§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEI should be glad, Sir, to ask a question of the noble Lord at the head of the Government. I perceive there is a report in this day's papers that the Ministers of the Five Powers will meet, and the conference be formally dissolved to-day. I wish to ask the noble Lord whether this be true; and, if so, whether he expects the conferences 1314 really to be closed this day? because, if it be so, I think it would be a perfect waste of time to continue the discussion of the Amendments to the Motion of the right hon. Member for Manchester (Mr. M. Gibson), now on the paper.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONIt is perfectly true, Sir, that Her Majesty's Government expect that the Conference of Vienna was to be reassembled this day, at one o'clock, for the purpose of its being finally closed. The consent of the Governments of England and France to such closing was converyed to their respective Ministers, and I believe it was the intention of the Austrian member of the conference to declare that the conference was closed. The result cannot be known until a late hour this night, if at all; but my expectation is, that we shall hear in the course of to-night, or to-morrow, that the meeting did take place to-day, and that the conference had been finally closed.
§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEAnd a good riddance too.
§ MR. BRIGHTI wish to ask the noble Lord when he will be able to lay on the table of the House the further papers with reference to the conferences, giving the particulars of any propositions which have been under the consideration of the Government, forwarded by the French or Austrian Governments, and the answers that have been returned, so that the House may know, up to the latest moment, the precise condition upon which the country is entering into a prolonged war.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI am not at present able to give a reply to the hon. Gentleman, but I hope to be able to do so to- morrow.