LORD LAWRENCEwished for information as to when Lord Dufferin's despatch on Egyptian affairs would be presented?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, in answer to the Question of the noble Lord, I have to state that some days ago a Report was received by me from Lord Dufferin. It is a very able despatch, and necessarily very long, on account of the important questions with which it deals. It contains numerous references to documents, and, I think, amounts altogether to 280 pages of manuscript. It is not, however, a description of accomplished facts, but is a despatch in answer to instructions by the Government, desiring Lord Dufferin to report upon many important points in connection with Egyptian administra- 1252 tion. It would have been contrary to usage to present such a despatch to Parliament before it had been considered by Her Majesty's Government. At the same time that I received the despatch, I received a private note from Lord Dufferin, in which he says that he had been very pressed for time at the last moment, and was sure that the despatch would require revision, not as regarded the proposals, but with respect to the language. I therefore had the document printed and then returned to Lord Dufferin, but without making any suggestions as to any corrections to be made in it. I have telegraphed to Lord Dufferin to return it without unnecessary delay, and I shall then be in a position to lay it on the Table of the House.
§ House adjourned at half past Four o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter before Eleven o'clock.