Mr. C. Wynnrose, pursuant to notice, without, he said, intending to trouble the House with any length of observation on the subject. He did not mean to require any information either as to what was doing or intended to be done in the pending negociation, but solely to enquire as to our situation and relation with regard to Norway. In reply to a question which he had yesterday put, namely, whether we were now at peace or at war with Norway? his right hon. friend (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had thought proper to state merely, that the government of this country did not recognise Norway as an independent nation, but as an integral part of the kingdom of Denmark. This reply, however, he could not deem satisfactory. For referring to the case of France, although after the deposition of the monarchy in 1792, the 592 British government did not acknowledge the republic that followed, yet we were at peace with the French. Now he wished to know whether we were in a similar relation with the Norwegians? By the stipulations of last year, it appeared that our government bad agreed to concur in endeavouring to obtain the cession of Norway to Sweden; and the question now was, whether an order had been issued by ministers, as it was understood, to interrupt any communication with Norway, in order to force the Norwegians to assent to that cession? If such an order had not been issued, then it would appear that the question was still open for discussion. But if it were otherwise, and his right hon. friend should still decline to give any answer upon that subject, he should feel it his duty to move for the production of copies of any orders issued to prevent communications with Norway. At the same time, he observed that it was in the power of his right hon. friend to prevent any motion at present by one word, either yes or no.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, he was happy that he had it in his power, according to his hon. friend's statement, to take that course which would serve to avert any premature discussion upon the subject. For he felt no difficulty in stating, that his Majesty's government had, in, concert with Sweden and our other allies, issued an order for blockading the ports of Norway.