§ MR. GREGORYsaid, he wished to repeat the question which he put to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on a former occasion—namely, Whether, by the new mercantile code of Italy, the right of capturing an enemy's merchant vessels had been abandoned by the Italian Government in all cases where the same concessions had been made to Italy; and, if that were so, he wished to know whether it was a fact that in the war which appeared imminent the principle of immunity of private property from capture at sea had been recognized by the two great Powers of Austria and Prussia, as well as by the kingdom of Italy?
§ MR. LAYARDreplied that, as he had informed the House the other evening, the Austrian and Prussian Governments had issued a declaration to the effect that they were willing to respect the merchant vessels of belligerents at sea. With regard to Italy, he was not then able to state what course the maritime law of that country would enable the Government to pursue; but he had since heard that the right of capturing an enemy's merchant vessels had been given up.