abyssinia - Blogs - TheBlackList Pub2024-03-29T11:06:16Zhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/abyssiniaHow the British came to Ethiopia Part one May 1811 - May 1865https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/how-the-british-came-to2010-06-01T13:48:31.000Z2010-06-01T13:48:31.000ZTheBlackListhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/TheBlackList<div><h1 class="title"><a title="seymour31@hotmail.co.uk" href="">Seymour Mclean</a> -<br /></h1>
<h1 class="title"><font size="5">Ras Tafari International Consultants Africa Liberation day inquiry.</font></h1>
<p class="title"><font style="font-size:12pt;" size="5">How the British came to Ethiopia Part one May 1811 - May 1865</font></p>
<h1 class="title"><font size="3">REPORT OF THE BULLION COMMITTEE.</font></h1>
<a title="Mr George Tierney" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-george-tierney"><em><font title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-george-tierney CTRL + Click to follow link" size="3">Mr. Tierney</font></em></a> <font size="3">
</font><a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1811/may/15"><font size="3">15
May 1811</font></a> <font size="3">→</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1811/may/15#commons"><font title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1811/may/15#commons <br /">CTRL + Click to follow link" size="3"">Commons Sitting</font></a> <br /><font size="3">The right hon. gent. (Mr.
Vansittart) had spoken of a certain <strong>madman in Abyssinia</strong>; but it
appeared to him that nothing more ridiculous could occur to the mind of any
<strong>madman in Abyssinia</strong>, or out of it, than that great and
expensive Wars were to be carried on without any pressure or inconvenience being
felt; and yet this appeared to be the system of ministers.</font><br /><br /><h1 class="title"><font size="3">MINISTERIAL PLAN FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.</font></h1>
<a title="Mr James Buckingham" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-james-buckingham"><em><font title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-james-buckingham CTRL + Click to follow link" size="3">Mr. Buckingham</font></em></a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1833/jun/07"><font title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1833/jun/07 <br /">CTRL + Click to follow link" size="3"">7 June 1833</font></a> <font size="3">→</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1833/jun/07#commons"><font title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1833/jun/07#commons <br /">CTRL + Click to follow link" size="3"">Commons Sitting</font></a> <br /><font size="3">The
testimony of Herodotus is decisive as to the colour of the old Egyptians. In
describing a colony at Colchis, he expresses his belief that they were of
Egyptian origin, because, like the Egyptians, they had thick lips, black
complexions, and crisped hair—an exact description of the negroes of the present
day. <strong>The history of Sheba, the queen of Abyssinia</strong>—of Cleopatra,
the queen of Egypt—as well as of the Carthaginians, Numidians, and other African
nations, prove incontestibly the power of their easy amalgamation with the other
races of mankind;</font><br /><br /><br /><h1 class="title"><font size="3">TURKEY AND EGYPT.</font></h1>
<a title="Mr Joseph Hume" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-joseph-hume"><em><font size="3">Mr. Hume</font></em></a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1840/mar/27"><font size="3">27 March 1840</font></a> <font size="3">→</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1840/mar/27#commons"><font size="3">Commons Sitting</font></a> <br /><font size="3">I
also hold in my hand the annual official list published by the Sultan, on the
15th April in that year, of the governors of the several provinces of the
Turkish Empire, and in that list Egypt, Aleppo, Damascus, Safad and Beyrout,
Tripoli in Syria, Crete with the military command of the fortress of Candia, and
also Jerusalem, are all entered in the name of Mohamed Ali; and
<strong>Abyssinia is given to Ibrahim Pasha</strong>. On these conditions being
agreed to and settled,</font> <br /><br /><h1 class="title"><font size="3">COPYRIGHT.</font></h1>
<cite><a title="Show only results from Mr Thomas Macaulay" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/search/abyssinia?decade=1840s&speaker=mr-thomas-macaulay"><font size="3">Mr Thomas Macaulay</font></a></cite> <a title="Show only results from Commons" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/search/abyssinia?decade=1840s&type=Commons"><font size="3">Commons</font></a> <font size="3">— April 6, 1842</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1842/apr/06#commons"></a><br /><font size="3">Coming to writers of a later period, take the works of Johnson. Johnson's first work was a
translation of a volume of <span class="italic"><strong>Travels in
Abyssinia</strong>,</span> published in 1735; and a book so poor, that Johnson
himself did not like to hear it mentioned in his later years. When Boswell told
him that he had obtained a copy of it, "take no notice of it," said he, 'tis a
thing to be forgotten."</font> <br /><br /><h1 class="title"><font size="3">MISSION TO ABYSSINIA.</font></h1>
<div id="content" class="house-of-commons-sitting"><font size="3"><cite class="section">HC Deb 11 May 1843 vol 69 cc187-8</cite></font> <a id="column_187" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 187 — HC Deb 11 May 1843 vol 69 c187" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1843/may/11/mission-to-abyssinia#column_187" name="column_187"><font size="3">187</font></a><div id="S3V0069P0-00130" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_4" id="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_4"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-john-bowring"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr John Bowring" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1843/may/11/mission-to-abyssinia#S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_4"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr John Bowring" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-john-bowring">Dr. Bowring</a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1843/may/11">11 May 1843</a> →
<a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1843/may/11#commons">Commons Sitting</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, that some months ago a mission had left Egypt for the <strong>court of Shoa</strong>, for the purpose of entering into
negotiations with the Government there, the object of which was to facilitate
the intercourse of British subjects with, and the introduction of British
produce into that country. What he wished to know was, whether the object of the
commission had been accomplished?</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0069P0-00131" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_5" id="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_5"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/sir-robert-peel-1"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Sir Robert Peel" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1843/may/11/mission-to-abyssinia#S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_5"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Sir Robert Peel" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/sir-robert-peel-1">Sir R. Peel</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, that the mission to</font> <font size="3">which the hon. Member referred, had left Shoa and returned to Egypt. The
accounts which the Government had received from Captain Harris were to this
effect. Some months since <strong>Captain Harris</strong> sent over to this
country, through the government of Bombay, stating that he had entered into
conditional engagements with the <strong>king of Shoa</strong> respecting the
uninterrupted admission of goods and merchandise, the produce of this country,
into the territories of the king of Shoa, and he wished to know whether there
was any objections on the part of the British Government to ratify the treaty.
The treaty also provided for a free intercourse between her Majesty's subjects
and the inhabitants of the country. In answer to that communication, her
Majesty's Government had stated, that they had no objection to the ratification
of the treaty. <strong>Captain Harris</strong> had been put in possession of
this opinion some time since. The Government had every reason to hope, that ere
this the treaty had been consented to by the <strong>king of Shoa</strong>, and
that there was now no opposition to the free admission of <strong>British goods
into Abyssinia,</strong> but he had as yet received no information as to the
ratification of the treaty.</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0069P0-00132" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_6" id="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_6"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-john-bowring"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr John Bowring" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1843/may/11/mission-to-abyssinia#S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_6"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr John Bowring" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-john-bowring">Dr. Bowring:</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3"><strong>Has any account been received of Captain Harris having left Shoa?</strong></font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0069P0-00133" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_7" id="S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_7"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/sir-robert-peel-1"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Sir Robert Peel" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1843/may/11/mission-to-abyssinia#S3V0069P0_18430511_HOC_7"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Sir Robert Peel" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/sir-robert-peel-1">Sir R. Peel:</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3"><strong>Yes.</strong></font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="section-navigation"><div id="previous-section"><a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1843/may/11/preamble"></a></div>
<div><font size="3">SLAVE TRADE (PERSIAN GULF) BILL</font></div>
<div><a title="Viscount Palmerston" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/viscount-palmerston"><em><font size="3">VISCOUNT PALMERSTON</font></em></a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1849/jul/27"><font size="3">27 July 1849</font></a> <font size="3">→</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1849/jul/27#commons"><font size="3">Commons Sitting</font></a> <font size="3">
</font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">was not going to discuss with the hon. and learned Gentleman who made this Amendment, or with the hon. Baronet who seconded
it, the abstract love of slavery which was too evident in the course of their
speeches. He would not, moreover, discuss with the seconder of the proposition
the amiable character of slavery in Mahomedan countries; but it must be borne in
mind that a great part of the slaves who were the subjects of slave States on
the eastern coast of Africa, were Christians, <strong>natives of
Abyssinia</strong>, and therefore had, in a greater degree, the sympathy of the
British public than the negroes on the west coast.</font></p>
<p class="first-para"></p>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">SELECT COMMITTEE MOVED FOR</font></p>
<p class="first-para"><a title="Mr Charles Newdegate" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-charles-newdegate"><em><font size="3">MR. NEWDEGATE</font></em></a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1864/apr/15"><font size="3">15 April 1864</font></a> <font size="3">→</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1864/apr/15#commons"><font size="3">Commons Sitting</font></a> <font size="3">→
</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1864/apr/15/the-foreign-office-and-the-board-of-trade"><font size="3">THE FOREIGN OFFICE AND THE BOARD OF TRADE.</font></a> <font size="3">
</font></p>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">There was another subject to which he wished to call the attention of the House. In the instructions given to our consuls there
appeared to be some confusion. In many cases the business of consuls ought to be
strictly limited to commercial objects. His question had reference to a
particular case. Six or seven years ago <strong>Mr. Plowden was sent out to
Abyssinia as consul</strong>, and he should like to he informed as to what
instructions that gentleman actually received. It was generally believed that
the object of his mission was to open commercial relations with that country.
<strong>It appeared that Mr. Plowden became mixed up with the internal politics
of Abyssinia,</strong> <strong>and the result was that he was murdered.</strong>
That was not an old story. He had a copy of the <span class="italic">Jewish
Intelligencer</span>, a publication that was issued by some persons interested
in the conversion of the Jews in Abyssinia, and he found that, <strong>at the
present moment, our consul who succeeded Mr. Plowden had unfortunately mixed
himself up with the politics of Abyssinia, and was a prisoner in the hands of
the King.</strong> Those were two instances of the impolicy of allowing consuls
commissioned for commercial purposes to mix themselves up with the politics of
the countries in which they had to reside, and which were at best but in an
imperfect state of civilization. A distinction ought to be drawn between the
functions of a consul sent merely for commercial purposes and those of a <span class="italic">chargé d'affaires</span>, because the person who might be competent
for commercial purposes might be totally unfit for political negotiations. The
instructions given to those persons ought to be so drawn up as to advance the
purposes of trade, and to make them feel that they should keep clear of politics
in the countries to which they were sent. It was unbecoming the dignity of this
country that we should employ agents so incompetent as that one should fall a
victim, and the next a captive, of the Government to which he was sent.
<strong>He hoped to be assured that Captain Cameron had been liberated,</strong>
and that in future such a limit would be put to the functions of any person sent
to Abyssinia as would secure his personal safety, otherwise the dignity of the
country would be endangered abroad, and the operations of commerce disturbed if
not destroyed.</font></p>
<p class="first-para"></p>
<p class="first-para"></p>
<p class="first-para"><a title="Sir James Elphinstone" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/sir-james-elphinstone"><em><font size="3">SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONE</font></em></a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1864/jul/21"><font size="3">21 July 1864</font></a> <font size="3">→</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1864/jul/21#commons"><font size="3">Commons Sitting</font></a> <font size="3">→
</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1864/jul/21/east-india-revenue-accounts"><font size="3">EAST INDIA REVENUE ACCOUNTS.</font></a></p>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">The Indian navy comprised more scientific men, for its numbers, than any other service in the world, excepting a strictly
scientific service like the Royal Engineers. They were employed as ambassadors,
diplomatists, residents, consuls; they explored countries, they investigated the
ruins and antiquities of the country; they were linguists, surveyors, admirable
seamen, and they maintained a post of the highest respectability and honour
under the East India Company, and performed services of the very greatest
importance in the survey and exploration of the country, not only of the East
India Company, but adjacent to the Red Sea and in
<strong>Abyssinia.</strong></font></p>
<p class="first-para"></p>
<h1 class="title"><font size="3">TREATMENT OF THE BRITISH CONSUL IN ABYSSINIA—QUESTION.</font></h1>
<div class="house-of-commons-sitting"><font size="3"><cite class="section">HC Deb 03 June 1864 vol 175 cc1145-6</cite></font> <a id="column_1145" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 1145 — HC Deb 03 June 1864 vol 175 c1145" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1864/jun/03/treatment-of-the-british-consul-in#column_1145" name="column_1145"><font size="3">1145</font></a><div id="S3V0175P0-02540" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0175P0_18640603_HOC_21" id="S3V0175P0_18640603_HOC_21"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-henry-seymour"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Henry Seymour" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1864/jun/03/treatment-of-the-british-consul-in#S3V0175P0_18640603_HOC_21"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-henry-seymour CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-henry-seymour">MR. HENRY SEYMOUR</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What information Her Majesty's Government has
received relating to the ill-treatment of Missionaries in Abyssinia, and the
imprisonment of Her Majesty's Consul there by <strong>King Theodorus</strong>;
and what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in consequence?
</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0175P0-02541" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0175P0_18640603_HOC_22" id="S3V0175P0_18640603_HOC_22"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-austen-layard"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Austen Layard" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1864/jun/03/treatment-of-the-british-consul-in#S3V0175P0_18640603_HOC_22"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr Austen Layard" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-austen-layard">MR. LAYARD</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">, in reply, said, Her Majesty's Government had received indirect information that the <strong>King of Abyssinia</strong> had
placed in confinement Her Majesty's Consul and several Missionaries established
there, and also the French Consul; but according to the last information the
French Consul had been released. The information, however, might be very
incorrect, as the King took care that no information should leave his country,
and the facts were difficult to get at, but Her Majesty's Government would do
all in their power to obtain the release of <strong>Captain Cameron</strong> and
the Missionaries. The most natural step would be to send some person there to
demand their release, but Her Majesty's Government were rather afraid that he
would share the same fate as the Consul and the Missionaries. The question was
how to get at the King without endangering the liberty of others. <strong>He
trusted, however, that means would soon be found of communicating with the King,
and the subject was under the serious consideration of the noble Lord at the
head of the Foreign Office.</strong></font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div><div><a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1864/jun/03/private-bills"></a></div>
<div><h1 class="title"><font size="3">QUESTION.</font></h1>
<div class="house-of-commons-sitting"><font size="3"><cite class="section">HC Deb 24 April 1865 vol 178 cc957-8</cite></font> <a id="column_957" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 957 — HC Deb 24 April 1865 vol 178 c957" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1865/apr/24/question#column_957" name="column_957"><font size="3">957</font></a><div id="S3V0178P0-01779" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0178P0_18650424_HOC_8" id="S3V0178P0_18650424_HOC_8"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-edward-warner"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Edward Warner" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1865/apr/24/question#S3V0178P0_18650424_HOC_8"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr Edward Warner" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-edward-warner">MR. WARNER</a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/apr/24">24 April 1865
</a> → <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/apr/24#commons">Commons Sitting</a> → <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1865/apr/24/british-prisoners-in-abyssinia">BRITISH
PRISONERS IN ABYSSINIA.</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, he would beg to put a Question to the <strong>Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs</strong> in reference to
<strong>British prisoners in Abyssinia</strong>. He wished to know, What is the
present state of the negotiations with respect to the <strong>British captives
in Abyssinia</strong>, whether the Government have reason to expect a successful
issue to the mission of <strong>M. Rassam</strong>, and what steps they are
prepared to take in the event of their not receiving good accounts from him?
</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<a id="column_958" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 958 — HC Deb 24 April 1865 vol 178 c958" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1865/apr/24/question#column_958" name="column_958"><font size="3">958</font></a><div id="S3V0178P0-01780" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0178P0_18650424_HOC_9" id="S3V0178P0_18650424_HOC_9"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-austen-layard"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Austen Layard" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1865/apr/24/question#S3V0178P0_18650424_HOC_9"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr Austen Layard" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-austen-layard">MR. LAYARD</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">replied, that he was afraid that he could not give the hon. Member much information on the subject, not that he wished to
conceal anything, but that he considered it would be very unadvisable,
considering the position of the prisoners, that anything should be said that
might lead to greater complications. He would take this opportunity, therefore,
of deprecating any mention in the press of what took place in that House or
elsewhere with regard to those prisoners, as he had reason to believe that all
these things were sent out to Abyssinia and got much exaggerated, and might lead
to serious consequences to the prisoners who were held by the King. Every means
had been taken by Her Majesty's Government to obtain their release. The
Government were in communication with some of the authorities; they had lately
heard from a good source that <strong>Captain Cameron</strong> and the
missionaries, although in prison, were in good health; and letters received from
<strong>M. Rassam</strong> within a few hours held out the hope that ere long
the prisoners would obtain their release.</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div><div><font size="3">Back to</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1865/apr/24/british-prisoners-in-abyssinia"><font size="3">BRITISH PRISONERS IN ABYSSINIA.</font></a></div>
<div><h1 class="title"><font size="3">QUESTION.</font></h1>
<div class="house-of-lords-sitting"><font size="3"><cite class="section">HL Deb 27 April 1865 vol 178 cc1075-80</cite></font> <a id="column_1075" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 1075 — HL Deb 27 April 1865 vol 178 c1075" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/apr/27/question#column_1075" name="column_1075"><font size="3">1075</font></a>
<div id="S3V0178P0-02073" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0178P0_18650427_HOL_9" id="S3V0178P0_18650427_HOL_9"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Frederick Thesiger" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/apr/27/question#S3V0178P0_18650427_HOL_9"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr Frederick Thesiger" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger">LORD CHELMSFORD</a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/apr/27">27 April 1865
</a> → <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/apr/27#lords">Lords Sitting</a> → <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/apr/27/british-subjects-in-abyssinia">BRITISH
SUBJECTS IN ABYSSINIA.</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">, in rising to call attention to the imprisonment and severe treatment to which a British Consul and other British
subjects had been exposed by the orders of the <strong>Emperor of
Abyssinia</strong>, and to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What
steps had been taken to relieve our fellow-countrymen from the severities to
which they had been subjected, and to which it was believed they were still
subjected, said, that several of our fellow-countrymen had been kept in
imprisonment at Gondar, exposed to the most cruel sufferings, and a general
impression prevailed that these sufferings were attributable to the want of
prompt and judicious measures on the part of the English Foreign Office.
<strong>Mr. Plowden, the British Consul at Massowah,</strong> a few years ago
was met by an overpowering body of the rebels against the <strong>Emperor of
Abyssinia.</strong> He was taken prisoner, but was ransomed, and afterwards died
of his wounds. <strong>In July, 1862, Captain Cameron</strong>, the new Consul,
who was the bearer of certain presents sent by <strong>this Government to the
Emperor of Abyssinia</strong>, met with a most flattering reception at the hands
of that Sovereign, who expressed a desire that the negotiation for a treaty
between the Government of Abyssinia and this country, which had fallen through
in 1849, should be renewed. <strong>An autograph letter of the Emperor to Her
Majesty was delivered to Captain Cameron, in November, 1862</strong>, who
thereupon took steps to forward it to this country; but the Emperor being at
that time engaged in war with certain rebels, the communication with the coast
was cut off, and the letter</font> <font size="3">did not arrive here until
<strong>February, 1863.</strong> Shortly after this an invasion of the northern
parts of Abyssinia by the Egyptian Government took place. <strong>Captain
Cameron</strong> endeavoured to settle the dispute, but was compelled to desist
from his pacific endeavours in consequence of the remonstrances of the Egyptian
authorities. <strong>Captain Cameron</strong> having ceased to exert himself in
favour of the Abyssinian Emperor, that Sovereign felt himself much aggrieved,
<strong>especially as he had received no reply to his autograph letter to this
country. Unfortunately, further cause of offence arose. In November,
1863</strong>, Mr. Stern a missionary, sent out by the London Society for
Promoting Christianity among the Jews, sought an interview with the Emperor. He
was accompanied by two servants as interpreters; but as they did not perform
their duty to the satisfaction of the Emperor, he ordered them to be scourged,
and one of them was beaten to death. Mr. Stern, in his excitement, turned away
from the sight and bit his tongue; and he was thereupon ordered to be beaten,
and for some time his life was in danger, and he was chained to an Abyssinian
soldier. Two days afterwards, the missionaries, including several ladies, were
seized and sent to a prison, where they were treated very rigorously;
<strong>and all the Europeans in Abyssinia</strong>, <strong>including Captain
Cameron, were loaded with chains and put in prison.</strong> The Emperor called
a great council of his grandees, and before it Mr. Stern and Mr. Rosenthal,
another missionary, were charged with using offensive expressions, which
amounted, <strong>in the eyes of the Abyssinian law, to high treason.</strong>
The Council found the prisoners guilty, and some of the grandees were of opinion
that they ought to be put to death. Fortunately, milder counsels prevailed, and
these unfortunate persons were ordered back to prison. <strong>As if to
complicate matters</strong> just at this time a letter arrived from England,
which, instead of being a reply to the Emperor's letter, simply directed
<strong>Captain Cameron</strong> to return to his post and not to interfere
further in the Egyptian dispute. <strong>In consequence of this neglect of Her
Majesty's Government to reply to the Emperor's letter, Captain Cameron was
loaded with heavier fetters,</strong> and was treated with far greater severity,
and the whole of the prisoners were chained night and day to a Native soldier.
<strong>Captain Cameron subsequently managed to get the following note conveyed
to England:— <q>Gondar, Feb. 14, 1864.</q></strong> <q>Myself, Stern,
Rosenthal, Cairns, Bardel, and M'Kiloie, are all in chains here. Flad, Staiger,
Branders, and Cornelius, sent to Gaffat to work for the Emperor. <strong>No
release till a civil answer to Emperor's letter arrives.</strong> Mrs. Flad,
Mrs. Rosenthal, and children, all of us well. Write this to Aden and to Mrs.
Stern, 16, Lincoln's Inn Fields.</q> <q><strong>To C. Speedy, Esq.,
Massowah.</strong></q> This letter did not reach England until <strong>May 25,
1864,</strong> and on the 3rd of June a question was put in the <strong>House of
Commons to Mr. Layard the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs</strong>,
upon this subject; in answer to which that hon. Gentleman stated that Her
Majesty's Government would, of course, do all they possibly could to obtain the
release of <strong>Captain Cameron</strong> and of the missionaries, and that
the most likely way would be to send some person to that country in order to get
them set free; but Her Majesty's Government were afraid that any person sent for
that purpose would be likely to share the fate of the Consul and the
missionaries rather than succeed in obtaining their release. The question was,
how to get at the Emperor without endangering the liberty of others; but he
trusted that means would soon be found of communicating with the
<strong>Emperor</strong>; and that the subject was under the serious
consideration of the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Office. <strong>The
autograph letter of the Emperor arrived in this country in February, 1863, and
remained unnoticed until June, 1864, and then what the Government did amounted
to a condemnation of their own conduct.</strong> In that month a letter was
prepared to be sent to the Emperor of Abyssinia; but if it was right to send a
letter in June, 1864, much more necessary was it to have sent a letter shortly
after the month of February, 1863. There could be no doubt that if a letter had
been sent with presents and conveyed by an <strong>Englishman of some
rank,</strong> the release of these unfortunate prisoners would have taken
place. At last when a letter was sent the person selected to deliver it was
<strong>Mr. Rassam, an Asiatic gentleman, Assistant Superintendent to the
Political Agent at Aden:</strong> a man of great experience and ability, but
just the sort of person who <strong>ought not</strong> to have been selected for
the purpose; and the consequences which occurred were just such as might have
been expected. <strong>Mr. Rassam</strong> took the autograph letter, as also
one of introduction, to the Coptic Bishop. The letter of introduction he sent to
the Emperor; but he received no reply, and up to March of the present year
<strong>Mr. Rassam</strong> appeared to have received no reply to his intimation
that he had the autograph letter. <strong>On the 17th January, 1865</strong>, a
letter was received from Mr. Stern, from the prison of <strong>Amba
Magdala</strong>, in Southern Abyssinia, in which he stated that sixteen months
of unparalleled sufferings had rolled over him; that he was not mad, sick, or
dead, but must be attributed to the interposition of a gracious Providence, and
describing generally the nature of these sufferings, which had not been put an
end to, although a friendly letter had arrived from the British Government. Let
their Lordships, then, consider the situation of those unhappy persons during
the whole of the present year. Under those circumstances, he thought that he was
fairly entitled to ask <strong>why the autograph letter of the Emperor of
Abyssinia, which arrived in February, 1863, was utterly disregarded until the
month of June, 1864;</strong> because the omission to answer that letter might
have occasioned, or, at all events, considerably aggravated the sufferings of
the prisoners. He (Lord Chelmsford) could not move formally for papers, as he
had not given notice for the particular documents which he wished to have laid
upon the table, but he would take an early opportunity to do so.
</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0178P0-02074" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0178P0_18650427_HOL_10" id="S3V0178P0_18650427_HOL_10"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Lord John Russell" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/apr/27/question#S3V0178P0_18650427_HOL_10"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Lord John Russell" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell">EARL RUSSELL</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, he felt a great difficulty in addressing the House on this subject, lest anything which fell from him might <strong>give
offence to the King of Abyssinia and expose Consul Cameron</strong> and the
other prisoners to greater hardships than they had yet suffered. He would
briefly refer to the chief circumstances connected with this matter. <strong>The
former Consul, Mr. Plowden, had been very well received in Abyssinia, and when
he died the King paid respect to his remains.</strong> When <strong>Captain
Cameron</strong> was appointed Consul he was ordered to convey presents to the
King and a letter from Her Majesty thanking him for the kindness he had shown to
the late Consul. But at the same time the Consul's proper place was at Massowah,
and he would have returned there had he not been violently interrupted on his
journey. The noble and learned Lord (Lord Chelmsford) seemed to think that when
the <strong>King had written an autograph letter to the Queen</strong> it would
have been a very simple matter to answer it civilly at once, and to send out
some person to deliver the reply. But many difficulties stood in the way.
<strong>The letter of the King of Abyssinia asked permission to send an embassy
to this country.</strong> The state of Abyssinia was unsettled at that time, and
it had become more unsettled since. <strong>The King complained that the Turks
and Egyptians encroached on his territory,</strong> and he wanted the English
and French to interfere and take part in his wars—a course which Her Majesty's
Government thought by no means desirable. It became, therefore, matter for
consideration what answer should be given; and the question being one of Eastern
policy, the <strong>Secretary of State for India</strong> had to be consulted
before any answer was returned. It appeared that in the meantime the King of
Abyssinia had taken great offence at the conduct of some missionaries. On this
fact being officially communicated to Her Majesty's Government, Her Majesty was
advised to forward a letter to the King, replying to certain complaints made,
and expressing regret at the occasion of them. The noble and learned Lord seemed
to think that <strong>Mr. Rassam was not a proper person</strong> to be charged
with this duty. <strong>But Mr. Rassam was a man of considerable experience and
importance in the service;</strong> and when he (Earl Russell) found that he
held the office of first Assistant Secretary to the Political Resident at Aden,
he thought no better person could be selected to execute this mission.
<strong>Mr. Rassam was, accordingly, sent with this letter of Her Majesty, and
the King of Abyssinia was informed that he was the bearer of a letter from the
Queen of England.</strong> That was in August, 1864. By the last accounts it did
not appear that the King of Abyssinia had actually received that letter. It was
very difficult to publish the information communicated by persons residing in
the territory without exposing them to considerable danger; he might, however,
state that, according to the most recent information received from that country,
it appeared that the chains were taken off the arms and legs of the Consul, and
that he was not fastened to any other person. <strong>The King of Abyssinia had
been all this time engaged in a war with some of his own people who were in
rebellion against him</strong>, and with some of the neighbouring chiefs; he had
left his capital in consequence of this war, and it was said that as soon as he
came back he would most probably take steps to liberate the missionaries.
<strong>No doubt endeavours had been frequently made to excite the mind of the
King of Abyssinia against certain persons, sometimes English and sometimes
French subjects.</strong> Her Majesty's Government never thought it advisable to
use or threaten force in any way. The King was, in fact, told that if those
prisoners were liberated no reparation would be required. There was, however, no
justification for the conduct of the King of Abyssinia. Some months ago it was
suggested that some person in official uniform should be employed to demand the
release of the prisoners; but he (Earl Russell) must confess that he was by no
means sanguine as to the efficacy of such a measure. <strong>He believed that
the real grievance felt by the King of Abyssinia was the fact that no aid had
been given by this country to His Majesty while he was engaged in the wars to
which he had alluded.</strong> The Government of Her Majesty had used all the
means in their power to procure the release of the prisoners. Some persons
thought that if we sent out a magnificent mission with presents to the King, it
would be the means of attaining their object and securing the respect of the
people; but to him it appeared that the natural inference from such a proceeding
would be that the way to obtain consideration and respect from this country
would be to imprison one of our Consuls. <strong>The matter had been fully
considered by the Foreign Office,</strong> but he had no further explanation to
offer. <strong>He trusted that the noble and learned Lord would not move for
papers, because a great deal of the information in the possession of the
Government came from persons who would be exposed to danger if it were
published.</strong></font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p id="S3V0178P0-02075" class="procedural"><a class="permalink" title="Link to this contribution" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/apr/27/question#S3V0178P0_18650427_HOL_11"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3">House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.</font></p>
<div><div><font size="3">Back to</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/apr/27/british-subjects-in-abyssinia"><font size="3">BRITISH SUBJECTS IN ABYSSINIA.</font></a></div>
<div><h1 class="title"><font size="3">MOTION FOR AN ADDRESS.</font></h1>
<div class="house-of-lords-sitting"><font size="3"><cite class="section">HL Deb 23 May 1865 vol 179 cc726-40</cite></font> <a id="column_726" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 726 — HL Deb 23 May 1865 vol 179 c726" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#column_726" name="column_726"><font size="3">726</font></a>
<div id="S3V0179P0-01726" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_27" id="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_27"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Frederick Thesiger" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_27"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr Frederick Thesiger" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger">LORD CHELMSFORD</a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/may/23">23 May 1865</a> →
<a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/may/23#lords">Lords Sitting</a> → <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/imprisonment-of-british-subjects-in">IMPRISONMENT
OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN ABYSSINIA.</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3"><strong>rose to move for an Address for Copies of Letters and Papers relating to the imprisonment of British Subjects in
Abyssinia;</strong> specifying in detail the documents which he required; and
also for an account of the presents sent with a letter from <strong>Her Majesty
the Queen to the Emperor of Abyssinia.</strong> The noble and learned Lord said,
that he could not help expressing his regret that the noble Earl the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs had determined to refuse the production of the papers to
which the Motion referred; because this being so he should have to trespass on
their Lordships' time with some observations which he believed would prove
satisfactorily <strong>that he was en titled to ask for those papers, and that
the noble Earl was not justified in his refusal.</strong> Those papers related
to a subject that was calculated to excite universal and painful sympathy. It
seemed to him a remarkable circumstance that the public should be left in almost
entire ignorance; of the fact that for more than eighteen months many of our
fellow countrymen, including missionaries and a British Consul, had been
languishing in Abyssinian prisons, exposed to great indignities, amounting to
torture, and their friends, at the present moment, being unaware of their actual
I condition, though knowing that their imprisonment still continued. He was
compelled to say that all this misery and I suffering had been, if not produced,
certainly prolonged, <strong>by most extraordinary carelessness and want of
judgment on the part of the Foreign Office;</strong> and he was not surprised,
under these circumstances, that the noble Earl should desire to delay all
inquiry into this subject, because he hoped day after day to receive information
of the release of these unhappy persons, and then, of course, the observation
would be made, <strong>"What is the use of now discus sing the question when
every complaint is actually removed by the release of the prisoners."</strong>
There was also another mode adopted to deter persons from entering</font> <font size="3">upon any discussion of this question. It was constantly stated that the
<strong>Emperor of Abyssinia (for "Emperor" was his proper title)</strong> was
cognizant of all their proceedings, and that if anything were said in Parliament
to which he objected, it was likely to operate to the prejudice of those
unfortunate persons. Notwithstanding the warning which had been given,
undertaking, as he did, the serious responsibility of all the consequences of
his Motion, he thought that he was entitled to call upon the noble earl to state
explicitly and distinctly which of all these papers for which the present Motion
was made—and of which he had given a precise and correct description—was likely
to compromise a single individual, or to prejudice in the slightest degree the
case of these persons. In order that their Lordships might understand the
grounds upon which he demanded these papers, he must enter into a brief history
of previous facts. <strong>The elevation to the throne of the present Emperor of
Abyssinia, by whose orders these imprisonments had taken place, occurred in
February, 1855.</strong> He had been a soldier of fortune, and had opened his
way to the throne with his sword. Previous to his accession there had been a
race of Emperors who were in a state of utter dependence; some external homage
was paid to them <strong>by reason of an imaginary descent from King Solomon and
the Queen of Sheba,</strong> but in reality they were puppets in the hands of
two or three powerful vassals. One family had succeeded in securing the dignity
of Vizier of the Empire, and they were sovereigns in all but name. <strong>One
of these in 1849</strong> entered into a treaty of friendship and commerce with
this country, in the name of the Emperor; <strong>that treaty was ratified in
1852</strong>, <strong>and a copy of it was laid upon the tables of both Houses
of Parliament in that year</strong>. There were two Articles in that treaty that
had a most important bearing upon the case now before their Lordships. By the
second and third Articles it was stipulated that for the purpose of preserving
and strengthening friendly relations between the two nations, <strong>His
Majesty the Emperor of Abyssinia and his successors would receive and protect
any Ambassador, Envoy, or Consul whom Her Britannic Majesty might think fit to
send to Abyssinia, and that Her Britannic Majesty would receive and protect any
Ambassador, Envoy, or Consul whom His Majesty the Emperor of Abyssinia should
send.</strong> At the time of the</font> <font size="3">accession of the present
Emperor, Mr. Plowden had been for many years our Consul at Massowah, a port in
the Red Sea, within the <strong>Turkish dominions</strong>. There had been no
accredited agent to Abyssinia, but Mr. Plowden was intrusted with presents to
the ruling power in Abyssinia. He went with these presents and remained in
Abyssinia, taking part with the Government in assisting to suppress a rebellion,
and on the accession of the present Emperor he continued his services to that
potentate. He was actively employed in putting down the rebellion in the empire,
and he (Lord Chelmsford) believed that the course he pursued was, if not
approved, certainly not condemned by the home authorities. <strong>In 1860 while
Mr. Plowden</strong> was proceeding with a small party, he was attacked by a
superior force of rebels, was wounded, and taken prisoner; but he was afterwards
ransomed by the Emperor and subsequently died of his wounds. <strong>On the
arrival of intelligence of Mr. Plowden's death in this country, Captain Cameron,
</strong> now one of the prisoners, who there held some consulate in the Black
Sea, was appointed to succeed him. By some circumstances which were not
necessary to be mentioned, <strong>Captain Cameron was not able to reach
Abyssinia until 1862.</strong> He was the bearer of presents to the Sovereign,
and he found when he arrived at Gondar, the capital, that the Emperor was in the
field against the rebels, lie went to his camp in October, 1862, delivered his
presents, and met with a favourable reception. <strong>From that time Captain
Cameron continued to live in Abyssinia</strong> in the way his predecessors had
done. During the reign of the preceding Sovereign, and while the power of the
Vizier who had concluded the treaty was in the ascendant, he contemplated
carrying out the Treaty of 1849 by sending an Embassy to this country. This was
postponed in consequence of his fall; but it was resumed on the accession of the
present Emperor; <strong>and on the arrival of Consul Cameron the Emperor
expressed his earnest desire that the treaty should be carried out; and in
October or November, 1862, he wrote an autograph letter to Her Majesty the
Queen,</strong> the contents of which they had from the observations of the
noble Earl on a former occasion—a letter requesting permission to send an
Embassy to this country. <strong>That letter was intrusted to Consul
Cameron</strong> to</font> <font size="3">despatch to England. His journey to the
coast was intercepted by a party of rebels; and when he arrived at Massowah he
had to send the letter by a circuitous way to Aden, so that it only arrived in
this country in <strong>February, 1863.</strong> <strong>When Consul Cameron had
despatched this important letter he went to Bogos</strong>, understanding that
there had been an invasion of that territory by some neighbouring chiefs, in
tending to pursue the same policy that his predecessor had adopted. But a
different view seemed to have been taken of the course to be pursued by Consul
Cameron—<strong>he received from the Consul General of Egypt orders to return to
his post at Massowah, and not interfere further with the internal affairs of
Abyssinia.</strong> He (Lord Chelmsford) was not finding fault with this—he was
merely stating the fact; <strong>but that circumstance was the first occasion of
any displeasure by the Emperor towards Consul Cameron</strong>. Of course, it
was not likely that the total neglect to at tend to the autograph letter of the
Emperor which reached this country in February, 1862, should be calculated to
appease the anger of the Sovereign, and unfortunately circumstances soon
occurred to kindle it afresh. There was a missionary station in Abyssinia,
established by Mr. Stern, who had been sent out by the Society for Promoting
Christianity amongst the Jews. Mr. Stern had paid a visit to this country, and
had gone back to Abyssinia, accompanied by a Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal. Not having
seen the Sovereign of Abyssinia since his return, in September 1863, Mr. Stern
waited upon the Emperor, accompanied by two interpreters, the servants of an
other missionary, and of Consul Cameron. In the course of the interview the
<strong>Emperor was dissatisfied with the manner in which these servants
interpreted the address. His anger broke out against them,</strong> and by his
order they were so severely beaten with rods that the unfortunate men expired
the same night. Mr. Stern was naturally excited at this; he could not conceal
his feelings; <strong>he put his thumb in his mouth (which was interpreted by
the Emperor as signifying a threat of vengeance);</strong> he was also ordered
to be beaten; and his life was in consider able danger. He was afterwards sent
down to Gondar, and placed in prison there. In November, 1863, twelve months
after the receipt of Consul Cameron's letter, the Emperor sent a body of
troops</font> <font size="3">to the missionary station, seized all the
missionaries there, loaded them with chains, and put them in prison. <strong>He
also seized Consul Cameron, imprisoned him, and loaded him with chains;</strong>
and afterwards he was chained day and night to an Abyssinian soldier. These
things having taken place, a Great Court was assembled for the trial of
prisoners on the 20th of November, the offenders being Messrs. Stern and
Rosenthal. <strong>Mr. Stern, unfortunately for him, had published a pamphlet in
which he had characterized the mutilations and tortures of certain rebels, who
had been taken prisoners by the Emperor of Abyssininia, as a cold-blooded
murder, and Mr. Rosenthal had said that it was better to live under the rule of
the Turks than under the Abyssinians.</strong> The prisoners were brought
forward, and after their examination the Emperor caused to be read out a list of
his victories, to the number of thirty—a table of his descent from King Solomon,
and the Queen of Sheba, and a portion of the <strong>Abyssinian code, which was
founded upon that of Justinian, which declared death to be the punishment for
reviling a sovereign.</strong> The members of the Council were consulted as to
the punishment to be awarded to the prisoners. Some of them were for inflicting
the punishment of death; but milder counsels prevailed, and it was ordered that
they should be re-committed to prison, and again loaded with chains from 15lb.
to 20lb. weight. At this critical time, when everything was conspiring to
exasperate the Emperor of Abyssinia—when twelve months had elapsed, and no
answer had been given to his autograph letter, and no notice taken of
it—<strong>two days after this Great Court was held, a Despatch arrived from the
Foreign Office to Consul Cameron</strong>, not accompanied by any letter of
acknowledgment of the Emperor's letter, directing Consul Cameron to return to
his post at Massowah, and giving him some thing like a reprimand for his
absence. It may easily be imagined how highly the Emperor was incensed by this
contemptuous disregard of the applications he had made. <strong>His anger fell,
unfortunately, with full weight on Consul Cameron;</strong> he was loaded with
heavier chains; he was chained to a native night and day; and his imprisonment
was made much more rigorous. <strong>At length Consul Cameron contrived to get a
letter despatched to Massowah, which reached this country, he (Lord Chelmsford)
believed, in February, 1864. That letter contained one important passage, to
the</strong></font> <font size="3"><strong>effect that there would be no chance
for the liberation of the prisoners until an answer was returned to the
Emperor's letter.</strong> How soon that letter was received by the Foreign
Office he (Lord Chelmsford) was unable to say; but at least eighteen months from
the time when the autograph letter of the Emperor was written, and sixteen
months after that letter had been received at the Foreign Office, it occurred to
the noble Earl the Secretary of State that it might be as well to take some
notice of it; <strong>and accordingly a letter was prepared, under the Sign
Manual of Her Majesty</strong>, and when that letter was prepared it was sent
out for the purpose of being delivered. <strong>Now he (Lord Chelmsford) I might
ask here, as he had done on a former occasion, if it was thought right to send a
letter in the month of June, 1864, why it was unfortunately not thought right
and proper to have sent a letter soon after February, 1863, when the Emperor's
communication was received at the Foreign Office?</strong> He (Lord Chelmsford)
had put the question to the noble Earl on a former occasion, and he thought it
was but due to the noble Earl that he should make the House acquainted with the
answer. The noble Earl seemed to think that he had displayed a great amount of
simplicity in supposing that there could be that diplomatic Despatch which he
had anticipated. The noble Earl said— <q>The noble and learned Lord seemed to
think that it was a very easy thing to give an answer to that letter.
<strong>The letter asked permission to send an Embassy to this country. The
state of Abyssinia was very unsettled, and the King complained of encroachments
on his territory by Turks and Egyptians, and wished the English and French to
take his part if war broke out.</strong> Her Majesty's Government by no means
desired to take part in such a war, and it was therefore matter of consideration
what answer should he given, and the Secretary for India was instructed to pause
be fore returning an answer.</q> The noble Earl had certainly shown a great deal
of ingenuity in making allusion to the expected war with the Turks and the
Egyptians, as the letter, according to his own statement, contained no allusion
to anything of the kind. <strong>The letter was a letter merely asking
permission to send an I Embassy of friendship and amity to this country, and he
should have thought a day or two would have been quite sufficient time to frame
an answer.</strong> But even sup-posing that the suggested difficulties existed,
the wisdom of Government should, he thought, have been adequate to preparing an
answer in a month, but it was only</font> <font size="3">after sixteen months
that the Government could make up their minds that it was necessary to return an
answer at all to the Sovereign of that country. <strong>He need not tell their
Lordships that this delay had occasioned great irritation on the part of the
Emperor, and he attributed much of the miseries and privations of these unhappy
persons to the conduct of the Foreign Office.</strong> But the mischief was
done, and when the Government had resolved to send out an answer, the
circumstances, he thought, were such as should have induced them very carefully
to consider what sort of message should be sent to appease the offended Emperor.
He (Lord Chelmsford) ventured to express on a former occasion an opinion that it
would have been expedient to have sent out a message by an Englishman of some
station, with proper attendants, and with presents, which were the usual means
of approaching an Eastern Sovereign. The noble Earl was certainly told that
there was one per son quite ready to undertake the mission with every prospect
of success. <strong>This gentleman was Dr. Beke, who had written a pamphlet
respecting Abyssinia, who was very well acquainted with the country, and who
certainly made an offer to the noble Earl to undertake this mission. He (Lord
Chelmsford) had a copy of the letter of Dr. Beke, addressed to one of Consul
Cameron's relations, from which he would read the following passage:— <q>In
answer to your inquiry of the 19th instant, as to whether it is true that I
offered to go to Abyssinia with a view to the liberation of Captain Cameron and
the other British captives in that country, I beg leave to say that I wrote to
Earl Russell offering my services for that purpose on the 18th of March, 1864,
and that I repeated my offer on the 18th of May, 1864,and that I renewed it on
the 13th of February, 1865. Had my offer been accepted, I have not the slightest
doubt I should have been successful.</q></strong> Whether the writer was rather
sanguine in his expectations or whether he was exactly the person that should
have been selected for the mission, he (Lord Chelmsford) would not offer any
opinion; but this he knew, that a very distinguished officer who had before been
employed in diplomatic missions, was quite ready to under take the duty,
<strong>Sir William Coghlan,</strong> from whom a letter had been received, in
which he stated— <q>It is a mistake to say that I objected to be named in
connection with the Abyssinian difficulty; on the contrary, I am ready at the
shortest notice to make any effort which Her Majesty's Government may be pleased
to call on me for to- wards its solution; and I may add that my readiness is
known to Her Majesty's Government, and to many persons with whom I have
discussed the question.</q> But instead of <strong>Sir William Coghlan,</strong>
who was an Englishman, the person who unfortunately was chosen by the Foreign
Office was <strong>Mr. Rassam</strong>, who was believed to be an Armenian. He
had been of great assistance to Mr. Layard in his excavations at Ninevah; he was
the assistant to the Political Resident at Aden, and no doubt a man of great
ability, and one who might have been well intrusted with any other mission than
this; but the fact of his being an Asiatic, and not a European, was entirely
against any hope of success. The result proved the truth of what he (Lord
Chelmsford) stated. <strong>Mr. Rassam</strong> arrived at Massowah in August
last, intrusted with a letter under the <strong>Sign Manual of the Queen.
</strong> He announced his arrival, but the Sovereign refused to receive the
letter. <strong>Mr. Rassam</strong> remained at Massowah from August to
November; and when two Abyssinians were sent down from Gondar for the purpose of
ascertaining what sort of mission had been sent out, they found <strong>Mr.
Rassam</strong> alone and without attendants, for the medical gentleman who
accompanied him happened to be absent. <strong>These envoys re turned to Gondar
and reported "the naked ness of the land"</strong> and up to this moment
<strong>Mr. Rassam</strong> remained without a chance of having an audience with
the Emperor, or an opportunity of delivering the letter. The noble Earl, on a
former occasion, said— <q>Some persons thought that if a magnificent mission
were sent out with a number of presents the prisoners might be liberated, but
the obvious inference would be that the way to obtain respect and consideration
from this country would be to imprison one of our Consuls.</q> Now, he had never
asked the noble Earl to send out a magnificent mission; but he did suggest that,
under the circumstances in which this country was placed, it was absolutely
necessary to take care that a pro per and respectable mission should be sent
out, having at its head an Englishman of some station, and that presents ought
to he sent. Now, he understood that the Foreign Office had at last become
convinced of the necessity of approaching the King with presents, for,
<strong>as he was informed, 500 stands of arms had been sent to be presented to
the Sovereign of Abyssinia,</strong> either to accompany the delivery of the
letter intrusted to <strong>Mr. Rassam</strong> or some</font> <font size="3">
other letter sent by some other person. He thought he was entitled to ask, if it
was improper to send presents to the King be fore, <strong>how did it become
proper to send these 500 stands of arms now?</strong> <strong>And if it was
proper to send presents now, why were they not sent before?</strong> Mr. Rassam
had up to this time not been allowed access to the Abyssinian Court; and the
miseries suffered by the prisoners were attributable, <strong>first to the
carelessness of the Foreign Office, and next to their want of judgment. The
noble Lord might say, what would you have us do? Would you have us use force
against the Emperor of Abyssinia?</strong> The noble Lord on a former occasion
said the Government had never thought it advisable to use or threaten force, and
the King was informed that if the captives were liberated no reparation would be
required. They were accustomed to the diplomatic language of the noble Lord, but
he should have thought that this looked something like a threat because
<strong>"if the captives were liberated no reparation would be required," seemed
to imply that if they were not liberated reparation would be required.</strong>
He thought they were placed in a painful and humiliating position. What must be
the feelings of the Emperor of Abyssinia to wards this country when he found
that he could with impunity imprison and torture British subjects, and without
any intervention on the part of the Government<strong>?</strong> <strong>The
noble Lord had contrived to lower the country in the eyes of Europe and America,
and he was now doing his best to degrade us in Africa</strong>. He asked the
House if he had not made out a case which demanded that these papers should be
produced. The noble and learned Lord then <span class="italic">Moved</span>—
</font> <q><font size="3">That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for,
Copies of Letters and Papers relating to the Imprisonment of British Subjects in
Abyssinia—namely—</font></q></p>
<ol><li><q><strong><font size="3">"1. Copy of Instructions to Captain Cameron, British Consul at Massowah, upon his proceeding to his Consulate; and a List of the
Presents which he was ordered to deliver to The King of
Abyssinia:</font></strong>
</q></li>
<li><q><strong><font size="3">"2. Copy of Letter written by Captain Cameron on or about October or November, 1862, on the Subject of a proposed Embassy from The
King of Abyssinia, with the Reply (if any) to such Letter:</font></strong>
</q></li>
<li><q><strong><font size="3">"3. Copy of Autograph Letter of The King of Abyssinia to Her Majesty the Queen, and Statement of the Time when such Letter was
received at the Foreign Office:</font></strong>
</q></li>
<li><q><strong><font size="3">"4. Copy of Report made by Captain Cameron from Bogos on or about March, 1863, and of the 735 Orders in consequence of such
Report sent to him by the Consul General in Egypt or from the Foreign
Office:</font></strong>
</q></li>
<li><q><strong><font size="3">"5. Copy of Letter ordering Captain Cameron to return to his Consulate at Massowah, which Letter arrived at Gondar about November,
1863:</font></strong>
</q></li>
<li><q><strong><font size="3">"6. The Date of any Letter under Her Majesty's Sign Manual addressed to The King of Abyssinia in acknowledgment of His Autograph
Letter, and the Name and Nation of the Person employed to deliver the
same:</font></strong>
</q></li>
<li><q><strong><font size="3">"7. Account of the Presents sent to the King of Abyssinia to accompany the Delivery of such Letter:</font></strong>
</q></li>
<li><q><strong><font size="3">"8. Copies of all Letters sent to the Foreign Office containing Offers of Assistance to obtain the Liberation of the British Subjects
imprisoned in Abyssinia."</font></strong></q></li>
</ol><br /></blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0179P0-01727" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_28" id="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_28"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Lord John Russell" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_28"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Lord John Russell" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell">EARL RUSSELL</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, that when the noble and learned Lord rose, he felt a good deal of curiosity to know whether his object was to
<strong>throw blame on the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Office,</strong> or to
be of use to the unfortunate persons who were imprisoned and still detained by
the King of Abyssinia. He had come to the conclusion, looking to the tenor of
his speech, that the first was the object of the noble and learned Lord.
<strong>He had repeated over and over again that he had to find fault with the
carelessness and want of judgment of the Foreign Office</strong>; but with
regard to these unhappy prisoners and the means of relieving them from their
imprisonment, he had heard very little from the noble and learned Lord—certainly
the noble and learned Lord had not pointed out any step that could be taken
usefully for that purpose. Every person acquainted with these countries—every
person who had been in Abyssinia—whom he had seen, had assured him that any
information that was produced here, reached the Emperor of Abyssinia, and if
there was anything in it tending to throw blame on that Sovereign, he was sure
to visit it by increased restrictions and severities on the prisoners. He,
therefore, held that if any increased restrictions and severities were imposed,
the noble and learned Lord was responsible for having aggravated their
situation. The noble and learned Lord had given a history of these transactions,
from which he (Earl Russell) differed very little. <strong>He did not see the
faults committed by the Foreign Office</strong> in this very difficult matter.
The noble and learned Lord had stated that there were formerly sovereigns in
Abyssinia who assumed to be descended from Solomon and the Queen of Sheba; but
they had but a nominal power—they were only what the French called Mayors of the
Palace—<strong>but the present Emperor Theodore, a success</strong></font> <font size="3"><strong>ful soldier, had obtained the crown</strong>. The British officer
who was Consul, had assisted the King in his civil wars; he was wounded and died
of his wounds. <strong>The King went against the rebels, and a great number of
them who surrendered were re fused quarter.</strong> He (Earl Russell) confessed
that when he heard of the death of the Consul, and it became his duty to
communicate it to Her Majesty, it did not appear to him to be expedient that
Consuls sent by the British Government to Abyssinia should take part either in
civil wars or in external hostilities waged by the Sovereign of that country
<strong>against Egypt or any Turkish province.</strong> Captain Cameron, a
distinguished officer, who had served under Sir Fenwick Williams, of Kars, was
then sent as British Consul to Massowah, and he was received in a very courteous
manner by the King of Abyssinia. <strong>In October, 1862</strong>, he was
intrusted with a letter from the King for transmission to this country, stating
that he was desirous of sending an embassy to this country. The noble and
learned Lord said there had been carelessness in the way that letter was
treated; <strong>but it was perfectly well known that the object of the King of
Abyssinia was to obtain the assistance of France and England against the Viceroy
of Egypt in regard to some territory which he thought was wrongfully withheld
from him,</strong> and it occurred to him that it was better that the British
Government should not interfere with those disputes, but should rather leave
them alone; and he did not know whether he would be reproved by the noble and
learned Lord for entertaining that opinion. He confessed that that letter ought
to have been answered earlier; but be did not believe that that had anything to
do with the imprisonment of <strong>Consul Cameron</strong>, or that it was
connected, or connected in more than the slightest manner, with the subsequent
acts of the King. <strong>His letter proposed to send an embassy to
England</strong>. <strong>When the King of Abyssinia sent a message to the
Emperor of the French</strong>, it appeared that he was afterwards very angry
about the treatment he had received. <strong>That certainly showed that the
Sovereign of Abyssinia was ready to make complaints when he did not receive the
treatment which he thought due to his dignity;</strong> complaint was also made
of the language used by M. Drouyn de Lhuys. It therefore seemed there was great
danger that the King of Abyssinia might take offence at any</font> <font size="3">
proceeding which he deemed not quite consistent with his dignity. <strong>The
business of Consul Cameron was not to be a resident at the Court of King
Theodore</strong>, or in any way to become a partizan in any wars or dispute, in
which he might be engaged. His business was to return to Massowah and remain
there as Consul. Instead of that he went away at one time, and went to the Court
at Gondar. <strong>Consul Cameron, he conceived, was greatly in fault in going
to the Court of Gondar.</strong> Mr. Stern, the missionary, had written in his
paper reflections very injurious to the character of the King. That gentleman
had been so ill-treated that his life was for some time in danger; and it was,
perhaps, hardly to have been expected that the British Consul should altogether
escape. For some reason or other, which he was unable to fathom, <strong>Consul
Cameron was put in chains and confined</strong> with some other persons in
prison. When that intelligence reached this country everybody at the Foreign
Office was exceedingly anxious that pro per means should be devised to obtain
his liberation. <strong>Any person might run as much risk as Mr. Stern if sent
to the Court of Abyssinia. Sir William Coghlan,</strong> a very experienced
officer, was the person to whom the Foreign Office immediately had recourse to
learn what was best to be done. As he understood the opinion of Sir William
Coghlan, it was that it was desirable that in the mission to Abyssinia—a mission
of considerable importance—some officer of the army or navy and some scientific
person should be attached to it, but that it was not advisable that that mission
should be sent until the captives had been released. Although Sir William was
ready to go himself at that time, still that was his decided opinion.
<strong>Therefore Mr. Rassam went</strong>—a person who, though not a
native-born Englishman, held the office of Assistant to the British Resident at
Aden, and was, therefore, the second officer of the Government in that important
dependency, and intrusted with the confidence of the resident and everybody else
there. At a later time it was suggested that some military or naval officer
would be treated with more respect; and he had therefore desired through the
<strong>India Office</strong> that the resident at Aden should send a military
officer to Massowah, and such an officer had been sent. The noble and learned
Lord observed that if it was</font> <font size="3">desirable that the King's
letter should be answered and presents sent, it should have been long before.
That was a very easy thing to say; but the fact was, they certainly could not
have foreseen that the Sovereign of Abyssinia would put their Consul in prison
without any justification whatever. <strong>Were they to expect always that the
Sovereign of an Eastern country would cast into prison the person whom they sent
with a letter from Her Majesty?</strong> It should he remembered that Consul
Cameron was intrusted with a letter, not proposing anything, but answering a
communication which had been received, and when the Consul delivered that letter
the transaction ought to have been at an end. Mr. Rassam had frequently written
from Massowah, and he displayed good judgment and temper. He had sent more than
one person to Gondar, and the answer always was, that the King was engaged in an
expedition against the rebels, and it would be a long time before he returned to
his capital. <strong>Very lately a person who represented himself to be, and who
was believed to be, brother to the steward of the King of Abyssinia arrived at
Massowah, and he stated that the imprisonment of the Consul was then very
greatly alleviated. He should hope that when the Sovereign of Abyssinia returned
to his capital, and became aware that Mr. Rassam, and an officer in Her
Majesty's army were waiting with letters, he would receive those
gentlemen.</strong> As for the papers moved for, he did not think that any one
particular paper was likely to be a cause of aggravation; but the publication of
the whole of them, accompanied, as it would be, by comments in this country
unfavourable, no doubt, to the conduct of the Sovereign of Abyssinia, would
probably cause these unfortunate prisoners to he treated with greater severity.
</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p id="S3V0179P0-01728" class="procedural"><a class="permalink" title="Link to this contribution" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_29"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3">On Question? Their Lorships divided.</font></p>
<div id="S3V0179P0-01729" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_30" id="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_30"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-leveson"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Lord Leveson" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_30"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Lord Leveson" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-leveson">EARL GRANVILLE</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3"><strong>(who spoke from his place sitting, and covered)</strong> took notice that a noble Baron, Lord Ravens-worth, was not in
the House when the Question was put, and he therefore moved that the noble
Baron's vote be disallowed.</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0179P0-01730" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_31" id="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_31"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/hon-edward-stanley-3"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Hon. Edward Stanley" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_31"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Hon. Edward Stanley" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/hon-edward-stanley-3">THE EARL OF DERBY</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><strong><font size="3">said, he thought that was an objection which hardly ought to be pressed, but he would give the noble Earl the advantage
of it. On the other hand, he would draw attention to another irregularity. A
noble Peer (Lord Col-</font> <font size="3">chester) informed him that the
Tellers left the Bar before he passed into the House, and that he followed them
complaining that his vote had not been taken. He understood, also, that the
Question was put before the Bar was ordered to be cleared, so that there was no
time for a Peer who happened to be momentarily out of the House to return and
hear the Question put, and it was in this way that his noble Friend (Lord
Ravensworth) was prevented from hearing the putting of the Question. Under these
circumstances he suggested that the proper course to pursue was to pass over the
division which had just taken place and call for a fresh division.
</font></strong></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0179P0-01731" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_32" id="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_32"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content"><font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title unmatched-member">THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH</cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, the Tellers waited for a moment or two, and if the noble Lord (Lord Colchester) chose to remain behind it was not their
duty to remain.</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0179P0-01732" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_33" id="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_33"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-leveson"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Lord Leveson" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_33"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Lord Leveson" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-leveson">EARL GRANVILLE</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3"><strong>said, he would not trouble their Lordships to divide on the Motion of the noble Earl opposite.
</strong></font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p id="S3V0179P0-01733" class="procedural"><a class="permalink" title="Link to this contribution" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_34"><font size="3"><strong>§</strong></font></a> <font size="3"><strong>Then, on Motion, it was resolved that the vote of Lord Colchester be received.
The Numbers were then declared to be—Contents 43; Not-Contents 42: Majority 1.
</strong></font></p>
<a id="column_740" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 740 — HL Deb 23 May 1865 vol 179 c740" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#column_740" name="column_740"><font size="3">740</font></a><div id="division_1" class="division"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_35" id="S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_35"></a><table><tbody><tr><td><span class="bold">CONTENTS.</span></td>
</tr><tr><td>Richmond, D</td>
<td>Blayney, L</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Bolton L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Exeter, M.</td>
<td>Castlemaine, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Tweeddale, M.</td>
<td>Chelmsford, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Westmeath, M.</td>
<td>Colchester, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Colville of Culross, L. [<span class="italic">Teller.</span>]</td>
</tr><tr><td>Amherst, E.</td>
<td></td>
</tr><tr><td>Bandon, E.</td>
<td>Delamere, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Bantry, E.</td>
<td>Denman, L</td>
</tr><tr><td>Belmore, E</td>
<td>Dunsany, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Cadogan,E</td>
<td>Feversham, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Derby, E.</td>
<td>Grinstead, L. (<span class="italic">E. Enniskillen.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Graham, E. (<span class="italic">D. Montrose.</span>)</td>
<td></td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Heytesbury, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Hardwicke, E.</td>
<td>Monson, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Mayo, E.</td>
<td>Moore, L. (<span class="italic">M. Drogheda.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Nelson, E.</td>
<td></td>
</tr><tr><td>Pomfret, E.</td>
<td>Polwarth, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Shrewsbury, E.</td>
<td>Raglan, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Redesdale, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Hawarden, V. [<span class="italic">Teller.</span>]</td>
<td>Rollo, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Hutchinson, V. (<span class="italic">E. Donoughmore.</span>)</td>
<td>Strathspey, L. (<span class="italic">E. Seafield.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Melville, V.</td>
<td>Tredegar, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Strathallan, V.</td>
<td>Walsingham, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Wynford, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Blantyre, L.</td>
<td></td>
</tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td><span class="bold">NOT-CONTENTS.</span></td>
</tr><tr><td>Westbury, L. (<span class="italic">L. Chancellor.</span>)</td>
<td>Caithness, E.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Chichester, E.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Clarendon, E.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Cleveland, D.</td>
<td>Cottenham, E.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Saint Albans, D.</td>
<td>De Grey, E.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Somerset, D.</td>
<td>Ducie, E.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Granville, E.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Normanby, M.</td>
<td>Harrowby, E.</td>
</tr></tbody></table><a class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 740 — HL Deb 23 May 1865 vol 179 c740" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#column_740"><font size="3">740</font></a><table><tbody><tr><td>Russell, E.</td>
<td>Dartrey, L. (<span class="italic">L. Cremorne.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Saint Germans, E.</td>
<td></td>
</tr><tr><td>Spencer, E.</td>
<td>Foley, L. [<span class="italic">Teller.</span>]</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Granard, L. (<span class="italic">E. Granard.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Eversley, V.</td>
<td>Leigh, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Stratford de Redcliffe, V.</td>
<td>Methuen, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Sydney, V.</td>
<td>Oxenfoord, L. (<span class="italic">E. Stair.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Torrington, V.</td>
<td>Ponsonby, L. (<span class="italic">E. Bessborough.</span>) [<span class="italic">Teller</span>]</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Rivers, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Durham, Bp.</td>
<td>Seaton, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Sefton, L. (<span class="italic">E. Sefton.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Seymour, L. (<span class="italic">E. St. Maur.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Aveland, L.</td>
<td></td>
</tr><tr><td>Belper, L.</td>
<td>Somerhill, L. (<span class="italic">M. Clanricarde.</span>)</td>
</tr><tr><td>Camoys, L.</td>
<td></td>
</tr><tr><td>Clandeboye, L. (<span class="italic">L. Dufferin and Claneboye.</span>)</td>
<td>Stanley of Alderley, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Truro, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td></td>
<td>Wenlock, L.</td>
</tr><tr><td>Cranworth, L.</td>
<td>Wentworth, L.</td>
</tr></tbody></table></div>
<p id="S3V0179P0-01734" class="procedural"><a class="permalink" title="Link to this contribution" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/motion-for-an-address#S3V0179P0_18650523_HOL_36"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3">House adjourned at a quarter past Eight o'clock, to Friday next, half-past Ten o'clock.</font></p>
<div><div><font size="3">Back to</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/23/imprisonment-of-british-subjects-in"><font size="3">IMPRISONMENT OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN ABYSSINIA.</font></a></div>
<div><h1 class="title"><font size="3">QUESTION.</font></h1>
<div class="house-of-lords-sitting"><font size="3"><cite class="section">HL Deb 30 May 1865 vol 179 cc1043-4</cite></font> <a id="column_1043" class="permalink column-permalink" title="Col. 1043 — HL Deb 30 May 1865 vol 179 c1043" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/question#column_1043" name="column_1043"><font size="3">1043</font></a>
<div id="S3V0179P0-02447" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_7" id="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_7"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Frederick Thesiger" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/question#S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_7"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Mr Frederick Thesiger" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger">LORD CHELMSFORD</a> <a class="sitting-day" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/may/30">30 May 1865</a> →
<a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/1865/may/30#lords">Lords Sitting</a> → <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/imprisonment-of-british-subjects-in">IMPRISONMENT
OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN ABYSSINIA.</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">said, he wished to put a Question to the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, of which he had given him
notice, relative to the <strong>Abyssinian prisoners</strong>; and he was
induced, to do so in consequence of an article that had appeared in <span class="italic"><strong>The Pall Mall Gazette,</strong></span> but principally in
order that if possible the relatives of those unhappy persons might obtain some
satisfactory or at least authentic information about them. The article to which
he referred was published in <strong><span class="italic">The Pall Mall
Gazette</span> on the 25th May,</strong> and Was in the following terms:— <q>We
briefly announced yesterday that intelligence had been received from Massowah up
to the 28th April. To-day we are enabled to give a few details respecting the
unfortunate captives. These details are communicated in a letter from Mr. Fladd,
at Gaffat, who writes very discouragingly of the present condition and prospects
of the prisoners. <strong>It appears that King Theodorus, after experiencing a
reverse in Shoa, came in haste to Magdala,</strong> procured reinforcements and
guns, and returned to that country. While at Magdala he spoke harshly to the
prisoners, and before leaving ordered a change for the worse in their treatment.
Mr. Fladd's letter is dated March 16, and contains the following extract from a
note addressed to him by Mr. Stern:—As it appears that they have quite
<strong>forgotten us in Europe,</strong> nothing remains for us but to prepare
ourselves for the worst—a miserable death.'</q> Under these circumstances he
wished to ask the noble Earl, What was the date of the latest intelligence he
had received from Abyssinia, and what was the account then given of the
condition of the prisoners? He also wished to know whether <strong>Mr.
Rassam</strong> still continued at Massowah, or contemplated returning to Aden;
probably also the noble Earl would not object to inform him whether any steps
had been taken to send any other mission for the purpose of approaching the
Emperor; and, if so, whether it would be accompanied by any
presents<strong>?</strong></font></p>
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<div id="S3V0179P0-02448" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_8" id="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_8"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Lord John Russell" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/question#S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_8"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="Lord John Russell" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell">EARL RUSSELL</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">was understood to say, that the latest accounts received from Abyssinia by Her Majesty's Government were up to the <strong>28th
April, when Mr. Rassam wrote</strong> that he had sent several messengers to the
Emperor, and that the</font> <font size="3">rumours of additional hardships
imposed upon the prisoners did not appear to be well founded. At that date Mr.
Rassam was still waiting to fulfil his mission.</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div id="S3V0179P0-02449" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_9" id="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_9"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Mr Frederick Thesiger" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/question#S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_9"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-frederick-thesiger">LORD CHELMSFORD</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3">asked whether, if further information reached the Foreign Office, there would be any objection to communicate it?
</font></p>
</blockquote>
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<div id="S3V0179P0-02450" class="hentry member_contribution"><a name="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_10" id="S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_10"></a><blockquote class="contribution_text entry-content" cite="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell"><a class="speech-permalink permalink" title="Link to this speech by Lord John Russell" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/question#S3V0179P0_18650530_HOL_10"><font size="3">§</font></a> <font size="3"><cite class="member author entry-title"><a title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/lord-john-russell">EARL RUSSELL</a></cite></font>
<p class="first-para"><font size="3"><strong>said, he would communicate the information, but not the source from whence it came.</strong>
</font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div><div><font size="3">Back to</font> <a href="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/imprisonment-of-british-subjects-in"><font title="http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1865/may/30/imprisonment-of-british-subjects-in CTRL + Click to follow link" size="3">IMPRISONMENT OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN ABYSSINIA.
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<br />From: theblacklist-request@lists.riseup.net<br />SUBMITTED BY <br /></div>