§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he had given notice of his intention to ask a Question of the Secretary to the Treasury; but as he was happy to see the First Lord of the Treasury in his place, he would put the Question to the noble Lord instead. His Question was, Whether it is true that the opinion of the Law Officers have been taken on the subject of the Banda and Kirwee Prize Money, and that the opinion they have given is in favour of the preferential claim of Sir George Whitlock's force?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONreplied, that it was not usual for a Minister to state to the House the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown; still he had no hesitation in saying that it was the opinion of those officers that there was no law regulating the division of prize money in the case to which the question of the hon. Baronet related. It was therefore left to the discretion of the Crown to say in what proportions and to whom that distribution should be made. The Government had come to a decision on the respective claimants; and the result would be communicated to the parties interested in a few days.