§ MR. ROBERT DUFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he will lay upon the Table of the House any explanation that may have been received from Her Majesty's Consul at Batavia relative to his treatment of the crew of the ship "Montrose" of Greenock, the conduct of the Consul having been characterised by the Board of Trade, in a Document presented to this House, as "discreditable" to the position he occupies?
§ MR. BOURKE,in reply, said, the Papers containing the defence of the Consul at Batavia in reference to the case of the Montrose had only reached the Foreign Office within the last 24 hours, and it would be necessary to communicate with the Board of Trade. When their reply was received the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Office would take the matter into his consideration. At present it would be inexpedient to produce the Papers; but when the matter had been fully considered there would be no objection to lay them upon the Table.