§ SIR ROBERT CLIFTONsaid, he rose to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that 932 Her Majesty's Government have, on the application of the French Government, consented that the French Government shall pass a quantity of tobacco through the blockade with the approval of the Washington Cabinet; and whether Her Majesty's Government have thought it their duty to make any similar application for the passing of cotton for the benefit of the distressed operatives of Lancashire?
§ MR. LAYARD,in reply, stated, that at the time when the civil war broke out in the United Slates, a large amount of tobacco, belonging to the Governments of France and Austria, happened to be lying at Richmond. The French Government requested the Government of the United States to allow them to bring the tobacco through the blockade. The Government of the United States replied that they were willing to consent, on condition that no objection was raised by the British Government. The French Government, through their Ambassador here, made an application to this Government on the subject, and Her Majesty's Government gave their consent to allow this tobacco to be sent out of the country on the condition that it was not made a precedent. On this understanding, the United States Government agreed to allow the French and Austrian Governments to take out this tobacco which belonged to them, and which formed part of their revenue. It was found out afterwards that part of it had been purchased after hostilities began. Upon this, a further application was made to the British Government, and they agreed not to make any difficulty with regard to an exportation on the condition that it should not be held as a precedent. But with regard to the latter part of the question of the hon. Baronet, it was hardly necessary to say that the case of the removal of cotton came under a different category, inasmuch as cotton formed no part of the public revenue, but was the property of private individuals.