§ MR. MURROUGHsaid, he would beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Control whether it was true, that on the death of the late Maharajah of Tanjore, in October last, without male issue, the British Resident at the Court of Tanjore recommended to the Government at Madras that the late Maharajah's youngest daughter should succeed 152 to the vacant Ghuddee, and that, notwithstanding such recommendation, the Madras Government forwarded a Report to the Board of Directors, wherein, instead of recommending the succession of such youngest daughter, they suggested an extinction of the raj, and the grant of a pension to the family of the late Maharajah in lieu thereof? Also, whether it was true that the local Government had taken possession of the territory and estate of the late Maharajah, and left nearly a thousand of his relatives and servants unprovided with the means of support during the time the question of succession was pending before the Court of Directors? Also, whether any, and what, instructions had been sent out to the Government of Madras for providing for the succession to the Ghuddee, and the support of the family of the late Maharajah?
MR.VERNON SMITH,in reply said, that it was quite true that on the death of the late Maharajah of Tanjore the recommendation alluded to by the hon. Member had been given; and it was also true that a Report of the nature spoken of by the hon. Member had been sent by the Madras Government to the Board of Directors. Instructions, however, had been given to the Resident to provide for the relatives and servants of the late Maharajah, pending the settlement of the question of succession, and they were consequently not left without the means of support. The letters advising the Court of Directors of those proceedings had only been received in this country on the 8th instant. The instructions to the Government of Madras had not yet been sent out, and he could not at present communicate them to the House.
§ MR. MURROUGHsaid, he would now beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that a memorial of His Highness the Maharajah of Jodpore, in reference to the claim of his family to the Raj of Ahmednugger, which, on the 9th day of August, 1854, was submitted to the Board of Control, and by them required to be forwarded through the local officer at His Highness's Court, had been since tendered to the British Resident at Jodpore, and that he had refused to receive it for transmission; and whether the Indian Board had any objection, under the circumstances, to recommend the Court of Directors to receive such memorial from the agent of the Maharajah now in London?
MR. VERNON SMITHsaid, that he had not received information of the memorial in question having been referred by the British Resident at Jodpore. He could not, however, give to the Court of Directors any such recommendation as that suggested by the hon. Gentleman.