§ SIR FITZROY KELLYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether, inasmuch as the claim of the representatives of Captain Edwardes upon the Government and State of Oude has been reported by Mr. E. Clive Bailey, the Commissioner directed to investigate the same, as "a genuine and fair one," the claimants are called upon again to submit their claim to investigation in India; and, if so, upon what grounds; whether the Report upon the Claims thus to be subjected to re-investigation is expected to be made before the re-assembling of Parliament; and whether the representatives of Captain Edwardes can appear before the Commissioner without prejudice?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, in reply, that the hon. and learned Gentleman in quoting Mr. Bailey's opinion had not given the whole of it; for although Mr. Bailey said that Captain Edwardes's claim was a fair one against a Sovereign of Oude many years ago, he went on to say that there was now no equitable claim even on the indulgence of the British Government. He (Sir Charles Wood) had not gone into the claims himself, as he thought it his duty to defer his judgment until the result of the full inquiry was before him. Captain Edwardes would not be prejudiced by appearing under protest. He (Sir Charles Wood) had given directions for facilitating and accelerating the inquiry as far as was consistent with the affording a fair opportunity of appearing before the Commissioners, but he could not say whether the Report would be made before the meeting of Parliament next year.