§ THE EARL OF CLARENDONMy Lords, I wish to say a few words to your Lordships on a subject, concerning which it is due not only to the Emperor of the French, and to Her Majesty's Government, but, if I may take the liberty of saying so, to myself also, that there should be no misunderstanding. I refer to the reports respecting the departure of General Garibaldi, which have been very current in town this morning, and which have been embodied in an article in The Morning Star, from which I should like, with your Lordships' permission, to read an extract, A similar statement also appeared in The Daily News. The Star says—
The story was in every mouth, and it would be idle to affect any reticence on the subject. People asserted that a pressure had been brought to bear by the French Government, and that tins English Ministry, desirous to remove all cause of ill-feeling from the mind of an ally, had made a direct and personal appeal to Garibaldi to induce him to cut short his visit and leave the country. Any one who has time or inclination to read through the Paris correspondences of some foreign journals will find it often asserted of late that during Lord Clarendon's mission to Paris certain concessions were asked of the English Government, in the name of good feeling and cordial alliance. The rumour pervading London yesterday asserted that one of these concessions was to be made by inducing Garibaldi to cut short his visit, and leave England. We should be reluctant indeed to believe that any part of such a statement could be true. Nothing could be more ignoble on the part of either Government than such conduct as this report imputes. That the French Government could have had the weakness, the want of dignity, the want of common self-respect, to make such a request of our representative in Paris seems almost to surpass belief. That our Government could have condescended to listen to such a request, and to act upon it, ought to appear far less worthy of credit. Yet we have heard the statement vouched for as well founded by those whose authority removes any report sanctioned by them quite out of the range of the common every-day canard.1278 Now, my Lords, if there were any foundation for that report the strictures made on it would be well deserved; but I can assure your Lordships that neither directly nor indirectly from the Emperor of the French, or from any member of his Government, was any allusion made to me with respect to the cause of General Garibaldi's arrival in this country, or as to the probable duration of his stay here. I will not say that the subject was not mentioned, for it was adverted to by myself, and, describing the entry of General Garibaldi into London, and the enthusiasm with which he was received, I said that that enthusiasm was grounded on the circumstance of his having risen from the ranks of the people by the services he rendered to his country, and because he was brave and honest, and that similar scenes of enthusiasm would await him in whatever part of England he might visit. No one can be more unwilling than I am—because no one can be more aware than I am—of the inconvenience and impropriety of alluding to any communication with which I was honoured by the Emperor of the French; but I think I am not betraying any confidence when I state that the Emperor said he fully understood and entirely believed how such qualities as those went home to the hearts of the English and commanded their admiration. No question was put to me on the subject by the Emperor of the French; for he is too well acquainted with our Constitution and with the state of public opinion in this country to deem it necessary to make any inquiry that I must have considered as an affront. I had not heard the rumour, even, that Garibaldi was going to leave this country until this day, and I can say that the French Government has had no more to do with his departure than I have myself.Before I sit down, I will simply refer to another matter, stated in this newspaper, with respect to myself and to the effect that during my mission to Paris certain concessions were asked of the English Government. I think that it will be satisfactory to your Lordships and to the country to know that no concessions were asked by the French Government or the English Government, by the one of the other, I found that there existed on the part of the Emperor of the French the same desire as on the part of Her Majesty's Government, that on all important questions which may arise there should be a combination of action between the two Governments and the two countries, as far as was possible, without 1279 compromise of the dignity or independence of either.