§ LORD LAMINGTONasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is any objection to give all the first secretaries of embassies the same privilege that is granted to the first secretary at Paris—viz., the rank of a minister, while acting as charge d'affaires during the absence of the ambassador? If his suggestion were acted upon, it would be of great advantage when circumstances called the Minister from his post.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that although in the case of Paris for some years, and occasionally at other Courts, the rank of Minister had been given to the Secretary of Embassy, there were several inconveniences attached to the system, particularly as regards questions of promotion. He admitted that an inconvenience did occasionally arise under the present system; but he could not help thinking that matters had better remain as they were for the present.