§ SIR JAMES LAWRENCEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to ascertain the correctness of the statement that large numbers of Chinese have been shipped against their will from the port of Macao, and treated as slaves, on board vessels bearing the French and Portuguese flags; and if any communications have been made to the French and Portugese Governments upon this revival in the Pacific of the Slave Trade; and, if he will lay before the House any Correspondence that may have taken place upon the subject?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDReports have Sir, at different times reached Her Majesty's Government of irregular practices at Macao in regard to the collection and shipment of coolies, and they have brought the same under the notice of the Portuguese Government, who have taken steps through the Governor of Macao for their correction, by framing a code of regulations for the engagement and shipment of coolies, which, it is to be hoped, may prevent the repetition of such abuses. With respect to the French Government, no recent communications have passed on the subject of coolie emigration. With regard to the Correspondence referred to by the hon. Baronet, such portions of it shall be presented as will not involve any breach of official or international etiquette.