THE MARQUESS OF NORMANBYsaid, his noble Friend the President of the Council would perhaps permit him to put a Question without previous notice. Their Lordship would recollect that a few evenings ago he addressed a question to the noble Earl with regard to Parma and other States of Central Italy; but the House was told that the treaty having only just then been concluded, it would be difficult for the Government to give any information on the subject till the Emperor of the French returned to Paris. Since that time the Emperor had returned, and had spoken; and in his speech, delivered a few days ago, the following sentence in reference to the Sovereigns of Central Italy occurred:—"The Sovereigns of Central Italy have seen the necessity of salutary reforms," He was very glad indeed to hear that 253 declaration, and he should he extremely glad if it was carried into operation; but he thought the Emperor might perhaps have furbished some information to Her Majesty's Government as to whether there was to be any exception to the restoration of [the Sovereigns of Central Italy, and whether this had formed one of the conditions of the treaty. He was anxious, if possible, to gain information on this subject, because he understood that the Sardinian commissioners appointed during the war still remained at their posts. The Sardinian representative, he was informed, was still at Florence, and he had reason to believe that very active intrigues were going on in Tuscany contrary to the sense of the arrangement come to at Villa-franca.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that even if his noble Friend had given formal notice of his question, it would have been impossible for him to give any detailed explanation on the matter, to which the noble Marquess' Question referred.