§ MR. ROBERTSONsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government has taken any measures to prevent the continuance of alleged atrocities practised by the Chinese Authorities in Canton while under the protection of the English and French Flags; and if so, whether he has any objection to state what steps have been taken for that purpose.
MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDsaid, that when the attention of the Government had been called to the fact that unparalleled atrocities had been committed in China, they had felt it their duty to consider the course which they ought to pursue. It appeared to be useless for them to attempt to convince the Chinese Administration of the injustice of such proceedings; but when there were means at command, as at Canton, where the Chinese authority had been restored under the protection of the English and French flags, they had felt it their duty to endeavour to prevent the recurrence of similar atrocities, and Lord Elgin had been instructed, so long as there were British troops at Canton, not only to discourage such occurrences, but it was left to his discretion to adopt such measures, whether of dissuasion or restraint, as he might deem necessary, to prevent the recurrence of such transactions.