Lords Sitting of 2 March 1857

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS.—2a Ionian Subjects' Commissions; Commons Inclosure.
MEETING OF THE OPPOSITION.
  THE EARL OF DERBY. PERSONAL EXPLANA TION.
  THE EARL OF DERBY: My Lords, I trust I may be permitted to bring before the attention of your Lordships a matter personal to myself. My Lords, it has never been my custom to notice in any way any statements which may appear in the public press respecting my public conduct. If I depart from this rule on the present occasion it is because, in justice not only to myself but to others, I feel bound to refer to a report which has appeared in the public press, wholly unauthorized, and which could have been obtained only surreptitiously, of a meeting which was stated to have taken place at my house. That meeting did take place on Friday last, but not at my house; and the statements of what took place on that occasion, although they bear on the face of them undoubted evidence of having been furnished by some person who was present, or who heard what passed, are in many respects grossly inaccurate. They represent me, not only as having stated what I did not say, but as having stated the reverse of what I did say, and which, if I had stated it, would have been the reverse of the fact. My Lords, I am not now going to enter into any detailed explanations of what took place; but I only beg to refer to it now in order that it may not be supposed hereafter that I did make such statements; and that, if ever hereafter any reference should be made to that occasion, I may be able to avail myself of the protest which I have now made as to the inaccuracy of this report.
WAR WITH CHINA.

  QUESTION.
  EARL GREYhaving presented a petition, praying for inquiry into the war with China, begged to take the opportunity of asking the Lord President of the Council a question of which he had given him notice privately, with reference to a matter that caused the greatest anxiety to those who were engaged in trade with China. He begged he would have the goodness to

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  state whether the advices received by Her Majesty's Government offered any prospect of the early termination of the war with China?—whether that war was still carried on for the purpose of obtaining the admission of the British into the city of Canton?—whether there was any other object contemplated?—and whether any reinforcements had been demanded by Sir John Bowring, and whether such reinforcements had been sent to him?
  EARL GRANVILLE: I am able to state, with reference to intelligence received from China, that no further operations have taken place, except those that were necessary for self-defence and the protection of our ships. The Chinese have recalled our servants from Hong Kong, and have offered rewards for the assassination of British subjects and incendiarism in Hong Kong. It is impossible to say, therefore, that we have arrived at a termination of the war. But, at the same time, there is no interruption of our commercial relations with the other four ports. Under these circumstances, it is impossible there can have been any change in our position at Canton, because I believe it absolutely necessary for the security, not only of the British, but of foreigners of other nations, that we should not appear to recede at Canton, as disastrous results would follow, not only there, but at the other ports, where our relations are satisfactory. Reinforcements have been sent to Sir John Bowring. One regiment went three weeks ago.
  House adjourned till To-morrow.