MR. WHITEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the alleged manufacture of notes in this country, in the name of Hungary, has been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government by the Government of Austria, and what steps have been taken thereupon by the order or advice of Her Majesty's Government?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, that the fact of the manufacture of notes in this country with the signature of Kossuth and the Royal Crown of Hungary on them was, on the 5th of last month, brought under the notice of Her Majesty's Government by the Ambassador of Austria. The question was immediately referred to the Law Officers of the Crown; and they gave an opinion at some length, that it was not possible—in fact that it was hardly probable—to obtain a conviction, though they considered that the fabrication of those notes was contrary to the laws of this country. According to their advice he 1398 (Lord John Russell) wrote to the Ambassador of Austria in London slating that Her Majesty's Government felt unable to take any steps in the matter. The Austrian Ambassador then said that he hoped Her Majesty's Government would consider him justified in taking other steps if he thought proper; and he (Lord J. Russell) replied that he was quite free to do so.