The Express. — 1863-07-18 (London, England)

THE REV. FATHER CUROIN.  Sir G. BOW YER then proceeded to draw the attention of the noble lord at the head of the government to • lermon alleged to have been preached at Rouse by • distinguished ecclesiastic, the Rev. Father Curcin, in which be was said to utter reproaches most injurious to the feelings of the Neapolitan emigrants in that city. It was alleged that the rev. father had accused au illustrious propos with the great offence of having wantonly sod withoutany advantage, political or otherwise—which indeed would not have excused such a step—sent a bend of robbers sod murders= to commit the most atrocious deeds within the dominions which had recently been usurped from him by his neighbour and relation the King of Sardinia. This assertion had caused great pain and dismay not only to the family of the illustrious prince, wbo was utterly incapable of such an act, but also to many respectable and hooourable gentlemen who were attached to his came. He (the hon. baronet) had received from Father Curcin • letter stating that be had never made the smallest allusion in his sermon to any metier wherever ; and he had also bad letters met him from • greet riumber of purses of the highest rank in Soothers Italy to the same affect. Mr. HONSELL said he believed there were only Ave countries in Europe in which religious toleration did not prevail. One of those countries was Russia, where the people professed the Greek religion. One was Spain, which was c•tholic ; end three, Mecklenberg, Holstsio, and Sweden, were protestant. Therefore this was not • question of protestant sod catholic, but the broad question of religious toleration. He wished that the Spaniards could see the working of the catholic church in Ireland. There it had no privileges, but had complete liberty, and that was the state in which he wished to see the catholic church all over the world.  Lord PALMERSTON observed that owing to their geoxmphical position, the Spaniards had not much interpongee with other countries ; but be still hoped that they were coming round to more enlightened views. At the same time their laws remained, and though the Spanish government were anxious that they should be administered with indulgence, public opinion had its force. In the use referred to, the Queen of Spain had exercised her prerogative of pardon, and had remitted the seateoce, upon the condition of the persona convicted quitting the country. With regard to the sermon alluded to by Sir G. Bowyer, he (Lord Palmerston) had told him at the time that he had read the statement in a newspaper, and could not vouch for its accuracy. But be also had bad a letter from Italy (whit* he read), and, though it did not my that the sermon contained the expressions mentioned in the newspaper, it showed that the sermon had a strong political bearing. Sir S. NORTHCOTE then called attention to the proposals which had been made for the establishment of the route to Australia by the way of Panama and asked what were the intantioes of coveromeot on the subject.. Mr. PEEL considered the route vii Suez preferable to that of Panama, and said that the government would not le justified in incurring the additional expense. Au offer had been received from the Peninsular mid Oriental Company to double the communication between Ceylon and Australia for an addition of 50,0001. to the sum of 134,0001. now paid to them ; and that offer was deserving of and would receive due consideratioo.  Mr. BENTINCK then called attention to the general question of the Poet-office packet service, contending that the vote of 956,8001. for that service wee one of the most exclusive and unjust vote ever submitted to the house, insomuch as it was intended to save the pockets of the great mercantile community at the expense of the tax-paying public. Subsequently the house went into committee of supply, and Mr. PEEL moved the estimate for the Post-office packet service. The motion led to considerable discussion, in the course of which the system of subsidiaing foreign governments for the conveyance of English mails was strongly censured, especially by Sir S. Northcote, Mr. Corry, sod Mr. Ayrtoo. Mr. AYRTON proposed that the vote should be reduced by 3,1101., the amount payable under the new arrangement to the Belgian government for the packet servicewith Ostend._ _ .  On :division the proposed reduction was negatived by 75 to 26, and the vote, the last of supply, was agreed to.