§ COLONEL TOMLINEasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer (in the absence of the First Lord of the Treasury), Whether he is aware that charges have been openly made in Parliament against the authorities of the Mint of peculation, and of secret alteration of official documents, and that an inquiry was demanded, which inquiry has hitherto been successfully resisted; and, whether he will consent to the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into, and report upon, the truth of those charges?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI am not aware of the correctness of the facts stated by the hon. and gallant Gentleman; but, certainly, whether they have happened or not, they have not happened in this House. The only answer I can give the hon. and gallant Gentleman is, that in order to found a case for an official investigation of any kind, either by inquiry or by Royal Commission, two things must be combined. In the first place, a charge must be distinctly made, and secondly some sort of evidence must be produced to give a colour and plausibility to that charge. Until these two conditions are complied with, I am sure the House and the Government will not grant a Royal Commission; and in the present case, as far as I am aware, neither of these conditions has been complied with.