§ MR. DALGLISHsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Government are prepared to accept from the owners of the Pampero and other steamers seized by the Government, on the plea that these vessels are intended for the Confederate States of America, a similar assurance to that which the Government have declared themselves satisfied with when given by the Danish Ambassador? Since this ship has been before the Courts, she has been offered to Her Majesty's Government for sale?
§ MR. LAYARDI think, Sir, the House will see that the cases are not at all 1545 similar. In the one case, the Danish Minister, before hostilities commenced, wishing to spare Her Majesty's Government all the embarrassment possible, came forward and gave the fullest information that a vessel was being constructed for the Danish Government. In the other case every kind of subterfuge, not to use a stronger word, was used, and every means for evading the law was had recourse to, and as a last resource the parties concerned wished the Government to enter into a similar arrangement to that which they had entered into with the Danish Minister, but Her Majesty's Government declined. In the case of the Danish Minister he gave his diplomatic guarantee, upon which Her Majesty's Government placed the fullest reliance; but in the other case I doubt whether any guarantee could be given upon which Her Majesty's Government could place reliance.