§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Brazilian insurgents have maintained for over five months a successful blockade of Rio de Janeiro and other ports, and occupy a large portion of the Brazilian territory, Her Majesty's Government will now recognise them as belligerents?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianI have to say that there is no evidence that the insurgents in Brazil have constituted a Government of such a character as would entitle them to recognition as belligerents, or would justify any other Government in giving that recognition.