§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, he had given notice to the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that he would that night put a question to him respecting the relations between the English Government and the Government of the Brazils, and also in reference to the free navigation of the River Plate. He was precluded from making any statement on this subject, because there was no question before the House. He had wished to take the Opportunity afforded by the Motion for the adjournment of the House, to make his question intelligible by entering into some remarks; but as that question had been disposed of, he would comply with the rules of the House, and confine himself simply to the question. He wished to know from the Government whether they intended to take any steps to place the relations between this country and Brazil on a more satisfactory footing than they had been for some time past; and he also wished to know whether they contemplated, as the result of the joint action of France and England in reference to the River Plate, the free navigation of that river, and its being opened to the trade of Europe. He put the question in connexion with Brazilian relations, because friendly relations with Brazil would appear to be almost an indispensable preliminary to the free navigation of the River Plate.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERwished to express his regret that any misapprehension had occurred respecting the notice of Motion for the adjournment of the House. He must say on behalf of his hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury, that he believed his hon. Friend was strictly in order, and that in taking the step which he did, he was influenced solely by a nervous anxiety to Secure their holidays. If any hon. Gentleman wished to make any observations, no advantage would be then taken by the Government of the fact of the Motion for the adjournment being passed. They were prepared to listen to any discussions on their conduct, and would reply to them in the best manner that they could. With regard to the right hon. Gentleman who had just sat down, he could only say that he had not at all conveyed to him (the Chan- 782 cellor of the Exchequer) the idea that he was going to make a statement on the interesting and important question which he had brought under the notice of the House. On the contrary, what he intended to do never appeared in the notice paper. He did, in the courtesy of conversation, inform him most distinctly that he was going to address to him a question, and, of course, he must be prepared to reply to that question when it was put; and if the right hon. Gentleman had told him that on that day he should bring before the House the whole question of Brazil and the River Plate, of course this unfortunate misconception could not have arisen. However, to reply to the right hon. Gentleman's question, he must inform the House that not twenty-four hours had elapsed after the news of the fall of General Rosas arrived, when a communication was made to the French Government in order that steps might mutually be taken by England and France to secure those great results in which the commercial world was so greatly interested. On the 16th of this month, he hoped the Chevalier St. George and Sir Charles Hotham would proceed to the River Plate as envoys of their respective countries, in two vessels of war, and they would touch at Rio. They were not to make a formal visit to the Court of Brazil, but a visit of friendly communication and explanation. Her Majesty's Government had the greatest confidence in the individual whom they had entrusted with the fulfilment of the duties which would devolve on our envoy. Sir Charles Hotham was acquainted both with the language of the country and with the people against whom he was going; and the Government hoped that through his energy, intelligence, and experience they would be enabled to obtain that free navigation of the River Plate which this country and all the countries of Europe so anxiously desired. It was not the object either of France or of England to obtain particular privileges or advantages—they would negotiate together to secure for all countries the same advantages; and the Government trusted that they would be able to secure those advantages with the cordial cooperation and good will of the Court of Brazil.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONwished to ask his right hon. Friend whether it was not by an inadvertence that he had spoken of the free navigation of the River Plate, which was an estuary or arm of the sea; whether he did not mean the rivers Pa- 783 rana and Uruguay, and the internal communication generally?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, he meant the whole of the navigation connected with the River Plate. He thought the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not quite answered his question. What he wished to know was, whether the Government intended to take any steps to place our relations with Brazil on a more friendly footing than they had been for some years past? Most angry correspondence had passed between the Brazilian and the English Governments, and he wished to know whether the Government were about to take steps to place us in more friendly relations with Brazil?
The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-querthought, that in stating that Her Majesty's envoy was about to touch at Rio, and to enter into friendly communications with the Court of Brazil, he had given a sufficient answer to the question.
§ Subject dropped.