The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-16 00:00:00

THE BUDGET.

In reply to Mr. MOFFATT,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that he would be able to make his financial statement early
in April, he hoped about the 11th of that month.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Mr. DUNCOMBE asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs if no despatches were sent to Sir J. Hud-
son between the 31st August and the 27th of October last;
and, if so, why those despatches were omitted in the fur-
ther correspondence relating to the affairs of Italy : And•
to ask, what were " the interests which Great Britain had in
the Adriatic," which the despatch of 31st August stated "her
Majesty's Government must watch with careful attention."
He said that the Government took credit for their policy
of non-intervention with other countries, but that non-
intervention was all a hoax (laughter.) They had not in-
terfered with respect to Rome or Naples, because thepeePle
in those places did not ask their permission te talc! the
course they had done. Butin Austria Government had inter-
fered to assist the army and to keep down those who had been
tnannised over. The contents of the despatch of Aug,3l

oiould not have been known except that the despatch had
been published in Germany. The noble lord the Foreign
Secretary had stated to Sir James Hudson that this coun-
try had interests in the Adriatic which must be watched,
but what those interests were nobody from John O'Groat's
to the Land's End, no one could tell. In another
despatch the noble lord desired Sir James
Hudson to keep his eye on Louis Kossuth,
and he, in a spirit that showed he was a proper English
representative, replied that he considered it no part of his
duty to carry out that instruction. lie also condemned
the course pursued by the Government in their instruc-

tions relative to the Genoese Railway, of which Kossuth
was a director, and praised Sir James Hudson in reference

to the matter. This policy was of a piece with the pro-
ceedings that had taken place in regard to the Hun-
garian notes, and was intended to crush the

liberty of Hungary, a country which contained 15,000,000
inhabitants, and 20,000 squars miles more than England
and Wales. This policy was intended to be a counterpoise
to France, but he deprecated such policy as being most
unjust and unwise, considering the feelings which the
Emperor of the French had shown towards this country.

had seen a letter from Turin recently, from which
it appeared that Austria proposed to get up an
apparent insurrection in Hungary, in order to place that
country under martial law, and he called on the house not
to sanction a policy that would lead to a continuance of
the present enslaved situation of Hungary.
Mr. C. BENTINCK Asked the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs whether information was received from Sir
J. Hudson, previous to the 31st day of August last, to the
effect that the expedition of General Garibaldi was secretly
assisted by the Sardinian Government ; andwhetherthe
Foreign Office did, previous to the 11th day of September
last, receive official information that the Sardinian Govern-
ment contemplated the invasion or seizure of a portion of
the Papal States ; and whether any and what answer was
returned by the Austrian Government to the Despatch, No.
96, addressed to Lord A. Loftus, and referring to a de-
spatch from Consul General Perry ? He contended
that Government had not been kept properly informed re-
lative to the movements in Italy, and designated the inva-
sion of Naples as a pre-concerted plan on the part of the
King of Sardinia, whose agent, he contended, Garibaldi
was.

THE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS IN SPAIN.
Sir R. PEEL asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether any correspondence had taken place be-
tween her Majesty's Government and that of Spain re-
specting• the imprisonment in Spain of certain per-
sons for religious opinions. The honourable
baronet said that he did not appear before

the house in regard to this subject in the character of a
person suddenly struck with religious zeal, which he dis-
claimed—(laughter)—but as an advocate of civil and
religious liberty, from the benefits it conferred. The only
offence of which these poor men imprisoned in Spain
bad been guilty of was having in their pos-
session and using copies of the Holy Scriptures
in common with other persons. But the most remarkable
instance was that which occurred in MI as regarded
Francis and Rosa Madai, who were seized and put into
prison exactly on the same ground as those for whom he
now appealed to Parliament. Her Majesty's Government
—not only tke present Government but also the Govern-
ment represented by Lord Malmesbury—directly and suc-
cessfully interfered in that case. Having mentioned these
political and these religious grounds of interference he was
quite sure that now, if he could make out a case of perse-
cution and of intolerance which he believed to be unequalled
in any Christian country in the world since the abolition of
the Inquisition, he was quite sure that he would be supported
by the house in his desire to obtain the moral and the active
influence of the Government to relieve those parties from
their suffering. What was the cause of this persecution ?
This religious sect of dissenters from the Church of Rome
existed more particularly in Malaga, at Grenada, and at
Barcelona. The chiefs of this sect were a man named
Alhama and a man named Matamoros. He went no further
back than last year. At the beginning of last year Alhama
was seized and put into prison solely because he was in

possession of a copy of the Holy Scriptures, and that he had
read them in communion with other people. He had been
tried, after being months in prison, and did the house know
what the punishment was for that act of his ? Why, in
accordance with the 25th article of the Spanish penal code
a man guilty of the crime of having a Bible, or reading it
in communion with other people, was punishable with 10
or 12 years at the galleys ; in fact he became a galley-
slave, associated with the worst of criminals. That was a
disgrace to any Christian country. In fact, the other day
Matamoros saw a gentleman in prison, who said, " I wish
your offence, instead of being an offence against the Ho-
man Catholic religion, had been a political one; I wish it
had been robbery. You would have been long ago at
liberty." In consequence of some papers found on Al-
hama, residing at Barcelona, Matamoros was taken pri-
soner, and was dragged to Barcelona, thence to Malaga,
and thence to Grenada. It was his fortunate lot to travel
with that man on the diligence from Malaga to Grenada.
He did not know who he was at the time, but he could not
but admire the simple piety of the man. He afterwards saw
him at Grenada. The cell in which he was confined was
only a few feet wide—it was dark, and there was no furni-

Lure in it, or anything to make him pass his time agree-
ably. (Laughter.) He asked him whether he was at all
connected with any political movement, or with anything
directed against the Government of the country ? The
answer of Matamoros was, " Nothing of the kind. It is
simply and solely for the profession of my faith that I am
in prison, and the same is the case with Alhama." He (the
hon. baronet) should like to read a letter which he had re-
ceived, though if the house did not seem disposed to grant
him that privilege he would not do so. (Hear.) He could
assure them, however, that the subject was a very serious
one, though the right hon. member for Bucks seemed to
find in it nothing but amusement.

Mr. DISRAELI—I rise to order. The personal observa •
tions which the hon. bart. has made are not justified by any-
thing I have done, and have no foundation whatever.
(Cheers.) I am not aware that I denoted any sentiment to
justify a course which during the whole time I have been
in Parliament I never knew adopted before. (Cheers.)
The SPEAKER—No doubt the hon. baronet, without
any interposition on my part, will see that his observations
require some explanation.

Sir R. PEEL—I must say, air, that Ido not see that my
observations require any modification or explanation.
(Laughter, and loud cries of " Order !")
The SPEAKER—Then it will be necessary for me to
express a more decided opinion on the subject. (Hear.)
Sir R. PEEL—I will at once, sir, acknowledge my error
in the allusion which I made to the right hon. gentleman.
(Hear.) Of course a speaker has a very difficult task when
he is standing opposite a gentleman who is continually
laughing. (Oh, oh.) I beg to apologise to the right hon.
gentleman, and to withdraw anything I may have said that
is disagreeable to him. I assure him that I did not mean
anything offensive. (Cheers.) I hope that the noble lord
will take an early opportunity,not by private remonstrance,
but by public despatch, to declare that the persecution of
these poor people was a flagrant violation of the first prin-
ciples of religious liberty. (Cheers.)