§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he would beg leave to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Whether preparations have 1037 not been made for placing the French army in Northern Italy in a state ready for immediate active service, and a Military Intendant and Staff sent to Tuscany to prepare for the arrival of French troops there; and whether such preparations are made with the intention of occupying any part of Central Italy by French troops, in order to "protect the voting" should fresh elections be resorted to, or for any other ostensible object?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, the Government had heard of no preparations for putting the French army in Northern Italy in a state of active preparation, except that the number of men in the cavalry having been described as not being sufficient to take care of the horses, an additional number were sent for the purpose. With regard to a military staff and intendant being sent into Tuscany as reliefs, all he could say was, that he heard constantly from Her Majesty's Minister at Florence, and no rumour of any such arrival had reached him or was mentioned in his despatches, nor were any preparations being made to protect the voting. His answer generally was that no such preparations were in progress as those referred to by the hon. Gentleman.