The Sun.
London, England, 1828-03-26 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

Eeil GREY rose and said—seeWthe Noble Earl
opnotite (Dudley) in his place, with his leave, and
the leave of the House, I will take the liberty of asking
him a question on a subject of the greatest importance.—
. My Lords, I have hitherto abstained from saying one word
upon the situation of affairs in the East; not because I did
not lock at the subject with great anxiety as regards the con-
duct of his Majesty's Ministers, and the possible results that
may ensue, but because I have been fearful that by any thing
I might say I might add to the difficultiee in which I am
persuaded his Majesty's Ministers are placed—difficulties of
such a nature, that a false step might risk our being in-
voPeed in a general war, while lam not now prepared to say
that even by the most cautious proceedings and sound
policy, 'le can be secure from that. It has been
under the influence of this feeling that I have hitherto ab-
stained from saying Otte word, because I wished that his Ma-
jesty's Ministers should have full time carefully to examine
the situation in which they are placed, and to consider that
the decision they may come to may he such as will secure
to this country, a continued peace. My Lords, the same
feeling which has induced me to observe silence on the
subject, would have induced me to continue that line
of conduct, if there had not been circulated very recently,
under the highest authority, a statement which, if it be
correctly reportsd, cannot be too fully or speedily confirm..
cd, but which, if it be incorrect, in consequence of any
misunderstanding, in order to ohviate false expectations
or possible inconveniences that may follow from it, ought
to be as speedily corrected. The statement I allude to is
to this eflect,—that his Majesty's Ministers have received
no information that any changes have taken place
in the relations existing between Russia and the Ottoman
Porte, or of any declaration of war between those Powers.
My Lords, that there has been no actual declaration of
war either communicated to his Majesty's Ministers or
in fact issued, I certainly do believe. But your Lord-
ships will easily understand—and I am sure will go
along with me in acknowledging—that short of a Declara-
tion of War there may be such a change in the relations
which existed between two Powers, as can hardly be
less material than if a war had taken place. If preparations
for war have been made, if treaties have been broken, if
troops have been assembled and concentrated in hostile
positions, from which they must either speedily retire or
advance, if declarations have been made to his Majesty's
Ministers of a determination to enforce demands with which
the Porte have not shown a disposition to comply, I think
it will not be contended that a most serious change has
not taken place with re spect to Russia and the
Ottoman Porte, since the time at which the present Session
commenced, and when his Majesty's speech was delivered
from that throne. In that speech I find it mentioned, after
speaking of the battle of Navarin, that notwithstanding
that action, his Majesty still entertained a confident hope
that this untoward act would not he followed by further hos-
tilities. Now, my Lords, that hope, I think, could not be
eafely stated if a declaration had been formally and officially
made to his Majesty's Ministers short of a declaration
of war, but authentically and officially made, so as to oc-
casion an expectation of war at no very distant moment.
It is, therefore, I wish, his Majesty's Ministers, es far ae
they consistently can, although not one !step beyond what they
consistently can, with a due discharge of their duty—it is
therefore that I wish them to state, whether I am to nn-
derstand these words, as I have already stated them, to mean
that no change has taken place to diminish that hope of the
continuance of peace which was announced in his Majes-
ty's Speech : because, according to the plain acceptation
of the words, I think it will be admitted that every person
hearing that statement might believe that no accounts at
the time of making it had been received, to diminish that
hope of peace which was eeen alluded to by his Majesty.
My Lords, I am anxious to have a confirmation of that state-
ment if it can be given, or if it be incorrect, to have
it set right. Iu asking this, I confess I have done it with
great reluctance and some hesitation, being most fearful of
doing any thing by what I might say, to interrupt
those endeavours on the part of his Majesty's Ministers
which, I ant sure, have been exercised to preserve peace.
I hope, however, I shall not be considered as having put
an improper question. If the Noble Lord's duty imposes
silence upon him, I shall be satisfied that the state-
ment is correct, and not urge my question further :
if it is not correct, I hope the Noble Lord will favour the
House with his contradiction of it.

Earl DUDLEY—My Lords, I hope, in answer to the
Noble Lin d's question, in the few IN ords I have to say I shall
he considered to have given all the satisfaction on this most
important subject that is consistent with my duty-. The
Noble Lord must be satisfied that intentions have
been manifested on the part of Russia, whica rery
much diminish the chance of maintaining peace be.;
tween Russia and the Ottoman Porte; but we have as
yet received no account of those intentions haring been
carried into effect. That our hope of maintaining ',Nice
is much diminished since the time of his Majesty's communi-
cation on the first day of these Sessions to this House, there
is no doubt, but nu official account has as yet reached us
of any treaty of peace having been actually violated.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from
the British residents and other inhabitant, of Calcutta
praying their Lordships to consider the impropriety of put-
ting the law relating to lands and premises on the same
footing there as that on which it exists in England, and re-
questing that it might be put as it originally existed,
under letters patent. This being a new subject, the Noble
Marquis declined offering any opinion upon it : he added,
that a Bill, prepared by a perso❑ well qualified to under-
take such a task, was in progress in another place, and
that us it would probably reach their Lordships
oa a future day, they would then certainly be
more able to enter into a discussion upon it, when all
possible information relating to it, would be brought before
the House.

The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petitbn front the
Growers of South Down Wool in different parishes in the
count• of Su,sex, against the importation of Foreign WO9l.
The Noble Duke stated that he agreed in the prayer of the
petition.
The House adjourned at a little before six o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 23.

Mr, W. DUNDAS presented a petition from the Cor-
poration of Bakers in Edinburgh, fur a repeal of the Test
and Corporation Arts.
The Han. Member presented a similar petition from the
Corporation of Tailors in the same city.
Lord W. PAULETT presented some petitions relative
to the Tees Navigation Bill.
Mr. BRIGHT moved the third reading of the Bristol
Cattle Market Removal Bill, which was accordingly read
a third time, and passed.
Mr. J. GRATTAN moved for the returns of sums of
money advanced by Government, for making and repairing
roads in the county of Wicklow, and how much was now
due to Government.

Mr. PENDARVES presented a petition from the in-
habitants of Redruth, in the county of Cornwall, praying
that the Bill relative to the Retail Beer Shops might not
pass into a law.
Mr.WILBRAHAM gave notice of a motion for the 22d
of April, that an humble Address be presented to his Ma-
jesty praying that some regulation might take place in the
Administration ofJustice in the county palatine of Chester.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Glasgow, praying for a repeal of the Test
and Corporation oaths.

Mr. KENNEDY presented a petition from the borough
of Ayr, in favour of the Test and Corporation Oaths.
Alderman THOMPSON presented a petition from
Francis Bigg, against the Surrey Coal Meters Bill.

. _
Alderman THOMPSON presented a petition from the
Trustees of the Whitechapel Roads, against the Bill for
making a Railway from Whitechapel to Lee-Bridge.
Mr. N. CALVERT presented a petition from the inha-
bitants of Camherwell, against the Surrey Coal Meters' Bill.
The LORD ADVOCATE presented a petition from
Charles Robertson, of it oss-Alire, praying that the Scotch
Entail Bill might not pass into a .
Sir J. NEWPORT presented a petition from the Grand
Jury of the county of Waterford, in favour of the Port-
cullis bridge, over the Blackwater.
Sir J. NEWPORT postponed his motion. relative to
the Courts of,Admiralty in Ireland, until the 22d of April.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY postponed his motion relative to
the expense of printing the returns to.the House, until the
Ist of May.

The LORD ADVOCATE moved the saond reading of
the Scotch Justiciary Court Bill.
The Bill was. accordingly read a second time and com-
mitted. The blank. were then filled up, alter which the

House icsurned, the Report was brought up, and the Bill
was ordered to be taken into further consideration on the
Ith of April.
EMIGRATION.

Mr. W. HORTON rose to postpone his (notion, that
the report from the Select Committee on Emigration be
referred to the Finance Committee. He said, that if
he had brought forward this important subject, he should
have found it necessary to enter into the subject at great
length. Seeing the disposition, however, which existed in
the House, he felt it was hopeless to bripg forward the
subject. Had he appealed to the feelings and passions of
the people, instead of appealing to argument, he might have
been more successful; but seeing that the Members of the
Committee did 'not agree with him, and that the Househadan
indisposition to discuss the subject, as he could judgefrom its
thin appearance, he felt that no good could be done by
btin;,7ing the subject before the House. He had a motion
fixed for Thursday night, somewhat similar to that which
was to have been brought before the House this evening,
but if the same indisposition existed, he certainly would
not press a discu.esiobi.
Mr. MAURICE FITZGERALD hoped the Hon.
Member would not give up his intention of bringing for-
ward this: subject. It was quite natural that he should
feel disgusted with the apathy which prevailed at both
sides of the House, an apathy founded on ignorance, and
which he conceived would be extremely injurious iii its
effects on the country.
Mr. HUME said, that the Honourable Gentleruan%
(Mr. Wilmot Horton) observations, conveyed something
like a reproach on those who did not agree with him.
He (Mr: Hume) was extremely anxious to promote emi-
gration, but he could not consent that a large sum should
lie taken for that purpose out of the public purse. He did
not wish, therefore, that the Hon. Gentlemen should con-
sider him as an opponent of his measure. He recom-
mended the Hon. Member to take an example tram him
(Mr. Hume), and not to be dispirited because he could not
succeed in getting the House of Commons with him. The
Hon. INlmber ought to bring forward his measure from
time to time, end call the attention of the House and the
country to it.
Mr. W. HORTON said his object was to prove that the
plan of emigration he had proposed could be carried into
execution without costing the country a sixpence. As it
was the wish of part of the House be would certainly bring
forward his motion on Thursday night.
On the motion of Sir G. HILL, it was resolved that the
House should go into a Committee upon the Irish Bills of
Exchange Bill on Thursday.