MR. BENTINCKsaid, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What is the present position of the "Tornado" case; if any steps have been taken for the recovery, from the Spanish Government, of the property of which the crew of that vessel were plundered, and for the payment to them of the indemnification claimed for the wrongful imprisonment and the treatment they experienced from that Government; and, if he will lay upon the Table such further Correspondence as has taken place respecting the "Tornado" and her crew?
MR. OTWAY, in reply, said, the hon. Gentleman was no doubt aware that the 837 Tornado had been pronounced a good prize by the court at Cadiz. But, in consequence of an assurance having been given by the Spanish Government that the defendants would have an opportunity of appealing to the Council of State, and that assurance not having been fulfilled, Her Majesty's Government had instructed our Minister at Madrid to apply to the Spanish Government that the case should be re-heard before a special tribunal. At the same time a request was made that the Tornado should not be sold. No reply had yet been received to that request, which was made in December last; but a communication had been made to Sir John Crampton from the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs that he was waiting for the decision of the Minister of Marine and the Colonies on the subject. Of course the claim of the crew must await the issue of the principal case. There would be no objection to lay the further Papers on the table.