The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-08 00:00:00

THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ CANAL.

Mr. H. BERKELEY asked the First Lard of the
Treasury whether her Majesty' Government would use
its influence with his Highness the Sultan in support of
an application which had been made by the Viceroy of
Egypt fur the sanction of the Sublime Porto to the con-
struction of a ship canal across the Isthmus of Suez, for
which a concession had been granted by the Viceroy a
Egypt to M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, and which had re-
ceived the approbation of the principal cities, ports, and
commercial to i‘ns of the united kingdom ; and, if any
objection were entertained by her Majesty's Govern-
ment to the undertaking to state the grounds of such
objecticn ?
Lord PALMERSTON—Her Majesty's Government
certainly cannot undertake to use their influence with
the Sulta❑ to induce him to give permission for the con
struction of this canal, because for the last 15 years her
Majesty's Government have used all the influence they
possess at Coestantinople and in Egypt to prevent that
scheme from being carried into execution. (Hear.) It
is an undertaking which, I believe, in point of commer-
cial character, may be deemed to rank among the many
bubble schemes that from time to time have been palmed
upon gullible capitalists. (Hear, and a laugh) I be-
lieve that it is physically impracticable, except at an ex-
pense which would be far too great to warrant the ex-
pectation of any returns. I believe, therefore, that those
who embarked their money in any such undertaking (if
ray hon. friend has any constituents who are likely to
do so) would find themiselves very grievously deceived
by the result. However, twat is not the ground upon
which the Government have opposed the scheme. Pri-
vate individuals are left to take care of their own inte-
rests,.and if they embark in impracticable undertakings
they must pay the penalty of so doing. But the scheme
is one hostile to the interests of this country— opposed
to the standing policy of England in regard to the con-
nexion of Egypt with Turkey—a policy which bas been
supported by the war and the Treaty of Paris. The ob-
vious political tendency of the undertaking is to render
more easy the separation of Egypt from Turkey. It is
founded, also, on remote speculations with regard to
easier access to our Indian possessions which I need
not more distinctly shalow forth, because they will
be obvious to anybody who pays any attention to
the subject. I can only express my surprise that M.
Ferdinand de Lesseps should have reckoned so much
on the credulity of English capitalists as to think
that by his progress through the different counties
he should succeed in obtaining English money for the
promotion cf a scheme which is every way so adverse to
British interests. (Hear) That scheme was launched,
I believe, about 15 years ago, as a rival to the railway
from Alexandria by Cairo to Suez, which, being infinitely
more practicable and likely to be more useful, obtained
the pro eminence ; but probably the object which M. de
Lesseps and some of the promoters have in view will be
accomplished, even if the whole of the undertaking should
not be carried into execution. (Hear and a laugh.) If
my hon. friend the member for Bristol will take my ad-
vice, he will have nothing to do with the scheme in ques-
tion. (Hear )
METROPOLITAN TURNPIKES.

Lord R. GROSVENOR, asked whether it was the in-
tention of the Government to take steps towards the ap-
pointment of commissioners to inquire into the best me-
thod of removing the tollbars now situated in the metro-
polis, pursuing the plan which had been adopted in re-
gard to those io the metropolis of Ireland and its vicinity.
Lord PALMERSTON said that no doubt it would be
very desirable to accomplish the object which his noble
friend had in view, and that it should therefore receive
the consideration of her Majesty's Government. lie was
not prepared at present to state the method by which
it
would be best attained, but the Government would placee
themselves in communication with the trustees ()f the
metropolitan turnpikes to see what measures would be
necessary. (Hear, hear.)
COMPENSATION TO BRITISH MERCHANTS.
Mr. ADAMS asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Govern-
ment to introduce any measure enabling them to grant
compensation to British merchants whose property at
Uleaborg, in the Gulf of Bothnia, was destroyed on June
2, 1854, by the boats of a squadron under the command
of Admiral Plumridge,
Lord PALMERSTON, in reply, said that was a case
which came under the principle of international law,
which he had stated, the other evening, in reference to
the losses suffered by B:itish subjects at Greyto wn.
persons who were residing in Russia, though British
subjects, would have to take the chances of the Russian
empire, if by hostilities the place where they wero resid-
ing became the scene of warlike operations, and no claim
could be set up by those persons against the Government
whose forces carried on the hostilities by which they hap-
pened to be sufferer'.
BENGAL MILITARY FUND.

Viscount GODERICH called attention to the present
state of the Bcngal Mihaly Fund, and to the relations
existing between the East India Company and that fund,
and to move for a select committee to inquire into
the su'ject. The fund was one which had been founded
by the officers of the Indian army for charitable
purpose?, and supported by their subscriptions and
by certain sums voted by the. East India Company.
In consequence of the recent occurrences in India,
the
he
did not intend to push the motion, as it might
appearance of embarrassing the Indian Government,
ave
but ho should reserve to himself the right to bring for.