§ MR. BRIGHT rose to put a question to the noble Lord in reference to the recent transactions on the coast of Africa, to which he had once or twice before alluded. The noble Lord had, he believed, laid upon the table the papers for which he (Mr. Bright) had asked on the subject, but they had not yet been circulated amongst Members. Would the noble Lord now allow him to ask whether it was the intention of the Government to institute any special inquiry with regard to these transactions, which had led to the slaughter of four or five hundred native Africans and about eighty of the troops of this country? He would not trouble the House with going into details, because the case was before them; but he was able to state that, in the opinions of persons connected with the trade between this country and the West Coast of Africa, these transactions were fatal to their trade. And as this slaughter had taken place, he wished to urge on the noble Lord to adopt some mode of ascertaining how such occurrences were to be avoided, and the laying down some line of policy by which they could be prevented. If the noble Lord could give an answer to that effect it would afford great satisfaction to a number of persons interested.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, the papers had been laid on the table, and were being printed, and the subject was 1751 under the consideration of his right hon. Friend the Secretary for the Colonies. The papers were rather bulky, and till there was an opportunity of looking into them it was impossible to say what steps should be taken.
§ MR. BRIGHTsaid, as there would be no further opportunity of saying anything on the subject, he hoped the noble Lord would give a pledge that some specific inquiry into the matter should take place. It was impossible not to see that somebody or the other must be deeply culpable with reference to the transaction, but a promise would give great satisfaction to a number of persons.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, that before promising that he must ascertain whether the papers gave all the information which was necessary to enable his right hon. Friend to come to a decision, and in his anxiety to place them in the hands of Members they had been sent to the printer's before he had time to give the necessary attention to them. He believed that they would contain all the information required, but if they did not, and more was necessary, further inquiry would be made.
§ MR. BRIGHThoped he would not be considered pertinacious, but the noble Lord told them many things which might be interesting, but were not the things which were asked of. Would the noble Lord cause an inquiry to be made into the matter? If he would not, let him say so. He would not bring the matter more fully before the House, which he might do by moving the adjournment to Monday; but when 500 persons had been slaughtered he had a right to put a question on the subject. What he wanted to know was, whether the noble Lord would take steps to prevent such occurrences in future?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONthought he had answered the question of the hon. Gentleman. What he meant to say was, that it was possible the papers contained all the information necessary to enable the Government to come to a decision, but if it turned out that they did not contain all the information, there would be further inquiry. He did not know that he could say any more.