The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS--(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool-
sack at five minutes to five o'clock. There was a largo
attendance of peers and of strangers.

PETITIONS.

The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition
from Sir Culling Eardley, complaining of the expulsion
of Dissenters from the University of Oxford.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented a petition
from Bradford (College Chapel), in favour of closing pub.
lie-houses on the Sabbath.

WAR WITH RUSSIA.

HER MAJESTY'S MESSAGE.

The Earl of ABERDEEN rose, and amidst cries of
"order " advanced to the table, and laying a paper upon
it, simply said, "My lords, a Message from the Queen."
The Clerk immediately carried it to the Lord Chan-
cellor.

The LORD CHANCELLOR rising, but not stepping
to the side of the woolsack as when addressing their lord-
ships, proceeded to read, in clear and emphatic tones,
amidst the most perfect silence, the following Message
of her gracious Majesty :
" VICTORIA REGINA !

"Her Majesty thinks it proper to acquaint the House
of Lords, that the negotiations in which her Majesty, in
concert with her allies, has for some time past been en-
gaged with his Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias,
have terminated, and that her Majesty feels bound to
afford active assistance to her ally the Sultan against
unprovoked aggression.

" Her Majesty has given directions for laying before
the House of Lords copies of such papers, in addition
to those already communicated to Parliament, as will
afford the fullest information with regard to the subject
of these negociations.

" It is a consolation to her Majesty to reflect that
no endeavours have been wanting on her part to pre-
serve to her subjects the blessings of peace.
"Her Majesty's just expectations have been disap-
pointed; and her Majesty relies with confidence upon
the zeal and devotion of the House of Lords, and on
the exertions of her brave and loyal subjects, to sup-
port her in her determination to employ the power and
resources of the nation to protect the dominions of the
Sultan against the encroachments of Russia."
The address having been again read by the Clerk at
the table,

The Earl of CLARENDON immediately rose and
said—My lords, I beg to give notice that on Friday
next I shall move that her Majesty's gracious message
be taken into consideration.

The Earl of DERBY—I only rise for the purpose of
saying that, as the noble earl has given notice of his
intention to move on Friday that the gracious message
of her Majesty be taken into consideration, I feel quite
sure your lordships will unanimously agree with me
that this is not the time to say a single word with re-
gard to the merits of the great and important question
which it involves. (Hear.) On Friday next, I pre-
sume that, in moving an answer to that address, the
noble earl (the Earl of Clarendon), or the noble earl at
the head of the Government, will take an opportunity
of stating to the house fully, not only the causes which
have led to the unfortunate disruption of amicable re-
lations with Russia, with which we are particularly
acquainted, but also the precise objects which we have
in view in entering on this war, the objects we seek to
attain by it, and if there are any conventions or obliga-
tions into which we have entered with France or
the Porte—the nature of those obligations. (Hear,
hear.) I conclude, if such a convention has been agreed
upon, it will be among those papers which her Majesty's
gracious message holds out the expectation will be
laid before this house. I shall only express my earnest
anxiety that there is no truth in the report which
has been circulated during the past few days, to
the effect that in that convention there are ar-
ticles between us and France and the Porte of a na-
ture to establish a protectorate over a portion of the
Turkish subjects, and involving the very same principle
which has been considered so objectionable on the part
of Russia. (Hear.) I will not say a word more at the
present moment. On Friday her Majesty's Ministers
will, no doubt, be prepared to make such a statement as
they think fit, in moving an address in answer to her
Majesty's gracious message, and with regard to the terms
of which it is not necessary for me to say that her Ma-
jesty will not rely in vain on the support of all classes
and all denominations of her subjects—(cheers)—in the
support of the honour of this country in a just and
necessary war, and in taking such vigorous measures as
may best tend to bring that war to a speedy and honour.
able conclusion. (Loud cheers.)

Earl GREY—I will only add that I trust in the ad-
dress, which I presume will be moved in answer to the
message received from her Majesty, care will be taken
so to draw it that there may be no difficulty in its being
unanimously adopted— (hear)—because, whatever may
be the opinions of your lordships as to the past, we must
all desire that this address should be agreed to unani-
mously. (Hear.) I hope, therefore, the address will be
so framed, and it can easily be done, as not to express
any opinion which any noble lord may find it difficult to
concur in, on the ground that the war might have been
avoided either on the one hand by abstaining from all
interference, or on the other hand by different conduct
of the Government displaying greater vigour. (Hear.)
I hope no difficulty will be interposed in the way of your
lordships feeling altogether satisfied as to the course of
proceeding in complying with the address which will be
proposed on Friday. (Cheers.)

The Earl of ABERDEEN half rose from his seat and
bowed assent to the noble earl.
The subject then dropped.

POOR REMOVAL BILL.

The Earl of DERBY wished to call the attention of
the noble earl opposite to a statement made in that house
some three weeks ago upon a question as to the settle.
ment and removal of paupers. On that occasion he
asked the noble earl whether it was intended to include
in that measure any provision with reference to Scotch
and Irish paupers. The noble earl then said it was not
intended to include any provision in the bill with refer-
ence to Scotch and Irish paupers ; and that the question
was one upon which the Government wanted more in-
formation and inquiry. He had learnt from the jour-
nals of the other house that the second reading of the
bill was moved on Friday last, and from the reports in
the public papers it appeared that a change had taken
place in the opinion of the Government since the period
when the noble earl gave him the answer to which he had
referred ; for, on the second reading of the bill it was
suddenly announced that the question of the Scotch and
Irish paupers would be made the subject of a separate
measure, and that it was intended to proceed with
that measure. As to the Scotch and Irish paupers,
he bad nothing to do with what the House of Com-
mons might think right in legislating on the sub-
ject; but he had to do with the answer which the
noble earl gave him, that it was necessary to have
a great deal more information on the subject. He
would not believe the report that the intentions of
the Government had- been suddenly altered in conse-
quence of the representations of a large body of Irish
representatives that they were unable to support the
bill as it Stood, unless the Government adopted some
measure with reference to Irish paupers, because such
a course, if pursued, would be very derogatory to the
Government ; but he wished to ask if it was the inten-
tion of the Government to introduce a measure as to
the Scotch and Irish paupers ; and if so, whether the
noble earl would lay before the house the result of any
inquiries which may have been made, and the amount
of information which had been obtained on the subject
within the last fortnight.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said that in reply to the
question of the noble earl, he had to state that the bill
in the other house would be proceeded with. He ad-
mitted that it would necessarily involve the considera-
tion of the removal of Scotch and Irish paupers, but he
said it was not intended to include the consideration of
that part of the subject in the present bill, and to that
statement he still adhered. What might be the course
pursued with regard to the adopting any measure
affecting Scotch and Irish paupers he was not pre-
pared to say, but he believed it would involve the
necessity of dealing with that subject.
The Marquis of SALISBURY hoped the Govern.
ment would lose no time in bringing the other measure
before the house.