the justice of the case; because the Power that had favoured the separation, and which, from the moment the insurrection in Belgium was successful, favoured, recognized, and aided that separation, was especially England; and for England to come forward and say, ’You did not maintain the union between Holland and Belgium, an union which we did not wish, which we wanted to see dissolved, we declare ourselves free from the payment of that debt’—­to have said so would have been such an evasion of an engagement, that I certainly could not have taken any part in adopting it.  But it was not evaded.  England being free from the letter of the engagement, made a new engagement with Russia; and in that engagement she agreed to continue the payment of the interest of that debt.  The actual ground for continuing the payment of that interest was, that Russia did abide by the general arrangement of the Treaty of Vienna; and that it was only in consequence of the acts of England herself that she did not maintain the union between Holland and Belgium.  But undoubtedly the words were introduced into that convention which were a security to Russia for payment of

  ’her old Dutch debt, in consideration of the general arrangements
  of the Congress of Vienna, to which she had given her adhesion
  —­arrangements which remain in full force.’

Now, these words were certainly used.  They were introduced at the request of the representatives of Russia in this country.  They were put in, in order to show that, whilst Russia had departed in one principal respect from this arrangement, yet she was not to be accused of any violation of the general treaty, of any bad faith in the matter, because she had only done so at the request of England.  But still, as I think, the original arrangement and the general reason of the arrangement remain in full force; and what was that original arrangement?  It was, that Russia had agreed with England with respect to the territorial disposition of Holland and Belgium.  There was no question at that time of any other arrangement, or of the Treaty of Vienna being violated or disturbed.  Russia desired these words to be inserted in the treaty.  So far as England was concerned, she did not wish those words to be inserted.  It was not the expression of any desire of hers that they were so; but it seemed to be a matter of good faith, that as Russia still maintained the original arrangement, therefore it was right to continue to pay the interest of the debt.  Now, I say with respect to the spirit of the agreement, that I do not think it would be just to take advantage of the insertion of these words, and that Russia having, so far as Belgium and Holland are concerned, faithfully preserved those stipulations, having never attempted either to disturb this arrangement, and still less refused her aid to England with regard to any question respecting them, I do not think, in point of fair dealing, we should be justified in refusing to pay