§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the recent cruise in the Black Sea of the Russian Government steamers "Constantin" and "Vladimir," in the course of which they met no Turkish men-of-war, but on the contrary succeeded in capturing certain Turkish merchantmen; and, whether there is not reason to believe that the Turkish blockade of the coasts of Russia is so intermittent as to be "ineffective?"
§ MR. BOURKEHer Majesty's Government have been informed that the Russian Government's cruisers have captured Turkish merchantmen in the Black Sea; but the information at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government is not sufficient to enable us to say whether the blockade is efficient or not.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsubsequently asked, Whether Her Majesty's Government were taking steps to inform themselves as to the efficiency of the blockade?
§ MR. BOURKEsaid, he had received no Notice of the Question.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, he would put it to-morrow.