§ MR. EASTWICKasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received information of any movement or concentration of Russian troops destined to act against Khiva; and whether there is reason to suppose that only a temporary occupation is intended, or a permanent conquest?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDSir, the only information Her Majesty's Government have on the subject alluded to by the hon. Gentleman is contained in a despatch from Mr. Consul General Abbott, from Odessa, under date March 27. That gentleman sends an extract from the Odessa Messenger of that day, announcing as a rumour from Orenburg that a force of five detachments would enter the Steppes of Orenburg at the end of March or beginning of April, and would afterwards go on a reconnaissance to the Sea of Aral.