Glasgow Courier. — 1864-02-18 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that the evidence in reference to the Springbok and Science was conflicting; but the correspondence of the Federal Government showed that they were not insensible of what it was incumbent upon them to do in the event of the evidence being adverse to them. The principles, whether right or wrong, upon which the Federal Prize Courts were conducted were precisely similar to those which had governed our own country during our war with France. With regard to the Saxon, the captain who commanded the Federal crusier had expressed his deep regret at the outrage, and Lord Lyons had represented that, if the facts laid before her Majesty's Government were correct, the offender ought to be put on his trial for murder. As all the facts in reference to the seizure of these vessels were still the subject of negotiation, he thought it would be unwise to produce the correspondence at present. Lord R. CECIL said the statement of the Attorney. General would not give satisfaction to the mercantile community. Colonel SYKES said that Earl Russell had already applied to the Federal Government for the trial of the officer by whom the murder was committed, and he could not see what further steps could be taken. Sir J. ELPHINSTONE said the conduct of the Government was that of a bully to the weak, and a subservient to the strong. After some observations from Mr C. Bentinck, Mr Crawford, Lord J. Manners, and Mr G. Bentinck, Lord PALMERSTON hoped Mr Seymour Fitzgerald would not press for the premature production of papers, as such a course was calculated to injure the persons whose cases were now under consideration, it was due to the Government of the United States to say that they had invariably received our applications in a spirit of equity and justice. It was also necessary to refer to the case of the Trent, to show that, where we had a strong ground of remonstrance, justice had been dealt to us by the Government of the United States. He thought it was prejudicial to the good understanding which ought to exist between two great Powers to accuse a foreign Government of acts which it had not been guilty, and to express distrust of that equity and fairness when nothing had occurred to justify such charges. After some further discussion, in which L. Lovaine, Sir J. Walsh, the Solicitor-General, and Mr Malins took part, the motion for the production of the papers was withdrawn. Sir WM. FRASER asked if it was the intention of the Lord Chamberlain to continue to grant licenses to theatres, in which no adequate provision is made for escape in case of fire? Sir G. GREY did not consider that the state of tho theatres was altogether Eatisfactory, but said very great improvements had taken place of late years, and the  Lord Chamberlain was fully alive to the necessity of providing adequate means of egress in case of alarm. No new theatre was licensed until a plan had been submitted and approved of by the Lord Chamberlain. Mr HENNESSY called attention to a despatch on the subject of Poland, written in the month of September, 1863, by Lord Russell to the Russian Government. 11e asked Lord Palmerston if he had any objection to lay upon the table a copy of the despatch in its original form?  Lord PALMERSTON said the hon. gentleman wished to know if a certain despatch, which had been prepared by Government, had been subsequently altered. There were many instances in which such a step had been thought desirable on reconsideration, but it would be extremely inconvenient to produce in any such case the original despatch. His own opinion was that it would be a most fatal act, so far as Poland was concerned, to desire that the stipulations of the treaty of Vienna were no longer binding. The House then went into committee of supply, and immediately afterwards resumed. Sir J. Lawrence's Salary Bill passed through committee.  Sir R. PEEL obtained leave to bring in a bill for the abolition of vestry cess in Ireland for other purposes relating thereto. Mr HUNT obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to election petitions. Mr HODSON obtained leave to bring in a bill to provide for the abolition of certain tests in connection with academical degrees in the University of Oxford. The House adjourned at 8 P.M.