LORD BROUGHAMsaid, that seeing the noble Earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in his place, he begged to ask him a question which, he thought, would not require a very great deal of consideration. He (Lord Brougham) had purposely avoided giving notice of his intention to put the question, lest it should be considered offensive in any quarter, but he was not to be held answerable for having drawn out the truth, if the truth were offensive. There 342 had been no concert between the noble Earl and himself on the subject. Had the noble Earl seen a new argument for the American claim to the Oregon territory, in the shape of globes made and sold in London, wherein the boundaries of the Oregon were described according to the American doctrine?
§ The EARL of ABERDEEN(in apparent astonishment) replied in the negative.
LORD BROUGHAMdid not wonder at his noble Friend being surprised. He (Lord Brougham) would give him the name of the globe-maker in question; and he would find, upon inquiry, that the Oregon boundary had been put by the maker upon a globe before it was finished, and that same globe was purchased by no less important a person than the American Minister in this country. He did not believe that his excellent friend, Mr. Everett, was a party to the proceeding; and it might possibly prove to have been done by the tradesman out of kindness and respect for his customer.
§ The EARL of ABERDEENsaid, he had heard something of this matter, but he attached no importance to it. It referred to an older transaction than Mr. Everett's time. The globe had been purchased by an American, but not by the American Minister.