§ MR. DISRAELIpresented a petition from two ladies, who stated that in 1835, their brother, Lieutenant Wyburd, was despatched on a highly important mission to Khiva, in Asia; and that, in 1845, after an interval of ten years, some information was received by them of the existence, as they believed, of their brother, from which it appeared that he had never reached Khiva, but had been taken prisoner by the Ameer of Bokhara. The petitioners thereupon entreated the interference of the Government and the East India Company on behalf of their brother. The reply the petitioners received was, that inquiries had been made, and, although it was ascertained that this English officer, 1412 whilst serving his country, had been taken prisoner by the Ameer of Bokhara, there was reason to believe he was dead. The petitioners then stated that, notwithstanding that reply, they had good grounds for believing there was no authority for the allegation that Lieutenant Wyburd was dead, for it so happened that, in August, 1848, information was received by them that the lieutenant had escaped from his captivity thirteen years after he had been despatched on that mission, and it was therefore clear that he could not, as alleged, have expired three years before. The petitioners then stated that in the same year, namely 1848, the Khan of Khokan wrote to the English Resident at Khiva, stating that Lieutenant Wyburd was at the city of Khokan, and was in his power there. The petitioners stated further, that they had made repeated applications to Her Majesty's Government and the Directors of the East India Company to take steps to secure the release of this British subject, who had endured captivity, and wasted the best years of his life in the service of his country; but that they had made those applications without any effect whatever. The petitioners prayed the House to interfere to obtain the liberty of their brother.