§ Mr. Dixonwished to be informed, whether any communication had reached his Majesty's Government relative to the situation of British merchants in the Brazils, since the recent changes in that country, and whether any steps had been taken for their protection and security? He understood the quantity of British merchandize at Rio was very great, and when the last accounts came away, there was only one English ship of war there.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that his Majesty's Government had, undoubtedly, received communications that the revolution in Brazil had been attended with circumstances which led the British merchants at Rio and Bahia to apprehend some danger to themselves, and Mr. Aston, the British Consul, had been applied to, and had detained a ship of war at Rio, which had been intended for another destination.
§ Mr. Dixonbegged to ask, in order to allay any apprehensions that might be felt, whether the Government had sanctioned any other measures to secure the British residents in Brazil?
§ Viscount Palmerstonanswered, that another ship of war had received orders to proceed to Rio, and would speedily arrive there. With respect to the general question, the hon. Gentleman might be assured 1047 that his Majesty's Government would take all steps which were due and proper for the protection of his Majesty's subjects, in whatever quarter of the world.
§ Captain Bolderoagain rose to repeat his former question, namely, whether, in the negotiations which had taken place between France and England, preliminary to placing Prince Leopold on the throne of Belgium, those Powers had overlooked the possibility of hostilities being commenced by the Dutch? and whether they were prepared, by force, to maintain the rights of Belgium?
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that to the hon. Gentleman's first question he was quite ready to give an answer. By France and England, the hon. Gentleman, of course, meant the five Powers. The hon. Gentleman asked, whether the five Powers—[Captain Boldero: "The two Powers."] Well, he would answer for the five. The five Powers, including France and England, had not overlooked the possibility that the armistice which had been concluded might be broken, either by the Dutch or the Belgians.
§ Mr. Wranghamwished to know from the noble Lord, whether the representative of the king of Holland had not, when in this country, made some communication to his Majesty's Government, either in writing or verbally, that the king of Holland would feel it his duty to prosecute, by hostile measures, his claims upon Belgium?
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that the Plenipotentiary of the king of the Netherlands had not made to him, nor to the Conference, any communication, verbally or in writing, which led them to suppose that the King, his master, had any intention of marching his troops beyond the frontiers.