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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 Palmerston 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 fit to re-echo the aspersions of that honourable member , imputing to my noble friend and myself that in the 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 Mr . Bright . "] I beg the honourable gentleman ' pardon ; but the honourable member for Huntingdon 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 xtussia , 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 made himself'the organ for the utterance of these false arid 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 . The 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—What will the Emperor of Eussia care for a moral demonstration ? Q Hem ' , hear , and laughter ' . ) You must go , says the honourable gentleman ; to Sebastopol ; you must go to Cronstadt ; you must send armies and fleets ; don ' t attempt to deal with Eussia 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 . ( ' Ueai ; hear , ' ami 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 . Baring promptly replied ; and an altercation ensued , leading -well up to the 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 private agent of the Government of Russia , but I beg to tell 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 I must remind the noble lord that , after the failure of a well-known house , the Bank of England , ou the recommendation of Sir llohert Peel , became the private agent of the Russian Government . The noblu lord says that I ought to remain siloat on account of my connexion with the Russian Government ; but I tell him that I
entertain as conscientiously as ho can do opinions hoslilo to the policy of Russia . " Lord Palmbrston— " I should bo sorry to state anything of any honourable gentleman that is not consistent with accuracy ; but I have always understood that the honourable gentleman was the private agent of the Russian Government —not in a , mannor contrary to tho highost sense of dutybut X have understood that when Turkish agonts were in this country endoavouring to negotiato a loan , they applied , among other persons , to tho firm of which tho honourable gentleman is a member , and that firm declined negotiating tho loan , on tUo ground of their finunciul connexion with tho Russian Government . "
Mr . Baking : — "There wore , perhaps , other reasons for declining to negotiate that . loan . ( . 4 laugh . ) Wo did not think tho security was good , or tho loan secure , without u guaranteo from England and Franco . " Lord Pacmurston-- " 1 wish to ntik tho honourable gentleman , for my own information , if some connexion with the Kuaaian Government waa not assigned for declining to nogotiuto that loan ?" Mr . Baring— " No such ronaon was assigned . " Lord J ltussici ^ -. " I am glml to hoar iVoni tho honourable gontlommi that ho doua not intend to attribute tho language usod by my noble friond suul myself , with rociml to tUo conduct of tho Uiiwinn Government , to fooling * of nhliy ™ i ? thtt - >» n 8 ull « S ° w »« deooroiw or not , the . hommr-Mr nS ° ' 00 Ul ™ ° Illillod t 0 foim hi « » wi . opinion . " fallonlVnm ^" T J , ^ ' ^ V'npwtllibO wil . ll what , l , ! l » he miitZ , ! f ^ Ol > Olor ( l ' ' « " ! wltV tlio iiidiuimlloii which nirZnSitiSl ^ IT * " P ° ™ oiml inoSvoH iulluc . no fSSin ? iinJ L ? T- l Mnk tlmt iH » very rouaoimblo 3 "JliT Tn * Hvln K » tntoH . im ,, mor 0 ninucd against iu that reared Mum the noble lord . About live or
six years ago a stream of calumny in that vei n 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 tlie 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 . ( ' 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 the 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 UWLEY JOB . On Thursday , in the House of Commons , a great House was collected to hear the promised explanations on the " JTrancis Lawley affair . " There was a dramatic surprise—the Coalition freeing themselves of the scrape by sacrificing Mr . Law ley . Sir G . Guey , 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 . F . Lawley to be Governor of South Australia , proceeded to state matters which , he said , had come to his . 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 George then gave a detailed narrative to the following effect : — Before the Duke of Newcastle relinquished the . seals of tlie Colonial department , after only a short acquaintance with Mr . Lawley , but satisfied as to his ability and character , he had offered him the appointment in question . Mr . 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 only draw ? back to his qualifications was that ho had in early life been on the 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 tins pursuit could not be too soon abandoned , and with that view he had accepted the office of private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer , and desired the colonial governorship . Although his Grace told him tha t he thought the appointment of Mr . Lawley would conduce to the public service , he
serious chaTge—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 fewmonths . 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 , he added in conclusion , the House desired any further statement upoa the subject , or considered that , upon public grounds , an investigation was necessary , the Government were quite willing to concur in any motion for that object .
Sir J . Pakington said , after tho statement of Sir G . Grey he considered the subject at an end . Mr . S . Wortjlev , 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- th ^ re 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 . Stuaut 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 lie had held tlie 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 . Bright 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 ' s 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 .
( Sir George ) did not feel himself bound to renew the offer 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 ho 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 the family and friends of Mr . Lawley had the samo impression . Under these circumstances , knowing nothing of Mr . Lawley , not thinking that a fondness for the turf unfitted him for tho office of
After some remarks from Mr . Y . Smith , dissenting from the doctrine laid down by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , the Speaker pub a stop to the discussion as irregular ( there being no motion ) , and the IIou 3 e emptied .
MAYNOOTH . 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 he removed from the Consolidated Fund , and constituted an annual vote . This the Chancellor of tlie Exchequer resisted aneeringly ; whereupon Mr . Disraeli delivered a lengthy and sagacious lecture to the Government upon the chaos they wero inducing in all these small "
religovernor of a colony , and not a breath of suspicion as to the . character of Mr . Lnwloy having reached him , ho submitted his names to her Majesty , who approved the appointment . Although Mr . Lawley had been , as ho had said , engaged in transactions on the turf , he'had not hoard even a rumour of any dishonourable conduct on his part , or of any outstanding liabilities against him ; but on tho 28 th of July tho Duke of Newcastle informed him that he had that day received from two quarters information that rumours wero circulated highly injurious to tho character of Mr . Lawley—namely , that ho had recently become
gious" questions by not attempting to lead the country . The time was now come when they must reconcile tho recognition of tho Protestant constitution with the principle ) of civil and religious liberty . It was impossible to leave the rights and privllogcj 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 . Ho called ou tho Government to attempt a solution of this vast question early next session .
subject to heavy liabilltioa in conaoquonco of transactions in connexion with tltt ) turf , and , Avlrnt more nearly affected his character , that he hud availed himself of his official knowlodge , us private secretary to tlio Chancellor of the Exchequer , to engage in oxtensivo speculations iu tho funds . IIo immediately addrosseil a letter to Mr . Gladstone , stating that , if there wan any foundation in truth for this rumour , il waa impossible that tlie appointinont should procoed , and that , in justice- to all parties concerned , the full purport of it should bo communicated to Mr , Lawloy . On Monday lie received , through his private secretary , » , letter from Mr . Law ley , cumtaiiiiiit ,-what ho considered u satisfactory denial of tlio most
Lord J . liussEi-T , rejoiced to find tlmt some interval was to bo allowed tho Government before embarking upon so gigantic a task , nnd briefly urged that tho motion actually before thom pointed exactly in tho reverse direction to that Indicated by Mr . lMsraoll , inasmuch as it would invite instoad of closinp controversial discussions . Mr . NcwDKiiATK eonlonded that as Oxford Univorsity was suhjivt to parliamentary control , tho mime measure ought in justice to bo dealt to tlio Muynoulli oHlablidhmont .
Tho ooiinniUuo then divided—For tho motion , 43 ; Hffiim . sr , Wfi—Mi . Tho bill then passed through ooinnikU'c , and was ordered to bo reported .
Untitled Article
August 5 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 725
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 5, 1854, page 725, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2050/page/5/
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