§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEsaid, he wished to ask the First Lord of the Treasury Whether, pending the existing suspension of political relations between the English and Brazilian Governments, Her Majesty's Ministers have appointed a Consul at Rio de Janeiro in succession to the late Consul Westwood; and, if so, whom; if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to appoint a Consul at the port of Santos, in succession to the late Consul Huntley; and whether Her Majesty's Ministers consider themselves bound to fulfil the assurance officially conveyed to the Brazilian Government by the Earl of Aberdeen, when Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on 2nd July, 1845, to the effect that "he would be ready to repeal the measure of 1845 on the entire cessation of the Slave Trade in Brazil?"
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, there is no intention at present of appointing a Consul at Rio. Mr. Morgan, the Consul at Bahia, has been ordered to Rio for the moment for the transaction of commercial business, but he is not the Consul there. The consulship of Santos is also vacant, and Mr. Haydon has been appointed for the moment to transact the business there. It is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to propose to this House to repeal the Act of 1845; and I may mention that Lord Aberdeen was at the head of the Government from December, 1852, to December, 1855, and no steps were taken during his administration for repealing the Act in question.
§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEI beg to give notice that on going into Committee of Supply I shall draw the attention of the House to the state of our relations with Brazil.