§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he did not see the Prime Minister in his place, but, being informed that the right hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty was prepared to answer the question of which he had given notice, he would now ask:—Whether any recent intelligence has been received as to the position and proceedings of Her Majesty's Forces in China; whether Her Majesty's Government have sent out any instructions, empowering the Indian Government to divert from their destination the troops which had been sent from this country to China, and employ them in India? If no such instructions have been sent, whether it be true that the Governor General of India has, of his own authority, acting under the pressure of events in that country, sent orders to Ceylon that the forces sent from this country to China are on their arrival at Ceylon, to proceed to India; and, whether Her Majesty's Government are prepared to state, in the event of its being intended 1280 that the troops sent to China shall be immediately employed in India, what course they proposed to take for strengthening the British forces in China?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, he did not know exactly to what extent his right hon. Friend wished he should answer the question as to the exact position of the forces in the Canton river. The last letters received from Sir Michael Seymour were dated the 10th of May, at which time things in the river remained pretty much as they were, no hostilities of any kind having taken place on either side. Sir Michael Seymour was waiting for the reinforcements now on their way from this country. Three gunboats had already arrived, and four others were known to be on their way from Singapore to Canton, and were in fact hourly expected at the time the Admiral wrote. Other vessels were also, it was known, on their way. As regarded the second question of the right hon. Baronet, no instructions had been sent out empowering the Indian Government to divert from their destination the reinforcements intended for China. No orders had been sent to Ceylon by the Governor General directing the forces intended for China to proceed to India on their arrival at Ceylon. It was known, however, to Her Majesty's Government that the Governor General had written to Lord Elgin asking his Lordship if he acquiesced in the propriety of the arrangement to divert the destination of these troops. Whether Lord Elgin had received this letter was not known, but, judging from the last advices received from Point de Galle, the Government supposed he had not. As the supposition upon which the last question was based had no foundation, it was unnecessary to answer it.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONIn the event of Lord Elgin being willing to accede to such an application from the Governor General of India, has he any power or authority to assent to the diversion of those troops?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODNo such occurrence as that which has taken place was contemplated by the Government when Lord Elgin left this country, and he therefore received no instructions or authority to act on such a contingency. What Lord Elgin might do, acting upon the principle of salus populi suprema, lex, if he received an application for the diversion of the troops from the Governor General, it is impossible to say.
§ On the Motion that the House at its rising adjourn till Monday,