§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If any reply has been received from Mr. Stanley to Lord Derby's Despatch as to the unauthorised use of the British flag in his fighting with natives in Central Africa; and if he will state the terms of any such reply?
§ MR. BOURKE,in reply, said, that on the 11th December last a despatch was written by the direction of Lord Derby to Dr. Kirk at Zanzibar, telling him to inform Mr. Stanley that Lord Derby objected to the use of the British flag by him, and conveying an intimation to that gentleman that he should not use the British flag for the purpose of carrying out his operations in Central Africa. It was very difficult to know how this information would reach Mr. Stanley, for his movements were not known at Zanzibar. Some American traders appeared to know where Mr. Stanley was, and Dr. Kirk had requested the American Consul at Zanzibar to convey through them the intimation to Mr. Stanley as soon as possible. The intimation had been despatched to Mr. Stanley; but it was not known whether it had reached him.