§ MR. VANDERBYLsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the statements in the British Medical Journal concerning the criminal practices connected with the system of "Baby-farming" in the Metropolis; and whether he intends to put the Law in motion to suppress such practices; and, whether he would lay upon the table all Letters and Documents relating to Infanticide and Illegitimate Children received at Home Office during the years 1866 and 1867?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDYsaid, in reply, that his attention had not been called to the British Medical Journal until that morning, when the passage to which he supposed the hon. Member referred was sent to him; and certainly if such a state of things as was there described really existed, it was a great disgrace to any community. At the same time, there were certain things there stated which were offences against the present law, and he did not know that it was the duty of the Home Secretary to put the law into operation. It was a matter for the police, and the police had had their attention called to it. But, as the hon. Gentleman must be aware, from the statement of the journal in question, it was almost impossible to obtain conclusive evidence in regard to transactions of the nature referred to.