The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-06 00:00:00

MOROCCO,

The Earl of MINT() said he rose for the purpose of
putting the question, of which he had given notice, respecting
the naval force to the coast of Morocco. Ile understood the
mediation of this country between France and Morocco had
been rejected, and, though he deeply regretted it, he was not
surprised that ;uuh should be the case, because he did not
think they had placed themselves in such a position
as to afford:to any weak State that assurance of their support
which symptoms of preparation on their part would afford.
The independence of Morocco could not be an object of indif-
krence to that House, for there were positions on the coast of
that empire which would be most injurious and dangerous to
the itlerests of this country if they fell into the hands of any
other State and a place of importance in the neighbourhood of
that coast, the island of Minorca would be placed in jeopardy.
He would have felt less anxiety on this subject
if he could find anywhere in this country the means of making
a display of strength on that coast.. Hut the naval force of the
country was so reduced, that he did not know where his Noble
Friend opposite could look for the means of producing an
nhpression there. Negotiations were good, but it was
necessary they should be backed by some force—
( Hear, hear)—and he had the highest authority in that
House, that of the Noble Duke opposite, for such an opinOn.
Ina debate on the 14th of August, 1838, on the state of their
commercial relations, the Noble Duke said he considered the
state of those relations was owing, in a great degree, to the ex•
tensive weakness and tottering condition of their naval este-
' lithment ; and, further on, he said he considered the naval
fo.ce of the country to be in too feeble and tattering a condition
to answer the purpose intended, of giving protection to
their commercial interests in all parts of the globe. Such
was the language of the Noble Duka in the
year lii3B, at a time when they had eighteen sail of the
line in commission in every part of the world, besides a
reserve at horn.) of four or five ships of the line ; but
rt was far different now, though it was quite obvious
there were questions pending, not only with regard to
Morocco, but with regard to the Oregon and Texas.
The present Government had succeeded to a fleet of twenty
ships
of the line. They were ju=tified in making some reduc-
tion in that number, because there had not b •en of late the
same necessity for keeping up a great naval force as had pre-
viously existed. But they had made reductions to a degree
which before had never been known or dreamt of. At the pre-
sent moment there was not in commission a single ship of the
fine, except those employed as flag-ships for admirals. There
were nine ships of the line only in commission at the present
moment. Of these, two were in the East Indies, one in the West
Indies; and there were three guard-ships. In the filediter-
renews fleet there was only one ship of the line, and that was
the flag ship; and there was the Albion, which had recently
been employed as the flag ship at Cork. The navy of England
consisted of only nine ships of the line, and that at a time when
the state ofaffairs abroad was such as necessarily to create the
greatest anxiety. He did not say there was any danger of war
but the manner in which the solution of the questions at present
pending would be brought about, would depend greatly
upon the respect in which we were held, and that respect
would be increased ky our keeping up a respectable naval force.
He hoped his Noble Friend would tell them that he had re-
sources to appeal to. Considering the present state of
the French fleet, we ought to have have an increased
fleet in the Mediterranean. We ought not to abdi-
sate the cornmeal of the Mediterranean entirely to
Prance, but still to maintain our power in that sea. Not
only had his Noble Friend reduced the number of the ships of
toe line, but he had also reduced the number of smaller
VCeiii,..-•-( Hear, hear.) He besoeght their Lordships to
recollect all that had been said on tomer occasions as to
tne necessity of keeping a reserve at home for the protection
of our own shore*. He had not any apprehension of any
attack on our own shores, but he regretted the
reductions which had taken place in the naval force
in the Mediteranean. He could not see without uneasiness
the command of the naval foreedestined by France to act against
Morocco confided to the Prince de Jo.nville. He would re-
frain from saying anything reflecting on the character or con-
duct of his Royal Highness, but their Lordships could not but
recollect what had passed on a former occasion, and knowing
the sentiments which bad recently been expressed by.his Royal
Highness, he saw his appointment with regret. The
Noble Earl concluded by putting the question of
which he had given notice,_ namely, If it was the
intestine of her Majesty's Government to adopt any,
end what, measures to send to the coast of Morocco or else-
tshete such naval force as may suffice for the protection of
British interests ?

The Earl of HADDINGTON was prepared to answer the
question of which the Noble Earl had given notice as, to the
tending a British force to Morocco.
The Earl of MINTO had yesterday given notice of his ques-
tion in the exact terms in which he had put it, and it was so
inserted in the votes. He had understood that the Secretary
of State would communicate his motion to his Noble Friend.
Lord II RO UG AM—Read, read.
The Eirl of MINTO then read the notice from the votes in
the orec-iso words in which he had put the question.

Tee Earl of H ADDINGTON. had nut read the votes.
lint he wool I take the • Noble Earl's question in the terms
given---Iforoeco or elsewhere. They had heard the speech of
the Nolile Earl with which he thought proper to introduce
th, queation. The practice of making long speeches in putting
gat-sr tors was a most inconvenient one, and one
to which the Noble Earl was very partial. He
was about to reply t. the Noble Earl's question, not to his
stireeh. Had he had any idea that the Noble Earl was
about to pat a question respecting the distribution of the
whole force of the British navy, he should have thought
it necessary to rrrresh._ his memory as to details
before he came do-.en to answer that statement.
lie never was more taken by surprise in his life than by the
lotig speech, the omnibus rebus, connected with the British nave,
that had been made by the Noble Earl. He thought the N.M.
Earl ought to hays waited for :he presence of his Noble Friend
vele Secretary for Foreign iTsirs. as his speech involved so
much of stmlninaey. The Nt:ble Ea-I come'ained of the Go-
vernment leaving only one ship of the line in the Mediterra•
nein. at the tines that S',l aPs is rn there was not. the
die t,est chance of the cecurrene:ss taking place
which list been lately threatened. It was not supposed by
the liti.ish Government, that heeause the French chose
to 'rave a salting squadran in the Med.terraitean, that thereto e
this coithnty was to f diem their evimple. The Noble Earl
should receliect, too, the, the Aledirerranean was not is distant
sea. In answer to the cpiesi ion of the Noble Earl, he begged to
state that heir Majesty I Gov(rninent had sent to Morocco such
forces as Atep thought the circumstances required, and if it vas
necessary, it was in their power 0, a.dil to that force. With re.
:Teel, .0 elsewbeie, he begged to state that the Govern-
rneet had. -:inch fo.cts to every w,atitiii as they had
thouAtit right for the prrserv.stion of British interests.
They had gre...tly increas,i their forte on the Coast
i Afitiva. Slips 1, i.t sent tu , and tellers hail be .n or-
dered there, and nothing would have prevented them fi oat
sending them out tk;fole but the necessity of hiving a force in
Ireland. lie thought that he had proved that the statement of
the Noble Earl thsst Ministers had neglected British
interests, in all rarts of the world, was tetally without found i-
t too. As ho had stated before, the Government had sent such
forces to Moreno as they thought the circumstances re-
;pored, and that they would add to there forces if necessary.
lie trusted, however, that the anticipated events in Morocco
world not take place.
IMES GE FEIGN! THE COMMONS.

A. Moesage. from the Commons, enntisting of Sir George
Clerk, and oiher ;Members, broug'it up the Balk Charter (sill,
the Prisons' ( Seitsiand) Bill), the Linen Alanufae-
tares 1 keland) Bill, the Education of the Poor Bill, the
Ei.nburgh, Leith, and Granton Bill, and 9ercral other Bills.
The Marcuis of Limitondetry, the Earl of Rosebery, and
Lord Cautplwll, rose sismultaneou ay to with-es, the House.
ind Niartiois of LON i)ON DEB RY appealed to the Lord
Chancellor
.whether he had not a right to address their
Lordships on the subject lahich had just been under dis-

mission.
TIT,: LORD CHANCELLOR sail that, as the irregularity
liaJ begun, he slid not know wbarc it was to terminate.
The Earl of HADDINGTON hoped that this would be
borne :n mind in future. They often had Noble Lords rising
to speak flee or six times when there wa' no question before
!411, Hee-e, and sometimes when there was a question.
'I he Marquis.of LON D. ;NDERRY said he begged to
move that the Noble Earl's returns be printed.— (Laughter. )
Ile was surprised to see the ex:reme sensitiveness of the Noble
Earl with regard to the force in the Mediterranean.
After the clear statement which they bad heard
froin the Noble Lord the Secretary of State, for Foreign
Affairs on a previous oce ision—after the exple -
nations which hail been made, he thought it was highly indis-
creet to re-open the subject. The Noble Earl (Aberdeen)
had conducted j üblic affairs, not only with credit to himself,
but with advantage to the country. He thought that it was but
justice to the Noble Earl to make the 4, remarks.—(" Move.")
The Earl of MINTO said the Noble Marquis had made his
sp ech npon an intimation that he was shout to move.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he would with-
draw his notior.—(Laughter.)
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the motion had
been mate, and it ei uld not now be withdrawn.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said no motion had been
mane, and he could not put a nonentity.—(Laughter, and
cties of " Q-iestion, qwes'ion.")
Lord 6AMPBELL rose to move the ord, r of the day for
going into Committee •n the Liw of Libel Act Amendment
Bill, when
tine Earl of ROSEBERY said, before the order of the day
was read, he wished to state that, in consequence of leaping
town, he would not be able to act as a Member of the Secret
Committee on the Post-otliee.
The Duke of WELLINGTON then proposed that the
Noble Earl's name should be withdrawn, and that that of the
Earl of Auckland should be substituted.
Lord BROUGHAM said his Noble Kinsman would, no
doubt, be an excellent member of the Committee ; but his
appointment would be a deviation from the principle laidslown,
inasmuch as he was formerly a Cabinet Minister.
Lord CAMPBELL raid that objection would equally apply
to his Noble and Learned Friend.—( Great laughter.) -
The name of Lord Auckland was then added to the Com-
mittee.