Year: 1862

friend viii not press his motion, as you'd not 3


convenient to give the papers now though


NAV produce them hereafter, Here here.


The Earl Of MRlmesb1Ty said the noble eai
had used 8 wise discretion in not pTodRein


communications from a person who was nc


officially recognized. He did not know whethe


the noble lord would give some intormstlon I


the House on one or two points at this time Q


the session. They were now az a most anxiou


moment about to separate for five months, an


the country was very ignorant of the state c


affairs, and felt a great anxiety to know ittl


mere, if the noble earl thought it within hi


duty to give the information. He (the Earl O


Maimesbury). fFom the first day of the session


had always said that the whole question 0


the blockade, or of interference by way Of recog


milton OF mediation, was one Of time, and mus


be eft to her massty's government, who alone


were responsible for choosing the proper TIM


for acting L would, however, be very inter


estiug to know whether, when that time die


arrive, the noble earl had ascertained that b


would be assisted in a policy of recognition ol


mediation by any or several of our allies. ii;


did not think It possible that anything could oe


done by this country alone. We should be do


ing more harm than good if we were to attempt


it, in consequence Of the very unjust feeling


which seems 10 exist in the United States. But


he could not but hope, when the moment ar


rived for something to be done, that we should


be backed hy our ally on the other side of the


channel, BY Russia, and by other powers Oi
Europe. be should be glad to know if the
noble lord had some hORs Of bringing the
opinion of those powers TO bear on the quss-
ton He could not help feeling that this coun-
try had some confidence in such question be-
ing discussed. he thought the time, moreover,
was approaching when it might be discussed
with the United States, if Lord Lyons were at
his post; but he feared that Lord Lyons
absence, if it were much prolonged, would make
it appear to many persons that the time when
her msjesty's government could interfere was
not very near Al hand. He did not believe that
Lord Lyons hsd been recalled by anything but
very pressing business of his own He should
be sorry 10 interfere with any pressing concerns
on the part Of Lord Lyons, hRt the noble earl
would agree with him that for the sake of ap-
pearances, as well as on other considerations, It
was not desirable that Lord Lyons should be
very long absent from his post


Earl Russell l will answer ss well as can
the questions put to mo by the noble earl. With
regard 10 the frst question, [ agree with the
noble earl that if any steps are taken it would
be desirable that they should be taken by al
the principal powers of Europe. l do not
doubt that the opinion Of the maritime powers
Of Europe would carry much weight with the
government Of the United S.a1es, but it is very
the. all the great powers should Join
IN any representations that may be made. With
regard to France, 6ll | can say is that hitherto
there has been an intimate and unreserved
between her msjesty's govern
ment and that Of the Emperor of the French,
and l do not recollect any instance on which
a difference Of opinion has arisen between,
them on this subject. With regard to the


3 I A.
constant communication with that govern
nent; but, if l were 10 state the inclination of
my mind it would be that Russia would be ready
to consider any step that might be thought
and that both Russia aud France
would weigh in IAost impartial spirit any prop
lsition that might be made TO those governments.
With regard to the other powers of Europe, [
should say that they are disposed to take the
same views. If, however, 1 thought it my duty,
if her majesty's government thought it their
duty 10 make any such communications, they
ought very deliberately to consider the matter
before any such step is taken. Unfortunately,
Ill opinion prevails in the United States with re-
gard to this country which IS not justified by
any conduct on our part, because il has been as
friendly and as straightforward as possible


Hear, hear. With regard to the second ques-
ion, as to Lord Lyons, l would say that no man
ever attended more assiduously to the duties of
lis mission than Lord Lyons, ard these duties
nave been not only OnerOus but have caused him
great anxiety from time to time Lord Lyons
las acted with perfect discretion on every oeca-
8iOn but after two or three years discharge of
he duties to which he was recommended by the
noble earl, and after filling the position he occu-
pied 81 Washington, his health gave way. We
ielt that we could not expect to obtain the full
benefit of his sdvice and assistance if be were in
q bad state Of health, and when Lord Lyons
asked for short leave Of absence, to spend the
summer here, his re qu.st was granted. About
the beginning Of October he viii return to his
post, and in the meantime the duties of the mis-
sion viii be adequately aud effectively performed
by Mr Stuart, who is in friendly communica-
ton with the United States government.


Lord KIngsdown said that their lordships had
repo5ed q most unusual confidence in the gov
srnment, for during the whole of the session,
with, perhaps only single exception, matters
Of extreme nicely and importance had been left
10 the judgment and discretion of her majesty's
government. He did not complain of this; but
1ne reason from abstsining from discussing this
subject had been that the noble earl (Russel)
lad entertained and expressed 8 more san
yuine view Of the termination Of this dispute
.han the event had justified. The noble esrl had
expressed conf lent belief that in the space of
'WO o. thIeo mOntnS AuS QlSpuse DStHoeA tue
North and South wolld be SO far settled that any
atsrference on the part Of the Legislature in the
meantime would be prejudicial rather than ad-
7antageous He did not blame the noble earl
oT being mistaken, for it was impossible, TO an


cipate the conrse o. ofeyents IN the United States,
At that tins question Of very great moment,
,od enc which well deserved the most serious
consideration Of their lOrdships, was at issue
namely, the principle OF the efficiency or inefi-
,iency Of the blockade then established of the
Southern ports. It was now perfectly useless %
,nter upon this question. If this country were
% recognize the Independents of the South, the
light 10 blockade the ports of the South would
,emain, any interference on our part with that
blockade wouA probably be followed by a war
with the Northern States. Ho trusted that the
aoble lord would withdraw motion which could
not be attended with good results.


Ear RusseI said he felt very grateful to their
ordships for absssining from interfering with
the discretion Of her majesty's government
which he trusted had been exercised in this mat
ter.


The motion, after few words from Lord
STstheden, wsa then withdrawn.


Explosion of shells at Hound City-One


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