Lord Colvilleseeing the First Lord of the Admiralty in his place, wished to ask him a question relative to a report which had created a vast sensation this morning respecting the conduct pursued by the French Squadron in the Gulf of Mexico. It was stated, that one of her Majesty's packets, with the British flag flying at the mast-head, had been fired on by a French corvette, forced to heave to, boarded by a French officer, and the commander compelled to surrender a pilot who had intrusted himself to the safety of the British flag, and who was forcibly taken on board the French ship. All this must have taken place under the sanction of the French Commander, Admiral Baudin, as the commander of the corvette acted in accordance with signals made to him by his Admiral.
The Earl of Mintowas glad he could give a perfectly satisfactory answer to the matter referred to. It was undoubtedly true that a pilot had been taken out of a British vessel to pilot a French squadron by a French captain, and that he was put on board a French corvette. He had been informed of it, but before he could communicate with the French Government on the subject, he had received a communication from Admiral Baudin informing him that the young officer had given every explanation on the subject that could be required.
Lord Colvillesaid, it was a most cruel act, and most disrespectful to this country, to force a pilot from on board a British vessel.