Dr. Cameron brought the Peruvian Government's treatment of the crew
of the Glasgow steamer Talisman' before the House of Commons on Tuesday, by moving for a Select Committee to inquire into the whole circumstances of the case. The Talis- man' was certainly chartered by some agent of the insurrectionary party in Peru, and was used by that party when she arrived in Peru for the purposes of rebellion ; but it was not asserted that the English crew had taken any part in the unlawful proceedings, and all but the officers had, after more than twelve months' deten- tion without trial, been dismissed as innocent. The attitude of the English representative in Peru had been singularly feeble and apathetic, and this attitude was apparently a reflection of the atti- tude of the Government at home. Sir Henry Havelock seconded the motion with an attack on the general conduct of the Peruvian 'Government towards British subjects, which went beyond the drift of the motion, so that he was called to order by the Speaker. In point of fact, indeed, the motion ought to have been somewhat wider, for we quite agree with Sir Henry Havelock that the considerable number of instances in which Peruvian justice or injustice has displayed the same offensive peculiarities towards British subjects, is an essential part of the case. Mr. Bourke's very embarrassed and yet ultra-Peruvian speech did not improve the temper of the House, and as it was felt impossible to grant the Select Committee, the motion for the adjournment of the debate was carried, at the suggestion of Mr. Forster, and in spite of the opposition of the Government, as a mode of "keeping the question open" till further information should be received.
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