HC Deb 04 March 1872 vol 209 cc1320-1
MR. BOWRING

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to the Correspondence relating to the Ex-Governor of Jamaica, lately laid upon the Table by Her Majesty's Government, Whether it is their intention to submit to Parliament, in the course of the present Session, a Vote for the repayment to Governor Eyre of the expenses incurred by him in respect of legal proceedings against him, an estimate for which, amounting to £4,133 was laid upon the Table by the Government on the 28th July last, but subsequently withdrawn by them? He also wished to know, whether that portion of the Correspondence which passed between the late Government and Mr. Eyre contained, in the right hon. Gentleman's opinion, any undertaking on their part, express or implied, to propose to Parliament to pay the amount of those expenses which was morally binding upon Her Majesty's present Government?

MR. GLADSTONE

said, in reply, that the Government, upon considering what had occurred and the stage which the matter had reached when they took office, believed it was their duty to submit an estimate in fulfilment of an undertaking given by the late Government. A Vote for these expenses would, accordingly, appear in the Miscellaneous Estimates of the present year.

MR. BOWRING

asked, Whether the Government were aware that the £4,133 exceeded by several hundred pounds the amount which Mr. Eyre had asked for reimbursement by the late Government?

MR. GLADSTONE

said, he was not aware how the matter stood in that respect.