Viscount Ingestriebegged to ask a question of the noble Lord. He had heard that in July last a French frigate had gone to the Sandwich Islands, and forcibly insisted that the governor should allow a site of land for the erection of a Roman Catholic church. The parties further stated, that the captain declared war would be the alternative if the demand were not complied with; and they gave the king of the Sandwich Islands twelve hours to deliberate on the matter, and in the meantime they declared the harbour to be in a state of blockade. He wished to know whether the Government had received any official information to this effect? He wished also to know whether any correspondence had been opened with the French government? And, in the third place, he desired to be informed whether those islands which, in the year 1794, and subsequently in the year 1824, when he was there, had been declared to be under the protection of the British Government, were still considered by the noble Lord to remain in the same position.
Mr. O'Connellobjected to questions being asked which involved so many details, without notice being given.
§ The Speakersaid the noble Lord was not out of order.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, he had received no report of the transaction to which the noble Lord had referred. He had had a report of a former transaction of a similar nature.
Mr. O'Connellwished to know whether the Government had received any accounts of the case of Roman Catholic missionaries at Otaheite, same of whom had been tortured on the suggestion of Wesleyan ministers, and expelled.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, the only case he had heard of was that of two French 172 missionaries, who were expelled from Otaheite about two years ago.