Mr. D'Israeliwished to put a question to the right hon. Baronet, of very deep interest to the commerce of this country. There had lately been a modification of the Mexican tariff, which it was supposed would lead to an increase of our commerce with that country. It appeared, however, from a proclamation which had been inserted in the London Gazette, that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had received that document, announcing a blockade of the eastern coast of Mexico, by a Texican squadron. The publication of this proclamation in the London Gazette had caused great alarm amongst the mercantile classes trading to Mexico. He wished to know whether it were the intention of her Majesty's Government to sanction the blockade, and if it were not intended, then he wished to know why the proclamation had been allowed to be published in the London Gazette.
§ Sir R. Peelreplied that the insertion of the proclamation in the Gazette was in conformity with the usual practice in similar cases. The notification in the Gazette was, that a blockade of the coast of Mexico was said to be instituted by the Republic of Texas. It was stated in this form, because there had been no official notification from the Texian authorities. Her Majesty's Government had received a 1427 communication from our Minister in America that such proclamation had been issued. The Government, therefore, deemed it to be their duty to give notice to the persons trading to Mexico that it had received such an intimation. The mere notification of the blockade by the proclamation of the Texian government did not make it a blockade in conformity with the law of nations, for the question then was, whether it were a bonâ fide blockade or not. If the blockade were bonâ fide, and according to the custom of this and other countries, it would be binding on us and must be observed. He would only add that he was extremely sorry that such a blockade had been either notified or instituted.