The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-12 00:00:00

abstained from embarrassing the Government in the pre-
sent delicate posture of affairs. Though I believe there
is no matt in the country who more thoroughly disap-
proves the policy of the Government upon foreign ques-
tions than myself, I am equally confident that there is
not one in either House of Par!iament who has more
cautiously abstained from doing anything which night
in any way embarrass them. Certainly, I have ab-
stained this session from saying a single word upon a
question on which I feel the deepest anxiety. But is
it calculated to embarrass the Government—l hope
not—to point out circumstances which, if left unex-
plained, may injuriously affect the honour of the
country ? What has the question now before your
lordships to do with the impending negotiations ! How
can it embarrass them ? And does the Government
really mean to close the mouths of independent peers
upon questions of this kind by talking to as of negotia-
tions which have no more to do with the subject in hand
than negotiations in the moon ? (A laugh.) I must de-
cline to follow my noble friend into the question whether
the present war is to be attributed t? Russia or to Tur-
key, or whether Lord Stratford de Redcliffe has rendered
great services to the ceentry or not. Upon these points
I may entertain very different opinions from my noble
friend, but they are not before us at present. I raise one
specific question, whether there was or was not a contra-
diction between the despatches of Col. Rose and Lord
Stratford de Redcliffe ? My noble friend says there was
not. Allowtme to read the two passages, and then I will
leave your lordships to judge whether there was a contra-
diction or not. On the 25th March the memorandum of
Mr. Pisani contains the following words : "Rifaat Pash-t,
in the interview I had with him yesterday, stated that
Prince Menschikeff ha' left with him on the 17th a note
verbale." On the 27th May Lord Stratford de Redeliffe
informs us that he had questioned Mr.Pisani on the sub-
ject, "and he assures me that Rifaat Pasha would never
be brought to admit its existence," speaking of this very
note verbale. The question then is, whether a certain
gentleman, having stated that he had received from a
Turk-ish Minister an account of a note left with him, and
2 months after writing that the very same Minister could
never be brought to admit its existence, has stated that
which is correct? This matter may be passed over lightly
by mynoble friend, but I say it is of the very deepest im-
portance, not for the reputation of the British Embassy
only, but also for the honour of the nation. If England
is to be represented by persons whose statements are
thus contradictory, I say that its honour suffers ; and,
where there is so much suspicion, the power and moral
influence of the country may depend upon regaining that
high character which ought to belong to all engaged in
the diplomatic service of the British Crown, so that no,
shade, even of distrust, may rest upon the accuracy of
their statements. I think that it was right to bring
this subject before the house, and confess I feel the deepest
regret that my noble friend, instead of giving some
explanation showing there had been a mistake, has found
it necessary to go into various other questions, but not
to touch the only point at issue.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. MARTIN took the oaths and his seat for Rochester.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were then severally read
a second time, and ordered to be committed :
Aberdeen and Scottish Midland Junction Railway Corn.
panies Amalgamation ; Alford Valley Railway ; Ban-
bridge Junction Railway; Barnsdale and Leeds Road ;
Bath GAR ; Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway ; Chel-
tenham Gas ; Colonial Bank ; Conway and Llandudno
Road ; Cirk and Yonghal Railway ; Coventry (City)
Gas; Darenth Valley Railway; Daeping Fen Drainage ;
Denny Junction Railway ; Dorset Central Railway ;
Dunblane, Donne, and Callender Railway; Dundee
Harbour : Eastern Counties Railway ; Eastern Union
Railway ; East of Fife Railway ; Edinburgh Munici-
pality; Edinburgh Water; Ely Tidal Harbour and Rail-
way ; Filey Water -; Formartine and Buchan Railway ;
Glasgow Courthouses and Public Offices; Glasgow Paving;
Glastonbury and Bruton Railway ; Gloucester Gas ;
Halifax and Huddersfield Road; Heywood Gas; Knares-
borough and Green Hamel:warm Road ; Knaresborough
and Pateley Bridge Road ; Knottingley Gas ; Lambeth
Water; Lancaster Gas; Leicester and Welford Road ; Lin-
coln Water; London and North-Western Railway ; Lon-
don and South-Western Rail way (Yeovil to Exeter) ; Lon-
don Dock; Lowesteftand Beccles Railway; Luton District
Road ; Luton, Dunstable, and Welwyn Junction Rail-
way; Monmouth Roads ; North Shields and Tyne-
mouth Dock ; Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhamp-
ton Railway (Extension of Time, &c) ; Renfrewshire
Roads ; Rhosydd Railway ; Scottish Central Rail-
way ; Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway; Shrewsbury
and Welchpool Railway ; Shrewsbury Water ; Sleaford
and Tattershall Turnpike Trust ; Southport Water ;
Stockton and Middlesbrough New Road and Bridge ;
Swansea Vale Railway; Thames Haven Dock and Rail-
way; Ulster Railway ; West Ham Gas ; Westminster
Terminus Railway ; Weymouth and Melcombe Rsgis
Gas ; Worksop Gas.

PETITIONS.
Mr. DAVIS presented a petition against opening the
Crystal Palace on Sundays.
Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from Manchester
against opening the Crystal Palace on Sundays.
Sir J. WALMSLEY presented a petition from
Leicester against the Metropolitan Police Bill.
Mr. PELLATT presented a petition from S iuthwark
against opening the Crystal Palace on Sundays.
Mr. lIASTIE presented a petition from Glasgow
against the opening of the Crystal Paiace on Sundays.
Mr. SPOONER, presented a petition from a place in
Yorkshire against the opening of places of amusement
on Sundays.