MR. OWEN STANLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If any communications have taken place between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Italian Government with regard to the detention of an English gentleman by the Brigands? After the amusing and pathetic account which had appeared in Monday's paper his hon. Friend would probably thank him for putting the question.
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, the accounts which appeared in the papers last week were entirely fabulous, not containing one word of truth. With regard to Mr. Moens, he had unfortunately been carried off by brigands into the mountains, and Her Majesty's Government had been in constant communication with the Italian Government upon the matter. Both Governments were doing all they could, prudently, to obtain his release; but as the subject was one requiring delicate management his hon. Friend, of course, would not expect him to go into details of the actual steps taken. This morning intelligence had reached that the chief of these brigands had been captured. He was not aware whether Mr. Moens had been yet released, but he hoped that event would not be long deferred.