§ Mr. Borthwickwished to put a question to the right hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Government. It was well known, that General Espartero was about to arrive, or had arrived in England. On leaving Spain, the Government of Portugal, which country was our ally, had refused to recognize him as Regent, and he wished to know in what character he would be recognized in this country—whether as a person of distinction in distress, or in his official capacity as Regent of Spain?
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, that he was not prepared to give a positive answer to the question. General Espartero had arrived in the country suddenly and unexpectedly—but there could not be a doubt that de jure he was Regent of Spain, although de facto he did not exercise the functions of Regent. The hon. Gentleman who had asked the question might depend upon it, that General Espartero would be received in this country with the respect which was due to his character, and the sympathy to which his situation entitled him. Accusations had been made against him, of having in his transactions with this country sacrificed the interests of Spain to his partiality for England, but nothing could be more unfounded than this, since there was no act in the course of his conduct with her Majesty's Government which could be considered in the slightest degree at variance with the paramount duty which he owed to his country. The accusation that General Espartero had allowed England to interfere in the Government of Spain having been used for the purpose of creating defection in the army, upon whose fidelity he had a right to rely, was partly the cause of those misfortunes in which he was at present involved. He would therefore receive from her Majesty's Government the reception which his position and character deserved.
§ House adjourned at two o'clock.