§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, he had no intention to embarrass the Government in the Question which he was about to put to the noble Earl, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Salt was now successfully exported to India, and it had become of the greatest importance to the owners of our salt mines that the great Empire of China should be opened to their trade; and an application had been made to the Foreign Office that they would open a negotiation with the Chinese Government with that object. He begged to ask, Whether any instructions have been sent out to the Earl of Elgin to negotiate with the Chinese Government respecting the Admission of British Salt into that Empire, 1265 and whether any Communication have been received from him upon the Subject? Also, Whether any instructions were given to the Hon. F. Bruce, Her Majesty's Ambassador at Pekin, directing him to press this matter on the attention of the Chinese Government?
§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYsaid, he was quite sure that, in putting this question, his noble Friend had no intention to embarrass Her Majesty's Government. In reply to his question he had to inform him that Lord Elgin had received no instructions upon this subject, because it was thought better that the matter should be left entirely to his discretion; when the treaty reached Her Majesty's Government it was found that no provision had been made in reference to salt, which therefore still remained a contraband article. When the Hon. Mr. Bruce went out, a month ago, he was charged with instructions to put this upon another footing, and to ascertain, with the advice of the other officials in China, on what terms salt might be admitted into China.