§ THE EARL OF CLARENDONMy Lords, in the absence of the noble Earl at the head of the Government, I take the liberty of asking any of the noble Lords opposite whether they may be able to give the House any information on a subject of great public interest. I allude to the cession of Russian America to the United States, of which we received information yesterday by telegraph. A similar Question was asked yesterday in "another place," and my noble Friend at the head of the Foreign Office said that he had telegraphed to St. Petersburg for information, and had not yet received an answer.
THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAMMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Earl for having put the Question, because it affords me an opportunity, in the absence of my noble Friend at the head of the Government, of giving all the information which we at present possess with reference to the cession of Russian America to the United States. Within the last two hours a communication has been received from St. Petersburg confirming the impression that negotiations have been entered upon, or are on foot, for the purpose of treating with the United States for the cession of that territory; but how far these negotiations have progressed, whether they have arrived at any definite point, or whether any answer or communication has been received from the United States, the authorities at St. Petersburg were not aware when the information thence was sent to us. The question of the cession of that portion of America to the United States is one likely to cause great feeling and possibly considerable excitement; but I trust it will not be allowed to have undue weight in the minds of Englishmen—for I cannot myself think that the cession or purchase, if it be so, of the territory in question, by the United States, is likely to have any such overwhelming influence upon the progress of the colonies sprung from English blood which have been established on that side of the world as at first sight appears to be imagined.
§ House adjourned at Six o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.