The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PA RLIAMEN T.

, HOUSE OF LORDS, Aug. 8.
The: House sat to-day shortly after two o'clock, for
the purpose of enabling the Lord Chancellor and Lord
Campbell to give judgment on several cases that have
been heard before them during the present session.
THE SKINNERS' COMPANY V. THE IRISH SOCIETY.-

JUDGMENT.
The Lord Chancellor and Lord Campbell gave the
judgment of their Lokdships in this case, which was
argued before their Lordships some time since upon
appeal , from the decision of the Master of the Rolls.
Their Lordships affirmed the decision of the Court below.

RICARDO V. GA.RCIIIB.
Their Lordships also gave judgment in this appeal
from the decision of the Vice-Chancellor of England.
Their Lordships reversed the judgment of the Court
balow, and gave the appellant the costs of the appeal to
that House.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The royal assent was given to-day, at four o'clock,
by Commission to the following Bills :—The Apprehen-
sion of Offenders Bill, the Documentary Evidence Bill,
the Granting of Leases Bill, the Enlargement of Terms
Bill, the Fees Criminal Proceedings Bill, the Real
Proi:erty (No. l) Bill, the Removal of Paupers
Bill, the Borough and Watch - Rates Bill, the
Games and Wagers Bill, the Merchant Seamen's Bill,
the Commons Inclosure Bill, the County Rates
Bill, the Lunatic Asylums and Pauper Lunatics
Bill, the Slave Trade (Brazil) Bill, the Naval
Medical Supplemental Fund Bill, the Taxing Master's
Court of Chancery (Ireland) Bill, the Fisheries
(Ireland) Bill, the Turnpike Roads (Ireland) Bill, the
Municipal Districts (Ireland) Bill, the Lunatics
Asylum -(lreland) Bill, the Grimsby Dock Bill,
Winchester Collor Estate Bill, Marsh's Estate Bill,
the Earl of Powis's Estate Bill, Sir R. Keith Dick's
Estate Bill, Follett's Estate Bill, Lutwydee's Estate Bill,
Bowe's Estate Blq, the Birmingham Blue Coat School
Charity Estate Bill, Severn's Estate Bill, the Duke of
Bridgewater's Trustees Estate Bill, Sampson's Estate
Bill, the Marquis of Donegal's Estate Bill, the North
Walsham School Estate , Bill, Shuldham's Divorce Bill,
Boileau's Divorce Bill, and the following Railway Bills :
London and Croydon Enlargement,
Suuth-Eastern (Deal Extension),
Bolton and Leigh, Kenyon and Leigh Junction, North
TJni4ti,'Liverpool and Manchester, and Grand Junction
Railer-ay-Companies Amalgamation,
Brighton -and Chichester (Portsmouth Extension),
Brighton, Lewes, and !Listings (Hastings, Rye, and
A shfos.:}l Extension),
eistern Counties (Cambridge to Huntingdon).
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the ka'rl'of Shaftesbury, and the Earl of Dalhousie.
The House then aijourned during pleasure.

Their Lordships met again at Five o'clock.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION)
BILL AND EXCHEQUEIZ BILLS BILL.
On the motion of the Earl of DALHOUSIE, these
Bills were severally read a third time and passed.
Their Lordships then adjourned till Twelve o'clock
to-niot row.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Aug. 8.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at a Quarter before
Four o'clock, when
Augustus Clifford appeared at the bar to command
the attendance of the Speaker in the House of Lords to
hear the royal assent given ,to numerous public and
private Bills.
The report on the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction
Railway Bill ,was agreed to, and the Bill ordered to he
engrossel
TheLords' amendments to the following Bills were
agreed to :—The Bristol Parochial Rates, the South-
Eastern Railway Branch to Deal and Extension of the
South-Eastern, Canterbury; Ramsgate, and Margate
Railway.
On the SPEAKER'S return, he announced that he
had heard the royal assent given to several private and
public Bills (for which see Lords' report).
BOROUGH OF BELFAST.

A new writ for this borough was rooved for, in thc
room of Mr. Einerson Tennent, who has accepted the
stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds.—Ordered.
BOROUGH OF CIRENCESTER..

A new writ for this borough, in the room of Mr.
Cripps,-wite- has accepted the office of one of the Lords
of therreasury, was moved for. —Ordered.
LINLITHGOW.

A new writ was ordered to be issued for Linlithgow,
in the room of the —Hort.-Chstrieg Hope; who has ae-
cepto the office of Governor of the Isle of Man.
BOROUGH OF WARWICK.

A.nevi writ was ordered to be issued for this borough,
in the room of Sir Charles Douglas, who has accepted
the office of Commissioner of Greenwich Hospital.
BOROUGH OF SUNDERLAND.
A new writ for this borough was moved for by Mr.
TUFNELL, in the room of Lord Howick, who had been
called to the House of Peers.—Ordered.
POOR REMOVAL BILL.
Mr. BODKIN brought up this Bill, which was read a
first time, and ordered to be printed.
SMOKE.
Mr. MACKINNON gave notice that at an early period
in the'ensuing session he would move for leave to bring in
a Bill to prevent the nuisance occasioned by smoke on
railways and in towns, unless the Government should
prevent the necessity of his so doing by introducing a
Bill to remedy the increasing evil.
Mr. FIELDEN was understood to give notice that lie
would move for the appointment of a Commission in the
next session to inquire into the mode in which the in-
come-tax was levied.—(This was, as we understood it,
the nature of the Hpn. Member's motion.)
SILK WEAVERS' BILL.

Sir G. CLERK moved the third reading of the Silk
Weavers' Bill. The Bill only introduced those amend-
ment's and improvements which had been found to work
so well iwanother branch of manufacture.
Mr.. P. BORTHWICK congratulated the /191130 on
the introduction of the Bill. He regretted it was intro-
duced at so late a period of the session.
The Bill was read a third time and passed.
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.

Lord PALMERSTON presented a petition from a
Air. Copeland, praying that Parliament would interfere
to pr?,fant the use of propelling engines being placed at
the Fnd of railway trains, which had been attended with
so much danger, particularly on the Eastern Counties
Railway. He (Lord Palmerston) concurred in the
prayer of the petitioner, and thought the lives of pas-
sengers much endangered by the practice. He would
recommend directors of railways to have it stated upon
the time tables handed to each passenger whether or no
those propelling engines were used, and in the public
newspapers, as travellers by railways were not in
most instances aware of the fact. The peti.
tion-i prayed that the Board of Trade would
interfere in these matters. He (Lord Palmerston) felt
confident that railway directors were themselves in
mosteases ignorant of the use of those propelling en-
gines, for to pursue such a course with a knowledge of
the hazard attending it would be little less than cri-
minal.—(Hear, hear.)

GROUP X.
Lard COURTENAY brought up, the report of the
Co.amittee of Group X, which comprises the following
Bills :—EastPrn Counties (Hertford and Biggleswade),
Midland Railway Extension (Swinton and Lincoln),
Midland Railways Extension (Lincoln and Ely), and
the York and North Midland and Doncaster Extension.
The Noble Lord said the decision of the Committee was
that it was not desirable to proceed with the Bills during
the present session.

COLOIAL .
Dr. BOWRING moved for the production of the Co-
lonial Accounts.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed
the motion, which was negatived without a division.
UR. BRISCOE.
Mr: C. P. VILLIERS wished to ask the Right
Hon. Baronet the Home Secretary whether he in-
tended further to pursue the proceedings respecting Mr.
Briscoe, a magistrate of South Staff)rdshire, who had
been reprimanded ? His reason for asking the question
was 1568ause another magistrate of the same name, resid-
ing in the'same district, had been confounded with this
Mr. Briscoe, owing to the Christian name of the offend-
ing Magistrate not having been mentioned in the report.
Si; J. GRAHAM said, having _written his opinion
fully,in a letter to the Lord Lieutenant of the county.
and expressed his dislike at the conduct of Mr. Briscoe,
he did not think it necessary to pursue the matter
further under such circumstances.

MEDICAL REGULATIONS.
Mr. WAKLEY said that in the absence of other busi-
ness he would beg to move for a return of-the number of
individnalewho had applied' for certificates to the College
of Su4eons, and those to wbom these certificates had
been grmited.—The motion was agreed to.
r • z AUSTRALIA.
ME..ROPE said 'that as' other business of apparently
greater importance was, delayed, he would mbve that
he given to bring in Bill for rendering the
waste-fiends of Australia more productive. He did not
anticiliate any objection would be made to the Bill, and
he did not anticipate-that, it would pass ; but he thought
that pm Ncess would give ample opportunity for consi-
derlt its and enabling the Government to take
4uch tniasures as would be for the benefit of the colony,
Captain P.ECHELL had not the slightest objection to
the goterument,taking measures for the improvement
of thVcdOny, and he thought that the beat means of
doing that would be by bringing the waste lands into cal-
tivatioo. •

AGLI(INBY thought that this 'arrangement
would tend to relieve the minds of the friends of those
who had an interest in the Australian colonies.
IRELAND TURNPIKES BILL.
A message wai brought down from the House of
Lordstc; the effect that they-had assented to the Irish
TurniAres Bill, and to the other Bills which had been
sent from the Commons with some verbal amend-
tueutC:: rishe message was received and the atriendnients
At , agre to.• 1

-The . llouse remained far a very considerable time un-
occupied by any business whatever ; owing, as it
was supposed, to the abaence of Sir Robert Peel,
for Whose arrival Lord Palineiston delayed his observa-
tion& (according to noiit,) on the affairs of Syria.
:1 PERPET U Ii Y FUND.
Mr:'Bl.lAW wished to know vihether the Right Hon.
Baronet at the head of the Home Department would
have any objection to lay on the table of the House the
correspondence which took place between the Eccle-
siasticAl Commissioners of Ireland and the Lord Lieu.
tenant, respecting the Perpetuity Fund ?
Sir.d. GRAHAM, whose reply was vary imperfectly
heardovis understood to say that he had no objection.
NEW ZEALAND.

Mr. ABEL SMITH moved for the production of
tla: correspondence between the Colonial-office and the
New 'Zealand Company. He could not forget that, after
what had occurred, a slight sacrifice on both sides was
necessary. lie considered the. tone and the temper just

displayed at the Colonial-office was more creditable to
the Government than the negotiators themselves. There
was just one point to which he wished to allude before
he sat down. He meant the application made by the
New Zealand Company for a loan of money on the
security of their land. lie thought that the money
should be granted on public grounds alone, and that no
ionger deley would take place than was absolutely
necessary.
Sir R. PEEL did not think it would be necessary for
him to give any assurance on the subject. Whatever
differences might have existed between the Government
and the New Zealand Company, the recollection of those
differences had not, in the slightest degree, influenced the
conduct of the Government. They had acted from a
sense of public duty, and what had been done, he must
say, had met with the entire concurrence of his Noble
Friend (Lord Stanley). The public interest had been
the only consideration by which they had been influenced,
and in the arrangement come to each party had occu-
pied perfectly independent grounds—there had been no
secret understanding. With respect to the future Go-
vernment of the colony he could give no assurance on
any point the fulfilment of which depended on Parlia-
ment ; but though he could give no assurance on the
matter, the Hon. Gentleman was, therefore, to draw no
unfavourable conclusion from that.—(Hear.)
OR ANG E PROCESSIONS.
_ _

Colonel VERNER wished to ask the Right. Hon.
Baronet at the head of the Government if it was true
that Mr. Watson, a magistrate, and Deputy-Lieutenant
of the County Down, had been deprived of his commis-
sion for taking part in an Orange procession in that
county _ _ _

Sir R. PEEL said it was perfectly true that Mr. Watson
had been dismissed from the commission of the peace,
and also from the office of deputy lieutenant. In 1837 an
address from Ireland, numerously and respectably signed,
had been laid before the late King, praying that steps
would be taken to discourage and put an end to Orange
processions. In answer to that the King returned an
answer that every messnre would be taken to carry out
the desirable object sought by that address. Having
been informed that the gentleman referred to had not
only walked in an Orange procession, but signed reso-
lutions agreed to at an Orange meeting, which resolu-
tions were unconstitutional and highly improper, the
Government considered it their duty, in consideration of
the previous assurance of the Sovereign, to discharge
Mr. Watson from the official appointments he then
held.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear," and cheers.)
THE FISHERIES.

Captain PECHELL moved for a return of all Bri-
tish and French fishing vessels that have been seized or
detained under the provisions of the Act for carrying
into effect a convention with France concerning the
fisheries, with the dates lof such seizure or detention,
and the amount of the penalty incurred or paid, with
the time of detention in each case ; likewise, a return
of all 'British fishing vessels that have been taken into
ports of Fmnce since 1839, for breach of the oyster
fishery regulations, with the amount of the penalty in-
curred or paid, and the, time of detention in each case.
—Agreed to.

AFFAIRS OF SYRIA.
Lord PALMERSTON then rose, and said he had
given notice of making only some observations on the
affairs of Syria, because he had hoped that some motion
might have been before the House to which his remarks
might have been appended. As, however, no such op-
portunity had occurred, it would be necessary for him
to make a specific resolution, so as to enable the
Right Honourable Baronet opposite, in accordance
with the rules of the House, to reply to his observations;
he therefore moved that an humble address be presented
to the Crown, praying for copies or extracts of the cor-
respondence relative to the affairs of Syria, subsequent
(as we understood the Noble Lord to say) to the de-
parture of the allied forces from that country in 1841.
It was not his intention to occupy the time of the House
at any considerable length, but before Parliament se-
parated lie wished to direct the attention of the Govern-
ment-and the country to the state of Greece, social and
political, at the present moment. In dealing with this
subject he should consider, first, the unsatisfied
claims of the Emir Beschir ' • and secondly, to the un-
fortunate disturbances which now harassed the kingdom
of Syria. When in 1840 and 1841 the allies restored
Syria to the authority of the Sultan, one of the Emirs
enlisted in the interests of another power, and for that
was subjected to stipulations in the compliance with which
some delay accidentally occurred. Because he did not
comply with certain conditions he was deposed by
British officers, acting under the authority given by the
Sultan, and the late Emir Bechir was appointed in his
place, who then held a high and 'public station in his
country. That Emir continued to exercise the au-
thority belonging to his appointment for about twelve
months. At the end of 1841, or the beginning
of 1842, in consequence of the civil war
that broke out between the Maronites and the
Druses, the Emir was besieged in his residence.
He was called down by the Governor, and was found to
be incompetent, by age and infirmities, to conduct the
affairs of the Government, and he was consequently de-
posed. In his passage from the town in which he then
was, in obedience to the order of the authorities he was
pillaged by the Druses of all his property, and his house
was burned. The Turkish Government of the period
gave him a guard of honour, but he received no salary
from the Sultan. He claimed, then, a salary at a certain
rate for the period he exercised the authority. He re-
ceived no compensation for the losses he sustained by
the plunder to which he was exposed in his journey, nor
any compensation for certain lands of which he was de-
prived by the disturbance to which be had alluded.
Now, his claims had been admitted to a certain extent by
the Turkish Government, and orders had been granted
for the payment of the amount to which he might be en-
titled, yet, although they dated some time back, up to
the last accounts he had not been able to obtain say
payment whatever. He (Lord Palmerston) conceived
that the Turkish Government ought to satisfy the
amount, or at least some part of it. It was by officers of
the British Government, acting under the authority of the
Sultan, that he was induced to accept the appointment
which brought upon him all the disasters he had enu-
merated. He rendered very important services to the
common cause by taking it at the time it was offered to
him. He (the Emir) had suffered greatly in conse-
quence of his remaining a private individual, otherwise
he might have reclaimed all of which he bad been
master. The first set of papers laid on the table, in
connexion with this case, were copies and extracts of
correspondence between the Emir, the British Ambas-
sador, and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, relating to
the firman in the Emir's favour. That firman promised
compensation for his losses, and the British Government
was a party to the promise. But the last instructions
given to the Ambassador at Constantinople were by no
means commensurate with the influence which the
British representation at Constantinople ought to exer-
cise. The instructions were contained in a dispatch from
the Foreign-office, dated 20th January, 1845, and reply-
ing to a communication from the Ambassador, dated the
20th of preceding July. This dispatch (which the
Noble Lord read at length) simply directed the Ambas-
sador, Sir Stratford Canning, to "make representations,"
&e., to the Porte. Now, he (Lord Palmerston) thought
that, considering the extent to which the honour and
good faith of Great Britain were concerned, such an in-
struction was insufficient, and that Sir Stratford Cannine
should have been directed to insist that the Porte should
carry out its own firman. He thought that the Govern-
ment ought to have sufficient energy to see the contracts
carried out, to which it was a party. He trusted that in
future the instructions to Sir Stratford Canning would
be permanent and definite. The next important branch
of the subject to which he would advert was the
condition of Syria. This was a complicated and exten-
sive subject. England, Austria, and Prussia were parties
to the operations that had taken place in that country.
On the other band, it involved a departure from the
ordinary rules which ought to govern nations in their
relations to other parties. But nothing was more at
variance with national obligations than for one Power
to interfere with another in relation to the manner in
which it should treat its own subjects; and it was only
because of certain circumstances that we had any obliga-
tion to address ourselves to the state of affairs in Syria.
It was the object of the four Powers to induce, in
1840, the people of Syria to take arms against the
usurping authority of Mehemet Ali, and to declare fur
their legitimate sovereign ; and the allied 'Powers first
furnished the Syrians with arms, and then induced them
to employ those arms in the service of the Sultan. The
Sultan promised, not through the medium of Turkish
officers, but through British officers specially authorised
and empowered he promised the Syrians that, if they
returned to their lawful allegiance—if they assisted
to expel the arms of Mehemct Ali—they should
be relieved from the oppressions under which they had
been suffering, and their future privileges and religious
liberties should be secured to them. That had not been
done, and on that ground he considered that Govern-
ment ought to take further steps in the matter. The
position of Syria was very singular—it was not a pro-
vince, it was not inhabited by -one race alone—it was
not inhabited by a people professing one religion only,
for in the central part of Syria, commonly called the high-
lands of Lebanon, the population consisted of two races,
professing dissimilar religions. In the first place, there
e ere the-Maronites, a sort of Christians ; and, again, on
the other hand, there were the Druses, a sort of Ma-
hometans, not exactly belonging to the Mussnlman faith,
,because they had a faith peculiar to themselves. But
those two races were not separated by geographical'
distinctions, because it was not in one part of Lebanon
alone that the Maronites existed, and there was not a sin-
gle district that did not contain the Druses.—(Hear.)
These two races were interspersed, but portions of the
Maronites were feudal lords, and the Druses vassals, and
vice versa. This created considerable difficulty, because
if there was one governor of the whole of the provinces,
supposing him to be a native chief, he would be a Druse
or a Maronite, and would therefore exercise a rule over
one part of the population which was animated by feel-
ings of hatrid and jealousy towards the other. The
Emir he referred to was old, infirm, and deficient in
energy and talent ; under him it was impossible to pre-
serve peace. If the population were geographically
separated, contact would be less frequent,
wein h
and
tcievilsawmaer
less seldom ; but intermixed asthey were
towns, it reqoired a vigorous hand, a clear head,
and a sound judgment to repress the social
disorders arising out of the condition referred to.
When the late Emir was removed there was no one
found capable of governing the country except Emir
Ernan, and even he was not considered fit to occupy
such a position ; for he could not allay the discon-
tents that existed. The interference of Turkey and the
five great Powers then became necessary. After much
communication and consideration, a plan was proposed
in 1842 which, ho thought was well calculated, if carried
out, to remove dissatisfaction, and to restore that peace
and tranquillity which was so much to be desired. That
was, that there should be two Governors— one a Druse
Governor, for the Druses, and the other a Maronite Go-
vernor, for the Marsnites, both to be under the Turkish
Government. This, however, did not remove the diffi-
culties which from time to time arose in those villages,
which were jointly inhabited by the Druses and the Me-

)47,

ronites. It was then further suggested, that permis-
sion should be given to the population in the mixed dis-
tricts to retire to the districts where their respective Go-
vernors ruled—the Druse population. to go to that dis-
trict where the Druce Governor ruled, and the Maro-
nite population to retire to the district of the Ma-
ronite Governor. —(Hear, hear.) And it was.
also proposed that whereas this emigration might cause'
great losses to both portions of the population these were
to be made up by the Porte. Now the five great Powers
were unanimous in that plan, and when they were
unanimous on any subject it was to be presumed they
were right ; and whatever-it might be, of course they
were sure to be successful in carrying it out. When all
these Powers, thereforee—England, Russia, Prussia,
France, and Austria—bad concurred to recommend such
a plan, it must be an egreement founded on right, and one
which, of course, would be very easy of execution. It
was quite, evident, therefore, that if the different parties
had emigrated—if the compensation which had been pro-
posed had been made—if the two Governors had been
appointed—and if, in short, every point of that arrange-
ment had been carried rut. the peace of Syria would
have been attained, tranquillity-would have been estab-
lished on a permanent 'basis, and the integrity of the
Turkish empire would never have been jeopardized.
That plan, howjier, was never *carried out. Up to the
present hour no step had been taken to carry it into_
effect. Pretence...upon pretence had been resorted to,-
and every expedient was exhausted to delay its execution.
Two Turkish officers had indeed been appointed, whose
duty it was to enter into the requisite arrangements. They
summoned the people to- decide- upon their claims, and
instead of deciding upon them at once, they referred the
metter to Constantinople: In short, they interposed
every delay in their power to -retard and prevent the
execution of whit had been proposed. The result was
intrigues of all kinds, The family of the Emir Beschir
thought the arringenient yes enything but an advanta-
geous one for them,
.and of course they threw every ob-
struction in the way. It was needless for him to recite-
the cruelties of this tyrant ; but if was quite a &minion
practice with him to torture by plucking out the eyes,
and when one of his victims cried out too lend, he,
ordered him to- have his tongue split. This family
exerted themselete to the utmost to delay these arrange-
ments, and it was natural that they should he desirous
to do so. _ Great intrigues were naturally to he expected,
whep their interests were so much bound up with the
existence of that—state of things which these plans were
designed -to remove. In-addition to the obstruction of
the Maronites, their clergy also interested them Selves to
delay the preparations. --They,--of 'course, kneW thee
their influence would be greater With the existing date of
things, than with auy change thatinight take place. All
these parties had an interest in the continuation-of the
disturbing influences that were at work. Now the
Porte had nu interest se.hatevcr in carrying out the
proposed arrangement. But it was not to be expected
that a Government like Turkey -should-act in accord-
ance with its interests in -such cases. All its officers
had different interests, and there-was not one of them
who looked upon a movement as one where the interests
of his country might be eerved,Thet rather how his own
private .purposes might'be promoted. 1 That was the
calculation of the "ftirki4l officers. So that in conse-
quence Of the fictions of the people themselves—in con-
sequence of the opposition of the clergy, end in con-
sequence of the obstructions which the Turkish-officers
created,-every -difficulty and delay was thrown in the
way of -the arrangement proposed being carried into
effect. The Turks, it way quite apparent, did not wish
to put an end to these disturbances. In fact, they en-
couraged them to strife with the view -of weakening
both parties, but especially the Maronitei. The Druses,
after tl former-- were subdued, would
_become easy-
of management; in this state of things the contentions-
still continued. The Maronites, stimulated by the Emir
Bsschir, though disarmed by the Druses, procured a
fresh supply of anise. Great numbers of both parties-
assembled together, conflicts ensued, and the whole
country-was a prey to civil war.- That state of things.
however, came to an end. A convention afterwards
took place between them, but -no step had yet been
taken to bring out a permanent peace. The five Govern-
ments, and especially the British Government, did not
take those prudent and energetic means which they
should haveidone -under. The
_circumstances. There was
one British officer, Colonel Rose, of whose conduct,
zeal, and energy in these transactions, be could not-
speak too highly. This officer was appointed during
the time he (Lord Palmerston) held the seals of the
Foreign office. He thought his -conduct deserving of
the greatest praise. The -advice which he gave often
prevented those 'disastrous occurrences which occasion- -
ally took-_place, and preserved the Turkish Government
from those disgraces which their conduct not unfre-
quently brought upon them. He had, on one occasion,
preserved the lives of from, 700 to 800 Maronites,
who, but for _ tim, would have -been cut off.
to a man. He (Lord Palmerston) did not think that
Colonel Rose was so well supported as he might have
been led to expect.
.In the. dispatches that were sent
out, frequent approbation was, no doubt, made of his
conduct, but he was entitled not Only to receive appro-
bation fel. his past conduct, but also to receive special
instructions as to the course he should pursue in future.
He (Lord Palmerston) thought that the British Govern—,
ment did not shOw that energy which it did in former
times to put an end to these differences. Any one must-
know how such a _Poiver -as Turkey managed its affairs. •
It was not, however, by- side negotiations or myitified
diplomacy that she ought-to be dealt with. That would
never do. They-must come to the point with her, and
he thought the allied Powers were entitled to press:on
that Government- in the -sfrongest_possible manner, and
to have-asserted in a more energetic manner than they
did the necessity of a__speedy compliance with the
arrangements which liad.._been unanimously agreed on.
If they had done so, be (Lord Palmerston) had no hesi-
tation in saying that many of the events which took
place would never have occurred. And unless some
vigorous steps were resorted to, they must expect a con-
tinuance-of them. Some-interested parties Might attempt
to show that the TittitiStiT-eb'verritilent were not in fault,
and that it had nn the =means of preventing these con-.
flirts, arid others again said, that it viesuld be far better
if Syria was completely iredependent of Turkey ; but he
agreed with neither party.' On the sth June,--of the-
present year, a "dispatch_ewas received at- the Foreign
office from Colonel Rose. - This dispatch gave the clearest
and best developed view of the causes of the late disturb-
ances that it was possible to -do. He referred them'
principally to the intrigues pf the Bescbir family, and
the differences which arose frond- the mixed population.
This, however, might have been collected from the dif-
ferent dispatches- which he had from time to time sent
home. Now, that dispatch was received on the sth
of June,. and What...ewas -the dispatch sent out the
day following (the , 6th 'of June) by the - Secre-
tary of State to Sir Stratford Canning ? " The
present state of affairs in Syria was of such moment-

Cons importance- as to ca-use the deepest concern
to her Mak sty's Government" (and very naturally they
should). " Measures, however, were then under con-
sideration, with the object of arresting the progress of
those untoward events." Now, it was naturally to be ex-
•pected that some instructions should be sent out to their
ambassador that he either separately, or conjointly with
the other ambasiadors, should take some steps to put
an end to that state of things. But what was the con-
clusion ? He says, "Until the result of these affairs
was known, and a clear insight obtained into- their
nature, her Majesty's Government were unable to come
to a certain conclusion- as to the course proper to be
adopted." Greatly must Sir Stratford Canning have
, been assisted by that dispatch. He (Lord Palmerston)
contended that a clear insight had been obtained into
the causes of those events, and when a correct state-
ment of the case had been made to her Majesty's Go-
vernment, they ought to have been provided with a
remedy for them. All this had been already communi-
cated to them, and he thought they had shown
great torpidity in the way - they dealt with
the case. -He had no hesitation, therefore, in
saying that a part -of the responsibility of
these calamities fell to the share of the Government
Ile thought it was a subject of the greatest importance.
It belonged not merely to., a great English interest, but
to a great European interest: He thought that the in-
terests of Europe were involved in the integrity of the
Turkish empire. He would not enter into the question
whether these evils might not be obviated by the change
of government in Syria, and- substituting for a Turkish
a civilised and Christian Emperor. But they must deal
with the kingdom as it at present existed, and with cir-
cumstances as - they were now found. If the
stronger powers of Europe would only combine
with the Turkish Goiernmett; and assist her to
maintain the integrity of her territorial possessions, that
power would soon :be _resuscitated, as every- thing
during the last few years had shown the empire to be
increasing in social and moral civilization. The treaty
of the Dardanelles, signed in July, 1:14I, by England,
France,-Austria, RusAia, and Prussia, implied an aban-
donment by those five Powers of all selfish views an]

interests in regard to Syria, to consolidate the domi-
nion of that province fof the kenefit of its population.
Considering, therefore, tlfat the present disturbances in
Syria affected fhb tranquillity .of the entire Turkish
empire, and that The tranquillity of the Turkish empire
was intimately connected with that balance of European
Power, which, in a great degree„-preserved the peace of
the world; he had felt it his duty to state that he thought
her Majesty's Government had not shown that active
energy which the circumstances- of the case required,
and ha trusted when ;they next met, at the commence-
ment of 'the ensuing tsesSion thoSe disturbances would
have ceased, and that!the stipfulatiqns of that treaty—the
due exeCution of which would have prevei'ed the late
serious disasters-L-wotild have been practically
.carried
into effect, and thus ;render jinnecessary that perpetual
inteference of our Miflisters and officers with the Sublime
Porte, which was ineOnsisteet with our national honour
and international usage. -- -
Sir B. PE EL said-he understood the Noble Lord to admit
that, on referende to the official papers, he found that the
tire Poviers }Eel acted together in cordial co-operation
to carry out the Stipulations of the treaties of 1839 and
1841 ; that they were not actuated by private considera-
tions, that they had given advice to the Porte, which if
acted upon would have been for the benefit of Syria as
well as the entire Turkish empire. The only complaint
the Noble Lord made was that the five Powers were not
very energetic in enforcing these conditions upon the
Porte. But interference-on such a question was very
delicate. There was the difficult and conflicting, if not
contradictory position, in which the Powers stood to ra-
concile and overcome. They were to require from the
Porte a ratification of. those conditions into which the
Turkish empire - had solemnly entered, and they
had to fulfil the object they themselves had agreed to-
gether to effect, viz., the maintenance of the integrity and
independence of the Turkish empire. This latter the
Noble Lord might.have suggested as a reason for not
strictly insisting -on the- performance of the treaty.
When Syria was delivered over to the Porte in 1839 and
1840, it should have been well considered, that such rule
was precarious if not dangerous; He did not wish to
enter into the queMion ofthe 'policy that dictated such a
course—he did not wish ai_discusithe motives or. dispute .
the expediency of to signal mid gOri Otis a step; the

Thitish Government had then to determine, not whether
Egyptian rule was bad and ought to be discontinued—and
_worse rule never was evidenced—but the question then to
decide was, whether the peace of the Turkish empire was
not endangered by the inefficient Government of Syria.
But, again, what had been done in respect of Greece ?
Why, the Turkish Government had, by the administra-
tion of the Noble Lord, been found so bad there, that
they had allied with others to rescue Greece from that
dominion, and had actually succeeded. Had the Noble
Lord, however, referred to those acts in which he himself
took so prominent a part ? Had he adverted to the en-
gagement 'entered into by Lord Ponsonby in regard to
the Government of Syria, immediately after the decisive
measures for securing peace bad been adopted and con-
cluded by England ? On the 23d of May, 1841, he
found Lord Ponsonby writing-to Lord Palmerston of the
dangerous state of the country, in a hich he was Minister,
and admitted that' the very first Governor was a traitor.
and friendly to Mehemet Ali. He (Sir R. Peel) admitted
that the Porte had not fulfilled its engagements, there
had been a shabby evasion of pecuniary claims, now ad-
mitted, now rejected, now frittered down to nothing.
He did not whh, he did notattempt to vindicate such
conduct, and short of actual compulsion, no exertion had
been spared to enforce the satisfaction of just claims from
the Sublime Porte. He WaB ready to pay the highest
tribute of admiration to Sir Stratford Canning, for his
tact and meritorious conduct throughout the protracted
and intricate circumstances which had required so much
prudence, temper, and ability ; all of these attri-
butes' the Minister at Constantinople had proved
himself- eminently possessed, and qualified to carry the
honour of this country and .the safety of Syria and
Turkey, fully into effect. Colonel Rose also was en-
,to the warmest approbation, if not gratitude, of
the country ; it had (wen said that that officer had
unduly interfered in the comae pursued by the Turkish
gs between Syria and the Porte,
Government. • The conduct of-Colonel Rose through.
-dangers he had under
anti
he
gone, was a sufficient -defeneb against any charge of
e sce
tei
finctierse -hper ohcaededriii t;
de; t
unneoessary interference, or excess 'of duty. Again, it
had been said that the Secretary of State had not given
sufficiently definite instructions. to their officers abroad.
The Noble Lord should have
.. remembered the
difficulty of sending any specific orders, at such a
distance from the scene of their execution. Time and
distance both in this case combined to render an un
deviating course, impossible and abortive. He always
thought that the best mode of effecting a safe and suc-
cessful. Government abroad was, in the first place, to
appoint able and efficfeijt officers, and then to leave to
their discretion, the perfect adoption; or partial devia-
tion from any course marked out by the.Adniinistration
at home ; 'except under such understanding, the attempt
to curry out a safe policy in such a. country as Turkey
would- be preposterous and unsuccessful. On the 17th
of September, 1844, Sir Stratford Canning wrote to the
Government at home that be-had received information

• ihat the Maronites and Druses -had come to a satisfac-
tory understanding, and that the loeg pending question
'of Mount Lebanon might be deemed settled.
This was the impression of that Gallant Officer at that
time. If the Noble Lord didnOt think this statement of
Colonel Rose sufficient, he would refer him to an-
other. He would read to him a letter received from that
officer- within the last three months, which would bear
him (Sir Robert Peel) out in- what he had just said.
The Right Hon: Baronet hero -read- the letter referred
to, which was dated Bey rout, July 1, and in answer to
certain dispatches approving Of the steps he had taken
to restore peace to Mount libanon. After-expressing
his sincere gratification at this proof of the, confidence of
her Majesty's Government, the, letter went on to state
that the writer had acted with_ the desire of doing jus-
tice to all parties, and Vast while assuring the Druses of
maintaining for them equal rights with the rest of
the religious persuasions of Mount Lebanon, be impressed
on them the necessity of showing in turn the same re-
spect and consideration to others which they expected
to be shown to them. There was a warlike chief there
who had been the cause of much fear and apprehension,
and whose depredations were
_much to be dreaded, the
hostile intentions of whom the writer (Colonel Rose)
had succeeded in arresting. This (continued Sir R.
Peel) had been the conduct of this excellent officer—
(Hear, hear)—not favouring one party at the expense
of another, but doing the best in his power to protect
-the interests of all.—(Cheers.) He had shown that he
had no partiality for any one class of the Porte's sub-
jects in Syria over another, or that one should profit at
the expense of any other.—(Hear, hear.) Considering
that the five Powers were agrTeed OR the policy to be
pursued respecting Syria, he could ssee DO object to be
gained by the motion of the Noble Lord. He had re-
ceived- advices from the Porte that very day, inti-
mating that steps were taking to settle all these
differences. Whether this promised settlement was
likely to be soon carried out he-could not say. On this
head he could not speak with much confidence. He
merely stated the fact to the House. Under these cir-
cumstances he was not anxious of going into details on
the present occasion. Sir Stratford Canning had brought
measures under the serious consideration of the Porte,
and there was every reason to suppose matters would be
properly settled. Such was the state of affairs according
to recent accounts. He would mot go-further into the
subject at present, beyond saying that it was the interest
of all the Powers that this country.(Syria) should be
well governed. He had no other observation to make
on this immediate subject. He bad no opposition to
offer to the production of the dispatches and documents
required. lie however considered it would have been
better -to have waited until next session, when a more
complete series could have -been presented. Before
sitting down he could not take leave of the business of
the session without attempting to do justice to the Mem
hers of that House who had attended to its private'
business. The greatest attention, -he must say,
had been paid to this department. Those who
had been engaged in attending on the Com-
mittees on private Bills Intel
„not the same
stimulus to exertion which those ewho:ookisart in* the
public business of the House had. 'thoSe on the benches
of that House appeared more prominently before the
public ;- they were engaged on more exciting subjects ;
and their success brought more -gratifying results. Yet
he must say those who had attended to the private busi-
ness of the House had done their duty in the most satis-
factory - manner, and at great personal sacrifice. He
spoke not of Committees of Railway Bills alone, but
eluded all otber Committees Who had sat on private
business in that. House. Take the Standing Orders Com-
mittee, for instance. No one thought of naming it, yet
look at what it had done. It had sat 39 days—a far
greater - period than ever it bad done before. The
number of cases in ordinary
years brought under its
consideration were about 6; thitNesiaism the cases bad
been 185. The Committee of selection bad sat forty-
one days, far beyond the ordinary number. The usual
number of Bills brought before it were 180 ; this session
there bad been 350. The Committee en' Petitions had
also sat more than its usual number of days. There
had been forty-five Railway Committees, each Commit-
tee having five Members, making in all 225 Members of
that House. These Committees had decided upon 163 Bills.
Of these Committees, nine sat from six to twelve days
each ; six, from 12 to 18 days ; three, from 18 to 24
days ; five, about 24 days,- and to the honour of the
Members of one Committee, they sat 83 days. This had
been done by the MeMbers of these Committees, besides
attending to other important ditties. He must say that
Members who had discharged their duty on private Bills
were entitled to a public expression of acknowledgment,
and he-was sure that he would be speaking the senti-
ments of the Members of both sides of the House in thus
doing justice to the conduct of these Memb rs, and the
motives by which they had been guided. Nor had there
been the least suspicion thrown upon the integrity of the
Members who had attended to this important branch of
business. If they coir pared the character of former
Committees of that House with the present, they must
admit that a very great improvement had been made.
These Members, therefore, were entitled to carry, away
with them the public acknowledgments of that House,
for the manner in which they had discharged their duty
as Members of Parliament.----(Hear,. hear.)
An Hort. MENDER thought that such- a subject should
not be discussed in so thin a House, and moved that the
House be counted.

Strangers were then ordered to withdraw ; and on our
return, there being only twenty-five Members present,
the House adjourned till to-morrow (this day) at Ten
o'clock.