§ MR. COCHRANEasked the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Neapolitan Papers presented to Parliament comprised all the Despatches from Lord Clarendon to the British Mission at Naples between the 19th May, when Her Majesty's Government recommended the Government of the Two Sicilies to grant a general amnesty, and October the 10th, when the British Mission was instructed to leave Naples? Also, at what period and on what conditions Her Majesty's Government intended resuming diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid: In answer to the first question of the hon. Gentleman, I have to state that the papers presented to the House do not contain all the despatches sent from the Foreign Office; but they contain all the despatches that bear upon the matters connected with the purpose for which the papers were presented. There are some other despatches which contain instructions with reference to contingencies that never happened, and therefore have no bearing upon the case, but relate to what are now unimportant points. With regard to the second question, perhaps I may without offence be allowed to answer it by putting another question—namely, whether the hon. Gentleman has full powers from the King of Naples in this matter? If his answer should be in the affirmative, I would suggest that his question had better be put to my noble Friend Lord Clarendon in Downing-street, than to me in the House of Commons. I believe that, on reflection, the hon. Gentleman will feel—or at least the House will feel—that it would he quite improper upon my part to attempt to answer such a question here.
§ MR. COCHRANEsaid, he believed his question was one which might fairly be put.