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rb « n inr is declared , a proper intimation will be given of th « fiKb < •; ,. - . ¦ - '¦ ¦ y-i &y& » t this point Mr . Bright rose , and , in order tbttt- he might ibaake a speech , moved the adjouninctts"O ^ tiie . xloiLse . . . . . . ; Hje "Said the answer of Sir Jaines Graham did not nj> the' case .. There are matters connected with tais ^ questi on that affect the Government as a Goren ^ meht' \ On the authority of statements in the mewnrng ^ papers Mr . Bright told how the ambition of tamed , Jtfayor Sidney prompted him to propose a djnuoer'to Tthe officers of . ^ W army and navy , and bjwl&rd ; Aberdeen ^ thinking- it injudicious , stopped t | i # giving of that dinner . Ihat dinnei did not take place , bat a dinner at the Reform GLub did take lgiri ££ ** Why ; was it , if the Mansion-Blouse dinner was postponed as injudicious , that three Cabinet
I give a flat contradiction . I do not belong to tliat hon . gentleman ' s schooL And although I acknowledge bid talents , and adroit him to be an able man , I think that he is fall of illiberal and narrow-minded prejudices . Mr . DiSBAnuxmade a speech of characteristic tact , taking occasion to have a fling at the Government . He said the question had been healed with too much gravity : — He could not help thinking there were some extenuating circumstances that might be alleged at the present moment on the part of the right lion , baronet . It was perhaps possible he might indiscreetly have interfered for the moment with the exercise of the prerogative of the Crown . It was
Mr . Kich , -Lord Lovaboe , and Lord Ci ^ ttoe Hajujvtox enlarged upon the wrongfulness of either assisting the Turks with British troops to put down the insurrection , or of permitting the Turks to sup . press it by any but regular troops . Mr . ! LatabJ > defended the Turks , showed that they had mad * great reforms of late years ; and proved that the accounts of Ottoman cruelties were exaggerated by the Vice-Consuls in the Mediterranean * almost all of whom are lonians , and many of the checks to progress were attributable to tbeir intermeddling and intrigues .
Viscount Paxbikbstoh said he was not disposed to rate too highly the danger to be apprehended from the Greek insurrection , which was well known to owe its origin rather to excitement and instigations from ¦ without than to national or religious enthusiasm ^ . - Mr . Gibsox expressed alarm at the different versions of Ministerial policy given by the various members of the Government , and the indefinite responsibilities \ re wer $ incurring in the Hast . He called for the production of the convention said to have been concluded between Great Britain , France and Turkey .
fcir Bobbbt Pekl declared his entire approval of the policy of Ministers , and hoped that the voice of Parliament and public opinion would be efficacious in deterring the Greeks from Insurrection . So the matter ended ; and the House went into Committee ; but On the thieshhold Mr . Disbajeli objected to going on with the income-tax resolutions at that hour , and Mr . Gladstone readily gave way Oaths . —Mr . PbltoAtt moved for leave to brine in- a bil . declarations for tboaths in
substituting « now required , » variety of legal , commercial , and professional transactions . The multiplicity of instances ia Which these solemn formalities were at present exacted resulted in much irreverence and profanity , and led to a general familiarity with perjury . He proposed to enact accordingly , that in all cases where corjscientions scxaples were entertained , a-simple affirmation might be substituted , at the desitt of the taker , who should still remain liable to all the penalties now assigned to the crime of perjury , if it should be proved that he lad affirmed a falsehood . :
Mr . Hadfiblo seconded the motion . Lord Palmebston consented to the introduction of the bill , and admitting that . oaths- might advantageously be dispensed with in many cases where they were now exacted ; upon important occasions and judicial proceedings , he thought tb&tthe attesting formality shouli be maintained with the utmost solemnity .. He approved also of the precaution inserted in the bill brought forward on the subject in another House , by which it was left to certain appointed authorities % t *> decide upon the nature of the " alleged scruples , and determine whether effect was to b > given them . The House divided . For the motion , 109 ; against , 108 ; majority , 1 . Leave was then given to bring in the bill .
ALTERATIONS IN THE BOOX OF COMMON PKAYER . Mr . Heywooj > rose to more an address to her Majesty for a copy of the alterations in the Book of Common Prayer proposed by the Royal Commissioners for the Bevision © f the Liturgy in 1689 . The commissioners , whose alterations were intended to be submitted to convocation , and subsequently considered in Parliament , numbered among them individuals of no less eminence than Stillangneet and Tillotson . When they had concluded their labours , the original copy of the alterations they proposed , in the handwriting of the Eoyal Commissioners ,
remained in the hands of Archbishop Tillotson . It then passed successively into the hands of Bishop Gibson , the Dean of Arches , and the Archbishop of Canterbury . The present archbishop thought he had no right to give a copy of this paper , unless the House of Commons and tha Crown should consent to its publication . He thought these alterations worthy of the consideration of Parliament , and that something was wanting in our historical documents so long as a copy of this paper could not be regarded as a public document .
Lord Palsieuston said , the Government did not intend to offW any opposition to the motion . Mr . GooLnunN said , it was perfectly true such a document wsis in the archbishop ' s library , but it was a private library , and he did not knov how they could ask for a document in a private library . It was not necessary for information , for its purport liad already been published ; and not only bo , but it formed the foundation of tlie church in the United States . Thy question was , "whether they would compel the owner of a private library to proiuco a document , information respecting the subject of which could be obtained from another source ? Mr . Henley considered that no good reason had been assigned why private property should be invaded to produce the document in question .
Mr . Lauouciikuk said , the library in question had descended from archbishop to archbishop in the sec of Canterbury , and could hardly be called a private library . He did not thinlc any principle violated to . such u degree- by the present motion that they ought jiot to enturiuin it . Mr . ( ioiJMUJHN reli-m'd to a letter in which it was stated that the book wiis in the library in question , but , there being an express direction that it was to
possible that the right ho » . gentleman , might hare told Sir Charles Napier that he -was at liberty to , declare war . ( JVo . ) But it was a matter of considerable notoriety that Six Charles Napier never obeyed orders . ( Laughter . } He considered that when the right hon . gentleman told- Sir Charles Napier that he was at liberty to declare war , lie was quite confident that Sir Claries Napier would maintain peace . He thought . too much tad been , made by his gallant friend ( Sir T . Herbert ) of the declaration « f the right boo . gentleman , that he felt considerable gratification at two powerful fleets being commanded by reformers . He confessed that when he read that passage- for the first time it seemed to him that the expression nad been used in a partisan spirit , whicli he could not for a moment -suppose could wisely administer the Admiralty of this
gceat country . But on reflection even that objectionable passage assumed a very different character . No doubt it was a . subject of great congratulation to the right hon . gentleman that these two large fleets that had teen sent out under his auspices were commanded by two sound reformers ; tut then they must recollect , on the other hand , that at the" present day sonnd " reformers-were gentlemen who did not reform . ( JLaughterS ) Therefore , he looked on these two reformers as two conservatives . Reformers of the present day : were the m « st harmless of beings , and therefore he came to the conclusion that these two sound Teformers were to keep the fleet harmless . There was another point in the speech of the right "ion . gentleman that he confessed did
give him some alarm , and that was the invective tfiat he expressed against the Emperor of Russia . Having just been informed by the noble ford the leader of the House , that they were ' still in negotiation with that potentate , and being possessed of the opinion that war was not declared , having only a few days ago been assured by tlie Prime Minister , that he . considered war was not inevitable , he did consider that an English minister , with the great talents of the Tight hon . gentleman going to this dinner of a political dub , and giving expression to these sentiments , was most undignified and indiscreet , bat further reflection convinced him that there Was more discretion in the right hon . gentleman even in this respect than on the surface of the matter appeared , because
he remembered that rather more than a year ago the right hon . gentleman delivered an invective against another Emperor , and Mr . Disraeli committed the grievous error of calling the attention of the House of Commons to it . The right Jbon . gentleman new said the Emperor of the French was the best , the most worthy , and cordial ally hex Majesty ever had , and therefore he had no doubt that even when using that invective against the Emperor of Russia , the right bon , gentleman saw much fnrther _ than they did , and the consequence was that they would soon find that the Emperor of Russia also was a most cordial ally of her Majesty ,
Mr . Spooner concurred with Mr . Brigbt in his censures of the peccant Ministers , and th « subject dropped . In the midst of the debate Sir Thomas Herbert , alluding to another' expression attributed to Sir James Graham , asked whether he had at the dinner in question observed— " We , ajj reformers , may be proud that the honour of the British flag in the Euxine and the Baltic is entrusted to two such champions as Admiral Dundas and Sir Charles Napier ?"
Sir James GfiiBABi admitted the correctness of the report , and saw no reason to regret or retract the expression . The important commands alluded to had doubtless he « n given from no political considerations ; but it was a matter on which reformers might fain congratulate themselves that two approved champions of reform were found worthy of holding- them . The third incident was a dull discussion on the Greek insurrection , conducted by the minor debaters . The order of the day for Committee of Ways and Means having been moved , Mi .
Monckton Milnks called the attention of the House to the circumstances of the Greek insurrection in Turkey , and expressed apprehensions that the most disastrous consequences would follow if ifc were permitted to be suppressed with unrestrained cruelty and violence . It was the duty of this country- to endeavour by mediation and every fair means 1 o put a stop to these calamities , nnd the appointment of a British commissioner to watch the contest might be attended with the best effects . Since \ re were compelled to make Avar , it should be our object to make even war the instrument of civilisation , nnd to advance the monil and intellectual welfare of the world .
Lord John Kussbix agreed very generally in the opiniona expressed by the honourable gentleman . It was necessary for the British Government to discourage the insurrection , even whilst sympathising with the suffering's to which tlie Christian population of Turkey was often exposed . Notliing could be more fatal to every hopo of advancement than such an insurrection , which could not , under present circumstance , be successful . IJritish troops would not be employed to suppress tlie insurgents .
Ministers attended the dinner at the Reform Club ? -H £ ioplr ^ upon the * occurrence as . a proof that there tt > rnajorit / a ^ d a ininorlty in the Cabinet . 'He ' wjauld' say nothing of the good or the bad taste of ^ Qlnis ^ w ' of ^ heCro ^ attending these dinners ; Ministers who had brought the country to the precipice 0 ^ warorould not be very particular'as to the means atyg ^ take of stimulating public : passions in order Wjcover their blunders . lard John Russell had been salted to ' preaide ; but he had too much respect for his mmtchani&ec , ana lawd Palnaeraton took his plsce . ftfifcBrightcould' not 'heltt Contrasting- the language
used byXord Palmerston about the good faith of a certain ruler abroad , with the language he used two yemr » ago , to terrify the House , about the landing « f a marauding army of 60 , 000 Frenchmen on our atores . Tben there was Sir William Moleswortli ! ^^ v « montbA ^ offi (» r had changedaiLhis opinions , ¦ lie Jia&iforgote iifr >^ dvocatedi in 1850 . He now came to Sir 3 ^ e SGrahain- ^ a matt not to be surjiassea -for tlie ^ pret ^ onof hi 8 ^ 1 a ^ guage--who in . flat contradiction ^ « ie opinion of Xord John Russell , not only vouched m ^^ S ^^ ly ^ Mf& ^^^ ^^ mMbs
4 g MP $£ & ^?^^ bore ^ mplaiheil that , ja , man ipass ^ ^ e j ^ ripd of ^ 0 jg 0 j $$$$ ^ f » placed at thp head of a costly fleet ; ti&bj ^ xgublect ^ r -war had l > een treated with levity —Ili ^ had : beea funny about ; it ; and ^ he asserted tfi ^ t ^^ Uung « o 1 iM excuse * -tfce indiscreet language oicd ^) yjSiriJatne 8 » Mr . Bright said he read tie ivhole o ^ these ^ proceedings ^ ith pain and humiliatioh ; and he took Lord Palrcerstonix ) task for telling joSang storiesiait suich an awfjol moment . y ^ S ^ JSa ^ j ^ i to wait long for 5 a reply . Lord Pai ^ his
MatSTON was up in an inatant , and set the House iMpjuag ^ y b ^ ibning speech in these words— " if i ^^ no ur ^ ¦ Q 0 l $ , Ilii ^ CcwinsBr . rose to order . Tiiat expression w ^ j riot pari iiunentary , and though , perhaps , not ittfemecbajr personally Offensive ; waa flippant and iSffia&ffiiL . -- ¦ : < . - ¦¦¦ .::: r \" .: ** . \\ . '¦ * 'i ^ B fti i ^ iUtoBffnwr ' rejblriea that 3 ^ would not qoarrel about words , ^ wftsfoyer Mri Bright inigbt say ; of his cohdiict he treated with indifietebce and contempt . No doubt the pain he felt -was at nn'drng any men expressing an opinion that arms ought to be resorted to . ?» •• - ¦
Now , I do say , I felt very pr < md at beicp invited by the Beform Club to preside on tbat occasion . I thought it an honour conferred on me , - to preside at a dinner given in honour of , S" ; Charles Napier . The hon . member thinks Sir Claries Napier too old for the daty which h * s been devolved tpon hun ; the result , however , -will show whether he is too old or not . The honourable member , moreover , thinks that tUes . e dinner qutetioQfl must be Cabinet questions . QLawlk-«^ r , ) N w , I pan assure him phey are opea questions , and are not discussed in . the Cabinet—( laughter ^ and—although I confess bis speech was calculated to excite anything but a friendly _ feeling—if the honourable member will only get Mtnself elected a . member of the Reform < ylub— £ licit a number already" ']—then , I am afraid a most unwortby ioember--but if ho will only fall more into tie humour of the
Bwbrm Clnb , and attend the n « xt dinner given to a distinfiflished pfticer going upon foreign service . I can assure Mm vuvt , whether ho bB in the state in which , he assumes my dgbTt honourable friend not tob .-a . Te been , or able to ' go to the convivialities of tie evening yrith the same clear mind whicli be ~ displays here on all occasions ^ we shall be happy to hear llia ' speeon , and to allow him to discuss any question , whether ofpeaoe orwar , that he may choose ; and I , at all events , stuul not think tbat he discredits himself b y attending a dinner given by tlie club to a distinguished , officer , one ol its own members , before starting for foreign service . ( CAeera . ) Sir WiwuABf ' Moleswoktu vindicated himself
thus—As the hon . momber for Manchester bos alluded to my presence at the dinner , I wish simply to say that I attended there as one of the oldest members of the Reform Club . I vas called on to propose the health of the Turkish Minister . and I expressed vory briefl y my view of wlat had been , ana -what ought to bo . the policy of lier Majesty ' s Governmenttbat they had endeavoured , to the best or their power , to preserve peace—that their efforts had been unsuccessfulthat the time for vigorous action was novr dome , and that I hoped auccesa would attend our arms . In saying that , I simply expressed an opinion which I am reitd y to express in fclus House , or anywhere else , tind I do not think that tlieie was anything in iny remarks in opposition to anything ihnt L have ever said . The hon . inombor for Manchester has thought proper to accuse mo of having changed my Beratinaents since I have ant on this tench . To that accunation
Untitled Article
24 * THE LEADER . [ Saturday , ^ SH ^ MMI ^ MMBHI ^ HS ^ S ^ BBBSI ^ M ^^ SBHI ^ HNMB ^^ BS ^ B ^^ RMBMBMBIB ^ I ^ IHS ^ I ^^ H ^ IMMHMHI ^ S ^ S ^ II ^ I ^ BH
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 18, 1854, page 244, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2030/page/4/
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