§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYMy Lords, before proceeding with the business of the evening, I wish to call the attention of the Government to a subject respecting which I wrote this morning to Earl Russell, asking him to be present this evening to hear my remarks; but, as the noble Earl is not able to be present here to-night in consequence of his attendance at the funeral of Sir George Lewis, perhaps the noble Earl opposite (Earl Granville) will answer the observations I have to make. I understand that in the two leading newspapers of to-day—that is, papers representing two parties—there appears what I consider to be a misrepresentation of Earl Russell's answer to me last night. I allude to the final answer, after he had spoken, and after my noble Friend had spoken. The report in The Times is—"Earl Russell (whose reply was very indistinct) was understood to say, I think what I stated was, that the King of Denmark consented; and that if Prince Christian and his son should consent, we had no objection." "We" would, of course, mean the English Government, and I suppose that is a misprint; but in a leader of The Times it is inferred, in the course of an argument, that Earl Russell stated that he obtained the consent of Prince Christian and his son, as well as the consent of the King of Denmark, previous to communicating with the Greek Government. The Standard 276 says—"Earl Russell said that previous to the election of Prince William to the Greek throne, the King of Denmark, Prince Christian, and Prince William had intimated that no objection existed on their part." What I understood, and what my noble Friends behind me understood, the noble Earl to say was this:—That previously to any communication with the Greek Government, Lord Russell had consulted the King of Denmark, and that the King of Denmark said he had no objection to the candidature of Prince William, provided his father, Prince Christian, and Prince William did not object; but that the noble Earl did not say that he had obtained the consent of Prince Christian and Prince William. I believe I am right in saying that was the sense in which the words of the noble Earl were understood, and I should be glad if my noble Friend opposite would state what was his impression of what was said.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI believe what my noble Friend intended to say, and what he did say, was not exactly that he had obtained the consent of Prince Christian and Prince William, but that the instruction to Mr. Elliot was not sent until an intimation had been received from the Court of Copenhagen that the King had no objection to Prince William accepting the throne of Greece, if the Prince and his father, Prince Christian, agreed to the proposal.