The Sun.
London, England, 1834-05-16 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER resumed the chair at twenty-five mi-
nutes past five o'clock.
A message from the Lords announced that their Lord-
ships had agreed to the Wortley and Stanningficld Roads
Bill, the Grand Junction Railway Bill, and other bills.
Returns from the Commissioners of Dover Harbour were
laid upon the table.
On the motion of Sir RONALD FERGUSON, the
Warwick Witnesses' Indemnity Bill was read a third time,
and passed.
M-r. B. HANDLEY brought up the report of the com-
mittee on the Welland Navigation Company's Bill.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.

Lord ALTHORP moved that the house at its rising do
adjourn to Wednesday next.

The SPEAKER having put the question,
AFFAIRS OF THE PENINSULA

Sir R. R. VYVYAN said he should take the present
opportunity of calling the attention of the house, and of
the noble lord opposite, to a matter of very considerable
importance. It had been generally said that a treaty had
been entered into by the representatives of three powers,
and the noble lord opposite (Lord Palmerston) on the part
of the British government, containing certain stipulations
of great importance to the foreign commerce of this
country. It was said that that treaty also contained stipula-
tions by which an interference on the part of Spain in the
affairs of Portugal was to be admitted. It was also stated
that by this treaty Don Miguel was to give up his claims to
the crown of Portugal, and Don Carlos his claims to the
crown of Spain. It had also been said, and it was well
known that a Spanish general (Rodil) had crossed the
Portuguese frontier, and had driven Don Carlos before
him. He (Sir R. V.) understood that at Lisbon the
ratification of that treaty had been delayed, that it had
been returned by the British minister at Lisbon as un-
favourable to British interests. He thought that the
time had arrived when it was the duty of that house-
to call on the Foreign Office, in order to ascertain
if Great Britain had thus compromised her own interest,
or had acted in a manner so little in accordance with those
old stipulations to which she had formerly adhered. He
did not mean to allude to the politics of Spain or Portu-
gal, but would merely confine himself to three questions.
He begged to ask the noble lord, first, whether that treaty
had been entered into by France, England, Spain, and
Portugal, having for its object the settlement of the
affairs of the Peninsula by force of arms ? (Hear hear.)
Secondly, Whether the ratification of this treaty had been
delayed at Lisbon, or whether there had been a refusal to
ratify it ? And, thirdly, whether the noble lord (Pal-
merston) had been officially informed of' the fact of Gene-
ral Rodil having passed the frontier of Portugul, and hav-
ing driven Don Carlos before him, and whether the mini-
stry of this country approved of such conduct?
Lord PALMERSTON said, that in answering the
questions of the hon. baronet, he would not follow him
into a discussion upon the various reports which the hon.
baronet stated that he had heard. (Hear, hear, hear.)
With regard to one of his (Sir R. Vyvyar's) questions,
he ( Lord P.) had great satisfaction in being able to state
that a treaty relative to the affairs of the Peninsular, had
been signed by the Plenipotentiaries of England, France,
Spain, and Portugal. (Hear, hear.) He stated this
with great satisfaction, and, as far as he himself
was concerned, with pride. With regard to; the:treaty,
he could not state what were the contents of it, or
what was the nature of its provisions. As soon,
however, as it was ratified, it would be laid upon
the table of that house, and then the house and
the hon. baronet would have an opportunity of knowing
what that treaty contained. He could relieve the anxiety
of the hon. baronet respecting the dangers which he con-
ceived to exist of this treaty being ratified. The ratifi-
cation of three of the powers had already arrived
in London, and the ratification of the government of Por-
tugal had only been delayed in consequence of some forms
which were necessary for the completion of the ratification.
Its approaching arrival was however announced, and in afew
days the vessel containing it might be expected to reach our
shores. With regard to the la. question, General Rodil had
entered the territories, but his operations were confined to
dislodging Don Carlos from the frontiers. Some of the
fortified towns of Portugal had, however, taken advantage
of his presence spontaneously to declare in favour of
Donna Maria. He should not go into the details of the
treaty, which would be laid before the house in due course.
Mr. A. BARING said that, probably, the noble lord,
after the holidays, would be ready to produce the treaty,
and, therefore, it would be unfair to enter into the
discussion of the question just now. (Hear, hem..)
1 But the noble lord's view of neutrality seemed
to be different from that which any other person could en-
tertain of neutrality. General Rodil went into Portugal
professedly to drive before him the Pretender (for
that was his proper name), and yet, according
to the noble lord, his presence had induced
some towns to daclare in favour of Donna Maria.
It was rather a singular species of neutrality which
the noble lord had spoken of. (Hear.) Did the noble
lord forget that there was interference on the part of va-
rious foreign powers in Portugal ?
Lord PALMERSTON replied, that when he spoke of
neutrality lie did not lay any stress on the circum-
sance mentioned, but merely stated the fact, as
to the interference alluded to by the hon. member, there
had
side.
(Hear beennobeinarc.o)nsiderable interference on the other
Mr. BARING was not aware of any interference on the
other side. No doubt the noble lord spoke from official
information, which, perhaps, he would impart to the house.
Lord PALMERSTON replied that the hon. member's
Nt: a ri
s he
Mr. WOOD wished to ask when it was the intention
of his Majesty's government to change the assizes at Lan-
caster, as he understood such a change was contemplated?
Mr. P. THOMPSON replied that at present he was
unable to give any information on the subject.