QUESTION. (Hansard, 17 May 1861)

§ THE EARL OF HARDWICKE
rose to put a question to the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs on a matter of some importance. He must first tender an apology to the noble Lord for not having given him notice, but as the matter was one of fact, the noble Lord would have no difficulty in saying Yes or No. As the Question related to finance, and might affect the surplus which the Chancellor of the Exchequer expected to have at the end of the financial year, it was important to know whether what he was about to state was true or not. The noble Lord, of course, would exercise his discretion in replying to the question; but if the noble Lord should decline to answer it, he would conclude that what he was about to state was true. Their Lordships were aware of the existence of what were called the Stade Dues, which involved a question of great importance between this country and Hanover, the settlement of which had been continually deferred. He was informed that the affair of the Stade Dues had been settled within the last 48 hours, and that England had engaged to pay a considerable sum of money almost immediately. What he wished to know was, Whether the information he had re-received was correct?

§ EARL GRANVILLE
asked the noble Earl why he had departed from the rule which required that public or private notice should be given of a Question, whether it related to fact or theory?

§ THE EARL OF HARDWICKE
said, he knew he owed an apology for putting a Question without notice, and he had apologized.

§ EARL GRANVILLE
The reason?

§ THE EARL OF HARDWICKE
I have heard the matter stated only since I came into the House, and I had no opportunity of giving notice.

LORD WODEHOUSE
—I decline to answer the question, and, at the same time, I protest against any conclusion being drawn from my silence as to the accuracy or inaccuracy of the statement made by the noble Earl. It is obvious that it would be improper on my part to undertake to answer questions relating to that Department without previous communication with my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.