§ MR. WHITESIDEsaid, he rose to move that an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that She will be graciously pleased to order that the investigation of the claims of Mr. Warren Hastings Leslie Frith and others against the 241 late Government of Oude may be ordered to take place in England instead of India. The claim of Major Frith arose out of a claim upon the revenues of Oude, which country having been transferred to the Government of Great Britain the liabilities accompanied the transfer. The claim arose out of a bond given to the grandfather of the present claimant, and the Secretary of State had directed an inquiry to take place at Lucknow, but had subsequently offered to allow the inquiry to take place at Calcutta. As all the documents were in this country, and as it was almost impossible that any living witness could be found in India, there could be no reason why the inquiry should not take place in England.
SIR MINTO FARQUHARsaid, he trusted the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary for India would accede to the request now made.
§ MR. TORRENSalso expressed a hope that the right hon. Gentleman would take the point into consideration.
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, he could not assent to the suggestion of the right hon. and learned Member for the University of Dublin. The whole transactions had arisen in India. Colonel Fulton had been treated with the greatest consideration in the matter, and so far as he (Sir C. Wood) was informed, whatever evidence was to be produced could only be had in India. The Law Officers of the Crown had been consulted, and they were of opinion that the inquiry should take place in India.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.