§ MR. RICHsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has received any Report from the law officers of the Crown on the claims and complaints against the Brazilian Government preferred by Messrs. Swann and Smallpage; and, if so, what steps have been taken respecting those claims and complaints?
MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDsaid, the case was considered by the late Government to be one of hardship, and redress for the injuries sustained by Messrs. Swann and Smallpage was pressed upon the Brazilian Government. But the Brazilian Government, having made inquiry into the circumstances, took a totally different view, and as to redress gave a decided refusal. Since then Her Majesty's present Ministers had consulted the Law Officers of the Crown, and were advised that the case did not call for any further interference. The Brazilian Government had undertaken to pay for any actual loss sustained by Messrs. Swann and Smallpage. The 1852 matter was now in process of investigation, and would, no doubt, be satisfactorily arranged.