Lords Sitting of 31 March 1871

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Bankruptcy Disqualification* (65); Mutiny*.
Second Reading—Judgments (Ireland)* (59).
Committee—Report—Justices Procedure (England)* (31–66); Public Parks, &c. (Land)* (55).
Third Reading—Lunacy Regulation (Ireland)* (47); Poor Law (Loans)* (50), and passed.
Royal Assent—Consolidated Fund (£5,411,900) [34 Vict. c. 7]; West African Settlements [34 Vict. c. 8].

NEW PEER.
The Right Honourable Sir William Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer, G.C.B., having been created Baron Dalling and Bulwer of Dalling in the county of Norfolk—Was (in the usual manner) introduced.
ARMY—ASSEMBLY OF THE MILITIA.

  QUESTION.
  THE EARL OF SANDWICHasked the Under Secretary for War, When it was proposed to assemble the English Militia? This was usually done in the spring, and both the men and their employers were anxious to know what arrangement would be made? He had, however, heard a rumour that some of the regiments would be called out in September; this he hoped was incorrect, the harvest being the very worst time which could be selected, as farm labourers were then receiving double wages, and would incur a serious loss if then diverted from their usual vocations. He would also ask, with reference to the discussion on Tuesday night, whether it was true that the General in command of the district had ordered the assembling of the Cornish Militia regiment without reference to the Lord Lieutenant of the county? Now, though a Lord Lieutenant might be deprived of his functions by the Crown, he surely could not be superseded by a mere regulation of the War Office.
  LORD NORTHBROOKreplied that he might rather address the Question to the noble Earl, for, with reference to the Hunts Militia, the War Office were waiting to hear from the General Officer of the district what date was proposed by the noble Earl himself. Probably through some accident the General Officer had not yet received any communication from the noble Earl, who was both Lord Lieutenant of the county and lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, on the subject. The rule of the War Office was that the General Officers should arrange with Lords Lieutenant the times and places advisable for the assembling of Militia regiments, and submit this to the Secretary of State. A Lord Lieutenant, therefore, could not be superseded in the matter, for his concurrence was necessary. There was no intention of compelling any regiment to assemble in

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  the autumn, instead of the spring; but, with a view to assembling a considerable force at Aldershot to practice manœuvres on a larger scale than usual, circulars had been addressed to a certain number of regiments, asking whether it would be convenient for them to assemble in the middle of September, after harvest. Some had replied in the affirmative. It rested with the commanding officers whether particular regiments could conveniently assemble in the autumn.
  THE EARL OF SANDWICHexplained that he had received no communication from the War Office on the subject. He hoped the letter had not got into the pigeon-hole mentioned by a noble Earl (the Earl of Lauderdale) last night as the depository of an important report.

ENVOYS OF PRINCE KASSA, OF ABYSSINIA.

  QUESTION.
  THE EARL OF DERBY: I rise to put to the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the Question of which I have given Notice—namely, Whether it is the fact that a mission sent to Her Majesty's Government by a friendly Abyssinian Chief has been detained in Egypt by the refusal of the Foreign Office to receive such mission or to assist in providing for the expenses of its transport from thence to England? It is not at all my object, in putting this Question, to suggest the re-establishment of regular diplomatic or consular relations between Abyssinia and this country. I do not think that in the present state of affairs such a step would be attended with advantage—I conceive that serious embarrassment might be the result. The Chief in question, however, Prince Kassa, rendered valuable service to the British Government at the time of the Abyssinian War, and it would be matter of regret if anything should happen which might seem to cast a slur upon him. After what has appeared in the public papers, I think the noble Earl will not object to have an opportunity of stating how the matter stands.
  EARL GRANVILLE: I may answer the Question of my noble Friend by stating that we have not refused to receive this mission from Prince Kassa; but, on the other hand, we have not undertaken to pay the expense of bringing the mission over to this country. It will probably be more satisfactory to
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  my noble Friend to know the precise facts of the case. At the end of 1869 letters addressed to the Queen were received at the Foreign Office from Prince Gobazye, Prince Kassa, and another Abyssinian Chief. They were acknowledged in writing by Lord Clarendon, and presents were then sent to each of the Chiefs. Before answers were sent, Lord Clarendon consulted the India Office and Lord Napier of Magdala as to the course which it was best to take. The result was a recommendation that any future communications between the different Princes of Abyssinia and ourselves should be addressed to our Resident at Aden and not to this country. There were obvious reasons for this—one being that the Princes are jealous of each other, and that there would be a danger of one considering himself more favoured than another by the mode in which his communication might possibly be answered. On Lord Napier's advice care was taken not to offer arms and munitions of war which could be used against one another, and to give them good advice, recommending them to live in as much harmony as possible with each other, and thus to avoid the dangers to which internal strife might lead. All this was embodied in Lord Clarendon's reply. He told the Princes that it would be well if they would address any communication for the British authorities to the British Resident at Aden, who was fully informed of all that concerned Abyssinia, and of the sentiments entertained by the Queen towards them, as they would thus be able to receive an answer in much shorter time than would otherwise be the case. A letter afterwards came from one of these Princes, who addressed himself to the Resident in conformity with Lord Clarendon's advice. This was acknowledged, the presents were received, and a present was sent in return. Prince Kassa, however, has not followed the recommendation, but sent Envoys to Egypt, and put himself in communication with Colonel Stanton, our Consul General in Egypt, his wish being that his Envoys should come on to England. Neither the Treasury nor the India Office were much inclined to supply the funds necessary for that purpose; but a courteous communication was forwarded to Colonel Stanton, explaining that it was not deemed advisable to put

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  the Envoys to the trouble of so long a journey during an inclement season; but that Prince Kassa's letter, if forwarded, would be received and properly answered. It was certainly not intended to show the slightest discourtesy to anybody connected with Abyssinia; but what was done was in conformity with the advice given by Lord Napier that no distinction should be made between the different Princes which might create jealousies, particularly at a time when it is not desirable to give any of them cannon or guns, which would probably be used against the others.

  BANKRUPTCY DISQUALIFICATION BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill for disqualifying Bankrupts from sitting or voting in the House of Lords—Was presented by The LORD CHANCELLOR; read 1a. (No. 65.)
  House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, to Thursday the 20th of April next, a quarter before Five o'clock.