§ COLONEL BROWNLOW KNOXsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, If Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that the Act of Indemnity passed by the Legislative Chamber of Jamaica, and confirmed by an Order in Council of the Home Government, is or is not a protection to ex-Governor Eyre for all acts done under martial law during the rebellion in the island of Jamaica; and, if not, will Her Majesty's Government undertake to bring in a Bill to protect Governor Eyre from further prosecutions?
§ MR. DISRAELISir, in answer to my hon. and gallant Friend would remind him that the highest legal authorities have declined to give an opinion upon the extent of the Act of Indemnity passed by the Colonial Government on the subject to which he refers; and think it would be an act of presumption on the part of Her Majesty's Government to pretend to give an opinion to the House upon that point. With regard to our bringing in a Bill to protect Governor Eyre from further prosecutions, I must say that we have no intention of doing so.
§ COLONEL BROWNLOW KNOXI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he is cognizant of the fact that Her Majesty's late Government did take the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown on the subject, and have it in my pocket at this moment?
§ MR. DISRAELIWhen I spoke of "the highest legal authorities" I did not refer merely to the Law Officers of Her Majesty's late Government.