§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he has yet anything to communicate to the House as to the settlement of the English claims against Brazil; and, whether it is true that Her Majesty's Government has abandoned those claims founded on damage done in the Revolution of Para; and, if so, whether that is the usual course to take when British subjects suffer loss in Countries that have passed through a Revolution?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEHer Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Rio was again instructed in May to use his best endeavours to bring the question of the Anglo-Brazilian claims to a successful issue. We have not heard very recently, in consequence of the change of Ministers; but Mr. Corbett is about to proceed to Brazil, and will give the matter his best attention. With regard to the losses incurred by the acts of the insurgents at Para in 1835, I may state that Her Majesty's late Government informed the claimants that as the losses for which compensation was claimed were caused by rebels, over whose acts the Brazilian Government had no control, they were advised that British subjects were only entitled to whatever compensation or redress is accorded to Brazilian subjects.
§ MR. ANDERSONMay I ask is that the usual course?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEYes, it is the usual course. That action was taken by the late Government on the advice of their Law Officers.