§ Sir J. Mackintoshrose, to put two questions to the noble marquis opposite arising out of subjects which materially affected the naval interests of Great Britain. The House was aware that the emperor of Russia had issued a Ukase, by which he claimed, as Russian dominion, the North-east coast of Asia, and the North-west coast of America, attaching thereby to himself an extent of coast of 5,000 miles; and, as a proof of the exercise of sovereignty over those limits, forbidding the ships of all other nations to come nearer than 100 Italian miles of that part of the Northwest American coast, within 51 degrees North latitude. He understood there were now several ships fitting out in the port of London, for the purpose of carrying on traffic with that part of the Northwest American coast, which had hitherto been claimed as our own. He wished, therefore, to ask the noble lord, whether 1512 his majesty's government had received an authentic copy of the Imperial Ukase, and whether it was their intention to take any steps to protect the rights of British navigation against such extravagant pretensions?
The Marquis of Londonderrysaid, that a copy of the Ukase had been received by government, through the Russian ambassador: and shortly after its receipt, a note, in answer, was addressed to the ambassador, stating, that as far as regarded the right of sovereignty and the maritime principle, the British government could not accede to the terms of the Ukase; but offering to enter into an amicable explanation, with a view to a friendly arrangement.
§ Sir J. Mackintoshsaid, he had another question to put to the noble marquis upon another incident that affected the lawful navigation of British subjects. The House must have heard of a recent decree of the Spanish Court of Admiralty at Porto Rico, by which a British vessel, trafficking with Buenos Ayres, had been condemned as good prize on account of an alleged contravention of the fiscal and colonial laws of that country. Now, though he was convinced that by international law no state had a right to detain vessels as prize which were trading with territories over which she claimed dominion, but of which she had not possession, still he did not know of any other mode of checking the practice which Spain had recently adopted than by recognizing at once the independence of the territories which she considered as colonies dependent on her. He wished to ask of the noble marquis, whether he had received any information of the condemnation of a British vessel at Porto Rico for a pretended contravention of the law of Spain in trading with the Spanish colonies; and, if he had, whether he had taken any measures to prevent the repetition of a similar injury?
The Marquis of Londonderryhad no recollection of having heard of such an occurrence before. If the hon. member would mention the name of the vessel, it might bring the circumstance to his mind; but at present he had no recollection of any thing at all like it. He had not, to the best of his knowledge, received any information of the fact. If it had occurred, he should be obliged to any hon. member who would make him acquainted with the particulars of it.
Dr. Lushingtonsaid, that the name of the vessel was the lord Collingwood, that he had seen the decree of condemnation, and that if the noble marquis would permit him, he would forward a copy of it to him for perusal. In consequence of this decree, the insurances to that part of the globe had risen from 30 to 70s. per cent.
The Marquis of Londonderryrepeated, that the document in question had never been in his possession. He should, however, be glad to peruse it.