THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received any further information from Natal since last week in confirmation or otherwise of the statements which have appeared in the newspapers this afternoon?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, I understand that the intelligence which has appeared in the newspapers this evening was telegraphed from Madeira, to which place it had been brought by the steamer Asiatic, which was timed to leave the Cape the day after the Dunrobin Castle, which brought the first news of the disaster. We have as yet received no telegram from the Asiatic at the Colonial Office; but, of course, it is possible that one may arrive this evening; and I need scarcely say that I shall at the earliest possible moment communicate to the House that or any other intelligence I may receive.