, 1866-06-12

their lordships might deem it advisable
that he should persevere with the ques-
tion Of which he had given notice, in or
der that their Iordships and the country
might have the benefit of a statement
from the noble earl at the head of the
Foreign office, not simply with reference
TO the material facts as TO what had late
ly occurred, but also with respect to any
steps which the noble earl might have
thought fit, as the organ of Her Maiesty's
Government, to take, with a view either
to avert or mitigate the deplorable con-
sequences which might arise if hostiIi-
ties were unfortunately to break out.
Assuming that he had their lordships'
sanction for proceeding with that matter,
he should endeavour, as much as posi-
bic, to confne himself to the question
which stood in his name. He would ex-
press no opinion himself, nor would he
challenge any expression Of opinion on
the part of the noble earl or their Iordslips
on subjects which, although Of great in
%terest, it might be premature to discuss
viz, the. causes which had led 10 the
present critical state of affairs; the reIa-
tive amount of blame to be awarded to
CdCu VI liz NlICC 4ONCIS WIlOSC QllIGl-
ences seemed to threaten the outbreak
of a European war and Iastly-and this
was not the least important point-the
motives that might have influenced the
Emperor of the French, who bad it in his
power by one word 10 prevent the con-
fict which was now impending, but who
had left that word %unspOken. In his
humble opinion the moment had not yet
arrived when those subjects would be
ripe for discussion, but he was afraid
that moment would shortly come. He
had no doubt that there were many mem
bers of their lordships' House far more
competent and with much greater claims
to their attention than himself who were
prepared TO discuss those subjects with
that caImness and impartiaIity which
their importance demanded. But put
ting those subjects aside, he would advert
10 points TO which the same considera-
tions Of prudence and 'forbearance did not
equally apply. He meant those points
to which his question referred. On these
he hoped he might be allowed to say a
very few words. His noble friend at the
head of the Foreign-office was far too
sagacious and had too much foresight not
IOTldNo uiSCcIHcu IHC ptCA4OHItOIy SyMp-
toms of the approaching storm which
threatenedvcry shortly 10 breakoveragrea
part of Europe, and his noble friend also
had too keen a sense of the responsibility
which attached to his high Office TO have
satisfied himself with sitting quietly by
as a calm and idle spectator Of what was
going on, and with not doing whatever
might be in his power in the way Of
taking precaution against the ruin and
desolation which, when that storm burst,
would be scattered far and wide. If his
noble friend had taken that course, it
could have been only from one or other
of two causes. Either the noble earl
might have felt a Difference for the doc
trine Of non-intervention, or he might
have felt that the Influence which this
country had SO long possessed in the
councils of Europe had become a thing
of the past. He did not, however, be-
lieve that he held either one or the other
of these opinions, and he was rather dis
posed to assume that his noble friend had
impressed upon those Governments whose
unhappy dissensions were likely to en-