§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government intend to fill up the post of British Consul at Saigon, which is now vacant?
§ THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, there was no information at the Foreign Office of the existence, or even the probability, of the vacancy assumed in the Question of his noble Friend. The Consul was absent on leave, obtained in the early part of this year. In his absence, the Consul left as his deputy a gentleman who was a partner in a firm at Saigon. He was not aware whether that gentleman was a British subject; but he believed he was very well fitted to discharge the duties in the temporary absence of the Consul. He did not think there was any reason for avoiding a new appointment in the case of a vacancy.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, to Monday next a quarter before Five o'clock.