POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

The House of Commons met last night, did a considerable amount of business, and sat till after midnight. Contrary to general expectation, Mr. Disraeli did not make any statement similar to the manifesto with which Lord Derby favoured the House of Peers.

Early in the sitting, Mr. DISRAELI announced that those "painful mis- conceptions" which had subsisted for a time between the French and

English Governments have "entirely terminated in a spirit friendly and honourable, and in a manner which will be as satisfactory to the feelings as it will be conducive to the interests and the happiness of both nations." Within the preceding hour, Lord Malmesbury had received a reply to a despatch which he had written to the French Government ; and as soon as her Majesty's permission should be obtained, the whole correspondence would be laid before the House.

In moving that the House at its rising should adjourn till Monday, Mr. Disitaau proceeded to explain the course he should pursue with respect to public business. A supply would be required, in order that the Mutiny Bill might be introduced. With a view to the state of things in India, it is proposed to continue the Embodied Militia Bill passed for one' year in August last, which enables the Government to embody the Militia although we are not technically at war. , The Ways and Means Bill cannot be introduced until Wednesday next; and that bill and the Mutiny Bill cannot be passed before Easter, unless with the utmost forbearance on the part of the House. He appealed to the House to permit the Government to take votes on account, and to allow Orders of the Day to take precedence of Notices of Motion on Tuesdays. Mr. RICII and Mr. P. O'Bravx expressed their desire to know what the policy of the Government would be. In their election-speeches Ministers had made contradictory statements. The country had a right to know upon what principle the Government was formed. Mr. KINGLARE explained the Cagliari case ; and in order to bring it to an issue, moved for papers. Mr. DISRAELI 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 recognized 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 ob- tain prompt justice for our countrymen, and show them they are not de- serted. Lord Malmesbury has sent a gentleman from Rome [Mr. Lyons] " to sustain and comfort them," and has protested strongly against delay. Mr. Kinglake had not expressed any " unamiable feeling" towards the Government of Naples, and Mr. Disraeli was glad, of that, as intemperate or violent language will not improve the-position of our countrymen. This view of the question did not meet with approval. Mr. Iimantam denied the jurisdiction of Naples, The Cagliari was captured beyond the jurisdiction of Naples. Mr. ROEBUCK said that the Neapolitan Govern- meat had committed an act of piracy. Instead of sending Hr. Lyons," Tie would have sent Lord Lyons. Instead of using " amiable language," he would. have spoken with cannon-shot. Mr. IIORSMAN said the ques- tion could not remain in the position in which Mr. Disraeli left it, since Cotta CavOur had disputed the legality of. the Neapolitan proceedings. If they have been illegal, Count Cavour must not be left to fight the bat- tle 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 of vindicating the law Of nations and the rights of Englishmen hadfallen, even by accident, into the hands of the people of Sardinia. The House of Commons must be placed in full possession of the facts. Lord ParAtFats•rox 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 Naples. Itat length turned oat, from papers published in connexion 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. MILK ES thoughtthat compensation for those unhappy engineers should be exacted from the Government. Mr. SLY- HOUR FITZGERALD said that the late Government knew in December the grounds of Count Cavour'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 until they had been tried. The present Government could not pursue a course different from that of their predecessors. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that this was an un- satisfactory 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 here- after in reference to it, I ant 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 which other Governments act." Mr. OSBORNE 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 mea- sures; '

sures and menaced him with a direct motion, or one of those amend- ments 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.

The motion having been agreed to, the House went into Committee of Supply upon the Navy and Army Estimates. Sir Joux PARINGTON

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 9,172,-590/. The number of seamen and boys for 1858-'9 will be 44,380, of marines 15,000. The cost will be 10,128,6151., 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 bits and gentle questions; but the votes passed without opposi- tion.

General PEEL moved the Army Estimates. The number of men for the ensuing year he fixed at 130,135, exclusively of the Indian establish.

ment ; an increase of 3339 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 ; 7500 recruits being received in February alone, and 36,000 in six months. The Yates 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 per- manent borrowing powers to the Company.

Lord PALMERSTON, stating that he was unwilling to drop his Govern- ment 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 22d April.

Lord acne obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable counties in Scotland to abolish tolls and statute labour, and to maintain their public roads and bridges by assessment.

"A new writ was ordered to be issued for Durham in the room of Mr. Mowbray, who has accepted the office of Judge-Advocate.

'It is understood that the correspondence which has passed between the two Governments bf France and England will be laid before both Houses of Parliament on Monday. It is composed of a series of despatches, the last of which, closing the correspondence, arrived yesterday afternoon, just before the House met. Both Lord Malmesbury and Count Walew- ski, it is affirmed, have throughout shown great judgment and discretion. In reply to Lord Malmesbury's request for an explanation of those pas- sages which have so much offended the House of Commons, Count Wa- lewski very frankly reminds the country of the undoubted proofs given by the Emperor of the value he attaches to our alliance by his conces- sions to our views, both during the war and since the conclusion of the treaty of peace. He proceeds to observe that after the Emperor had been many times exposed to and escaped attacks made by assassins who were proved to have concocted their plans in England, he thought it no pre- sumption to appeal to the friendly feeling and justice of our nation to prevent, if possible, a recurrence of such crimes. Count Walewski re- pudiates, in the Emperor's name, any idea of wishing to include English- men in the category of the refugees to whom he alluded, or of a desire to change our laws, or an intention to condemn them ; but now, regretting the misconstruction placed on his intention, he requests that the corre- spondence may 'cease, and the alliance continue.—Times.

It is stated as one result of the late "painful misconception" that the Count de Persigny will not continue to represent the Emperor of the French at this Court. We do not, however, vouch for the correctness of the report—Idem.

A telegraphic despatch from Paris states that Orsini and Pierri were executed at seven o'clock this morning, and that Rudio is reprieved.

The Earl of Eglinton arrived in Dublin yesterday, riding on horse- back thrmigh snow and wind. Unhappily, the police and the stndentsef Trinity College quarrelled. Missiles,were flung, staves and swords wort used, and one student lies in danger of his life. The townspeople took nd part in the row, nor did the soldiers on duty.

The candidates for the vacant seat for the University of Dublin are now reduced to two, Dr. Gayer and Mr. Lcfroy. Mr. John George, late Member for Wexford, has been oppointed Irish Solicitor-General.

The Canadian Parliament assembled at Toronto on the 25th February. Mr. Smith, the Ministerial candidate, was chosen Speaker by a large majority. On the 26th the Governor-General made a speech pointing out several laws that require amendment.

In the Bankruptcy Court yesterday, Mr. Commissioner Fane gavejudg- ment in the case of the Halls. His statement contained a list of the shock- ing frauds committed by these persons, who have knavishly appropriated the moneys of their clients to an enormous extent. Mr. Fane refused the certificates demanded by the bankrupts, and left them without protection. If any justly indignant creditor put them in prison, the Court would not interfere until they had undergone at least two years' imprisonment. It would be the duty of the assignees to see whether the criminal law does not apply to some of the circumstances of the case.