§ LORD JOHN MANNERSasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the letter of Mr. Justice Willes to the Lord Chancellor, on the subject of Sir Robert Collier's appointment, was written in reply to any communication from the Lord Chancellor; and, if so, whether he will acquaint the House with the nature of such communication?
MR. GLADSTONESince the noble Lord the Member for North Leicestershire gave Notice of his Question, yesterday, I have made inquiry, with the view of accuracy, and I find the exact state of things to be this—Mr. Justice Willes, as I am informed, spontaneously wrote a letter to Sir Robert Collier, expressing his opinion upon the whole matter. That letter was shown to the Lord Chancellor, who inquired how far it might be made use of. Mr. Justice Willes was of opinion that being written in the form of a private letter, it was not convenient for that purpose; but he put the substance of it into a public letter which was given to the Lord Chancellor for publication. I enter into this explanation, because the noble Lord will see that I should not have been accurate if I had confined myself to a simple affirmative answer.