§ Mr. G. Palmerrequested an answer to the question which he had yesterday put to the right hon. Gentleman, the President of the Board of Trade, with respect to the reception of British vessels in the ports of China. When he put that question, he was not aware of the intelligence which had arrived. He desired to know, also, whether that were true or not?
§ Mr. Laboucheresaid, that the effect of the question was, that clearances would be granted at the custom-house for ships bound for China. His answer was, that no directions had been given to the Customhouse authorities to refuse such clearances. But that answer was not given without stating that in granting those clearances the Government assumed no responsibility as to the regulations which might be made by the Chinese Government, or the changes which might take place in our political relations with that country. As to the report to which the hon. Gentleman had alluded, it was mat- 179 ter of notoriety, and had appeared in all the newspapers. The Government, however, could not express any opinion, or incur any responsibility, as to what might be the state of things when vessels going out should arrive in China.
§ Mr. Humesaid, that it appeared to him very essential to the commerce of the country that merchants should be informed what had been the nature of the instructions sent out by the Government.
§ Lord John Russellsaid, that Government could not enter into any explanation on a subject of the kind without some notice.
§ Subject dropped.