HC Deb 22 May 1868 vol 192 c718
MR. OTWAY

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether the first account of the fall of Magdala was contained in a Despatch received directly from any British authority in Egypt? He asked the Question, because it had been stated—and not contradicted—that the news of the fall of Magdala was known to the Emperor of the French twenty-four hours before it was known to Her Majesty's Government.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

replied that he was unable to state when the news was known in Paris; but it reached him in the ordinary way by a direct telegram from Sir Robert Napier, sent viâ Egypt. That telegram was recieved in London on the night of Saturday, the 25th ultimo, and was forwarded to him at Osborne, where he was in attendance upon Her Majesty; and it was owing to that fact that earlier publicity was not given to the despatch.

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