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MINISTERIAL EXPLANATIONS.

When Parliament reassembled on Thursday, a debate arose in the House of Lords upon an explanation offered by Earl Granville ; but no comment was elicited by what fell from Lord Palmerston in the other House.

Lord GRANVILLE briefly explained those steps, already made known, which led to the formation of the present Government. He pointed out

its comprehensive character' and the serious nature of the duties that

would fall upon it both in home and foreign affairs. The arrangement of the finances, a task of no inconsiderable difficulty, will require skill, honesty, and good sense. The question of the representation of the people cannot be dealt with at once ; the budget and other matters make it impossible to deal with it this session ; and the House of Lords would feel that they were not treated with respect were they asked to consider such a question when a full House is impossible. As regards national defences, the Government think the defences should be in a proper state. There is no ground for alarm of invasion but invasion should be an im-

possibility. The war will engage the first and most serious attention of the Government. It is our duty to maintain a strict and bond fide neu-

trality, to keep our country at peace, and to give Europe peace as soon as possible, by bringing our influence to bear at the first favourable mo- ment. That course, he believed, would be supported by the House. The Duke of RUTLAND contended that the speeches Of those Ministers who attributed the war to Austria are not in keeping with the declara-

tion of neutrality. Sardinia is the cause of the war. England ought to be prepared for every eventuality. The French Emperor cannot restrain the passions of his army, and no one can say what may happen.

The Earl of lifaLarEsnony made a speech, mainly intended to refute the criticisms of members of the present Government when they led the Opposition. His object was to show from the pages of the blue-book that he had done all he could to induce France and Austria to come to an understanding. He had not, as Lord Palmerston said he had, pa- tronized Austria. He had anticipated the advice of that noble Lord, and had told Austria that nothing could induce the English Government to support her in Lombardy against her own subjects. He had told her that England would stand by her in maintaining her treaty rights, but

not in exercising improper administrative and military influence. He had recommended a Congress. He had not passed the bounds of nen-

tiality. But if it be true, as stated by Sir Charles Wood at Halifax, that the Government has given advice to Germany, then they have gone further than the late Government, and have taken the first step towards leaving a position of neutrality, since it advises Germany not to judge for herself.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE deprecated premature discussion. The words imputed to Sir Charles Wood are probably inaccurate, for the de- spatch referred to does not bear the construction they put upon it. The Duke assured the Duke of Rutland that the Cabinet is unanimous in its determination to be strictly neutral. Lord HOWDEN spoke of the war as "iniquitous." He has at heart the real independence of Italy, but p_rotests loudly against the unholy means taken to obtain a holy end. The end does not sanctify the means. The determination of France was taken long before the month of Fe- bruary, but, still, when he heard Italy claiming the Emperor Napoleon as its liberator and regenerator, he could not help saying that he had great doubts whether, at the bottom of his very capacious mind, his Majesty ever intended or expected the real liberation of Italy, however large or magnifi- cent might be the device which he had inscribed upon his banner. Little or no change will be allowed to take place in Rome and the Papal States, and the so-called liberation of a part of Northern Italy will only serve to plunge those magnificent regions, if not into deeper darkness, at least into deeper disappointment and despair. Here WI House dropped the debate.

In the Roam of Commons, Lord PALMERSTON, bringing up some pa- pers, and moving that they be laid on the table, repeated the story of the formation of the Government, lauding the promptitude and generosity with which Lord John Russell had accepted office ; and expressing the pain he felt at having to refrain from asking assistance from men with whom on a former occasion it had been his pride and pleasure to co- operate, in order to form an administration which would secure the con- fidence of the House and the country. As to the future- " There are two great questions which preeminently occupy the attention of the public; one, the state of our foreign relations as connected with those important events which are now passing in the South of Europe ; the other that question of the amendment of the laws regarding the representation of the people in Parliament, which has so recently and so anxiously engaged the attention of Parliament and of the country. The course which we in- tend to pursue with regard to that first great question is the course which

has been chalked out for ns by those who preceded us—(Opposition cheers)

—and which has been recommended, or is intended to be recommended, by the resolution of which notice has been given by my noble friend—that is,

a strict neutrality in the contest which is now waging. I trust that nothing

can occur which should involve this country in hostilities, which, as far as human foresight can go, seem to turn upon matters which, though in- teresting the sympathies one way or the other of the people of this country, are yet so remote from their direct interests that it would, I think, be un- pardonable in any Government to endeavour to involve this country in the

contest (Cheers.) It will be our duty, as no doubt it would have been felt to be the duty of the late Government, to avail ourselves of any favourable opportunity which may occur in the course of these events to tender the good offices of England, either separately or conjointly with other Powers, for the purpose of restoring to Europe the blessings of peace ; but I am sure that this House will feel that steps of that kind ought not to be lightly ta- ken, that a great country like this ought not to tender advice or interpose offices until it sees that the march of events renders it likely that those good offices or that advice will be acceptable to those to whom they are tendered, and that lightly and without sufficient consideration to commit the country to steps of that sort would be derogatory to the dignity of the country, and useless with regard to any good which might be anticipated from the adoption of such a course.

"With regard to the other great question—the amendment of the laws regulating the representation of the people in Parliament—I think it is almost needless for me to say that, considering the season of the year, con- sidering how short a time must elapse before the return of August, aud pos- sibly of September, will so thin the attendance in this House that no ques- tion of great importance ought to be submitted to its deliberations, and con- sidering the amount of inevitable business which we have to go through, it would be trifling with so great and important a subject as that of Parlia- mentary Reform if we were to attempt to introduce into this House during the present session a Bill upon that subject. That it will be our endeavour and determination to avail ourselves of the earliest moment of the next ses- sion of Parliament to prepare and produce a Bill, I can give the assurance of myself and my. colleagues. When that next session will commence must depend very much upon the course of events, and upon the course of busi- ness. I wish to withhold any opinion upon that subject at the present mo- ment. Events may occur which may render it necessary that that session should be held earlier than the accustomed period. There may be considera- tions which may lead in the other direction, but upon that point I beg the House to understand that we reserve it to ourselves to state at some future period of the present session what our views and intentions may be. We shall therefore proceed at once with the business which is before us. Some of the estimates will have to be considered and voted by the House. There will be the budget of my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer to be stated and considered ; there may probably be measures con- sequent upon that budget, and there may be other measures of minor import- ance which we may think it our duty to propose ; but that amount of business will probably, I think certainly, occupy all the remaining portion of the summer, during which it is possible for us to expect such an attendance of Members as will enable us to deliberate upon measures of importance." The motion was agreed to.

STATUTE LAW CONSOLIDATION. A motion by Mr. WHITESIDE for leave to bring in bills to Consolidate and Amend;the Criminal Statute Law of England and Ireland, led to a debate, which was chiefly remarkable for decisive declarations it elicited from Sir RICHARD RETHELL and Sir HENRY %EATEN° against the plan of consolidating the law by commissions, and in favour of the establishment of a Ministry of Justice. No opposition was made to the motion, but it is plain from the speeches of the law officers that opposition was felt. Sir Frrznoy KELLY and Mr. WALPOLE strongly approved of the bills. They were brought in and read a first time. NEW CHAIR7dLN OF Comerrreas. Mr. Massey was, on Thursday, elected Chairman of Committees without opposition.