§ MR. CADOGANsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, Whether the word "or," in the eighth line of the Despatch from Mr. Erskine to Lord Clarendon, dated the 14th of April, was a misprint, or whether the Despatch was to be read in the sense which the word "or" gave to it—namely, whether the brigands were prepared to reduce their demands to £25,000 or a free pardon?
MR. OTWAY, in reply, said, he had not the Papers about him at the moment to refer to; but these despatches were sent in cipher, and very great difficulty was experienced in deciphering them, for they abounded in errors, and the clerks were engaged to a late hour in making them clear. He had no doubt that the despatch was printed as it came to this country; but whether it was the intention of the brigands to reduce their demands to £25,000 or a free pardon he was not prepared to say.