Colonel Evanssaid, he had noticed some intelligence published in the newspapers from Moldavia and Wallachia, and he therefore wished to ask whether Ministers had any information from that quarter. There was reason to believe that within a recent period an important correspondence had taken place connected with the relations between Turkey and Russia, and the interference of the latter with the affairs of the former, especially as regarded the two principalities he had named. It was also apprehended that the British trade had diminished in the Black Sea, in consequence of regulations adopted by Russia. He had seen some notices on this subject in the public prints, where, however, conclusions were drawn in which he did not concur. He wished to know whether Ministers had any objection to lay copies of such documents upon the table as particularly related to the nationality of Moldavia and Wallachia, granted by the treaty of Adrianople? He was also anxious to see any correspondence between this country and Turkey with reference to the designs of Russia. It was the more important that Parliament should have the earliest intelligence upon such subjects, in consequence of the peculiar situation of the present Government as regarded the House of Commons.
§ Lord Mahoncomplained that, according to the notice given to him of the hon. and gallant Member's intention to put a specific question, he had not supposed that he would have made so extended an inquiry. He hoped at present to be allowed to defer his answer, in order that he might take into consideration how far it was consistent with his duty to communicate to the House the information required. He would only add, that the whole of our relations with Russia was the subject of a projected Motion by an hon. Member, and perhaps he might postpone until then any farther explanation.