§ MR. RYLANDSsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If there has been a recent inquiry, conducted under the authority of the Government, into the Consular Establishment in China, with a view of effecting a reduction of the expenditure on account of the several Consulates; and, in that case, if he is willing to lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the Departmental Committee, if any, presented on the subject?
MR. OTWAYsaid, in reply, that the Papers had been laid on the Table in March or April last. There had been no departmental inquiry, because it was not the custom of the Foreign Office to institute inquiries of that kind; but in May or April of last year directions were sent to all the Consuls in China to make Reports on the various items of Consular expenditure in that country. These Re- 1191 ports, when received at the Foreign Office, had been examined by a gentleman thoroughly conversant with the matter, and the result of his labours had been that Lord. Clarendon had been enabled to effect a reform in the system of auditing accounts and preparing the Estimates which would save to the public nearly £10,000 a year.