MR. DARBY GRIFFTHsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Aurora frigate, under the command of Sir Leopold M'Clintock, has been sent to the North Sea in the direction of the Austrian Squadron; and, if so, why a force more adequate to cope with any possible contingency that might arise has not been dispatched at the same time?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETIn answer, Sir, to the hon. Gentleman, I have to state that the Aurora has been sent to the North Sea in accordance with our constant practice in this country, that, when foreign squadrons are cruising on coasts where we have considerable commercial interests, we should have a ship in the neighbourhood to watch those interests, and for that purpose I think I may state the Aurora is perfectly adequate to the service on which she is sent.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONThe question just put by my hon. Friend assumes that the Austrian ships have left the Downs. I wish to know whether the noble Lord is in a position to inform us whether they have left, and, if so, what was the destination of the squadron which sailed?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETYes, Sir, they have left the Downs, but I really cannot answer as to their destination.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYI wish to repeat what I stated to the House on a former occasion—that Her Majesty's Government have received from the Government of Austria a distinct and positive assurance 104 that the destination of the Austrian squadron is the North Sea, and that their object is to prevent a blockade of the Elbe and the Weser, and protect German commerce in the North Sea. That is stated to be their exclusive object.
§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary, whether he has asked an explanation of the Admiralty as to the circumstances under which he, representing avowedly the Prime Minister in this House, was left in ignorance yesterday, and was placed in the painful position of not knowing and being allowed to deny what had been announced in a Government paper— namely, the fact of the sailing of the Aurora?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYThe question asked of me by my hon. and gallant Friend below the gangway (Colonel French) was whether the Aurora had sailed to the Baltic; and, in reply, I believe I stated there was no foundation for the report that she had sailed to the Baltic.
§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHDoes the right hon. Baronet mean to say that he used the term "Baltic" in an exceptional sense?—that is to say, that he answered in the letter instead of in the spirit of the inquiry? I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he did not understand the question practically to be, whether the Aurora had sailed to the North Sea?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYI understand it to be as it was expressed by my hon. and gallant Friend—and I think he will agree with me that I interpreted him rightly— whether the Aurora had sailed to the Baltic.
§ SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONEI would ask the noble Lord to what place is the Aurora gone? Is she gone to Heligoland? I understand she is gone there; and I should like to know whether she is to remain there, or to cruise, or to go up the Elbe?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETThe last news we had of her was in a telegram today from Heligoland. She is there, and probably to ascertain the proceedings of the Austrian squadron.