§ MR. W. H. SMITHasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If his attention has been drawn to a Letter, which appeared in "The Times" of the 30th March, describing the disgraceful condition of the British Cemetery at Sebastopol; and, whether he has reason to believe that the statement is correct, and if it be so, whether the Government will take some measures to protect the graves of the Officers and Men who fell in the discharge of their duty from desecration?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDSir, I have seen the letter referred to by the hon. Member, and from other evidence believe that the statement is in substance correct. Up to the middle of the year 1866 there had been a custodian of the graveyards, but in that year Colonel Gordon, who was then in charge, resigned his appointment in consequence of being obliged to return to active service. It is the intention of the War Department, with the consent and concurrence of the Foreign Office and the Treasury, to despatch two British officers to the Crimea to visit the cemetery and graves, and to report home as to their present condition and the best means for their preservation.