The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-13 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-(THIS EVENING.)
The house met a five o'clock.
SALE OF CIRCASSIAN WOMEN.

The Bishop of OXFORD said there appeared in the
public journals within the last few days a series of state-
ments which were calculated to lead their readers to
imagine that the first effect of the deliverence of the
I Circassian coast from Russia had been the revival of the
slave trade in its most hideous forms. One of the com-
munications said that trade was carried on at present
with extraordinary activity in consequence of the
high prices obtained at Constantinople, and the re-
moval of the restrictions. (Hear, hear.) The right rev.
prelate strongly deprecated the revival of such odious
traffic, which, he said, if continued, would greatly tend
to alter the opinion of the public with regard to the just
and necessary war against Russia, and concluded by ask-
ing the Foreign Secretary whether he had received any
information on the subject
The Earl of CLARENDON referred to what took
place some years ago, when Sir Stratford Canning, in
reply to the instructions of Lord Palmerston, who was
then Foreign Secretary, said there was no reasonable
hopes of interfering successfully to abolish a practice
which was so mixed up with Turkish customs. Though
he (Lord Clarendon) was not in possession of any infor-
mation which would enable him to confirm or otherwise
the statements in the newspapers, he had the satisfaction
I to say that he had just seen a despatch from Admiral
Dundas, saying his attention had been called to the
subject, and that he had given strict orders to officers
commanding her Majesty's naval forces on the coast of
Circassia, to interrupt and prevent the traffic by all
friendly means. Admiral Dundas also mentioned that,
having ascertained that Schamyl was unfavourable to
the trade, these officers were directed to communicate
with him and his deputies, in order to concert measures
to put it down. This was the first time his attention
had been called to the interference by this country with
the internal affairs of Turkey, and he hoped it would be
the last.
COUNT PAHLEN.

The Earl of GRANVILLE wished to call the atten-
tion of their lordships to a personal matter of. some im-
portance. The grave charge was made against him of
having introduced into English society, and the Travel.
ler's Ciub, a subject of the country with whom we were
at war. He alluded to Count Pahlen, who was now in
this country ; he was known to several of their lordships
for his high character and accomplishments, and his
partiality f,,r this country. (Hear.) He had come not
from Russia, or any part of the Continent, but Madeira,
where he had spent the winter; his object in coming here
for a very short time was the settlement of some small
pecuniary matters, as well as to take what, considering
his great age, might be his final leave of some intimate
friends. The Count had been the intimate friend of his
(Earl Granville's) father, and of the Duke of Wellington,
the late Earl Grey, and a great many of the most dis-
tinguished men in the country. (Hear, hear.) From
the earliest time of his life, he (Earl Granville)
had received kindness from him, and he found be was
always treated with respect by those on whose judgment
he had always relied. On his arrival in England he
(Earl Granville) (signed the usual printed form which
was required before the admission of a foreigner into the
club, and to show that his conduct was not considered
disgraceful by that society, he might mention that in
passing only a short distance along Pall-Mall the Count
met no less than twenty members of the club, who
expressed to him their indignation at the complaints
which had been made. On the general question he (Earl
Granville) denied that it was unjustifiable on the part of
an Englishman to treat with civility and kindness the
subject of a power, when his country was at war with
that power. (Cheers.) The noble lord then entered
into a justification of his conduct, by reference to the
law of nations.

The Earl of MALMESBURY, Lord LANSDOWNE, Lord
BROUGHAM, and other noble peers, bore testimony to the
high character of the Count, and generally condemned
the attack made on Earl Granville.

The Earl of ABERDEEN observed that the authority
generally respected by the noble lords opposite, though
happily not Igo on the present occasion, said that Count
Pahlen had come to this country with a secret mission
to himself. (A laugh.) So far, however, from that be-
ing the case, he had not the slightest knowledge of the
Count's arrival until these complaints originated.
The discussion then dropped.
(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS DAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords amendments to the following bills were
considered, and agreed to :—Darlington Local Board of
Health ; Dublin and Wicklow, and Dubli❑ and Kings-
town Railways ; Inverness and Nairn Railway ; Lon-
donderry Port ; Ouse and Derwent, sze., Drainage ;
Shropshire Union Railways and Canal ; Wells and
Fakenliam Railway.
The Ratcliff Gas Company Relief Bill was read a third
time and passed.