MR. WHITEsaid, he would beg to ask 748 Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to propose the grant of a subsidy to the Company of African Merchants (Limited) to enable them to put trading steamers on the River Niger?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, in reply, that after the recommendation made by Earl Russell last year the Government considered the question and found it surrounded with very considerable difficulty. They thought it desirable to give all parties the benefit of being heard before coming to any decision, and also to give Parliament the power of considering the matter. They had, therefore, during the last Session produced all the papers in their possession, and he was not aware that the project had been revived since that time. So far as the Treasury was concerned, the subject was not now before them, nor was it their intention to proceed further in the matter unless sufficient grounds were laid to satisfy them that they ought to do so.