The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-07 00:00:00

OTAHEITE.

Sir G. GREY wished to put a question to the
First Lord of the Treasury, in reference to that por-
tion of her Majesty's speech which referred to the
discussions which had taken place last year between
her Majesty's Government and the French Govern-
ment, relative to the island of Otaheite. As the close
of last session the Right Hon. Gentleman declined
giving any detailed information as to the nature of the
correspondence which had taken place between the two
countries, and expressed his intention ofsnlamitting to the
Mouse, at a future period, full information on the
subject. Now, without expressing any opinion as to
the course the Government had taken, he might
say, that no man more sincerely rejoiced
than himself, that the dissensions between
the two countries had been so satisfactorily arranged
between the two Governments. He for one would
be extremely unwilling to press for the production of
any correspondence which might tend to create a
feeling of irritation, or foment discord and jealousy
between the two countries. At the same time it could
not be overlooked that this question was exciting a
very warm interest among a very large class of
persons in this country, as it was regarded as of great
importance both to our national honour and interest.
At present the House was in possession of no informa-
tion except that which they had derived through the
medium of the public newspapers, from documents
that had been submitted to the French Chambers. He
wished to know whether the Right Hon. Gentleman
had any objection to produce the correspondence
which had taken place ?
Sir R. PEEL trusted that, as the correspondence
was of a somewhat delicate nature, the Right Hon.
Gentleman would not press for the production of the
whole of it. Now that the affair had come to a ter-
mination honourable to the two countries, and, he
trusted, satisfactory to all parties, he did hope that he
should not be pressed for the production of the whole of
the documents. He would have the greatest pleasure in
laying before the House the result of those negotia-
tions—that was to say, the two letters of M. Guizot
and the letter of his Noble Friend. He objected to
the production of this correspondence on exclusively
public grounds. It was not necessary for the vindi-
cation of the character of Mr. Pritchard, because
Mr. Pritchard had been originally appointed,
before those differences existed, to a situation
of higher emolument, and which embraced a more
extended sphere of action, and that appointment, had
bepn conferred since these transactions had taken
place. If he were to present the whole of the docu-
ments to the House he would have to present a
correspondence which had taken place between
officers in the naval service of France, and 'in
the naval service of this country, of a highly
irritating character ; and, as the whole affair
had been amicably settled, he should be exceedingly
sorry to be compelled to produce that correspon-
dence.—(Loud cheers) But that amicable termina-
tion had been chiefly brought about, not by corre-
spond2nce, but by daily communication, between the
representative of the French Government in this
country and his Noble Friend and himself.
Any correspondence, therefore, which could be
produced would present but an imperfect record
of
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of what had passed. The representativ aof the
French Government had more ample mean.; in his
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the House that he did not shrink from the production
of these papers, because he thought their production
would be injurious to the Government, but he
did hope that if the feelings of the House
and of the country were favourable to the
principle of bringing these differences to an amicable
conclusion, and as each party had male concessions,
for the sake of bringing the matter to that amicable
conclusion—if the House was satisfied with the course
which the Government had taken, he trusted they
would be content with the production of the result of
those communications, and would not press for the pro-
duction of those portions of the correspondence which
were of an irritating character.—(Loud cheers.) He
felt obliged for the manner in which he had put the
question, and he trusted that, after the announcement
which had been made, the Right Hon. Gentleman
would not press for the production of the whole of the
papers.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought that the production
of the results of the correspondence would be
satisfactory. It would be irregular to press for
papers, the production of which would be in-
jurious to the public service, and as to the produc-
tion of any irritating correspondence, he would not
press for it.
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS BILL.

Mr. P. BARING, seeing the Right llon. Gentle-
man the Secretary of the Home Department in his
place, would ask him if it was his intention to intro •
duce, during the present session, any measure for the
regulation of the Ecclesiastical Courts ?--(Cheers.)
Sir JAMES GRAHAM had already given notice
of the introduction of several measures of very great
importanee during the present session ; but, from the
experience of the last two sessions—(A laugh)—
he despaired of being enabled to bring
in any measure for the regulation of Eccle-
siastical Courts, which would be satisfactory to
the present Parliament.—(Cheers and laughter.) He
knew not what might be the intention of his Hon.
and Learned Friend the Advocate-General—(A
laugh)—but he himself had no intention of bringing
forward any measure on the subject.—(Laughter.)
Lord J. RUSSELL put a question relative to the
charter of the College of Surgeons, which we could
not catch.

COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
Sir J. GRAHAM said the Hon. Member for
Finsbury had given notice of a motion for the pro-
duction of the charter to the College of Surgeons.
He had offered no opposition to the production of
other papers connected with the subject. These
papers would be laid upon the table.
Mr. WAKLEY said the Right Hon. Gentleman
had not correctly interpreted the nature of his
motion, which was for a copy of the memorial pre-
sented to the Crown from the Council of the College
of Surgeons.
MONTE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES.
Mr. EWART said he would feel obliged for an
answer to the question he was about to put, if it
were convenient to the Government to answer it ; if
not, he would put the question on some other occasion.
He alluded to the trade of the river La Plata, which
had been so much obstructed of late, and it would
give him great pleasure to hear that there was
even an approximation to an arrangement of
the subject. The British merchants entertained
great apprehensions regarding the trade with these
parts, as the Government of Buenos Ayres had inter-
fered with the navigation of the River Plata. He
had hoped, from the aspect which things presented
last session, that some combined operations on the
part of the Governments of France, England, and
Brazil, would be attempted.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said he regretted exceed-
ingly the prolongation of those lamentable hostilities
between the inhabitants of the two small powers
whose quarrel disturbed the commerce of Eu-
rope. He could assure the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman that this question had
occupied the attention of the Government during
the recess. He had had a communication with the Go-
vernment of Brazil, and with the Government of
France on the subject. He could not better illus-
trate the importance of a cordial co-operation be-
tween France and England, than by mentioning what
had occurred on this subject. When the proposal for
interference was made to France, that Goverment at
once hearkened to the call, and joined in their efforts.
He trusted that, with the concurrence of Brazil, the
three Governments, by acting in complete concert,
would make such representations to the belligerent
parties as would terminate these disastrous events.
He hoped the good sense of the parties would not
reject such mediation.—(llear, hear.)
ASSIZE EXPENSES IN IRELAND.
Lord CLEMENTS wished to know whether the
expenses of the judges going to the assizes in Ireland
had been increased, in consequence of any recent
arrangement?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said the Noble Lord was not present last
session when the votes regarding law expenses in
Ireland were under the consideration of the House.
The grounds for seeking an additional allowance
were simply these :--By an Irish Act of Parliament
the judges were allowed 201. Irish to provide them-
selves with lodgings in the; several assize towns in
Ireland. The sum was found inadequate to obtain
lodgings in which the judges could decently reside;
and it appeared therefore to the Government that an
estimate should be submitted to Parliament for an
increased allowance. Accordingly an estimate was
submitted in the course of the last session, and
Parliament acquiesced in the amount fixed, namely,
6691. for the thirty-nine assize towns.