LORD STANLEYI wish, Sir, to make an appeal to my hon. Friend the Member for Honiton, with reference to a Motion which he has placed upon the Paper, and I do so upon public grounds only. My hon. Friend has placed upon the Paper for to-morrow evening a notice referring to the subject of the Tornado. Upon that question negotiations are still pending, 1877 and after the consideration shown by the Spanish Government in reference to another matter, we have no reason to fear any other than an amicable settlement. I think, therefore, that under these circumstances if a debate were to take place at the present time, the chances of that settlement might to some extent be jeopardized. My hon. Friend, no doubt, would deal with the case in the fairest and most temperate manner; but still it would be impossible, in the general discussion which would of course ensue, to provide against the saying of something which might wound the feelings of a very sensitive and high-spirited nation, and thus render the success of the negotiations more difficult; while, at the same time, any difference of opinion such as might very possibly arise, or the question of International Law involved, would necessarily weaken the hands of Her Majesty's Government. In spite, however, of these circumstances, I should have some hesitation in making this appeal to my hon. Friend, if it were not that, as it is now only the beginning of May, and we can look forward to a sitting of some months, my hon. Friend will be able, during the course of the present Session, to find ample opportunities for calling attention to the subject.
§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEsaid, that this was the second time that he had given a Notice upon this subject, and the second time that his noble Friend had appealed to him to postpone his Motion. He believed he was only representing the general feeling, not only of the House but of the country, when he expressed his admiration of the ability, judgment, and discretion which had marked his noble Friend's conduct of this affair. He wished, however, to remind his noble Friend that although the question of the Queen Victoria was settled, the question of the Tornado, which was entirely separate and distinct, had in no way been affected by that result. The considerations involved in the case of the Tornado were of the gravest possible character. Not only was there the question of the validity of the seizure of the vessel, but he should have to represent the case of the officers and crew who had been so harshly treated by the Spanish authorities. ["Order, order!"] He would not enter into that question at present. He simply desired to justify the expression of his opinion as to its urgency and importance. Still he would defer to the request of his noble Friend and the wishes of the House. He would, 1878 however, ask his noble Friend whether the claims made to the Spanish Government on behalf of the officers and crew had been withdrawn, or whether they were still pressed; and he would, moreover, appeal to the Government to assist him in obtaining a day for bringing on his Motion in case he should be unable to bring it on on the 24th of May, to which day he would postpone it.