§ MR. WYLDsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Earl of Elgin, while at Tientsin, made any arrangements with the Chinese authorities for the appointment of Foreign Inspectors of Customs at the open Ports, and reserved the right of filling eleven such appointments; and if so, why the correspondence relating to those appointments was not printed in the Blue Book of his Mission; if there is any objection to lay this Correspondence upon the Table of the House, together with the Despatch from Lord Elgin announcing the appointment to the Chinese Customs of the Secretary to his Lordship's Embassy; and if there is any objection to lay upon the Table of the House Copies of the Correspondence from Mr. Bruce on the subject of the Chinese Customs' Foreign Inspectorship, especially as regards the Ports of Canton and Swatow?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, there was no such Correspondence in regard to the appointment of foreign inspectors of Customs, as far as Lord Elgin was concerned, to be found in the Foreign Office. There had been a correspondence with Mr. Bruce on the subject, but as it related chiefly to the objections raised by the American Minister at Canton it would not be right to give it. There had been no correspondence with regard to the appointment of Lord Elgin's secretary to any office connected with the Chinese Customs. The system now at work at Canton and Shanghai was understood to work satisfactorily, but it was not at work at Swatow, because the trade was not opened there. No doubt, however, it would be established there when the trade was opened.
§ Question, "That this House will, at the rising of the House this day, adjourn till Monday next," put, and agreed to.