§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If Her Majesty's Government have any information as to the condition of the British subjects detained in Paraguay; and if it is the intention of the Government to take any measures with the view of affording them relief, or of procuring their release?
MR. OTWAYsaid, in reply, that the last intelligence the Government had was derived from an account of two officers of the United States who had been to Lopez's head-quarters for the purpose of communicating with the United States Minister. Those officers told Commander Parsons, the British naval officer in those waters, that they had seen Mr. Valpy, Dr. Skinner, and others of the British subjects, apparently all well in health. Every effort had been made and was still being made on behalf of the Government to communicate with those British subjects. Commander Parsons had communicated with President Lopez, and had endeavoured to go to his head-quarters, but had not succeeded in doing so. He had also written to the United States Minister, General MacMahon, and asked him to use his good offices with regard to those persons, who, it was supposed, were detained against their will in the mountains, where Lopez is at present. The Minister had directed the commanding officer of the United States gunboat on the station to take advantage of every opportunity that might offer to assist in obtaining information as to the fate of the British subjects in question.