§ VISCOUNT STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFEwished to ask the noble Earl the Foreign Secretary, Whether he could give the House any information he might possess relative to a subject which had excited great interest, by means of the narratives in the public press, which had given great pain to all who had perused them—the state of those Circassians who had gone into voluntary exile owing to the late successes of the Russian Government? The Circassians, during a number of years, had won universal sympathy and respect by their vigorous efforts to preserve their national rights against an encroaching Power. They had now been unfortunately obliged to yield, and rather than remain under a Government which they had so much reason to dread and detest, they had emigrated in large numbers, at the risk of their lives, and with no provision of any sort. He desired to learn if the noble Earl would furnish the House with any information upon the subject; and, above all, with respect to what had been done by the Russian Government to alleviate the suffering which they had caused, or as to what course had been pursued by the Turkish Government for the assistance of the sufferers. No one could regard the misfortunes of the Circassians without interest, because there were many circumstances which commended them to our consideration, and by no means the least was the bravery with which they sought to sustain their national independence. He should also be glad to know if the noble Earl 1048 had any objection to lay upon the table of the House any papers bearing upon the subject?
§ EARL RUSSELLwas understood to say that he had no objection to furnish to the House any information upon the subject which he might receive. The details were very painful, and he feared that great barbarities had been committed.