§ MR. MORRISONsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Why the opening of the Commission to inquire into the treatment of the Coolies in the Colony of Demerara has been postponed; whether it is true that the Judge Advocate of Bengal has been retained by the Planters as their Counsel; and, whether the Government approve of a Law Officer of the Crown holding a brief for private parties in an inquiry of this nature?
§ MR. MONSELLsaid, in reply, that the opening of the Commission had been postponed on account of difficulties as to its composition. It was now complete, and either was already or would be immediately at work. The Advocate General of Bengal had been retained by the planters as their counsel, and Her Majesty's Government, although they did not forbid him to act, to prevent any evil consequences from his doing so had desired the Governor of British Guiana to make known publicly that English Law Officers took briefs from private individuals, and that the Advocate General in no way represented either the Imperial Government or the Government of India. An experienced Indian officer had been appointed a Commissioner, and he did not anticipate any evil consequences from the Advocate General's position, but would take care 1527 to prevent any misapprehensions arising from it in the minds of the Coolies.