HC Deb 19 March 1849 vol 103 c956
MR. F. MACKENZIE

said, he had seen in one of the public journals that a Bill had been introduced in the Colonial Legislature of Canada, and was rapidly passing through it, to indemnify persons for the losses they had sustained during the rebellion of 1837 and 1838—those persons having been concerned in the rebellion—and one of the purposes being to indemnify certain convicts who were pardoned by the Queen for the inconvenience they had sustained in taking a voyage to Van Diemen's Land and back. It was also stated, that a person named Nelson was to be indemnified for the damage done to his house by the Queen's troops, that house being fortified. He, therefore, begged to give notice that he would on the following day ask Her Majesty's Government if such a Bill had been introduced into the Colonial Legislature of Canada, and whether the Government intended to lay on the table of the House a copy of such Bill? He would also make inquiry with respect to the course taken by the Governor General in regard to it.

MR. HAWES

; I think it would be better to answer at once the question of the hon. Gentleman. No despatch and no communication to the effect of the article in the Morning Chronicle has been received at the Colonial Office. No information has been received on which I could to-morrow make any other answer than I now make.

MR. F. MACKENZIE

Am I to understand the hon. Gentleman to say that he has no knowledge of such a Bill being introduced?

MR. HAWES

I have no knowledge of such a Bill being introduced from any official source whatever—nor have I, indeed, any knowledge of the fact at all.