§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, that in the absence of the noble Earl at the head of the Foreign Office, he would ask the noble Earl the Lord President of the Council, Whether he had observed in the Correspondence from Malta, published to-day, that three Austrian vessels of war—a 50-gun frigate, a corvette of 22 guns, and a gunboat—had left Malta, it was stated, for Gibraltar and the Baltic. If that was so, they were now coming up the Channel with a westerly wind, and a week hence might he assisting in the attack upon Fredericia and Alsen. He should like to know whether the Government was acquainted with this circumstance, and whether any measures had been adopted in consequence?
§ THE DUKE OF SOMERSETwas understood to say, that he believed the vessels referred to by the noble Earl had left Malta for Gibraltar; but beyond that he had no information,
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, that it was stated that their sailing instructions were for Gibraltar and the Baltic.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, till to-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.