§ SIR GEORGE JENKINSONasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been called to the second letter in "The Times" of Monday the 3rd inst., and signed by Captain Sloane Stanley, repeating and adding to his former statements respecting the brutal ill-treatment of cattle on board a vessel from Antwerp to Deptford, and especially on their being landed at Deptford; and, whether the Government will make further inquiries on this subject, and lay upon the Table of this House a Copy of any Report they may receive from their Inspectors, as to the conflicting statements made on this matter?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, our attention has been called to both the letters of Captain Sloane Stanley to The Times, on the supposed ill-treatment of cattle on board a vessel from Antwerp to Deptford. As soon as the first letter appeared full inquiries were directed to be made into the circumstances by one of the Inspectors of the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council, and a letter was also addressed by the Lord President's orders to the Secretary of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, asking for any information he might possess respecting the case. As much interest is felt in this matter, I propose to lay upon the Table of the House immediately the Report of the Inspector upon this matter, together with the letter from Mr. Colam, the able Secretary of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and I think the House will then see that all the inquiries have been made which are possible in this case. I need hardly assure my hon. Friend that the Lord President and myself are most anxious to do all in our power to prevent all unnecessary suffering to animals, a matter respecting which the public mind is happily very susceptible.