§ Sir James Grahamdesired to ask some questions of the noble Lord, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with regard to our British relations in the East. He desired to know, first, whether Mr. M'Neill, the envoy or chargé d'affaires at the court of Persia, had returned to this country, and whether he had left any person to fill the situation which he had quitted?
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that Mr. M'Neill had applied for permission to come home on account of ill health, in the course of last year, and that permission had been given to him to do so whenever the state of the public service might enable him to quit the post of which he was in charge. When the state of the discussion with the Persian government led him to think, that it was his duty to retire 802 from the Persian territory, he took all the members of the British mission with him, leaving Colonel Sheil however, the secretary to the commission. The latter officer was instructed to wait for any communication which might reach him from the Persian government, and to transmit it immediately to the English Government, and there to remain until he should receive instructions. The chargé d'affaires was therefore in a condition to carry on any communication which might be commenced in reference to our friendly alliance with Persia.
§ Sir James Graham,in continuation of his first question, begged to inquire of the noble Secretary for Foreign Affairs, whether there was any minister or chargé d'affaires at the court of Persia at this time.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that there was no person now in that position. Mr. M'Neill, he had already stated, had, in consequence of what had taken place, not thought fit to give notice, that he should retire from the territory, and the chargé d'affaires would not return without instructions from the Government.