HC Deb 14 August 1879 vol 249 cc982-3
SIR HENRY HAVELOCK

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made in several public journals that the memorial presented to the Secretary of State for India in Council by Mr. William Tayler (late Commissioner of Patna during the Indian Mutiny) between the months of October and December, 1868, together with six original letters which accompanied that memorial, are not forthcoming amongst the records of the India Office; whether he can give the House any information as to the truth, or otherwise, of that statement; and, whether he will cause to be laid upon the Table of the House and printed, before the House rises for the Recess, the counter-statement lately sent in by Mr. Tayler to the allegations made, in his case, by Sir Frederick Halliday?

MR. E. STANHOPE

The Memorial of 1868 was recently moved for by the hon. Member for South Warwickshire, and is now being printed. It will, I hope, be in the hands of hon. Members before very long. As for the counter-statement recently sent in, it appears to me, after a careful perusal, to be in such a form, and to contain statements affecting individuals of such a character, that we should not be justified in recommending the House to have it printed.

SIR HENRY HAVELOCK

asked, Whether there would be any objection to referring the Memorial back to Mr. Tayler, and pointing out to him the objectionable passages, in order that he might excise them, and present the Memorial in an amended form?

MR. E. STANHOPE

said, there could be no objection to Mr. Tayler revising his Memorial, and presenting it in an amended form.