MR. LINDSAYsaid, before putting the Question of which he had given notice, he had desired to have made a statement, containing some important facts bearing upon the American war, and tending to show how futile was the attempt to restore the Union and to coerce the South; but as he had no opportunity now of doing so, he begged simply to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, If, considering the great sacrifice of life and property occasioned by the war still raging between the United States of America and the Confederate States, and considering the loss the people of this Country have suffered by the war, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government, in concert with the other Powers of Europe, to use their endeavours to bring about a suspension of hostilities?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI can assure my hon. Friend that Her Majesty's Government deeply lament the great sac- 2019 rifice of life and property in America and the distress which that war has produced in this country. But we have not thought that in the present state of things there was any advantage to be gained by entering into concert with any other Powers for the purpose of proposing or offering mediation, or of negotiating with the Government of the United States or of the Confederate States to bring about a termination of this unhappy war.