§ MR. CHRISTYasked the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been directed to a paragraph in the public papers in reference to the complaints made to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of the United States, against the Hudson's Bay Company, for supplying a large quantity of spirits to the native Indian population? Whether such remonstrances had been made to Her Majesty's Government; and whether the noble Lord would consent to a Motion that the correspondence should be laid upon the table?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONHer Majesty's Government, some time ago, received a representation from the United States complaining of the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company having supplied the Indians with spirits as an article of commerce. I referred that representation to the Hudson's Bay Company, and their reply was that the agents of the company did not supply spirits to the Indians in any way as an article of commerce, and that the only, quantity supplied was of small amount, it being only that portion which might be given to the hunters when they came to the settlement of the Hudson's Bay Company, and which I may say was "drank on the premises." They say they have not bartered spirits for goods; but they have reason to think that the persons on the American side of the line have, by contraband, supplied the Indians with spirits. I am not aware that there will be any objection to the production of the correspondence if the hon. Gentleman will move for it.