The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-04 00:00:00

would proceed there on the part of her Majesty's Govern-
ment. It would be their duty to inquire fully into the
whole matter, and those inquiries would be of a most
searching kind, in order that all the offenders might be
brought to jugtice. He was obliged to say that one of
the chief offenders was the late Pacha of Damascus, but
he would be punished, and was indeed already in cus-
tody. The Turkish Government had ordered him to be
tried forthwith, and if the proceedings ware conducted witi
impartiality, the trial would have a good effect. The Go-
vernment had received a telegram which stated that order
had been restewed at Damascus, that a new governor had
arrived there, and that he had commenced his duties, and
was proceeding with them in a manner highly conducive
to the safety and tranquillity of the place and the people.
(Hear.) The state of things in Syria was such as required
a very strong hand to restore peace, and it could not be
denied that the Porte, though with good intentions, had
not been able to carry out to the full extent those inten-
tions. His noble friend stated that in consequence of the
former events in Syria, the greatest caution would be ne-
cessary on the part of her Majesty's Government in dealing
with this question. He could assure his ',noble friend that
the Government felt that that caution Nras required, but at
the same time they did not conceal from themselves the
fact that the outrages which had been perpetrated required
that the great powers should take immediate and effectual
measures to repress them. (Hear.) It would be impossible
to tell how far these disturbances might extend if they were
allowed to be continued. His noble friend said the time had
passed for half measures to be resorted to, and that mea-
sures should be taken to prevent the Turkish empire from
falling to pieces, but that had been the policy of this coun-
try for many years past. His noble friend had alluded to
the want of information as to whether Sir Henry Bulwer
had taken steps to instruct the different consuls in Syria,
and (Lord Wodehouse) wished to point out that the mo-
ment Sir H. Bulwer received the news of the outbreak, he
telegraphed to them instructions to the effect that they
were to take the most active measures to restore order. It
would not be necessary that he should on this occasion
enter into a discussion of the general question which had
been noticed by his noble friend. (Hear, hear.) It was
sufficient to deal with this single question, which in itself
was of a most difficult kind. He could assure their lord-
ships that the Government had earnestly directed their
attention to it, in order that proper steps might be
taken by the great Powers of Europe, with the joint
concurrence of the Porte. There was no desire to neglect
the question, but to look it fairly in the face, in the hope
that they might arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. This
was a question which all those who were acquainted with
the affairs of the East [knew was one of the
most dangerous as it regarded the Turkish empire—(hear,
hear)—and also as it might affect the peace of Europe, and
the good understanding which existed among the different
powers. The Government did not disguise from themselves
that the difficulties of the Eastern question might interfere
with the general policy of the Governments of Europe, and
that it would be impossible that any great catastrophe
could take place in the Ottoman empire without involving
in it calamities and dangers to Europe as to which no man
would be able to see the end. (Hear.)
The Earl of DERBY said he did not intend to enter upon
a discussion of the general question, though he felt with the
noble viscount opposite that it was a question of the greatest
importance and of immense delicacy. (Hear.) He thought
it ought to be the policy of all persons in this country to
abstain as far as possible front saying anything which might
have a tendency to embarrass the course which the Govern-
ment desired to pursue, because from the uncertainty which
surrounded the question it would be impossible to render
any assistance to the Government, and therefore the duty
of the house would be to allow the Government to perform
their duties, and leave the question in their hands to be
dealt with by them. He merely rose to ask a question as
to whether a statement which had appeared in some of the
newspapers was true or not. If it wore true, it reflected the
greatest credit upon the gentleman to whom it referred.
The statement was to the effect that a gentleman of the
name of Harvey, the commander of a British ship, had, on
an application being made to him for assistance by the people
of Tyre, landed his small crew, and had so placed the can-
non which he had on board that he, through his determi-
nation and courage, rescued from danger and bloodshed the
population of the place. Such vigour and energy deserved
to be noticed, and he would repeat that, if the statement
were true, it reflected the highest credit upon that gentle-
man. He asked the noble lord the Under-Secretary for
Foreign Affairs whether the Government had received any
information of the occurrence. (Hear.)
Lord WODEHOUSE said the facts were, he believed,
as stated by the noble earl, and their lordships would find
them recorded in the papers laid on the table. Nothing
could have been more creditable to any man than the con-
duct of Mr. Harvey, and nothing could better have shown
the great respect in which the English name was held in
that part of the world. If his noble friend at the head of
the Foreign-office had an opportunity he would state to that
gentleman his high opinion of his conduct. He might state,
however, that Mr. Harvey did not land his crew, but he
placed his ship in such a position, and so well directed his
small guns, that he impressed the inhabitants with the idea
that his vessel was a British ship of war, and the result was
that they were saved from the calamities which, but for his
conduct, might have happened. He would mention to their
lordships another case deserving of notice. The Government
had been informed that a Mahommedan lady took into her
house 300 Christian women at the time when the massacres
were going on, and no doubt they would have been mas-
sacred if she had not taken them underher protection. The
conduct of that lady reflected the highest credit upon her.
(Hear.)
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said there was another
individual who deserved great praise, and that was Abd-el-
Kader. The course he pursued was highly meritorious.
He (the Marquis of Clanricarde) felt the delicacy of dealing
with this question as much as anybody, but he thought
they might carry that feeling too far. He found no fault
with the course taken by her Majesty's Government,
but ho thought the noble lord the Under-Secretary had not
told them much of what had been done. As to the protocol,
he doubted whether the whole truth and facts of the case
were recorded in it. Her Majesty's Government must not
rest sal isfied with the promises of Turkish commissioners,
but they should enforce upon the Turkish Government the
duty of improving the condition of their subjects. (Hear.)
Earl GRANVILLE rather regretted that the subject
was not left where the noble earl opposite (the Earl of
Derby) finished his speech, because the question was a very
difficult and a very delicate one. It must be regretted that
the Turkish Government had shown such weakness during
the late disturbances ; but, on the other hand, they should
remember that the integrity of the Turkish empire had
always been an object of English and European policy. It
was not from any love to the Turks or to the Mahommedan
religion that this country had supported the Turkish em-
pire, but on the broad principle that no one had yet dis-
covered the means of displacing the Turkish Government
by any other Government which would be compatible with
the safety of Europe. There was no doubt, with regard to
the expedition now being planned by France and all the
other powers of Europe, that it was an exceptional measure,
and if they could place Syria in a more satisfactory state he
should greatly rejoice. He could not concur with the noble
marquis that all danger of further massacre was at an end,
because all the Christians had been massacred who could
be massacred. An awful responsibility would have been
incurred if all had not been done that could have been done
by the European powers to curb the fanatical spirit of the
Turks which had been evinced in Syria, and which was in
danger of being excited in other places. He thought the
heuse would agree with what fell from Earl Derby, that
there were two sides to this question, and that we should
not, because our feelings were aroused, entirely change the
policy which had been hitherto considered to contribute so
greatly to the peace of Europe and to the balance of power.
Lord STRATFORD de REDCLIFFE, in reply, con-
tended that after the sacrifices this country had made to
maintain the integrity of the Turkish Empire, the English
Government had a right to expect that the Sultan would
listen to the counsels of this country, and advantage should
be taken of the present crisis to impress upon the Govern-
ment of Turkey the necessity of making those reforms which
could alone preserve that country from the dangers inciden-
tal to internal disorganisation.
Lord WODEHOUSE said he would give as much in-
formation on the subject as he could, but he could not pro-
duce the correspondence which the noble lord referred to.
The motion was then withdrawn.
The following bills were the read a third time and
passed :—Conjugal Rights (Scotland) Bill, Coast of Africa,
&c., Act Amendment Bill, Crown Debts and Judgments
Bill, Debtors and Creditors Act Amendment Bill, Railways
Act (Ireland) (1851) Amendment Bill, and County Coro•
ners' Bill.
SUPERANNUATION ACT (1859) AMENDMENT
BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER. took the chair at a quarter past twelve
o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' amendments to the Burnham Tidal Harbour
Railways, and the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway
(Metropolitan Extension) Bill were considered and agreed
to, as were the following bills :—Lord de Freyne's Estate
and Caithness Roads.

The following bills were read a second time :—Beauchamp
Almshouses Estate Bill, Domvile's Estate Bill, Earl of
Longford's Estate Bill, Viscount Lorton's Estate Bill, and
Giustiniani's Naturalisation Bill.
BUSINESS QF THE HOUSE.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Sir J. SIIELLEY said he felt bound to protest
against the way in which business was brought beforo
the house. They were now called on to vote a large sum of
money without the knowledge of most of the members,
who had left the house last night before its adjournment,
and the press contained no announcement in the usual
form as to the business that would be proceeded with at
this day's sitting. (Hear.) If the votes to which he referred
had been postponed until the evening, then there would be
no ground for eomplaint. Last year a similar course had
been adopted, and an absurd vote agreed to, with reference
to the filtration of the Thames, and he thought the time