§ SIR MORTON PETOsaid, he wished to ask, Whether a report which was generally current in the City, that a request has been made for 8,000 troops to be sent from India to China, is true; and also what the Lords of the Treasury are doing with respect to the Contract for the Mails to the Cape of Good Hope?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, he could only say, in reply to the first Question, that he had not even heard of the rumour referred to by the hon. Member.
MR. PEELsaid, with respect to the second Question, the Treasury were of opinion the Contract ought not to be renewed unless the colony, like that of Australia, agreed to defray one-half of the net loss.