13 AUGUST 1853, Page 10

POSTSCRIPT.

The foremost subject in Parliament last night was a debate in the House of Lords, on the state and history of the Turkish question, with an explanation from the Foreign Minister.

The Earl of MALMESBURY moved for copies of the translation of two manifestoes published in the St. Petersburg Gazette by the Emperor of Russia, and any answers which our Government may have made to those documents. In a speech covering a large apace in the morning journals, Lord Malmesbury vindicated his right to call for these papers ; citing precedents, from Mr. Canning in 1822, and Lord John Russell in 1853. He referred the conduct of the Emperor of Russia to the irritation produced by the proceedings of Count Lavalette ; and argued that the abuse showered on the foreign policy of Lord Derby's Go- vernment, especially on Lord Malmesbury himself and the intimate alliance with France, together with the Halifax and Carlisle speeches of Sir Charles Wood and Sir Tames Graham, had impressed on the Emperor of Russia the idea that we were either averse from or in- different to the French alliance ; and that thus he had been tempted to aggressive courses. Then the Government evinced great supineness in the Montenegrin affair, when it ought to have supported Turkey ; and all these things must have impressed Russia with the idea, that happen what might we were not disposed to drawn the sword in defence of our ancient ally. But he admitted that the signs of aggression had astonished those who confided in the honour of the Emperor. "No one could be more astonished than myself; for during the year 1852, when I held the office which my noble friend now holds, it was impossible for any sovereign or any court to show a more sincere interest in the main- tenant* of treaties, and in those territorial arrangements which have happily subsisted for so many years in Europe, than was shown by the Emperor of Russia. If there was one Sovereign in Europe more than another, if there was one Government more than another, that impressed on me the import- ance of maintaining inviolate those treaties, and that the present territorial arrangements of Europe should-remain nninfringed, it was the Emperor of Russia and his Government."

Lord Malmesbury gave a narrative of the events which have occurred in relation to the question since Prince Menschikoff arrived at Constanti- nople,• and blamed the Government for not having sent the fleet in com- pany with that of France, when the former was summoned by Colonel Rose, and also for not having advanced step by step with Russia and given instructions for the fleet to enter the Dardanelles when the Rus- sians crossed the Pruth. He repeated his previous assertion, that the withholding of Lord Clarendon's answer to Count Nesselrode had created suspicions that all was not right, and that it had humiliated England.

The Earl of CLARE14DON said that he had not been prepared for so long a speech ; and he declined, without disrespect, to follow Lord Malmesbury through some parts of it. From a sense of public duty he declined to lay the required information on the table. His own answer to the circular of Count Nesselrode was in argument the same, and in tone equally firm and moderate, as the French note.

Lord Malmesbury spoke as if the idea had first struck him that England and France should be at peace. But our relations have long been intimate and friendly. It was not to be supposed that the newspaper attacks on Lord Malmesbury for carrying on that policy, or the speeches of Sir Charles Wood and Sir James Graham—affairs long since disposed of—produced the effect de- scribed on the mind of the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor of the French had accepted the explanations of those speeches ; the relations of the two countries continued to be most intimate ; and the Emperor of Russia could notbelieve that the alliance did not exist. With regard to the mission of Count Leiningen, Government had been in constant communication with Austria. As to the alleged mistake of not sending the fleet from Malta when summoned by Colonel Rose, Lord Clarendon fully explained, that Colonel Rose did not ask Admiral Dundas to come to Constantinople, but suggested that the usual summer cruise Eastward should be hastened by eight or nine days. When the news that the English fleet had been sent for reached Paris by telegraph, the French Government, without consulta- tion with ours, believing the danger imminent, ordered the French fleet to go to Salamis. But this act did not throw a single shade of difference over our relations. Toulon is further West than Malta : it was felt that both would be more handy and come better together if wanted at Constantinople, if one remained at Malta and the other at Salamis. The result proved this ; for both arrived at Besika Bay within a few hours of each other. The assurances of Russia to the present Government were the same as those given to Lord Malmeibury. "No Sovereign could have given more solemn assurances of respect for existing treaties, and for the territorial ar- rangements of Europe," than the Emperor : he declared that he held the maintenance of the Turkish empire as "a great principle of European policy," and would regard its dismemberment as a "great European calamity." The occupation of the Principalities was a violation of existing treaties; it was a casus bell; it was an act of war : but the Sultan was advised not to exercise his right of treating it as such, only because the British Govern- ment thought it incumbent on them in the first place to do all they could to avoid a chance of war.

He described the recent steps by which the negotiations have arrived at their present stage. After the occupation of the Principalities, an offer of Austrian mediation was made to Turkey, and acted upon. Austria proposed that such a note should be furnished as she might send to St. Petersburg, and support when there. Delay arose at Constantinople; and Austria, fore- seeing its great dangers, called a conference of the other Powers, and pro- posed that the note originating with the French Government, slightly modi- fied, should be laid before the Emperor and the Sultan as a means of settle- ment. This was agreed to ; and on the 2d August the note was sent to St. Petersburg. But, in the mean time, the Russian Minister at Vienna had transmitted the substance of the note to his Court ; on the 3d a telegraphic message stated that the note met the Emperor's views; and Lord Clarendon had just heard that Count Nesselrode has made to Sir Hamilton Seymour an official communication that the note would be duly accepted by the Em- peror.

Lord BEAUMONT, the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, the Earl of Henn- WICxE, and the Earl of Emzenionouerr, took part in a conversation en- suing ; Lord Ellenborough rather siding with the Government.

The Earl of ABERDEEN remarked, that we are not bound by any treaty to take part in hostilities in support of the Turkish empire ; yet from a sense of our own national interests, and from a sense of what is due to the ge- neral interests of Europe and our own honour, we are bound to support the integrity of that empire : and, interested as the Great Powers are in the preservation of its independence, " so long as it can be upheld by foreign countenance and support, nothing will be sanctioned by them de- rogatory to the honour and essential interests of that empire."

Lord Msamesavax concurred in this view. As Government thought the production of the papers would be detrimental to the public service, he would withdraw his motion.

In Committee on the Merchant Shipping Bill, Lord COLCHESTER moved the omission of the clause which repeals the restrictions as to the employ- ment of foreign seamen. This amendment was supported by the Earl of MARDWICKE and the Earl of ELLENBOROUGII ; but it was negatived by 18 to 5. The clause was agreed to, and the bill passed througeCommittee.

On the motion for the third reading of the Transportation Bill in the House of Commons, several Members started objections, but no change was made in the bill. Mr. WORTLEY expressed a hope that greater uni- formity and certainty would be effected in carrying out sentences under the new system than under the old. Mr. Essenea suggested that the clauses enabling the Secretary of State to grant tickets-of-leave should be expunged : they introduce a novel system, and before their enactment, they ought to be well considered and discussed. This view was taken by Mr. SPOONER, Mr. NEWDEOATB, and Mr. J. G. PIIILLIMORE. Mr. WAL- roLS declined to press his suggested amendments, as Government ought to be responsible. Mr. Ewen and Mr. Hums looked upon the measure as an experiment that should be fairly tried. Mr. TROIKAS CRA-MBERS and Mr. Bennow approved of the bill. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON thought the transportation still retained ought to be regarded as an intermediate sentenee.

Early in the debate, Lord PALMERSTON assured Mr. Keating, that, novel as the plan looks, it had received deliberate consideration from per- Ions much more competent than he considered himself to be on these matters ; and he repeated the grounds on which Government adopted the

ticket-of-leave system. For himself, he wasitsequass of the greatest advantage.

The bill passed.

Mr. WaseoLe moved the second reading of do arilipt vractic.:At Elections Bill ; not for the purpose of proceeding .ntleer session,

to place it before the House. The bill repeals and then, 9-459.141M8 -all the laws relating to bribery, treating, and intimidation. The. prin- cipal alterations in the, existing system are, that'll:pc candidate will .hare to declare his innocence of any act of bribery, tratiting, .pr intiraidetiasa where offences are proved to have been the acts of &tenni, the eeate10150 voided, but the Member capable of reelection ; every MftMe"Whb bribes to be incapable of sitting in the House for seven years; voters to lose the franchise for the same period ; the names of offenders to be entered in a." book of disqualification," kept by the Speaker, open to any person on certain conditions. The bill was read a second time.

In reply to Mr. LAYARD, Lord PALMERSTON said that Lord Jens RUSSELL would communicate privately with him before Monday respect- ing the explanation to be given on the affairs of Turkey and Russia.