§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in view of the development of the Slave Trade in the Red Sea, and the impediments thrown in the way of British trade and navigation by local officials interested in that traffic, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to revive the Consulate at Massowah and to establish Consular agencies at other Red Sea ports?
§ MR. BOURKESir, the establishment of Consular agencies in the Red Sea ports is one of the measures in contemplation by Her Majesty's Government when an arrangement has been arrived at with the Turkish and Egyptian Governments for the suppression of the Slave Trade in the Red Sea. A draft Convention for carrying out that object is now under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government, and until that Convention has been signed, it would be premature to appoint Consular officers in the Red Sea for the suppression of the Slave Trade.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether instructions are given to any of Her Majesty's vessels to visit the slave ports in the Red Sea and report on the Slave Trade; if so, whether such reports can be laid upon the Table; and, if not whether instructions can be given to Officers in command of Her Majesty's vessels to make such visits and re ports?
§ MR. HUNT, in reply, said, that a the commencement of the year, at the instance of the Foreign Office, instructions were given to some of the smaller ships of war, whether outward or homeward bound, to call at the Red Seaports, if prevailing winds and other circumstances would permit; but up to the present no Reports of such visits had been received.