§ MR. ANGERSTEINsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Law Officers of the Crown have been consulted and have pronounced their opinion on the subject of the Bands, and Kirwee Booty, and whether there is any objection to communicate their opinion 399 to the House; whether it is the intention of the Government to recommend the distribution of the Prize Money according to the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown; and, if the preferential right of the actual Captors has been established, whether there is any other cause for delay in distributing this Prize Money?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONWe have not, Sir, yet been able to come to any decision with respect to this matter. Very lately I received a counter-statement from some of the parties concerned, and no answer could be given till that counter-statement, which was most adverse to the claims, had been duly considered. I may state in explanation, however, that the matter is not one that turns on any question of law. The decision rests entirely with the discretion of the Crown, and that discretion must be governed according to the principles of justice and equity as depending on, and governed by, the circumstances of the case.
§ MR ANGERSTEINWill the noble Lord name any day when it will be convenient to give an answer if I repeat the question?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONIt is very difficult to name any day on which it may be convenient, consistently with the attention demanded by other questions, to enter into this matter, which involves considerable detail.
§ MR. ANGERSTEINThe parties are very much interested.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONOh, of course; the parties on both sides are much interested.