§ Lord Eliotbegged to repeat a question he had put before the recess to the noble Lord opposite, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. He wished to know whether any information with respect to the blockade of the island of Madeira had reached the noble Lord; and if so, he hoped the noble Lord would have no objection to communicate it to the House. The questions he would put to the noble Lord were—first, by whom the blockade was notified to him; and, secondly, in whose name it was carried on. It was said on one hand to be carried on by her most faithful Majesty, and on the other it was more generally believed to be carried on by the Regency of Terceira, as two vessels were in the blockading squadron bearing the colours of the Regency. It was also asserted that the squadron was commanded by British officers, and manned by British seamen. He also wished to know what information the noble Lord opposite had received on that point.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that he could only give the same answer to the noble Lord as he had addressed to Lloyd's on the subject. The blockade was carried on in the name of her most faithful Majesty Donna Maria, queen of Portugal, who was competent to institute such a blockade. With respect to the question on the subject of the squadron being commanded and manned by British officers and seamen, he was unable to give any information, further than that the officer commanding was an Englishman, who had formerly served as a midshipman in the British navy, but who was now entirely unconnected with that service.
§ Lord Eliotbegged again to inquire from whom the information of the blockade was received.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that the information received had been sent by the Admiral to the British Consul on the island, and it was by the British Consul forwarded to this country.