§ Colonel Sibthorpwished to ask the noble Lord, the Secretary for the Home Department, whether there was any truth in the statements that were made as to a great number of pikes having been made in various parts of the country, and that they had been distributed in the provinces, more especially in the vicinity of Manchester. He wished to know whether the Government was aware, that there was any truth in the statement, and also, whether the noble Lord intended to take any steps in the matter.
§ Lord John Russellreplied, that in the early part of the evening an hon. Friend of his had moved for a copy of a letter on this subject from him to the various Lords-lieutenant of the several counties; when this letter was laid on the Table, he trusted that the hon. Gentleman would find a satisfactory answer to his question.