§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, he wished to put a question to the right hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty. He observed in the newspapers of that day the announcement, dated Paris, Wednesday evening, of an Imperial decree, which allowed Russian ships that left the ports in the Baltic, and put to sea before the 15th instant, to discharge and return to any Russian open port, or neutral harbour, without hindrance; and the English Government, it was said, had come to a similar determination. He wished, therefore, to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it was true that the English Government had come to that determination, and whether, in that case, it would not be necessary to liberate all those Russian vessels that had been said to be detained—he meant merchant ships—inasmuch as they all must have left the Baltic ports before the day mentioned in this declaration or decree?
§ SIR JAMES GRAHAMsaid, that the right hon. Gentleman not having given 921 him notice of his question, he was not prepared to give him an answer that day. He, therefore, begged that the right hon. Gentleman would repeat his question tomorrow.