§ Viscount Mahonwished to put a question to the Under-secretary of State for the Home Department. He had seen in the public papers accounts of the increased mortality in the hulks, and that great numbers of convicts had died; and it was stated, that the governor had attributed the cause of the disease to the accumulation and crowding together of the convicts by the direction of the noble Lord. He wished to know whether the Government had received any official information regarding this? He also wished to know whether any evidence could be given of the former coroner's inquests which had been ordered to be given to that House two months ago?
§ Mr. F. Maulesaid, it was true, that there had been a considerable increase of disease amongst the convicts; but he had been given to understand, that that had occurred not only at the hulks, but also amongst the military. He could assure the noble Lord and the House, that there was no place in which greater attention was given, or where there was greater capability of attending to the convicts when overtaken with sickness, than in the hulks. It was impossible to prevent epidemics at times coming amongst those unfortunate people. He should be quite ready to furnish the noble Lord and the House with any information which they might desire on this or any other point. With reference to the evidence taken by coroners, the noble Lord must be aware, that that rested entirely on their discretion, and that their notes were private. He believed, that there was no authority which could compel a judge to give up his private notes; so there was no authority to compel a coroner 1493 to surrender his private notes. There was no doubt whatever but that the coroner would be most happy to furnish a copy of his notes.