HC Deb 22 June 1855 vol 139 cc11-2
COLONEL HARCOURT

said, he begged to inquire whether the Admiralty had received any official intelligence that Lieutenant Geneste, Dr. Easton, and Mr. Sullivan were not killed, as had been at first reported, but were detained as prisoners of war?

ADMIRAL BERKELEY,

in reply, said, that no further information had been received since the publication of the despatches of Admiral Dundas.

COLONEL HARCOURT

said, he had received a letter from one of the nearest relatives of Lieutenant Geneste, who, he feared, had been most cruelly murdered, and, with the permission of the House, he would read the letter. It was in the following terms— My dear Sir—As one of your constituents, may I beg that you will put a question to the First Lord of the Admiralty, and inquire whether the authorities of the fleet demanded the bodies of those who were so cruelly murdered at Hango, and desired that they might be delivered up, in order that they might not be left to the brutality of the savage murderers. I ask it as the nearest relative in England of my nephew, Lieutenant Geneste, in whom I have always taken the deepest interest. A more talented, promising young officer was not to be found in Her Majesty's service, and this will be the testimony of all his brother officers who have known him intimately. He wished to ask the Government whether any such instructions had been given by the commander on the station?

ADMIRAL BERKELEY

said, he could only repeat that no despatches had been received by the Admiralty since those which had been forwarded by Admiral Dundas. Accounts had been published in the newspapers stating that the officers had been only wounded, and were prisoners; but whether that statement was true or not the Admiralty had no means of ascertaining.

COLONEL HARCOURT

said, the gallant Admiral had not answered his question whether any instructions had been given for the purpose of recovering the bodies of these unfortunate men, or whether they were to be left in the hands of their murderers?

ADMIRAL BERKELEY

If I understand the hon. and gallant Member rightly, he asks whether any claim has been made for the recovery of the bodies of those officers. No such claim has been made, nor do I think it likely that a boat would be sent in under another flag of truce for such a purpose. The House will, perhaps, permit me to make a few personal remarks having reference to myself. I am one of those who have been in office for a long time, and am prepared to bear those attacks which are made on public men. But a statement was made the day before yesterday in The Daily News, which, in a cruel, cold-blooded manner points out myself as almost the author of the death of those officers, and goes on further to say, that it hopes when their relatives meet me they will treat me accordingly.