The Marquess of Londonderrysaid, he had several petitions to present relative to the Irish Municipal Corporations Bill, but before he laid them on the table, he wished to put a question to the noble Viscount opposite. He conceived that the state of the war in Spain had now assumed an entirely new character, and therefore he begged leave to ask whether a letter which had, appeared in the newspapers signed by Lord John Hay, and dated from Santander, March 24, was written in consequence of instructions given by his Majesty's Government, and if so, whether there was any objection to laying the letter and instructions before their Lordships.
§ Viscount Melbournesaid, he believed the letter was in the possession of the Admiralty, and he had no objection to its being laid before the House.
The Earl of Mintosaid, the letter alluded to by the noble Marquess was not an official letter. Instructions had certainly 1013 been sent out, and he believed that no objection would be made to their production.
The Marquess of Londonderrysaid, as it appeared that there was no objection to the production of those instructions, he should move for them to-morrow. He wished next to learn whether any answer had been received to Lord Palmerston's letter of the 10th of March, addressed to the Spanish Government, with respect to the liberation of twenty-seven unfortunate Carlist prisoners, to whose melancholy situation he had heretofore referred? He understood that the Spanish Government had sent them to Porto Rico, and he should be glad to know whether the noble Viscount had received any information respecting those unfortunate men.
§ Viscount Melbourneanswered, that despatches relative to this subject had been received, and would shortly be laid before the House.