§ MR. I. BUTTSir, I have given notice 41 of my intention this evening to put a question to the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Home Department upon a very important subject, but that noble Lord being absent, as I see a right hon. Baronet who is also one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State is in his place, I think I am perfectly justified in putting the question to him. If the right hon. Baronet cannot answer it, it is no fault of mine, nor do I wish to impute any blame to the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Home Department on account of his not being in his place at present. The question I am about to put is in reference to the arrival in this country, and the presence in London during the past week, of a very eminent Russian gentleman; and, in asking that question, perhaps the House will permit me to preface it with a few explanatory words. The gentleman to whom I allude is a member of a very distinguished Russian family, his name is Count Pahlen; he has been engaged in the Russian diplomatic service, and his brother occupies at this moment a distinguished position in the Council of the Emperor of Russia, and is said to be on the most intimate and friendly terms with him. Count Pahlen has arrived within the last ten days in this city, and since his arrival he has mixed freely in society, and it is stated that he has been introduced into some society under the special patronage and auspices of one of Her Majesty's Cabinet Ministers. I think it is fair to mention the name, in order, if the statement is incorrect, that a proper contradiction may be given to it. It is stated that, under the auspices of Lord Granville, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, this gentleman has been introduced into the society of this city. I must say that the presence of an alien enemy, or his arrival here, is a violation of the law, and the question I wish to put to one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, whom I now see on the Ministerial benches, is, whether that gentleman has arrived here with that protection which could alone entitle him to be in this country—the safe conduct of Her Majesty? In the terms of my notice, I wish to know whether the Government are aware of the presence in London of Count Pahlen, a Russian subject, and one who has been actively employed in Russian diplomacy; and, if so, whether his presence here is with the permission and sanction of the Government?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYI have myself no information whatever upon the subject, and I must request the hon. Member to repeat his question upon the arrival of my noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.