The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-11 00:00:00

were among the Christians themselves. It had unfortu-
nately been the policy of France to misrepresent the policy
of England in the East. Indeed the most infamous people
in Syria were the persons calling themselves Christians.
And of the efforts upon the part of the French to misrepre-
sent the policy of England with regard to the East, if the
house would extend one moment's further indulgence to
him, he would bring under their notice a matter that was
personal to himself, and which was remarkable as a gross
misrepresentation. He read in the'Debats of that morning
a severe commentary written by one of the French writers
on the debate on the lonian Islands two nights before—a
commentary in which her Majesty's Government was not
spared—some remarks affecting himself. He was repre-
sented in the Debcrts—a journal which had the character of
being generally temperate and respectable—as having ex-
pressed an earnest desire that two Albanian regiments,
without pay—
The SPEAKER—I beg to remind the hon. member
that unless there is anything in the article personal to his
own character, he is not in order in referring to it.
Mr. LAYARD begged to assuve the house that it was
personal to himself. He was represented as having ex-
claimed, when he was speaking of the lonians, that he
wished the Sultan would send two Albanian regiments to
Corfu, without pay, and he warranted they would soon
give the people of that island a distaste for the government
of free Greece, Now he must say that that was a reflection
upon his character in this house. No English gentleman
would say so, and he now emphatically declared that he
never made use of any such expression. (Hear.) He hoped
that hon. gentlemen would read the papers relating to Sy-
ria, and they would see what the character of the Christians
there was. He was sorry that they bore the name of Chris-
tians. The papers, on the other hand, reflected the greatest
credit on the Porte. It might appear paradoxical, but the
position of Turkey at that moment was owing to the great
toleration of the Turk. Let them see how it contrasted with
that of Spain. Spain sought to exterminate the Moors, and
Russia was at that moment exter urinating or driving out
the Tartar lace from the Crimea by the most infamous and
Intolerant proceedings. Now, looking at the morality of
Syria, there was not in existence a more moral people than
the Turks in that country. If the European Powers de-
sired to put a stop to the existing state of things in Syria,
they could not only do it by preventing the consuls from
meddling in the affairs of the people in that country ; and
they should also put a stop to the meddling of the priests,
for of all agitators those in the garb of a priest—he cared
not of ,what denomination—were the most dangerous.
(Hear.) He implored the noble lord at the head of the Go-
vernment to support the Turks in the adoption of their own
plans, and not to force upon them the plans of any foreign
Powers.

Colonel CLIFFORD would be one of the last to ap-
prove of the attrocities that had been committed in Syria.
Much credit was due to Lord Dufferin for the efforts
which he made to stop the effusion of Druse blood, which
was called for by the Christian priests. It was well known
that the Christian prelates sent in the names of 4,600
Druses for proscription ; and it was due, and highly cre-
ditable to Lord Dufferin, that he resisted the demand, and
succeeded in having the names reduced even to 1,000. He
(Col. Clifford) had with his own eyes seen acts of the vilest
and most wantonly-cruel kind inflicted by the Christian
Maronites upon the Druses in Syria. He, however, could
not coincide in the glowing account of Syria which had
been given by the hon. member for Southwark (Mr. Layard),
being enabled to speak differently on that subject from his
own observation and experience. In conclusion, he bore
his testimony ty the gallant conduct of Sir Hugh Rose in
protecting the Christian garrison at Beyrout from an attack
by the Druses.
Sir H. VERNEY said that it was the corruption and
maladministration of the Turkish Government which was
at the bottom of the discontent in Syria and every other
part of the Turkish Empire.
An Hon. Member moved that the House be counted, but
40 members were present when the Speaker announced the
number.
Sir H. VERNEY said that if the noble lord the Secre-
tary for Foreign Affairs could by ar y means cause an im-
provement to be effected in the Government of Turkey, and
infuse into it the sprit of justice, moderation, and integrity,
he would confer the greatest possible benefit on Europe.
Mr. MONSELL denied that the evils of Syria arose
from any desire on the part of the tribes to fight with each
other. He believed that the Druses and the Maronites
would live in perfect harmony if they were left to them-
selves—(hear, hear)—and not acted upon by any sinister
influence. It was not the Druses or the Maronites they
had to control, but the Turks. The Turkish Government
and the Turkish officials promoted the massacres, and to
allow the Turkish Government to arrange the affairs of
the Lebanon would be not only inconsistent with the
honour and promises of this country, but would infallibly
lead to the most disastrous results. Her Majesty's Go-
vernment should insist, before the European troops were
removed from Syria, upon the establishment of some fair
and reasonable system by which the Christians would be
protected. It would be an outrage against humanity to
sanction the removal of the troops until that were done.
They could not agree to the Turkish plan of allowing the
Turkish Pacha to be omnipotent in the Lebanon. If they
chose to do so, they could compel the Turkish Government
to introduce such a system as would prevent a repetition of
those miseries produced by their misgovernment. Great,
indeed, would be the responsibility of her Majesty's Go-
vernm,ent if they neglected that line of policy. (Hear.)
Mr. FREELAND said the Government had been ex-
tremely fortunate in their choice of Lord Dufferin as com-
missioner. (Hear, hear.) It was right also as regarded
M. Thouvenel, who had been referred to, to state that his
measures were of a most benign character. He (Mr. Free-
land) hoped the Powers of Europe would endeavour to
solve this difficult question in a humane and conciliatory
spirit. As to the French occupation, he thought that sub-
ject might be safely entrusted to the noble lord (Lord J.
Russell) He thought the Maronites were the aggressors.
That was the opinion of Lord Dufferin, and M. Thouvenel
almost admitted it. The Ottoman Government, however,
were chiefly to blame. Sir H. Bulwer said this, and in one
of his despatches said he had been constantly bringing this
matter before them, but without any satisfactory results.
After repeated warnings, the Turkish Government had de-
clined sending troops to Syria to repel these disturbances.
Lord Dufferin said the Turkish Pachas at Beyrout were
chiefly responsible for the disasters that had occurred. He
(Mr. Freeland) thought it was of the greatest importance
that the Government of the whole of Syria, and not of the
Lebanon merely, should be looked to, and secondly, that
Syria should not be governed for the interest of any parti-
cular European country, but for the benefit of the native
races. Among the reforms that ought to be made, hewould
suggest a reform In the seraglio, the extent of which was
beyond belief, and the expenses of which were greater than
the whole army of Turkey. (Laughter.)
Mr. GRIFFITH thought we ought to prevent any-
thing likely to lead to foreign conquest in Syria, to avoid
joining with any particular party there, and to allow the
provinces to obtain their liberation how they may. (Hear.)
AFFAIRS OF MEXICO.

Mr. BUTT asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs when the papers rel ►ting to the affairs of Mexico
would be laid on the table of the house, and if any instruc-
tions were sent out to Sir C. Wylie to enforce the conven-
tion relative to the Customs duties ?
Lord J. RUSSELL replied that instructions had been
sent out to Sir C. Wylie, but at present he had nothing
further to communicate.
THE INDEMNITY BILL.

Mr. lIADFIELD wished to ask the Secretary of State
for the Home Department when the yearly Indemnity Bill
would be brought in; whether the form and purport of it
would be the same as had been used. annually since 182.8 ;
and whether he would cause it to be printed in the way
usually done on the introduction of other bills, for conside-
ration and discussion ?
Sir G. C. LEWIS replied that the bill was annually
brought in by the Under Secretary of State for the Home
Department, and was a very short one. It would also be
found always in the folio edition of the statutes. As to the
law on the subject, there was no test whatever. A declara-
tion was required, and if not made, the parties were saved
from all consequences by an Indemnity Bill, which passed
every year.