POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY.
The greater portion of last evening was taken up in the House of Commons by another chapter in the endless dispute between Sir James Graham and Sir Charles Napier ; but the only proceeding of great in- terest was a conversation on the Central American difficulty.
Lord GODERICH read the despatch of 10th November 1855 from Lord Clarendon to Mr. Crampton in which the Foreign Secretary directs Mr. Crampton to inform Mr. limy that the British Government would still abide by the offer of arbitration on the Central American question, made to Mr. Buchanan and declined ; and another despatch from Mr. Cramp- ton to Mr. Marcy, showing that the former had neglected to do so until the 27th February 1856, Lord Clarendon's direction "having escaped his attention" before. Lord Goderich wished to ask whether these de- spatches—they had been published in the newspapers—were authentic; and whether two months did elapse between the receipt of the despatc by Mr. Crampton and its communication to the American Government ?
• Before Lord Palmerston could reply, Mr. GLADSTONE rose' saying he wished to call attention to the position of the House in respect to the Central American question. It appeared that the correspondence be- tween the two Governments on that question was held as concluded some months ago. When Lord Palmerston was asked for that corre- spOndence soon after the beginning of the session, he said that it was separate from the still open correspondence respecting recruiting, and might be produced ; yet to this hour nothing has been seen or heard of those papera. In reply to a question put to him a few days ago, Lord Palmerston had said the papers had been delayed because the Foreign Office was so much occupied with other matters. Mr. Gladstone would not say whether the papers ought to be produced, but he would confi- dently gay that their production ought not to be delayed from week to week and from month to month because persons in the Foreign Office are much occupied with Other matters. The subject is a great deal too important to allow any obstacle of that kind to intervene. Were they to understand—what would be far more agreeable—that the correspondence is not closed ; that no ultimatum has been exchanged ; that there is hope of brining the question to an amicable conclusion ? "Sir, it appears to me that this House will incur a very heavy responsi- bility-, if, after we have been told that the Government has ceased to deal with a question of this nature, we do not demand information with regard to it. 'Where the raggeassibility of the Government ends there the respon- sibility of the House of ettossons begins. And what happens ? While we thus go on from month to tratnth—while Parliament is silent on the ques- tion—though I do not want the voice of Parliament to be heard as long as the Government feels that an amicable arrangement may be concluded— while our-mouths are kept shut from the vent of official information, other voices go forth ; other voices, which, I must say, have sounded a note the most opposed to wisdom, to justice, and to peace, as well as to those friendly —I would almost venture to say affectionate--relations that I am sure every man in this House would wish to see prevailing between Great Britain and the United States. (Cheers.)
It is rumoured that additions are to be made to the military force in Canada : before that be done, he hoped "the House of Commons would have an opportunity of uttering its voice." If the Government have done with the Central American question, the House ought to have the papers. But he would far rather hear that a perfectly good understand- ing may still be established between Great Britain and the United States. (Clwers.)
Lord PALMERSTON began his reply as follows, answering Mr. Glad- stone first- " 3rty right honourable friend knows as well as any man what is the organization of the various Governmental departments, and how the buss- nets in each of them is performed. He knows as well as any man that those departments, efficient as they may be for general purposes, are not calcu- lated to deal quickly with extraordinary and unexpected circumstances. But yet my right honourable friend has blamed the Government, and the Fo- reign Office especially, for not having produced these papers at an earlier paled. My right honourable friend has referred in a slighting manner to the other busmesa which the Foreign Office has lately had to transact, f" No, no ! " from Mr. Gladstone, and general expressions of dissent.] I beg his pardon, he has done so." [" 1Vo, no !"] The Foreign Office had been occupied with a most difficult and important negotiation; and there had been a great pressure on it for the Kars papers. As regards the papers on the Central American question, "they are nearly completed," and m few days he hoped to lay them before Parliament. He would not follow Mr. Gladstone into a discussion of the question, but would contentedly wait for the judgruent of the House—" when it has before it the materials to form an opinion."
The despatches read by Lord Goderich were, he believed, correct copies. No inconvenience "could accrue to the public service from any accidental de- lay, [on the part of Mr. Cramptonj because the instructions upon the part of Lord Clarendon had alrewly been communicated to Mr. Buchanan, at that time the Ambassador of the United States in this country; and I think that that will be seen from the papers which will be shortly laid before this House with regard to the Central American question."
[It will be remarked that Lord Palmerston made no reply to that pert o 3.1r. Gladstone's speech which referred to the rumoured increase of the British forces in Canada.]
, On-Use order of the day for going into Committee of Supply, Sir isms Gnsmai, to vindicate his veracity, impeached by Sir Charles Napier in a letter to the Times made a long statement, including the reading of Many documents, illustrating and reflecting on the conduct of Sir Charles -the siege of Acre. Sir CHARLES NAPIER, on his part, made a speech of equal length and detail, and brought forward counter-evidence ; among the rest, a disclaimer from Sir Robert Stopford a any intention of passing a censure when he objected to Sir Charles's conduct in depart- ing from instructions. Admiral BERKELEY, MT. LINDSAY, Mr. ROEBUCK, Mr. MAtrss, and Admiral WeLoorr, took part in the debate; the latter four aiding with Sir Charles.
In Committee of Supply, on the vote of 227,6411. for national educa- tion in Ireland, Mr. WI:mum first took exception to the item 5175/. for the "Albert Agricultural Training Establishment and Model Farm" at Grlasnevin. Mr. BLACKBURN followed. Out of the 227,0001., 17,0001. is spent in agricultural schools, 23,000/. in model schools, 10,000/. on mixed schools, and 36,000/. for management; so that only 140,0001. found its way to the actual working school. Mr. WILLIAMS moved to reduce the vote by 23,9051. This led to .a mart debate, in which Lord Palmerston and Mr. Disraeli figured as principals. Lord Pitman- mow said, that the money could not be better expended than in teaching the ignorant Irish peasants how to cultivate the soil. Mr. Disa...sms retorted, that they might as well teach cotton-spinning. Where is the line to be drawn ? Mi,ght there not be a model mill, or ,a model bakery ? Lord PerstmaTost admitted the principle that money should not be expended in advancing the condition of the people; but "the condition of Ireland is an exception to all rules," because it had been "the victim of class legislation" and "misgovernment on the part of this country." Mr. Damns; who seemed disposed to vote for the amendment, withdrew his opposition on the understanding that the whole subject should be referred to the Educational Commissioners for revision. Mr. Williams's amendment was then negatived by 144 to 38; and an- other amendment, for making small reductions, shared a similar fate.
The House of Lords was entirely occupied with the Agricultural Statistics Bill. In Committee the Earl of DERBY moved an amendment substituting the Board of Trade for the Poor-law Board in the first clause of the bill. He objected to a divided authority in reference to the collection of information. The amendment was negatived by 18 to 13; and the bill, with a few amendments, passed through Committee.
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