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    August 5, 1854.] THE LEADER. ?25

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    ¦^T Ijbliament Of The Week. Anight In Su...

    interfere ¦ with them ; but the effect of this bill would be to render any one of them liable to misdemeanour who knowingly took or acquired any of this stock . In the case of a merchant , also , who had a partner , not a British subject , residing abroad , if any of this stock came into the hands of that partner , the merchant in this country would be liable for a misdemeanour . As regarded a moral demonstration , that would be just as well effected by a resolution of that House , declaring any person who should aid the Russian Government to be hostile to his country . The present bill would , in his opinion , prove utterly ineffective , and to pass it would be degrading to the character of that House , and he hoped that the committee would not assent to the clause . " Lord Palmekston here got angry , and made two personal attacks : one on Mr . Baring , and the other on Mr . Bright : — " The honourable member for Manchester , although he did not hear all the observations which were made by the honourable member for Huntingdon , has , probably from , similarity of sentiment , thought iit to re-echo the aspersions of that honourable member , imputing to my noble friend and myself that in tlie political course which we have thought it our duty to take , and in the opinions which , as members of a responsible Government , we have thought it our duty to express with regard to the conduct of another Government , we have been actuated by the mean and trumpery feeling of personal hostility . [ 'No ! ' from Air . Bright . ] I beg the honourable gentleman ' s pardon ; but the honourable member for Huutingdon has not denied that he imputed to my noble friend and myself that in supporting this measure , and that in the general policy which we have advocated with regard

    to Russia , we have been actuated by feelings of private animosity . That is the jargon of all that party in Europe who oppose , and who always have opposed , the policy of this country . ( Cheers . ) With regard to the honourable member for Manchester , I am not surprised that he should have adopted such opinions [ 'I have not adopted them , ' from Mr . Bright [} ,. but I am surprised that the honourable member for Huntingdon should have riiade himself the organ for the ¦ utterance of these false and ridiculous calumnies , because , if there is any man in this House who ought to be abstinent in adopting that jargon , it is the honourable member for Huntingdon , who is himself known to be a private agent of the Emperor of Russia , and who ought from that circumstance to abstain from making these unjust observations . Tlie honourable member for Manchester is very difficult to please . When proposals are made to resent injuries or to enforce the interests of this country by force , he is opposed to any forcible means being

    employed ; he is then all for moral demonstrations ; but when I recommend this bill as being a moral demonstration , the honourable member immediately says—Wlnit will the Emperor of Russia care for a moral demonstration ? Q' Hear , hearf and laughter . ) You must go ^ says the honou rable gentleman , to Sebastopol ; you must go to Cronstadt ; you must send armies and fleets ; don't attempt to deal with Russia by means of moral demonstrations ; it is by military and naval demonstrations that Russia is to be met . This champion of peace is so peaceable that he will not allow us to proceed to accomplish the objects of the war by naval or military demonstrations ^ nor even by moral demonstrations . ( ' Hear , lieav , and laughter . ) Well , sir , the honourable gentleman is entitled to hold those opinions , but I do not think that they are shared by the people of this country . " Mr . Baking promptly replied ; and an altercation ensued , leading well up to tho quiet and deadly comment of Mr . Disraeli : —

    " I wish to say a few words in explanation . The noble lord has stated that I am the privatu agent of tlie Government of Russia , but I beg to telj the noble lord that such is not the case . In time of peace 1 have been the agent of the Russian Government , so far as the -firm , of which I am a member negotiating a loan for that Government could make mo so ; but 1 inubt remind the noble lord that , after tho failure of a well-known house , the Bank of England , on tho recommendation of Sir Robert l eel , becanio tho private agent of tho Russian Government . Tho noble lord sivya that I ought to remain silent on account of my connexion with tho Russian Government ; but I tell him that I entertain as conscientiously as ho can do opinions hostile to the policy of Russia , "

    Lord Ralmeuston—" I should bo sorry to state anything of any honourable gentleman that is not consistent with accuracy ; but I have always understood that tho honourable gentleman was the private agent of tho Russian Government —not in a manner contrary to tho highest senao of dutybut I ha \ o understood that whoa Turkish agents wero in this country endeavouring to negotiate a loan , tlioy applied , among otlior persons , to tho firm of which tho honourable gentleman is a member , nud that Hi ran declined negotiating tho loan , on tho ground of their iinnncial connexion with tho Russian Government . " Mr . Da-Uino— " Thoro wore , perhaps , othor reasons for declining to nc ^ otiato that loan . ( A laugh . ) Wo did not think the security was good , or the loan ' accure , without a guarantee from England and Franco . " Lord

    P ^ LMumsTON— " I wish to uwk tho honourable gon-Uoman , ( or my own information , if some connexion with the Russian Government whs not unsigned fur declining to horotmto that loan ?" Mr . Bajuno— " No sn , ch ronaon wais assigned . " Lord J Russian— " I nm gi , ui to hear from tho honourable ge ntlomun that ho dooa not ; intend to attribute ) the language usod by my nol . lo friend mid myself , with rvaavd ™ ,. «! ° rtwet of tho UuHBinn Government , to fwlingn of tt ^ W" Tlmt is M » 1 wiHlle < 1 ? »»«' . ""'» "' 6 « « -J iblo P « nuL ' '* ngungo W « H Ucooroua or not / the honourfaiEnfiSn Yi . « T * q ! hy'ni >« thiso with what bus cimii foci 'Y , ° . and with the indention which aiSlln tli ? r r . T ' llvi "K "tatomnan inoro « i , mod Agauutt in that rcapoot thnn tho nublo lord . About live oi

    six years ago a stream of calumny in that vein was poured upon the noble lord . The noble lord was at that time in the responsible position of influencing the policy of this country during the occurrence of the most important events of modern times , and he was assailed by persons of position and authority on the ground that he was influenced in the course of policy which he adopted by personal motives . Now , who was the principal individual who at that time assailed the noble lord ? It was the present Prime Minister of England , under whom the noble lord now holds office . O Hear '

    and a laugh . ) And who were the persons who supported those calumnious accusations ? They were the followers of the present head of the Government , and are now colleagues of the noble lord . I merely recall the attention of the committee to this circumstance in order that they may do justice to the amiable disposition of the noble lord—( laughter )—and they , perhaps , may feel that the indignation which has been lavished upon a chance , and probably misunderstood , phrase , might have been directed against those much more entitled to be complained of than my honourable friend tlie member for Huntingdon . "

    The bill got some way through committee . Government taking it off Lord D . Stuart ' s helpless hands ; but its fate is still uncertain . It will , we think , never pass .

    THE LAWLES JOB . On . Thursday , in the House of Commons , a great House was collected to hear the promised explanations on the " Francis Lawley affair . " There was a dramatic surprise—the Coalition freeing themselves of the scrape by sacrificing Mr . Lawley . Sir G . Gkey , referring to a notice placed on the paper by Sir J . Pakington , of his intention to call the attention of the House to the circumstances under which her Majesty had 'been advised to appoint the Hon . IT . Lawley to be Governor of South A ustralia , proceeded to state matters which , he said , had come to bis knowledge only within the last few hours , leaving Sir John or any other member , after

    hearing the statement , to take the course which his sense of public duty should dictate . Sir Gfeorge then gave . a detailed narrative to the following effect : — Before the Duke of Newcastle relinquished the seals of the Colonial department , after only a short acquaintance with Mr . Lawley , but satisfied as to his ability and character , he had offered him the appointment iu question . Air . Lawley was anxious to accept it , but wished previously to consult his family and friends , and asked a few days for deliberation . His Grace replied , that he only held the seals of that department ad interim , and that he must decide at once , but added that he would mention his name to his successor . Mr . Lawley , Sir George said , was

    wholly unknown to him , except as a member of that House , and the Duke of Newcascle , in mentioning Mr . Lawley to him , intimated that the oul yd rawback to his qualifications was that lie had in early life been on tho turf , and was fond of horse racing . He ( Sir George ) did not think this a disqualification , more especially as the Duke stated that Mr . Lawley himself was deeply impressed with a conviction that this pursuit could not be too soon abandoned , and Avith that view he had accepted the office of private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exch equer , and desired the colonial governorship . Although his Grace told him that he thought the appointment of Mr . Lawley would conduce to the public service , ho

    ( Sir George ) did not feel himself bound to renew the oifer to Mr . Lawley , but considered himself free to submit the name of any gentleman for the appointment . He accordingly made inquiries with reference to another gentleman , and had intended to offer it to him ; but a letter he received from Mr . Lawley showed that he was under a different impression , believing that ho had still the option of accepting or refusing the appointment , which he had made up his mind to accept , and ho ( Sir George ) found that tho family and friends of Mr . Lawley had the same impression . Under these circumstances , knowing nothing of Mr . Lawley , not thinking that a fondness for tlie turf unfitted him for the office of

    governor of a colony , and not a breath of suspicion as to tho character of Mr . Lawley having reached him , he submitted his name to her Majesty , who approved tho appointment . Although Mr . Lawley had been , as ho had said , engaged in transactions on the turf , ho had not hoard even a rumour of any dishonourable conduct on his part , or of any outstanding liabilities against him ; but on the 28 th of July tho l > uko of Newcastle informed him that he had that day received from two quarters information that rumours were circulated highly injurious to tho character ot air , Lawley—namely , that ho had recently become subject ' to heavy liabilities in consequence of

    transactions in conn exion with tho turf , and , what moro nearly affooUd hiH character , that ho hud availed himself ofhis official knowledge , as private secretary to tho Chancellor of the Exchequer , to engage in extensive speculations iu tho funds . Ho immediately addressed a letter to Mr . Gladstone , stilting that , if thoro was any foundation in truth for this rumour , it was impossible that tho appointment should proceed , and that , in justice to all parties concerned , tltts full purport of it ( should bo communicated to Mr . Law Icy . On Monday ho received , through hit ) private secretary , « . letter from Mr . Law ley , containing what ho considered u satisfactory denial of tho most

    serious charge—namely , that of speculating in the funds while private secretary of the Chancellor of the Exchequer . This letter he sent to the Duke of Newcastle , stating that he thought its terms conclusive . So matters stood until that morning , when he received a communication from the Chancellor of the Exchequer , whence it appeared that Mr . Lawley , according to his own confession , had been engaged in transactions in the funds within the last few months . The charge was , that he had availed

    himself of his official knowledge . He ( Sir George ) had no reason to believe such to be the case . He was informed that the speculations were losing , not gaining , and the disclosure was his own act . But he had felt it to be his imperative duty to advise her Majesty to revoke the appointment . If , be added in conclusion , the House desired any further statement upon the subject , or considered that , upon public grounds , an investigation was necessary , the Government were quite Avilling to concur in any motion for that object .

    Sir J . Pakington said , after the statement of Sir G . Grey he considered the subject at an end . Mr . S . Wortleit , as a relative of Mr . Lawley , denied most positively that he had in any instance availed himself of his official knowledge , and stated that , if there existed the slightest suspicion of his having done so , Mr . Lawley was willing to submit to any inquiry , investigation , or examination before a committee of that House , or any other tribunal . Lord D . Stuart inquired whether , in the letter Sir G . Grey had received from Mr . Lawley , the latter had stated that he had not speculated in the funds during the time he had held the office of private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer , or only that he had not used his official knowledge ? Sir- G . "Grey said , he had understood the purport of the communication to cover any speculation in the funds during the time he was private secretary .

    Mr . 13 right pointed out that there were other objections to this appointment besides those arising out of the private character of Mr . Lawley . As a public man that gentleman , a conspicuous silent member , had proved no qualifications whatever for public life . Mr . Adderle y said that this case ran alongside of the Stonor case ; and what , therefore , were people to think of the system of the Colonial Office ? Mr . Gladstone , after tendering to the House his thanks for their fair and considerate reception of the communication made by Sir G . Grey , and giving to Sir J . Pakington credit for being influenced solely by

    a sense of public duty , replied to Mr . Bright and Mr . Adderley , observing that it was difficult to prevail upon well-known and well-qualified men to accept the office of colonial governor . The appointment of Mr . Lawley had been objected to on the ground of his youth and want of experience ; but Lord Elgin had been appointed by Lord Derby to the government of Jamaica , at a period of the greatest difficulty , when he was exactly of Mr . Lawley ' age , and had less experience of public affairs . Lord Harris , too , was totally unknown as a public man , and without any experience , when he was appointed to a colonial government .

    After some remarks from Mr . V . Smith , dissenting from the doctrine laid down by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , the Speaker put a stop to the discussion as irregular ( there being no motion ) , and the House emptied .

    MAY BOOTH . On Thursday a money bill , of a merely technical character , but having reference to tho Maynooth grant , came on in the Commons , when Mr . Spooner , detecting a malignant opportunity for discord , moved that the grant should bo removed from the Consolidated Fund , and constituted an annual vote . This the Chancellor of the Exchequer resisted sneeringly ; whereupon Mr . Disu . ieli delivered a lengthy and sagacious lecture to the Government upon the chaos they > vero inducing iu all these small "

    religious" questions by not attempting to lead tho country . The time waa now come when they must reconcile tho recognition of the Protestant constitution with tho principle of civil and religious liberty . It was impossible to leave tho rights and privileges appertaining to tho members of various sects throughout the country to be tho subjects of perpetual discussions , and tossed to and fro in incessant parliamentary debates . He called on the Government to attempt a solution of this vast question early next session .

    Lord J . IIusskll rejoiced to mid that some interval waa to bo allowed the Government before embarking upon so gigantic a task , and briefly urged that the motion actually before them pointed oxactly in tho reverse direction to that Indicated by Mr . Disraeli , Inasmuch aa it would invite instead of closing controversial discussions . Mr . Newukuatk contended that as Oxford University waa subject to parliamentary control , tho aaino measure ought in juatieo to ho dealt to tho Maynooth establishment .

    Tho committee then divided—For tho motion , 43 ; ag-aiiiHt , ioa —<>« > . Tho bill then passed through committee , and was ordered to bo reported .

    August 5, 1854.] The Leader. ?25

    August 5 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . ? 25

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 5, 1854, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05081854/page/5/