.) But though there was a difference
he had made a distinction in favour of the two distin-
of opinion with regard to individual cases, there was
guished officers who offered such a favourable contrast to none with regard to the following point :—" Resolved
their predecessors and successors. He (Lord Clarendon) unanimously, that there is reason to believe that corrupt
had not much additional information to give his noble friend Frarsettoicesserhvaeveinexptlenrls.iveloyjm;oervatillieedatelections of mem-
but what he had was not altogether of an unsatisfactory borough of Maldon."
hers
thought the unanimouslam decision of the committee on
nature. He would first advert to the allusion made by this last
his noble friend to the practice of taking slavers for trial point was most important. In reading the evi-
dence he saw reason to believe that there had been a
into the ports of Havannah. The fact was that the good deal of bribery. But their lordships could only see
commanders of her Majesty's cruisers had no option in the questions and answers • they had no opportunity of
this matter. It was provided by the treaty, that there observing the gestures and demeanour of the witnesses,
should be two courts of mixed commission—one in the which were, perhaps, as important as the evidence itself.
colonial possessions of Spain, the other on the coast of He could not help making a remark in reference to the
Africa, and the captain of a:British cruiser was obliged, attempts which were being made to put down bribery
by his instructions, to take his prize into Havannah, or and corruption. It was impossible that a long time could
Sierra Leone, according as his position at sea might elapse before their lordships' attention would be called
render either place likely to be reached with the greatest to this most painful subject,—(hear, hear)—when they
speed. It should be recollected that in the case of the would have an opportunity of saying whether they
three vessels taken by Capt. Hamilton, two out of the thought the best mode of checking bribery and corrup-
three were condemned at this very court at the Havan- tion was to punish, in a particular way, one individual
nab. He would next allude to the conduct of the Cap- for what had been done without his knowledge by other
taius-General, and he was sure their lordships would not individuals. He (Lord Brougham) wished to get at
expect any very warm defence of these officers from him, those other individuals, and lie hoped and trusted that
but he did not think their lordships would be indisposed that session would not pass over without such an amend-
to hear anything that the Captains-General had said or silent of the criminal law as would make it dangerous for
done in justification of their conduct. He had, there- those other individuals not the persons who were
fore, anticipating the inquiries that his noble friend punished now, because they knew nothing about the
would make, brought down two despatches, which his offence—but dangerous fcr those who had committed
lordship would, he was sure, allow him to read in de- the offence to repeat it. (Hear, hear.)
ference to the importance of the subject. The first was Lord ST. LEONARDS said his noble and learned
a letter which Lord Howden had sent to the late Secre- friend seemed not to have read the whole of the evidence.
Crary for Foreign Affairs. (In this dispatch Lord How- He had been in the habit of reading evidence of this
den states that the Spanish minister assures .him that kind judicially ; and having read the evidence given in
every effort shall be made, even to the,disregard of the this case twice over, he could tell his noble and learned
exigencies of the State, for the extinction of the slave friend that there was nothing on the face of it to sup-
trade.) Now, if this had not been followed by some port the conclusion at which the committee had arrived.
corroborative action, lie should not have thought it His noble and learned friend had spoken of the finding
worth while to waste their lordships' time in reading it 2.
of the committee as if that were conclusive ;but the
but he had just received a second letter from Lord
act of Parliament was framed expressly with the view
Howden, in which he thought some credit was given to of enabling their lordships to form their own opinion,
the Captain-General. (Lord Howden here informed
and if they did not act upon the evidence in this in-
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs that, in consequence
stance, they would neglect their duty. This was,
of recent peremptory instructions sent to the Captain-
effect, a judicial inquiry ; the borough was put before
General of Cuba, directing him to spare no exertion, them on its trial. It was with surprise that he had
extreme measures had been adopted, even those
for which the law offered but a spare foundation.l
heard the noble earl (the Earl of Aberdeen) say that the
, corrupt practices. in this borough were perfectly well
Their lordships would consider that this was only a pro-
known. _ Were they at liberty to act upon hearsay ?
raise of someting yet to be done ; but he had on that
(Hear.) It appeared to him that to say that all the
evening received a letter from Lord Howden—whose world knew this borough to be corrupt was to say what
zeal and industry in this matter had never been sum- was not justifiable.- The resolution of the committee of
passed—stating that the Captain-General acting on the the House of Commons stated that there was reason to
new instructions, had instituted a search in the interior believe that corrupt practices extensively prevailed in
of the island, which had resulted in the re-capture of one the borough of 3laldon, but they did not say at this
hundred negroes. He (Lord Clarendon) did not attach particular election, and he apprehended that they must
much importance to these demonstrations ; but as they say that corrupt practices prevailed at the particular
showed that the Captain-General was disposed to act election which they inquired into.
with more attention to the wishes of this country and Lord CAMPBELL read the words of the act of Par-
his own honour, he thought it only right to give him the liament.
benefit of this information. The only other subject he Lord ST. LEONARDS thought lie might state the
should mention was the case of the emancipados, and he effect of an act of Parliament without referring to the
thought his noble friend had scarcely done justice to the particular words. (A laugh.) The noble lord here
Spanish Government with respect to the measure that took up the act of Parliament., which, however, lie did
had been passed to meet this case. Whether the mea- not read, but made a few observations in a very low
sure was great or small—whether it was all they had a tone, complaining of the manner in which his remarks
right to expect—it would be remembered that it was the had been received. The noble and learned lord then
measure for which they had constantly asked, and that, took up his papers and walked out of the house.
therefore, they should be glad it was granted. He The LORD CHANCELLOR said it was extremely
would now read the dispatch of Lord Howden. (In this important that their lordships should understand
dispatch Lord Howden expressed his satisfaction at time the principle which should regulate them in concurring
probable settlement of the emancipist question. The or not concurring in addresses to the Crown. He dif-
Spanish Government had assured him that all persons so fered from the noble and learned lord (Lord St. Leonard's)
situated would be released with the least possible delay.) if he meant to say that they ought not to concur in an
This showed that to a certain extent the Spanish Go- address unless they saw, on reading the evidence, that
vernment had gone even beyond what was required of the committee must have properly arrived at the conclu-
them. The last point in his noble friend's speech to sion at which they had arrived. (Hear, hear.) All
which he should refer was his hope that the Spanish that their lordships had to consider was that time coin-
Government would become more alive to a sense of mittee had not arrived at an improper conclusion—a
their own honour, and more disposed to listen to the conclusion to which they should not have arrived. (Hear,
representations of her Majesty's Government. On this hear.) He regretted that the noble and learned lord had
subject he had received a dispatch from his noble left the house, for he did not believe that any disrespect
friend which was of some importance. (This dispatch was intended towards him. (Hear, hear.) There could
stated that the Spanish Government was at last about be no doubt on reading the evidence that corrupt prim-
to attend to the expostulations of England and the tices had prevailed in Maldon at successive elections, and
dictates of their country's honour. Additional powers he did not care if that conclusion had been arrived at on
would be given to the Captain-General for searches, and clear testimony or not. (Hear.)
every assistance in the reca.ptare of slaves.) He believed The Earl of DERBY differed from the noble and
that this was the first decree of such a tendency that learned lord as to the construction of the important duty
had emanated from the council, and this was all time which devolved upon them in reference to addresses to
information he had to offer to his noble friend. It the Crown. Before the act of last session it was neces-
was small in amount, but he thought it was not so unsa- sary in each particular case where it was intended to
tisfactory or hopeless as that which he had been obliged issue a commission with a view to ulterior proceedings,
to lay on their lordships' table during their previous which were to affect the borough and not the individual
week, and he could only repeat the assurance he had members by whom the contest was carried on, that an
given to a noble and learned friend a few nights since, act of Parliament should be introduced for the purpose
that Government considered that to their own exertions of constituting an extraordinary tribunal, vested with
and their own cruisers, they must mainly look for any- extraordinary powers ; and their lordships would recd.-
thing in the way of effectual change. He had again lect what great care was taken that there should be
been in communication with his right hon. friend at time grounds for the passing of these particular acts. In
head of the Admiralty, by whom instructions had been many instances when the House of Commons had heard
sent out to the fleet, and their lordships might expect evidence by its committees, and sent up bills for the dis-
that nothing that the gallantry and zeal of such men as franchisement of a borough, their lordships examined
his noble friend had alluded to, could supply, would be the evidence, but in other cases their lordships admitted
wanting to put an end to this abominable traffic. the parties to protect themselves and plead at the bar the
The Bishop of OXFORD thanked his noble friend for reasons why the act should not be carried into effect. It
the manner in which he had called the attention of the was notorious that in the first instance in which an inquiry
house to this sullied. He had always felt that the prig- wasaskedconsenting
f°r for—that
to at of St.
Alhan's—that their lord
hat inquiry, and according
ciples of free trade ought no more to enter into the ques-
slaps,tclie ordinary practice, requested to have the evidence
tion of the admission of slave-grown sugar than the pro- taken before the House of Commons laid before them.
fits of pirates or the fruits of robbery. A great deal A considerable time was given for the purpose of ex-
might be done, he thought, not only by our cruisers, but amining that evidence, and it was his duty to ask their
by the tone of the Government and the country towards lordships to assent to the bill for constituting the coin-
the Spanish nation. There.was one remark of his noble mission of inquiry in that case. But in order to simplify
friend (the Earl of Carlisle) in which he could not en- the proceedings, a general act of Parliament was passed
tirely acquiesce, namely, that the people of this country last year, on the principle of the general enclosure act,
were so apathetic with regard to what happened abroad, which authorised time issuing of a commission in the
that it was not likely that the Government would be sup- event of a joint address of both house of Parliament.
ported if they adopted any strong measures in reference Consequently they were placed, with regard to the ad-
to the slave trade. Great as was the apathy of the Eng- dresses to time Crown, precisely on time same footing as
lish people with regard to foreign matters generally, he they were previously to time passing of the act of last
really believed that -if they knew how they had been session. Therefore if previously to the act of last session
mocked and insulted with regard to. slave treaties, they they felt bound before issuing a commission to examine
would be as ready as one man to sustain the Government and sift the evidence taken before time House of Corn-
in enforcing their observance in future. It was their mons, he contended with great respect that time noble and
duty as a nation to leave no means unused which would learned lord was mistaken in his doctrine when he said
tend to free them from complicity in this great evil. that it was not necessary to surround the parties with
So intermingled now were all commercial and financial the same protection as to the examination of the evi-
affairs throughout the world, that it was, he thought, dente which they had before time passing of time act of
capable of demonstration that time very trade which last session—(hear, hear)—and therefore he denied that
they were endeavouring to put down on the coast of the onus lay on their lordships' house to prove that
Cuba was, at least indirectly, if not directly, maintained the House of Commons bad come to a wrong conclu-
witht British capital ; and it was the especial duty of time aka. (Hear, hear.) Having stated this, he begged
ino
nation which supplied capital for almost every enterprise say also that he deprecated and regretted the manner
I
that promised a lucrative return, to enforce the obser- which this subject had been brought to untimelyauftbe caond
vance of treaties for the suppression of the slave trade. elusion, which caused the abandonment
Lord BROUGHAM said, having on a recent occasion the leaving of the house by his nobleio anerslee'arned
brought a charge of some importance on this subject, he friend. (Hear, hear.) Considefriiongdt Ile. greatgrt judicial
thought
thought it right to express his gratitude on hearing that ability of his noble and learned
and his
his noble friend the (Earl of Clarendon) had received an a lawyer,. his high position, s'a,;els, andea s, lookin
account of the good intentions of the Captain-General of also to the circumstances of time interests
Cuba.
case and the
Cuba. (Hear, hear.) He should, however, wait some involved, he thought he should not be nmade a subject
little time before he withdrew his accusation against his of that levity, of that offensive and sneering laughter,
Cuban Excellency. (Laughter.) Their lordships knew which he regretted the noble earl opposite permitted on
what place was eloquently said to be " paved with good the part of some of his subordinates and supporters.
intentions." (Laughter.) General Concha certainly (Hear, hear.) He thought his noble and learned friend
differed from General O'Donnell in one particular—he acted in the manner due to his character and position in
was free from the foul stain of having profited by cons- refusing to continue a discussion in the circumstances to
plicity, he never received any share. of the detestable which, for the first time (and he hoped it would be the
traffic; but that he was, nevertheless, guilty of conni- last time), he felt himself exposed. (Hear, hear.) He
vance, there could be no doubt. His Rowe friend (the could not blame the course his noble and learned friend
Earl of Carlisle) had mentioned an American as having pursued in declining to continue a discussion in which
shown a proper feeling not only towards this country, he had met with disrespect. (Hear, hear.)
but on the subject of the slave trade. He trusted that The Earl of ABERDEEN—My lords, I cannot n
this feeling was not confined to an individual, but prova- 1 ceive what the noble earl means,
lent in time United States ; and if it did prevail there, - noble earl says that I peyrmsiutteodrdimn„.y
(Loud
t esseul l'b::r(rdesihneaetreeTsos)h---;
then must be wholly groundless the accounts which they ,whom does he mean by an b •
had heard of the bulk of the slavers employed by other ! that I permitted my subordinates to' 'sneer—. (Cheers.)
nations having been fitted out in American ports, man- I can only say this, that I entertain unfeigned respect
ned by American seamen, and commanded by American for the noble and learned lord—(hear, hear)--that I did
captains, He hoped there was not even a shadow. of not sneer---(hear, hear )—and that I did not entertain
at any time but that
foundation for these statements ; but that they were rife . the slightest feel'
' the noble and learned ed lord—(hear,
and general was certain.
attentively to his remarks.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE thought both their lordships listened at •
and the country were indebted to his noble friend for the noble earl y But wlmen
haying brought forward this subject and thus elicited the nates to charges me with permitting my subordt-
laugh, I can only say that I do not know any
(Hear.)snear )o
—f
arensdp respect
aftoi