§ Captain Bolderostated, that on the 26th of June, 1838, with the unanimous assent of the House, it was agreed that "a humble Address be presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to direct her Minister at the Court of Madrid to use his best endeavours to procure an early settlement of the claims of the Anglo-Spanish Legion." He wished to be informed by the noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign affairs what further steps he proposed to take in this matter?
§ Viscount Palmerstonreplied, that the first step was obviously the examination of accounts, with a view to obtaining a return of the actual sums due to each claimant. The commission which had recently been sitting in London had examined into all these claims, and reported 623 upon each. The parties had been all furnished with certificates; but every one knew the state of penury to which the Spanish government was reduced. Under these circumstances, it was not easy to obtain payment of these sums. He regretted to find that a great number of persons had disposed of their certificates for little better than a nominal value; for he felt assured that they would ultimately be of a real value. He could assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that no efforts would be omitted by her Majesty's Government to induce the government of the queen of Spain to make these payments as speedily as possible.