§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHI desire to put a Question to the noble Lord at the head of the Government with respect to a matter on which it is fitting that the Government should have the opportunity of offering explanations that may take the place of the uncertain rumours now occupying the public mind. It is confidently stated that the reason of the termination—or rather of the interruption — of the visit of General Garibaldi to this country, unexpected as it is, and by no means confirmed by those who have had the opportunity of seeing the General this afternoon—it is confidently stated that the curtailment of the visit is due to a suggestion of the Government. And it is also inferred in the minds of some, that the suggestion of Her Majesty's Government is the result of a suggestion from other quarters. I therefore take this opportunity of putting a Question to the noble Lord on the subject, which, I have no doubt, he will be able to answer in a satisfactory manner, in order to put an end to rumours which will spread through Europe, and which would be extremely injurious to the character of any Government. I beg, then, to ask the noble Lord, Whether Her Majesty's Government have made any suggestion to General Garibaldi to induce him to curtail his visit to England?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, I have heard within a very short period the report which has suggested the Question of the hon. Member for Devizes. I have been told that it has been reported in different quarters in this town, that the termination earlier than was expected of the visit of General Garibaldi to this country is the result of some suggestion coming from Her Majesty's Government, and that that suggestion has been dictated by a communication received—there is no need for mincing the matter—from the Emperor of the French. All I can say is, that those who have spread or believed that report have done great injustice both to the Emperor of the French and to Her Majesty's Government. The Emperor of the French is, I am quite sure, too high-minded and of too generous a character to have made any such application to Her Majesty's Government, and I need not, I trust, say that any Government of this country receiving such a communication from any foreign Sovereign, tending to bear on purely do- 1291 mestic considerations, Would hare very civilly, no doubt, but, at the same time, very firmly resisted and repelled any such suggestion. But, Sir, with regard to the Emperor of the French, I am empowered to say by my noble Friend the Earl of Clarendon, who had some conversation with His Majesty on the reception given to General Garibaldi in this country, that, far from having looked on that reception with the slightest degree of jealousy—for which there could not be the least foundation, because there is nothing in that reception, of any kind, bearing on France or the French Government; it was simply an expression of the admiration of the people of this country for a great and distinguished man—I am authorized by my noble Friend to say that in that conversation the Emperor of the French, so far from expressing the slightest umbrage at what has taken place, said that he looked with admiration on the feelings which that reception expressed on the part of the British nation, and that it did them the highest honour. Well, Sir, the Government have had nothing to do with shaping General Garibaldi's arrangements—nothing whatever; but I am told that his visit is likely to be brought to a close earlier than it was at first intended, purely and entirely on the score of a regard for his health. Everybody must know that General Garibaldi, having received, I think, in August, 1862, a very severe wound, was confined to his bed or couch for well nigh twelve months after that period, and that he has not yet completely recovered the use of the limb which was then injured. The strongest man must, under those circumstances, have Buffered materially in health from that long confinement; but General Garibaldi, it is well known, has lived a life of exposure, exertion, and fatigue that must have had an effect on his constitution. It is not, therefore, surprising that the General should be in a delicate and precarious state of health arising from these circumstances. The General's habits, too, are very different from the life he has had to lead since he has been in this country. In his island home in Caprera, free from deputations, free from levies, free from visits, free from all sorts of honour and attentions, which are accompanied by a considerable degree of exhaustion, he has been accustomed to go to bed at eight o'clock at night and get up at five. Well, when a person is in a feeble state of health, and suffering from the effects of a severe wound, to dine 1292 at half past eight, and remain surrounded by admiring friends till between eleven and twelve at night, must have an effect on him; and, although I have not had the honour of seeing him as much as others, I can bear my testimony that his health has suffered in consequence of the exertions he has made. While, therefore, the earlier termination of his visits and his foregoing those honours which were awaiting him in every town in this country may be disappointing to those who admire him, I trust it may have the effect of preserving a life so valuable to his country. Vast multitudes of men, women, I might say children, in this country, desired an opportunity of seeing him, taking him by the hand, and doing him honour, but his most ardent admirers will feel that, in foregoing the pleasure of seeing him, they are contributing to the preservation of that life, health, and strength which everyone who admires Garibaldi must desire should continue unimpaired for the service of that country to which he has devoted himself.