MR. LINDSAYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Why the Return relative to the Diplomatic and Consular Services, addressed for on the 26th July last, has not been laid upon the table of the House?
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, the fact was that in the early part of the last Session his hon. Friend the Member for Brighton moved for a similar Return, but on the representation of the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Office (Lord John Russell), he withdrew the Motion. His hon. Friend (Mr. Lindsay), however, moved for his Return on the 26th of July, at the end of the session, after the noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had removed from that House, and by a mistake it had been allowed to pass, at a late hour, as an unopposed Return. The fact was, that a part of the information required by his hon. Friend (Mr. Lindsay) could not be given; but if his hon. Friend would communicate with him (Mr. Layard), he would endeavour to put the address in such a shape as would enable his hon. Friend to obtain the greater part of that information.