20 NOVEMBER 1858, Page 6

311iNtEllnutin13.

THE IONIAN DESPATCHES.

The publication of Sir John Young's confidential despatch to Mr. La• bouchero turns out to have been an indiscretion. On Wednesday, the following letter addressed 'to its editor, appeared prominently in the Daily Neu's.

"Colonial Office, 16th November 1859.

" Sir,—I am directed to inform you that the recent publication of two de- spatches from the Lord Bigh Commissioner of the Ionian Islands took plaeS without the knowledge or sanction, direct or indirect, of her Majesty's Go- vernment, and that from the time of their appearance strict inquiry his been in progress into the -manner in which they became public. "I am, air, your obedient servant, H. DItirMMoND WW1%

The Dail?, Hews states 'in these terms how it came by the despatch.

We publish this note as requested. The-documents -referred to were sent to us under cover of an official envelope, with a request for their publication, by a person communicating his name and address. On inquiry, it was as7 certattted that that name and address were genuine, and the person comma= nicating them again placed them unconditionally at our disposal. " The despatches of Sir John Young were accompanied by other papers, to which an equal importanee is attached by the Colonial Office. On being made aware that the despatches bad been published without the sanction of the Government' we withheld the remaining documents ft:5m publication, and have since handed them over to the Colonial Office."