§ MR. WATKINsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he has received any official corroboration of the statement in The Times of that day relative to the cession of the whole of Russian America and the adjacent islands to the United States?
LORD STANLEYWhen I left the Foreign Office, Sir, a quarter of an hour ago no despatch had been received from our Minister at Washington, either confirming or contradicting the rumour. I telegraphed this morning to St. Petersburg for information upon the subject, but sufficient time has not elapsed for me to receive an answer.
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, he wished to know, whether any information has reached the Government of any negotiations between Russia and the United States, with reference to this alleged cession of territory?