§ Mr. Hindleybegged to ask the right hon. Baronet at the head of the Go- 328 vernment whether he had received any information as to the approval, or disapproval, by the French Government, of the deposition of Queen Pomare. He had seen in a second edition of The Times of that day a statement that the French Government disapproved of that proceeding, and had sent out orders that its officers should adhere to the original Treaty; but he was anxious that the right hon. Baronet should, if in his power, confirm a statement so creditable to the French Government, and so interesting to the friends of peace.
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, he had but a short time before left the Foreign Office, and he had not learnt that any official information had been received beyond what had already appeared. At the same time he had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the information contained in the second edition of The Times, which consisted of a quotation from The Moniteur, the official organ of the French Government, stating that a Cabinet Council had been held, at which it was resolved that there had not been sufficient justification for the Admiral in departing from the stipulations of the Treaty, and that orders should be sent out to adhere to the Treaty of September (he believed it was) 1842. That was the statement that was made. He had before deprecated premature questions on the subject, and had stated that he had a strong and confident impression that it would not be necessary for us to interpose; but that the French King and the French Government would, acting upon their own good feelings, adopt a line of conduct which would be satisfactory to the people of this country, and more particularly to those who were interested in the fate of those excellent men, the missionaries; and he was glad that the act of the Admiral was not ratified. He had no doubt that the statement copied from the Moniteur was correct, and he was bound to add, in justice to the French Government, that this act was the voluntary act of the French King and the French Government, taking the course which he had expressed his belief they would, and that it was not necessary that any communication should be made on the subject by this Government.