§ GENERAL BUCKLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to a letter in The Times of 22nd March, from Colonel Gowan, respecting the Cemeteries at Sebastopol, in which he states "that there are a great number of Cemeteries that require repair," and that he does not believe the present guardian to be aware of the position of a dozen of the seventy two English Cemeteries around Sebastopol?
§ LORD ROBERT PEELsaid, before the noble Lord answered the question of the hon. and gallant Member he should like to ask whether any communication has passed between Sir Andrew Buchanan and the Spanish Government with respect to the persecutions which have taken place there?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLsaid, in answer to the first question I have to state that in July of last year it was decided that the Consul General at Odessa, Mr. Murray, should recommend a person to take charge of the graves at Sebastopol. That gentleman recommended an officer in the Russian service, who made an elaborate report on the subject. But from information subsequently received it was thought 417 better that the care of those graves should be placed in the hands of Mr. Eldridge, the Consul at Kertch—a very deserving person, who was of great use to our army at the time of the Crimean war. The Foreign Office proposed, and the Treasury consented, that a sum of £1,800 to £2,000 should be expended in repairing these graves. I am sorry to say that some desecration and opening of those graves has taken place. I trust that this measure will be effectual for the preservation and restoration of them. With regard to the other question I would rather answer it another day as I am not prepared now.