LORD POLWARTHwished to ask his noble Friend the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention had been called to the reports of a dangerous epidemic said to prevail extensively amongst the cattle in the North of Europe, and which, if it should reach the shores of this country, might be attended with the most serious consequences? He had no doubt that his noble Friend would inform their 1486 Lordships that he had given the necessary instructions, and that every means had been taken, and would continue to be taken, to avert the evil.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, he had had no definite or official information of the existence of the disease in the north of Germany to which his noble Friend had referred; all that he knew upon the subject having been obtained from the statements in the public papers. He could, however, satisfy his noble Friend that the powers given by the authority of the Act of Parliament, and which he believed to be sufficient for the purpose, would be put in force. The Customs authorities were empowered by the Act in question to destroy all diseased animals which might be brought to any British port. Directions would be given to those authorities to watch narrowly the condition of the cattle brought to this country during the prevalence of the disease; and the consuls and other representatives of this country in the ports of Northern Europe would be instructed to make inquiries on the subject, and to communicate to the Government from time to time the information they obtained.
§ House adjourned to Monday next.