The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-26 00:00:00

IDIPERIAL PARLIAIiENT

-46,..--

IO USE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
CARDINAL CULLEN.

Mr. NEWDEGATE asked the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer whether the attention of her Majesty's Ministers
had been directed to the report of the proceedings at the
inaugural banquet of the Lord Mayor of Dublin on Wed-
nesday last, which was published in the Times of Thurs-
day, the 21st instant, whence it appeared that Cardinal
Cullen was present on the above occasion, in the robes and
capacity of a Cardinal Legate from the Court of Rome,
took precedence iri that capacity, and addressed the assem-
bly on matters touching the Government of Ireland ; and
whether, assuming' the above report to be substantially
correct, iu the' opinion of her Majesty's N.Linisters it was
consistent with the laws of this country, or with interna-
tional law, that an ecclesiastic should;in the capacity of a
Cardinal Legate from the Court of It.nue, be permitted,
as representing that Court, but without being regularly
accredited to the Court of England, or recognised in any
diplomatic, capacity, to interfere iu public occasions of an
official character, by advice or otherwise, witb matters
touching the government of the Uuited Kingdom.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said since
the hon. gentleman had given notice of his question, he had
made some inquiries upon events which had not before
attracted the attention of the Government. The Lord
Mayor of Dublin did not consult the Government as to
the gentlemen to be invited to the banquet. (Laughter.)
The Government had made such inquiry as was decent
and respectful to the Lord Mayor. The invitation of the
Lord Mayor had not been given to Cardinal Cullen in any
exclusive manner. He did not know the politics or re-
ligious opinions of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, but he
found by his inquiries that invitations to the same banquet
had also been sent to tho Archbishop of Dublin, the Pre-
sident of the Presbyterian AsS'embly, and many other re-
ligious denominations, and ho was given to understand
that Cardinal Cullen was given no more attention than
would be given to him in any society he would mix. There
being no other peer present but the Lord Lieutenant.
Cardinal Cullen, who was recognised as a man of princely
rank, was given that precedence he would have received
in any assembly. Cardinal Cullen did not appear in a
diplomatic capacity, and he was doubtful whether he was
what had been called a Cardinal Legate.
Sir J. BOWYER—No, he is not.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—IIe was
not quite certain about it, but doubtless Cardinal Cullen
had some local rank given him iu order that he might take
precedence of Roman Catholic Bishops iu Ireland. There
was no foundation for the assertion that Cardinal Cullen
appeared there in any diplomatic capacity, or took part in
any way in that assembly t.) which he had not a perfect'
right. (Hear, hear.) A cardinal was not of necessity
an ecclesiastic, he was a Roman prince ; and he had known
a prince who was a cardinal and not an ecclesiastic.
(Hear, hear.) With respect to his appearing in England
as a cardinal, he recollected the late Sir It. Inglis reproving
the zeal of some gentlemen who found fault with Cardinal
Wiseman because he appeared before a Parliamentary
committee in his ecclesiastical dress. (Cheers.)
THE SERVIAN FORTRESSES.

Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked the Secretary of Btato for
Foreign Affairs whether Baron Baust, the Minister of
Austria, had issued a circular diplomatic note to the great
Powers, stating that Austria had advised the Porte to
carry out the evacuation of the Servian fortresses, bAng
convinced that England and France share the opinions of
Austria on this subject ; and whether the English Govern-
meat had given a favourable reception to that note?
Lord STANLEY said Government agreed with the
advice given to the Porte, but with respect to the other
portion of his question he could not give him a reply.