§ The EARL of ABERDEENsaid, that he wished to ask the noble Marquess whether any communication had as yet been received from the French Government, in answer to the last despatch of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to the Marquess of Normanby; and if any such had been received, whether there was any objection to lay the same upon the Table of the House? It appeared to him, that as the correspondence had commenced by a letter from this country, it ought to close with an answer from the other side. He did not on this occasion wish to offer any opinion upon the subject-matter of the correspondence, and he hoped the House would not be called upon to give any opinion; but he would venture to state his strong belief, that their Lordships' House and the country were desirous to see that correspondence brought to a termination. It must be manifest, from what had already been produced, that it could not now be continued with any definite and practical object; and that if it were still continued in the same tone and temper in which it had been conducted, it might lead to serious mischief.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEsaid, 603 that an answer to the last despatch of his noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had been shown to his noble Friend. Her Majesty's Government would take the very earliest opportunity of laying it upon the Table of the House. It was evident that there was a desire to see this correspondence at an end; but however desirous they might be to see it concluded, he could not say whether it might not require some observation. All he could say on this occasion was, that Her Majesty's Government were most desirous to lay before the House the fullest details of the whole correspondence.