The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-10 00:00:00

THE ABYSSINIAN CAPTIVES.

Lord CHELMSFORD asked the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs for the latest information he had reeeived as to the
condition of Consul Cameron and the other prisoners in
Abyssinia; what progress Mr. Rassam had made in his
mission; and whether any and what efforts had been made in
addition to Mr. Rassam's mission to procure their liberation.
It was a long time since a British consul had been loaded
with-chains and subjected to indignity and imprisonment,
and there was a time when such an outrage on a represen-
tative of the country would have roused public indigna-
tion and obtained immediate redress. The Emperor of
Abyssinia was on friendly terms with Consul Cameron,
and with a view to cement the friendly feeling with this
country, addressed a letter to her Majesty in 1863, which
was not answered until 16 months afterwards. He com-
plained of the indifference shown to the fate of a public
servant, and the injudicious proceedings of the Foreign
Office ; and further inquired what progress had been made
by Mr. Rassam in his mission to the Emperor Theodore
and whether other efforts were making for the liberation
of the prisoners.
The Earl of CLARENDON deeply sympathised with
the sufferings of Mr. Cameron and his unfortunate com-
panions, but protested against the unnecessary acrimony
of Lord Chelmsford's remarks. He attributed the impri-
sonment of Consul Cameron to his meddling in the affairs
of the country, and not to the fact of no answer having
been received to the Emperor's letter to the Queen. If a
large and important mission were sent out, it would pro-
bably share the fate of Captain Cameron. Letters had,
ho wever, been lately received from Massowah by way of
Aden, and dated the Gth of December, which, although
t Loy .41,1 Llio release or La.,.
that Consul Cameron was alive, but that the Emperor

had gone away to pursue some rebels, and taken his
English prisoners with him. In one of his letters
Mr. Rassam still expressed hopes of a successful
result ; and another from Consul Cameron himself
gave a favourable account of the health of the captives,
with the exception of Mr. Rosenthal, who was unwell.

To a question of Lord BATEMAN,
Earl RUSSELL replied that the Home Secretary had
not given a final answer to the deputation from the cattle
plague conference, but would state the views and inten-
tions of the Government on bringing in a bill next
Monday.

The Earl of DERBY complained that instead of taking
the lead the Government had feebly waited to ascertain
what would be agreeable to the country.
Earl SPENCER regretted that the Government had not
on its own authority carried out the recommendations of
the Royal commissioners, and earnestly hoped that the
movement of live cattle would be stopped until the Ist of
April next.

Earl GRANVILLE bore testimony to the value of the

commissioners' report and the information they had col-
lected. Noble lords who recommended the stoppage of
live traffic could hardly realise the difficulty, if not the im-
practicability, of carrying out such a measure.
A few remarks from Earl FoRTESCUE and the Earl of
AIRLIE brought the discussion to a close, and their lord-
ships adjourned shortly before 8 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
Mr. BAINES presented a petition from Leeds, praying for
a large and liberal enlargement of the franchise.
UNDUE RETURNS.
A petition was presented complaining of an undue re-
turn for Totnes.
A petition was also presented complaining of an undue
return for the borough of Boston.
SAVINGS BANKS.
Mr. HENLEY moved for returns, in continuation of
Parliamentary Paper No. 250, of session 1865, of accounts
relating to savings banks for the year ending the 20th day
of November, 1864. Ordered.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
Mr. W. LESLIE said, in consequence of notice given by
the Government to introduce a bill on the subject on Mon-
day, he should abstain from putting the question which
stood on the paper in his name for that evening.
LAW OP HYP,OTHEb.
Mr. CARNEGIE asked the Lord Advocate if it was his
hypothec in Scotland ?
intention to bring in any measure in regard to the law of
The LORD ADVOCATE said it was his intention to
bring in such a measure.
FENIANISM.
Mr. WATKINS gave notice of his intention on an
early day to ask the Government what representations had
been made by the Government of the United States to the
Government of this country relative to the Fenian organi-
sation which existed in America.
MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.
Mr. CHAMBERS gave notice that on the 6th of March
he should move for leave to bring in a bill to legalise mar-
riage with a deceased wife's sister.
THE REFORM BILL.
Mr. BERKELEY asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether, in conjunction with the infor-
mation recommended to be procured in her Majesty's
Speech in reference to the rights of voting in the elec-
tions of members to serve in Parliament, it would not
be deemed necessary by her Majesty's Government to in-
quire into the causes which at present prevent so large a
portion of the electors from 'voting, and encourage so large
a portion to traffic with the franchise ; and whether such
an inquiry was not necessary previous to the creation of a
reform bill ?
Sir G. GREY said her Majesty's Government had only
_ called for information to enable them to bring in a bill on
the subject which they had thought necessary.
VOTING RETURNS.
Viscount CRANBOURNE asked the Secretary of State
for the Home Department whether he would state to the
house the exact nature of the returns upon the subject of
the rights of voting which aro in course of collection by
the Government ?
Sir G. GREY said various returns were being completed,
and they would be laid on the table of the house without
the least delay. Hon. members had better wait to see
what those returns were.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.
Mr. D. GRIFFITH asked -the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether it was not by accident and
inadvertence that in -giving notice lately of intended
motions, by Government precedence, he fixed one of
them for a members' ballot night, Tuesday, 13th ; and
whether he had any intention of claiming any right on the
part of the Government to givg such notice for Tuesdays,