§ LORD ERNEST BRUCEsaid, he wished to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether, in the event of the protection of Great Britain being withdrawn from the Ionian Isles, and the Septinsular Republic being joined to the kingdom of Greece, Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, as Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, instituted by Letters Patent dated the 27th April 1818, "for natives of the Ionian Isles or the Island of Malta, and for British subjects holding high and confidential employment in the service of the Crown," will continue to retain, as heretofore, the sole power of conferring that Order on such persons as Her Majesty may think proper?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, in reply, said Her Majesty would certainly continue to retain, as heretofore, the sole power of conferring the Order of St. Michael and St. George on such persons as Her Majesty might deem proper, and that power would therefore not be transferred to the Kingdom of Greece with the 1469 Ionian Islands. No doubt, when the Protectorate ceased, it would be necessary to consider what change in the statutes should be made in regard to this Order.