The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 37
Russian Gold, Lord Palmerston
Russian Gold, Lord Palmerston.
It has been thought and said that Russian gold has found its way into this House. I do not mean to accuse the noble lord of having received the Russian gold, but the idea has gone abroad that Russian Gold has found its way into this House. The noble lord cannot but be aware that charges involving criminality of a serious nature have been put forth against him; in print too—not alone in the daily and weekly press, but in pamphlets and works, some of which I now hold in my hand; not the production of obscure and unknown individuals, but respectable gentlemen, having filled high offices—secretaries of embassy, proteges and employees of the noble lord himself. Mr Urquhart and Mr Parish have brought forward these accusations and supported them by documentary evidence. God forbid that I should say that they are true; but they are uncontradieted—they have gone forth to the country; and why is it that the noble lord has not instituted legal proceedings against these gentlemen? I think it right to state that the country expected that he would have taken such a course as a means of self-justification. Why have not the parties who bring forward such charges been prosecuted for libel?
(T. Attwood, House of Commons, 1839.)