The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-27 00:00:00

KING THEODORE.

Sir H. VERNEY asked the Secretary of State for Fo-
reig❑ Affairs whether Captain Cameron had ever been re-
ceived and recognised as British Consul by King Theodore.
Lord STANLEY said there was no doubt about Capt.
Cameron being received by King Theodore as a represen-
tative of her Majesty.
PORTLAND PRISON.

Captain VIVIAN asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether his attention had boon drawn
to the fact that the cells in the wooden prison at Portland
were lighted with: candles, so that each convict in that
prison had an unprotected candle under his control for
some hours during every night of the winter months;
whether it was the intention of Government to take any
steps to put an end to so dangerous a system ; and whether
any attempts had been made by the prisoners to set fire to
the prison ?
Mr. HARDY said he was not aware that any attempt
had been made to fire the prison by persons confined
there. On the contrary, on the occasion of a fire breaking
out none worked harder than the convicts them-
selves. Steps, however, were being taken to improve the
lighting of the cells from without.

'I IE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

Colonel SYKES asked the Secretary of State for India
whether there was any and what foundation for the state-
n►ent in the letter of the correspondent of the Times, dated
Bombay, Oct. 14, and in the Madras Times, dated Oct. 8,
that Major-Gen. Napier had made a requisition to the Ma-
dras Government for European subaltern officers to be at-
tached to the native regiments proceeding with the expe-
dition to Abyssinia, and was told that the Madras Govern-
ment had not any subalt•m-n officers to spare; and whether
ho would lay upon the table a return of the number of
European officers with each native regiment in the expe-
dition, and the strength in native commissioned and non-
commissioned officers and men of each regiment?

Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE said he had no infor-
mation on the subject either public or private. If the
return was moved for it should be produced without the
least delay.
Sir P. O'BRIEN asked the Secretary of State for India
whether the undertaking contained in a letter of the
Rev. sir. lirapp (one of tho dragomen to the Abyssinian
Expedition), dated the 20th September last, and expressed
in the following terms —" I think Sir Stafford's mind will
be fully satisfied and tranquillised if I say that, as a leading
rule of conduct, I must consider the object of the
expedition to be the primary point, to which every other
private concern must bond ; but that, on the other hand
I must not be expected to suppress my individual feeling if a
case should appear in practice where I should have any oc-
casion or be requested to enter on religious discussion "—was
to be taken as referring alone to the reverend gentleman's
course of conduct as regards Abyssinian Christians, or was
to be considered as likewise referring to the Ilindoo and
Mussulman troops and to the Roman Catholic soldiers in
her Majesty's regiments serving on the expedition ?
Sir STAFFORD .NORTIICOTE said, in engaging the
gentleman referred to, he had in view a communication with
the natives of Abyssinia, and certainly not with a view of
proselytising or interfering with the religious belief of the
soldiers serving on the expedition.

SUPPLY-THE VOTE OF CREDIT.

The house then went into Committee of supply, when

Tho CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose to
move a vote of credit fur the expedition. The right hon.
gentleman, in doing this, gave a brief history of
matters that had led to the necessity of sending forth tho
expedition. Consul Cameron, a British subject, had now
been in captivity for three years, and after all attempts
had boon made diplomatically to effect his release it was
thought expedient to send a special envoy to the
King of Abyssinia for the purpose of obtaining the
release of Consul Cameron. Unfortunately, however,
instead of that mission turning out successful, notwith-
standing that Her Majesty's Envoy was received by
the King with magnificence, a change came over him, and,
instead of treatiag him with that respect he was entitled to,
the King seized upon his person and cast him into prison.
There might be a difference of opinion on the opposite side
of the House upon some of the bearings of the question,
and which he hoped the discussion would tend to remove ;
yet he felt quite sure that the seizure of her Majesty's envoy
was a most distressing proceeding, and one which was not
to be borne with quietness and patience. It now became
known that a number of other persons were also in cap-
tivity, and it appeared to be a rule in that rude country
that those strangers who entered it never left it —there
were no returning footsteps. Ultimately one of thoprisoners
was allowed to come to England on a mission to her Majesty,
King Theodore taking as hostage for the messenger returning
his wife and children. This gentleman on his arrival in
England was received by her Majesty, and the nature of
his mission having been made known it was at once
granted, al.hough it was of a very peculiar na-
ture. King Theodore wished that certain machinery
and artisans should be sent out to him, and
it having been thought that such a proceeding would in-
sure the liberation, accozdingly the greatest care was
taken to comply with the wishes of the King. The ma-
chinery and artisans wore atonce sent out, but on arrival
at Massowah it was discovered that a change had come over
the wishes of the King, and it was thought inexpedient to
proceed, and the artisans returned to England. All diplo-
matic means having failed, and Consul Cameron and his
companions being still in captivity, it had been determined
to endeavoitr to effect their liberation by force. England
had throughout the matter acted with the greatest magna-
nimity, and beyond that h was impossible to go; and if any
hesitation recurred after that it would savour of timidity,
and as every other menus had failed, an expedition was at
once decided upon. The Government thought that
nothing could be so disastrous as failure, therefore the
greatest cafe had been taken to avoid disaster and to en-
sure success. The right hon. gentleman having referred
in very complimentary terms to the conduct of the Go-
vernment of Bombay, wont on to state the probable
cost of the war. Assuming, ho said, the war was
commenced at once, and carried up to the end of
April, whe❑ it would be expedient for our troops to leave
the country, the probable cost up to that time would, ac-
cording to the most careful calculation, amount to three
millions and a-half. No doubt there would be an in-
crease if we were called upon to replace the troops which
had been lent to us by the Indian Government, and this
bad been put down at £300,000, making in all £3,800,000,
but the most prudent course would be to set the whole sum
down at four millions. lie believed that General Napier
would have his troops ready for active service at a cost
under £1,000,000, and as that suns would now become pay-
able at the end of, the financial year, March 3.1, 1868, the