§ MR. FAWCETTasked the Under Secretary of State for India, When the Papers relating to the statistics of mortality caused by the recent famine in Madras and Bombay, and which it was stated on Monday last by the Secretary of State would be laid before Parliament, will be in the hands of Members; and, whether, considering the statements which have recently appeared in the public journals that the mortality in the North-West as recently as April last exceeded by a hundred per cent. its normal rate, the Papers to be produced will include statistics on this subject?
§ MR. E. STANHOPESir, I am much obliged to the hon. Member for giving me an opportunity of stating what really happened with regard to this matter. In accordance with the pledge which I had given to this House, I laid these Papers upon the Table the moment that they arrived, and on the very day on which he spoke, my noble Friend had also moved for them in the House of Lords. I have seen the proofs of a great part of the Return, and hope that it will not be long before it is distributed; but we are very anxious not to leave out any facts which throw light upon the subject. At the best, however, the Return must give a very imperfect account. As regards the mortality in the North-West, we have just received a despatch from India in which there are two paragraphs referring to this subject. In accordance with the hon. Member's wish, they shall be added to the other Papers.