English and Foreign.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 585, 12 June 1858, Page 3

English and Foreign.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, 12th of March.

Mr. Rich and Mr. P. O'Bbien expressed their desire to know what the policy of the Government would be. In their electionspeeches ministers had made contradictory statements. The country had a right to know upon what principle the Government was formed.

■ Mr. Kinglake explained the Cagliari case; and in order to bring it to au issue moved for papers. Mr. Disbaeli expressed his sympathy with the engineers, but objected to the production of the papers. The late Government, acting upon the advice of the law-officers of the Crown, had recognised the jurisdiction of the Government of Naples ; the question is one of law, not of policy, and the British Government are foreclosed from opening the question^ We can do no more than obtain prompt justice tor our countrymen and show them they are not deserted. Lord Malmesbury has sent a gentleman from Kome (Mr. Lyons) " to.sustain and comfort them," and has protested strongly against delay. Mr. Kinglake had not expressed

any " unstable feeling" towards the Government of Kapies. The Cagliari was captured beyond thy jurisdiction of Naples. Mr. Roebuck said that the Neapolitan Government had committed an aot of piracy. Instead of sending ' Mr. Lyons," he would have sent Lord Lyons. Instead of using " amiable language," he would have spokon with cannon-shot. Mr. Hobsm an said the question could not remain in the position in which Mr. Disraeli left it, since Count Cavour had disputed the legality of tbe Neapolitan proceedin -s. If they have bnen illegal Count Cavour must not be left to fight the battle by himself. He trusted that the whole of the papers would be placed before parliament. Mr. Gladstone also pressed for the papers. He wanted more minute information before he blamed any government. But he had seen with pain, astonishment, and shame, that the duty o! vindicating the law of nations and the rights of Englishmen had fallen, even by accident, into the arms of the people of Sardinia. The House of Commons must be placed in full ptfssession of the facts. Lord Paimeeston said he had no objection to the production of the papers. For a long time the late Government believed the Cagliari had been captured within the jurisdiction of Naales. It at length turned out, from papers published in connection with the. trial, that the capture took place beyond the Neapolitan jurisdiction. That materially altered the case, and when the late Government retired from office, the question was still under ..consideration. Mr. Milnes thought that compensation for those unhappy engineers should be exacted from the Government. Mr. Seymour Fitzgebald said that the late Government knew in December the grounds of Count Cayour's claim, and they had arrived at the conclusion that even if the engineers had been captured on the high seas, they had no right to demand the liberation of the engineers till they had been tried. The present Government could not pursue a course different from that of their predecessors. Lord John Eussell said th^t this was an unsatisfactory statement. If the Sardinian Government had made a just claim they ought to be supported, But even if the engineers were legally captured, their treatment has been needlessly harsh, severe and cruel, so that one had lost his health, the other his reason.

" The Chancellor of the Exchequer tells us to use' amiable language' towards the Government of Naples. I had no confidence either in the justice of that Government towards these unfortunate men before trial, or in the court before which they were brought. I know it has not been unusual for the Neapolitan Government, for reasons of their own, to change the judges appointed to try prisoners either previously to the trial or, it may be during the course of trial; and I should not be surprised to hear, if the Neapolitan Government wish these men to be convicted and the judges are not likely to convict them, that they had recourse to changing those judges for others more subservient. Whatever course the Government may pursue on this subject, and whatever this House may think it essential to do hereafter in reference to it, I am not ready to make the admission that we are to consider everything that the Neapolitan Government has done has been according to justice, and that there is no need of enforcing on them the observance of those principles of equity on w^hich other Governments act."

Mr. Osbobne diverged from the immediate subject; went back to the questions raised by Mr. Rich and Mr. O'Brien; rallied the ministers on their conduct in not making a statement ; asked the House not to vote any money until Mr. Disraeli had given a programme of intended measures; and menanced him with a direct motion, or one of those amendments which Mr. Milner Gibson knew so well how to construct, unless he made up his mind as to the course he would adopt; for a statement made by a noble lord in " another place" is not sufficient for the House of Commons or the country at large. After some further desultory remarks, the House went into Committee of Supply upon the Navy and Army Estimates. Sir J. Pakington made a brief statement respecting the Naval Estimates. The number of seamen and boys voted for 1857-8 was 38,700, of marines 15,000. The total cost of the naval establishments was £9,173,590. The number of seamen and boys for 1858-9 will be 44,380, of marines 15,000. The cost will be £10,128,615, an excess of £956,025, over the vote of last year. He asked the House to grant a supply for four months. The debate which followed was characterized by due " forbearance" mingled with oblique hits and gentle questions; but ,the votes passed without opposition. General Peel moved the Army Estimates. The number of men for the ensuing year he fixed at 130,135, exclusively of the Indian establishment; an increase of 3,339 over the vote of last year. There are now in India 92,739, as compared with 30*197 last year; showing an increase of 62,542. General Peel stated that recruiting is going on well; 7,500 recruits being received in February alone, and 36,000 in six months. The votes of men and money

were agreed to. The India Loan Bill was considered as amended; and passed that stage after some debate, with the omission of clause 11, which gave permanent borrowing powers to the Company. Lord pALMEESTOIf, stating that he was unwilling to drop his Government of India Bill until he had seen that which the present Government intended to bring in, postponed the second reading of his bill till the 22nd April. Lord Blcho obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable counties in Scotland to abolish tolls and statute labor, and to maintain their pu lie roads and bridges b) r assessment.