THE INSURRECTION IN GALLICIA. (Hansard, 23 July 1846)

§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE

wished to state, in reference to the question which his noble and learned Friend (Lord Brougham) had put to him a few evenings ago, on the subject of the confiscation of the property of Polish refugees by the Austrian Government, and which he had declined answering until he could communicate with his noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and inform himself of the precise facts. He was anx- 1378 ious now to state to his noble and learned Friend and the House, that he had since then so informed himself, and that there had been certainly no communication made on the part of the Austrian Government to the Government of this country on the subject of the unfortunate circumstances—unfortunate in every respect—which had taken place in that country. But though no communication had been received from the Austrian Government, Her Majesty's Government had received most authentic information from time to time as to these proceedings; and he was happy in being able to announce that the last communication which had been received on the subject stated, that there was, on the part of the Austrian Government, a disposition to lean as leniently as possible on those parties. He had only to add, that he hoped that leniency would take effect more especially with regard to those unfortunate individuals who might have been involuntarily mixed up with those transactions, or who, from accidental circumstances, might have been suspected of taking a part which they really did not take. He relied on the character of the Government of that country that no time would be lost in doing justice to those individuals, as far as it was consistent with the safety of the Government of the country to permit, and that no conditions would be sought inconsistent with the feelings of honour, and the characters of the parties.