§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he wished to call the attention of Her Ma- 1150 jesty's Government to the Despatch of Commodore Rogers, in which that officer stated that the English Admiral had first agreed to join with him to prevent the bombardment of Valparaiso, but had subsequently declined to adhere to the compact. He therefore wished to know, How the statement made on a previous evening that such an event had never occurred, was reconcilable with the declaration of Commodore Rogers and with the resolution agreed to at the meeting of the British merchants, in which it was declared that the British Admiral's plea for non-interference—the want of a sufficient force—was inadmissible, inasmuch as he could have secured the co-operation of the United States squadron?
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, in reply, that the despatch purporting to be written by Commodore Rogers which he had read was entirely inconsistent with the official statement forwarded by Admiral Denman. In a day or two all the papers would be laid before the House, and hon. Members would then be able to judge between the two statements. He might also take that opportunity of stating that the conduct of Mr. Thomson, our Minister at Chile, had received the entire approbation of Her Majesty's Government.