Lords Sitting of 5 February 1855

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILL.—1a Fisheries (North America).
Reported—Cathedral Appointments Act Continuance; Bills of Exchange.

THE VOTE OF THANKS—THE FRENCH NAVAL FORCE IN THE CRIMEA.
THE LORD CHANCELLORacquainted the House, That he had received the following Letter from Vice Admiral Dundas, enclosing a Letter from Vice Admiral Hamelin in return to the Thanks of this House, communicated to his Excellency in obedience to an Order of this House of the 15th of December last—
"Paris, 1st February 1855.
"MY LORD—I had the Honour of transmitting from Malta the Thanks of the House of Lords to Admiral Hamelin and the French Naval Force under his Command in the Crimea that your Lordship had entrusted to me to communicate to my esteemed Colleague.
"I now beg to enclose to your Lordship Admiral Hamelin's Letter to me, acknowledging the Honour that has been conferred on himself and his Fleet.
"I have the Honour to be,
"Your Lordship's most obedient humble Servant,
"J. W. D. DUNDAS, Vice Admiral.
"The Right Hon. The Lord Chancellor."
"Paris, le 18 Janvier 1855.
"Monsieur I'Amiral—J'ai I'honneur de vous accuser réception de votre lettre du 6 de ce mois, qu'accompagnait la résolution votée par la Chambre des Lordes, pour remercier et la Flotte Franäaise et moi-mâme de la cordiale entente qui n'a cessé de regner entre la marine des deux nations pendant la course de leurs opérations de guerre dans la Mer Noire et en Crimée.
"Un témoignage aussi éclatant de la Chambre haute d'Angleterre ne pent que resserrer encore les liens qui unissent les deux Flottes, comma les deux Armées; et je vous prie de vouloir bien âtre auprés le leur Seigneuries l'interprâte de mes rémerciments les mieux sentis.
"Je seus personnellement heureux, mon cher Amiral, que la noble Chambre vous aît choisi pour me transmettre ce haut témoignage; vous,

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mon cher collègue, avec lequel je n'ai cessé d'agir de concert chaque jour, j'allai presque dire chaque heure, pendant dix-huit mois.
"Récévez, Monsieur l'Amiral, la nouvelle assurance de ma haute consideration et do mon bien sincere attachement.
"L'Amiral HAMELIN."
"Monsieur le Vice-Amiral Dundas."
The said Letters being read, were Ordered to lie on the Table; and to be entered on the Journals.

CONVOCATION.
THE EAEL OF SHAFTESBURYwished to ask his right rev. Friend (the Archbishop of Canterbury) a question with respect to the meeting of Convocation, which was fixed for to-morrow. It was well known that that body was not authorised to enter upon the discussion of any business without the sanction of Her Majesty. Now, as there was at present no Minister through which that sanction could be conveyed, he wished to know whether it would not be desirable to adjourn to some future period, when a Minister should have been appointed by Her Majesty, who could be authorised by Her Majesty to give the necessary authority for the transaction of business.
THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURYsaid, that he did not think it would be necessary either to prorogue or adjourn Convocation further; because it was not intended to initiate any new business, but simply to proceed with what had been commenced, and to consider the reports of Committees which had already been appointed.
THE BISHOP OF LONDONsaid, that Convocation had at their previous meetings appointed Committees, who had prepared reports, which had been laid upon their Lordships' table, and the recommendations contained in which had received the almost unanimous assent of clergy of almost every shade of opinion. It was intended on the following day to consider, not whether it would be desirable to adopt the measures recommended in those reports, but simply whether Convocation would so far sanction them as to make them the basis of an Address to Her Majesty, praying Her to empower Convocation to deliberate upon them. He certainly thought they ought to be allowed, at any rate, so far to discuss the reports of their own Committees. He must say that, looking to the example afforded by the meetings of Convocation last year, and to the temperate conclusions to which they had conic, he did not think
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that any apprehensions could possibly be entertained with respect to the consequences of their meeting to-morrow.

THE MINISTRY.
THE EARL OF ABERDEENrose and said: I am under the necessity of moving the adjournment of the House; but I think it right to inform your Lordships that my noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Viscount Palmerston) has been commissioned by Her Majesty to propose to Her an Administration for Her consideration. As he is now engaged in that work, I will only propose to your Lordships to adjourn till to-morrow.
House adjourned till to-morrow.