§ MR. LAIRDasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any objection to lay before the House Copies of all Correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and Mr. Christie, British Minister in Brazil, and between Mr. Christie and the Brazilian Government, relating to 147 the wrecking of the Prince of Wales, and the alleged ill-treatment of three Officers of H.M.S. Forte by the police of Rio Janeiro; also, of any Despatch from the American Minister in Brazil to Earl Russell respecting the conduct of Mr. Christie, or of Mr. Vereker, late Her Majesty's Consul at Rio Grande do Sul?
§ MR. LAYARDIn answer to my hon. Friend, I beg to state that the papers which relate to the differences between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Brazil are being prepared, and will be laid upon the table with the least possible delay. As regards the despatch from the American Minister, that despatch relates entirely to a private affair of a painful character, and no good could arise from laying the paper on the table of the House. As I am on my legs, the House will perhaps permit me to make a short statement, strictly confined to facts, regarding the matters in difference between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Brazil, especially as those facts have been much misrepresented and much misunderstood. In the month of June, 1861, Her Majesty's Consul at Rio Grande do Sul heard that Señor Soarez, a Brazilian magistrate, had mentioned in conversation that some dead bodies of Englishmen had been washed on shore on the coast near his dwelling at Albardao, but had denied that there had been any wreck. This led to inquiries being made, in consequence of which Her Majesty's Consul found reason to believe that a British ship had been wrecked on the coast of Albardao, and that that wreck had taken place some days previous to the conversation in which the magistrate in question took part. The suspicions of the Consul were further excited by the fact that no inquest had been held upon the bodies, and no information had been given to him by the authorities as to the wreck. He accordingly proceeded to the spot, in company with a judicial officer and a coast-guard. On arriving there, he went to the house of Señor Soaroz, the magistrate, who was absent. His visit was evidently not very acceptable; and in the house was found some portion of the cargo of the wrecked vessel which had evidently not been in the sea, but had been removed from the vessel and brought on shore without being damaged by sea water. On the following day the British Consul went to the coast, and found the remains 148 of an English vessel. The sands were covered with cargo, some part of which was damaged by the sea, but a very large part of which was not so damaged. The chests had been broken open and rifled of their contents; and the Consul heard that ten bodies of Englishmen had been found on the beach. He accordingly desired to see those bodies, but the inspector of the district appeared inclined to resist the attempt; and being at the head of a body of armed men, the Consul was obliged to submit. He therefore returned to Rio Grande; and having, after some trouble, obtained from the authorities orders that the bodies of the English seamen should be brought to Rio Grande, he (the Consul) having, however, to bear the expense. Instead, however, of ten bodies being brought, only four could be obtained. On those bodies a very unsatisfactory in quest was held, and a remonstrance was made with respect to the non-production of the other bodies. Upon those bodies the authorities directed an inquest to be held, but no person from the Consulate was present, and the persons appointed to hold the inquiry were the sub-delegate and the brother-in-law of the magistrate implicated, as it was suspected, in the wreck of the vessel
§ LORD ROBERT CECILrose to order. He desired to remind the House that there was no question before it. The hon. Gentleman seemed about to cast imputations of a very serious character upon persons in a foreign country; which he ought not to be permitted to do, at a time when no answer could be given.
§ MR. LAYARDI am entirely in the hands of the House, and will act in accordance with its wishes; but my hon. Friend (Mr. Laird) came to mo this morning and expressed great anxiety on the part of himself and his constituents that some explanation of this matter should be given in the House before the departure of the mail on Monday next.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe usual course is to permit a Minister in replying to a question of this description to enter more into detail than would be deemed right in the case of a private Member. At the same time, it is a matter for the exercise of discretion in the Minister. He should avoid expressions which may call forth observations from other Members, and excite debate.
§ MR. LAYARDI will carefully avoid making any comment, hut will merely 149 state the facts on which her Majesty's Government have acted. The dead bodies to which I have alluded, were found some distance from the shore, and there were I grave reasons for suspecting that some of the sailors had been murdered. On this a demand was made for further inquiry and redress. It was not until the 18th September that any steps were taken by the Brazilian Government. One person was then tried and convicted of stealing some of the property. This was not considered sufficient by Her Majesty's agent, and a further inquiry was demanded, but that demand was not complied with until the month of August in the following year. Early in August Mr. Christie requested that an inquiry might be held, at which a British officer should be present. That the Brazilian Government refused. On the 4th August it was announced that two minor officials, whose conduct had been justified, had been dismissed for culpable neglect previously; but no step was taken with regard to the principal offender, Señor Soarez. After various ineffectual attempts to obtain redress, Her Majesty's Government felt it absolutely necessary for the protection of British interests to take the steps which had been resolved upon under this painful necessity. Instructions were given to Mr. Christie to demand reparation, and if that were refused, to give orders to the Admiral commanding the squadron at Rio to make reprisals. In the mean time, in the month of June, great indignities were offered to two officers and the chaplain of Her Majesty's ship Forte, for which reparation was demanded, but not given. Instructions were accordingly given to the British Admiral to make reprisals, on refusal of the Brazilian Government to accept the ultimatum presented by Mr. Christie demanding the settlement of both questions. Upon the action of Admiral Warren, who seized five Brazilian vessels, the Brazilian Government agreed to give damages to the owners of the Prince of Wales, and to refer the other question to the mediation of an arbitrator. Mr. Christie, acting under his instructions, accepted the offer of the Brazilian Government, and the five vessels which had been seized were then restored. I am happy to state that Her Majesty's Government, having the utmost reliance on the wisdom and justice of the King of the Belgians, have accepted him as arbitrator in the matter of the Forte, if His Majesty should deign to accept the 150 proposal. As regards the Prince of Wales, the Brazilian Government have agreed to pay, under protest, a certain sum by way of compensation, and that offer has been accepted. By the last accounts from Rio the excitement which had been occasioned by the seizure of the Brazilian vessels had ceased, and I trust that the matter has now been arranged satisfactorily, and that the amicable relations which ought to exist between the Government of Her Majesty and that of the Emperor of Brazil will be restored.