GENERAL PEELsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, Under what circumstances the sum of £19,385 15s. 3d. was paid to the German Military Settlers at the Cape of Good Hope during the financial year 1860–1, which sum was not provided for by Parliament, and which was stated at page 4 of the Detailed Account of the Receipt and Expenditure of Army and Militia Services of that year to be one of the causes of the excess of expenditure on Vote 3?
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, that the sum to which the right hon. and gallant Member referred was made up of excesses on Votes for the Land Forces in the year in question, which were transferred under the authority of the Treasury.
GENERAL PEELsaid, that his question referred, not to the authority, but to the circumstances under which the payment had been made.
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, that as the payment was not made while he was Secretary for War, he was not master of the circumstances. He would inform himself of them, and would then answer the question of the right hon. and gallant Member.