The Earl of Mintosaid, that with reference to the seizure of a pilot on board a British packet at Vera Cruz, a despatch, as he last night stated, had been received from Commodore Douglas, an extract from which, with the permission of the House, he would read. The despatch was dated the 21st of December, and the gallant officer said—"I have received a satisfactory explanation from the Rear-Admiral on the subject of the pilot taken out of a British packet. It was entirely a mistake on the part of the Prince de Joinville, and the Rear-Admiral had made a communication on the subject to the French Government."
§ Lord Colchesterinquired whether the explanation or apology was a verbal or a written one?
The Earl of Mintosaid, he had no means of answering that question. The only communication which he had received relative to this transaction, he had read to the House.
§ Lord Colchestersaid, so far as the statement went, it was satisfactory; but he should be glad to know in what shape the explanation was given.
The Earl of Mintosaid, if the apology were satisfactory to Commodore Douglas, as that gallant officer declared it to be, it surely must also be satisfactory to their Lordships. The Government willingly confided in the discretion of the gallant officer, and he did not think, under these circumstances, that it was the temper of their Lordships to suppose that any thing had been done inconsistent with the honour of the country.
§ Subject dropped.