Viscount Strangfordwished to inquire of the noble Lord at the head of his Majesty's Government, in reference to an Order in Council recently published in the Gazette, by which British subjects were permitted to enter into the service of the Queen of Spain, whether the Government of this country contemplated making any provision for the widows and families of those persons who might perish in the contest which they were thus invited to engage in, or whether the Spanish Government intended to take that care on itself?—Or, if neither the British or Spanish Governments meant to take this course, he wished to know whether it was intended that the widows and orphans of persons who might be killed, or the families of those who should be disabled by wounds from earning their livelihood, were to be thrown as a burthen upon the parishes of this country.
§ Viscount Melbournesaid, it would be more convenient, if notice were given of such questions as that just proposed by the noble Viscount. Those British subjects who might enter the service of the Queen of Spain under the permission recently promulgated must look to the Government they were about to serve, and not to the Government of this country, for any provision which was to be made hereafter, and take all the chances of the service which they entered with their eyes open; they could have no claim on his Majesty's Government, and must depend upon other means.
§ The Duke of Wellingtongave notice, that he should move on Monday for the production of the London Gazelle, for the purpose of drawing a more distinct explanation from the noble Viscount on the subject referred to.
The Marquess of Londonderryhoped that the Order in Council would be taken regularly into consideration.