§ CAPTAIN SPEIRSsaid, he would now beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will lay upon the table of the House, Returns of the Mortality on board all British Vessels in the Harbour of St. Thomas's from yellow fever, dysentery, and cholera from the 1st day of July till the 31st day of December, 1866, as well as on board the Intra Colonial Mail Steamers having intercourse with that port; whether the British Consul at St. Thomas's and the Mail Agents had reported the appalling number of deaths, and what steps the Government had taken in consequence?
§ MR. ADDERLEY,in reply, said, that St. Thomas was not an English colony, and his Department had no information whatever on the subject of this question. He had, however, made inquiries in other Departments whether there were any Returns made by the British Consul at St. Thomas. The Board of Trade had received a report of the number of deaths of seamen in that island and on the voyage home, but that was imperfect, as it did not include passengers. If the hon. and gallant Member thought fit to move for that Return there would be no objection to its production. As to the destination of vessels going to that harbour, over that harbour they had no control; but with reference to the mail packet ships, they called there under a contract which would shortly expire, and on its termination arrangements would if possible be made to prevent their calling at that unhealthy place.