§ MR. FENWICKsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is prepared to lay upon the Table of the House the Correspondence which has taken place between Her Majesty's and other Governments with reference to the abolition of the Stade Toll, and whether he will state I to the House the exact position of that question?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, he was 455 not prepared at present to lay on the Table the correspondence which had taken place on this subject. Some time ago be bad stated that, in consequence of the opinion given by the Law Officers of the Crown of the present and of the late Government, they thought it advisable to enter into negotiation with Hanover on the subject of compensation for the abolition of the Stade Dues. A proposal was subsequently received from Hanover as to the basis upon which that compensation should be granted; but on referring the proposal to the Board of Trade, it was decided that that basis could not be accepted by this country. There the matter for the present remained.