The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-26 00:00:00

FREE LABOUR.

Mr. MUTT gave notice that on this day fortnight he
should bring before the House the subject of_ the immi-
gration of free negroes into the West Indies.

TIIE WAR IN MOROCCO.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL wished to ask the Right
_ _

Hon. Gentleman (Sir R. Peel) a question, of which
he had given notice, with respect to the state of the re-
lations between France and Morocco. He had delayed

it until communications should have been received. lt
appeared that re-inforcements had lately been sent
by the French Government to the frontier of
Algiers, and it was said that the whole force
wa: to amount to no less than 100,000, or nearly equal
to the whole force of this great empire. There had
lately been actual hostilities on the frontier of Algiers
and Morocco. Whether they were provoked by the
Morocco chiefs, as stated in the French newspapers, or
whether the Emperor -of Morocco had any other ac-
count to give of the origin of those hostilities, they
were not informed. Any question which should lead
to hostilities, ands till m )ra Si war and invasion on the
part of France against Morocco, could not but be deeply
interesting to this country, between which and Morocco
relations of peace were established in 1801 and renewed
in 1824. The persons and property of English subjects
in Morocco were protected ; and there was an article in
the treaty which had special reference to the provision-
ing of Gibraltar, being evidently considered by
the parties who framed it of the utmost importance.
Then, if any aggression or occupaticin on the part of
France should tend to interrupt the means of communica-
tion of this country with the States of Morocco, that
would occasion very serious inconvenience.—(Hear,
hear.) NO doubt the Noble Secretary for Foreign Affairs
had communicated with the Government of the King of
the French on this subject ; and he (Lord John
Russell) wished to ask the Right Honourable
Baronet at- the head of the Government what

was the nature of the explanation given, both
as to the origin of the hostilities, and the extent to
which they were likely to be carried?—(hear, hear.)
There was another subject upon which he wished to put
a question to the Right Iron. Gentleman—that was with
respect to any instructions which had been given to the
Admiral who was appointed to command the expedition.
—(Bear, hear.) The Admiral appointed was the Prince
de Joinville, and he was sure that the mention of that
name was enough to make every Englishman jealous on
the subject.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir R. PEEL said the Noble Lord had been good
enough to give him notice of the general tenor of his
question, and he was prepared to give now the
answer to that question, as far as he was able con-
sistently with his sense of public duty. He concurred with
the Noble Lord in his observations as to the importance
to this country or the States of Morocco. It was im-
possible to contemplate those States, and their present
condition, without feeling deep interest. The re-
lations which had so long subsisted with Morocco,
and the fidelity with which that empire had always ob-
served its engagements, as well as the physical charac-
ter and position of the country itself, made its present
exposed condition a matter of deep concern.—(Hear,
hear.) In answer to the Noble Lord, he must state that
the Government of France had entered into full explana-
tions with regard to the state of its relations with Mo-
rocco. The French Government had stated most posi-
tively that it was their most anxious wish to avoid hos-
tilities between France and Morocco. They stated
the circumstances which led to the rupture.
Those were, that when the Chieftain who had
opposed the French in the north of Africa, and
who was well known for his valour and perseverance,
was pressed, he sought refuge within the territory of
Morocco. He there re-organised his forces, and was
enabled by the subjects of the Eiriperor, if not by
the Emperor . himself, to renew hostilities. That
led to an interruption of the friendly relations of
France with Morocco, anti hostilities were commenced by
the directions of the Emperor. There was subsequently
a casual collision of the French and Moorish troops.
An amicable conference subsequently took place, during
which, according to the telegraphic es;patch, the French
were assailed. Of the facts of this encounter, he knew
no more than was conveyed in the dispatch. The
French Government also stated, that nothing
was further from their wish than to enter upon hostili-
ties with Morocco ; and they regretted the necessity
of their doing so. They had communicated to`
her Majesty's Government their general views with
regard to Morocco, and had apprised this Government
,f their general demands on the Emperor, and the steps
which they intended to take to enforce those demands,
which, of course, included the general instructions to the
Adin:ral. He thought the Noble Lord would not expect
that he should expbiin the purport of those instructions.
—(hear, hear.) He trusted implicitly to the assurances
which he had received, and they were satisfactory.
He was sure the Noble Lord would not expect him to
state anything farther now ; but when the time came
that there were no considerations of public duty to pre-
vent him, he would then have no objection to be more
explicit.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that although he would
not press the Right Hon. Baronet further at the present
time, yet the Right Hon. Gentleman must excuse him if,
on a future occasion, he again alluded to this subject..

COURSE OF PUBLIC BUSINESS.
In answer to a question from Mr. SCOTT, on the sub-
ject of the poor-laws,
Sir R. PEEL said he would take that opportunity of
stating what course the Government intended to pursue
with respect to public business. On Thursday next he
proposed to proceed with the Committee on. the Bank
Charter Bill, but he should in the first instanq propose
that the Sugar Duties Bill shoUld be read a third time,
provided the motion which the Noble Lord had
to make on :the subject did not interfere with the
third reading. After the Bank Charter Bill, he would

propose the third reading of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill;
and in case that Bill was read a third time on Thursday,
his Right Hon. Friend would proceed with the Poor-
law Amendment Bill on Friday. On Monday he pro-
posed to proceed with the second reading of the Irish Re-
gistration Bill, which he hoped would be convenient for
gentlemen connected with Ireland.
Mr. F. FRENCH said that several Irish Members
would have to go next week to attend the assizes.
Sir R. PEEL said, he had endeavoured to meet the
wishes of Hon. Gentlemen connected with Ireland, and
lie had fixed Monday next, because he understood that
that day would not be inconvenient to them.
Lord J, RUSSELL said, that what he should have
to say on the subject of the Sugar duties would go into
a small compass, but he would not answer for the
length of the debate. He hoped that next week either
the Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of the Govern-
ment, or the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment, would be ready to state what courso the Govern-
ment intended to pursue with respect to the Ecclesiasti-
cal Courts Bill and the County Courts Bill, before Hon.
and Learned Gentlemen went on the circuit.
GAMING LAWS.

Lord PALMERSTON wished to know whether it was
the intention of the Government during the present ses-
sion to bring in a Bill founded on the report of the Com-
mittee on the Gaming Laws.
Sir J. GRAHAM did not think the matter of suffi-
cient importance to introdur3e a Bill in the course of the
present session, but he would bring one in in the course
of next session. •

Lord PALMERSTON wished to know whether the
Right Hon. Baronet intended to continue, till next ses-
sion, the Bill passed for the SuFpension of Actions ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said the Bill was not introduced by
Government, and he was not prepared to undertake the
conduct of the Bill.
FRAME-WORK KNITTERS.

Mr. FERRAND wished to know why no Commis-
sioner had visited Nottingham, to inquire into the truth
of the allegations in the petition of the frame-work
knitters, which he had presented some time since.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that Commissioners had been
appointed to inquire into the state of the hand-loom
wearers and the frame -work knitters, and he had no
doubt they would soon visit the county of Nottingham.