MR. WHITEsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs if any and what instructions have been transmitted to Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China, with the view to obtain indemnification for the losses of British merchants arising out of recent events at Canton, and also to secure our future mercantile relations with China on a more satisfactory basis?
MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD(who spoke in a low tone of voice) was understood to say, in reference to the latter portion of the hon. Gentleman's question, that Lord Elgin's instructions were to endeavour to gain access to ports in other parts of China as well as to those which our ships were now allowed to enter. What- 1266 ever advantages were obtained, however, would be for the benefit not only of British commerce, but of that of the world at large.