§ SIR JAMES LAWRENCEsaid, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any Despatches have recently arrived from the Governor of Western Australia upon the subject of free emigration to that Colony, and referring to the fact that Convicts had been received solely on the condition that an equal number of Free Emigrants should be sent out at the expense of the Imperial Government; and, whether, at the present condition of the labouring population of England, the Government are prepared to take steps for sending out the number of Free Emigrants required to complete the arrangements made with the authorities of Western Australia?
§ MR. MONSELLsaid, in reply, that when Western Australia was made a convict station, the Imperial Government undertook to send out a free 242 emigrant for every convict it received, subject to the condition that the colony really required and could absorb and provide for them. Information on that subject was asked from the Governor, and a despatch, to which his hon. Friend's Question referred, had been received from him. That despatch was now under the consideration of his noble Friend Earl Granville. No decision had yet been come to on the matter, but he was afraid the information that had been received was not very definite.