§ THE EARL OF HARDWICKEsaid, that their Lordships were aware that a public journal, which was supposed to possess the confidence of Government, had stated that Mr. Crampton, Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, had been summarily dismissed from the country to which he was accredited. He was sure the Government could not for a moment suppose that such an announcement would be heard in this country without affecting the minds of every one. He begged to ask whether Her Majesty's Government would confirm the statement that Mr. Crampton was on his passage home?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, in reply to the noble Earl, I can only say that I have not seen the statement in the papers to which he refers, and I am not 950 aware that any official information to that effect has reached Her Majesty's Government.