LORD BROUGHAMbegged to ask the noble Earl at the head of the Colonial Department, whether any information would be laid on the table by Her Majesty's Government with respect to any correspondence that had taken place during the last two years on the subject of slavery in Cuba and the Brazils?
§ EARL GREYsaid, it was the invariable practice to lay such correspondence as took place on the subject of the slave trade from time to time on the table of their Lordships' House, and of course there could be no objection to a similar course being followed in the present year.
LORD BROUGHAMinquired what time it was likely any information on the subject would be laid before the House?
§ EARL GREYsaid, it was difficult to give an answer to the question. Many volumes of blue books had already been laid before Parliament on the subject; and he was inclined to think noble Lords were more familiar with the exteriors of these volumes than with their contents.
LORD BROUGHAMsaid, the reply of the noble Earl only convinced him that it was often easier to ask a question than to answer one.