THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONWith the permission of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have slightly altered the form of my Question in order more strictly to explain my object in putting it. The Question I have to ask the right hon. Gentleman is, Whether, in view of the hostilities between Russia and Turkey, 107 and the effect which a war between those Powers must exercise upon the maritime and commercial interests of England, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to issue the accustomed proclamation of neutrality warning the subjects of the Queen of the penalties they will incur under the statute for the preservation of neutrality by any participation in such hostilities, and of their liability under the law of nations towards the belligerent Powers?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERYes, Sir, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to issue a Proclamation of the accustomed character. Indeed, I may say, that such a Proclamation was settled last week—the draft of it; and it has been submitted to Her Majesty in Council at Windsor today, and, if received from Windsor in time, it will probably be published in an extraordinary Gazette this evening.