§ Mr. Macleanbegged leave to put a question or two to the noble Lord (Palmerston) relative to Spain. A ship, he understood, had been lately sent out with fresh stores and ammunition for the Queen's troops, and he wished to know whether it had been sent out by his Majesty's Government? Whether, also, there had been any payment made by the Spanish Government for the stores and ammunition already supplied? Whether it was the intention of his Majesty's Government still to continue furnishing supplies of that nature, and if so, whether they would do so without obtaining payment or a guarantee of payment, for those already furnished?
§ Viscount Palmerstonwas not able to answer the hon. Gentleman's first question, for he was not aware that any such ship had lately been sent out to Spain; but with regard to the other questions, he was quite prepared to say, that his Majesty's Government did intend furnishing stores and ammunition in accordance with the terms of the treaty by which they were bound.
§ Mr. Macleanwished to know if they would do so without requiring any guarantee for those already furnished?
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, they were satisfied with the guarantee that had been obtained by the right hon. Baronet, the 620 Member for Tamworth, when he furnished stores and ammunition to Spain.
§ Mr. Macleanobserved, that there was no guarantee on that occasion, that there was nothing but an exchange of notes.
§ Lord Mahonsaid, it might perhaps be in the recollection of the noble Lord that he had a few nights ago expressed his apprehension that the return of 540,000l., large a sum as it was, did not comprise the whole amount of the expenses that had been incurred by his Majesty's Government on behalf of Spain. He had also stated, that he did not impute the slightest intentional error in the framing of that return, but that he had had no opportunity of ascertaining the exact amount. Now, he had been informed, that besides those mentioned in the return, provisions and other articles had been supplied from two ships to the troops in the service of her majesty the Queen of Spain. He had stated that the other evening, without having elicited from the noble Lord any answer or explanation on the subject, and he should now feel obliged if the noble Lord would say whether such supplies had been furnished in 'addition to those mentioned in the returns, and whether the noble Lord could give him any idea of the expense of sending out such supplies.
§ Mr. C. Woodbelieved, he could give the noble Lord precise information on the subject. One account had been made up to the loth of February, and another (since the noble Lord's motion) up to the 24th of the same month. Now, he (Mr. Wood) was not aware that there had been any supplies furnished for the use of the Queen of Spain, save those included in these returns. He was further enabled to tell his noble Friend, that he did not think it possible that such could be the case, because, in point of fact, no supplies of any sort had been furnished for more than one year. The whole of the naval stores had been furnished two years ago, and were included in the returns which had been laid before the House last Session. The greater part of these bad been furnished during the time of Sir R. Peel's Government, when his noble Friend was Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He had further to say, that all the supplies that had been furnished during the last year, would be covered by an expense of 60l.