§ SIR GEORGE JENKINSONsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a Question of which he had given him private notice—namely, Whether his attention has been called to a paragraph in "The Times" of this day, dated, from Madrid, and published under the head of "Latest Intelligence," in which it is stated that a telegram had been received from Malaga to the effect that Mr. Bright had promised to restore Gibraltar to Spain? Of course, he did not believe it. If the right hon. Gentleman were not prepared to answer the Question, he would repeat it on Thursday next.
MR. GLADSTONESir, I am obliged to the hon. Baronet for offering to postpone his Question; but it is, I think, quite unnecessary that he should do so. I will take it upon myself, even without having the power of direct communication with my right hon. Friend (Mr. Bright), to say that the statement to which the hon. Gentleman has called the attention of the House is an entire fabrication.