§ Mr. Humebegged to inquire of the noble Lord whether the statements were true, that arrangements had been entered into by the five great European Powers upon a basis calculated to preserve the peace of the East?
§ Viscount Palmerstonwas glad that the hon. Member had put the question, because it afforded him the opportunity of making a statement which he felt assured would be satisfactory to the House. On the 28th of last month a note was presented to the ministers of the Porte, signed by the representatives of the five Powers, technically called a "collective note," which note said that they (the representatives) were instructed by their several governments to inform the Porte that the five Powers were agreed generally as to the affairs now pending between Turkey and Egypt; and that they were instructed to request the the Porte to suspend any negociations with Mehemet Ali, and not to proceed therein without the knowledge and concurrence of the five Powers. That note was received by the government of the Porte with great thankfulness; therefore, the House might rest assured, that nothing would be done to lead to a disturbance of the peace of the East, unless some new subject should arise, of which at present there was no prospect whatever.