§ MR. MUNDELLAasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is in receipt of replies from Sir Bartle Frere to his Despatches of 19th and 20th March; and, if so, when he will communicate them to the House?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACHNo, Sir; I have received nothing more than I stated to the hon. Member the other day.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTHave no despatches been received from Sir Bartle Frere since the 18th of March?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACHThe hon. and learned Gentleman can hardly have heard the Question. The Question was, whether I had received any reply to my despatches of the 19th and 20th of March? and I stated the other day that an acknowledgment had been received, but nothing beyond that.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTMy Question really arises out of that answer. I ask, if no despatches have been received from the Cape since the receipt of the Colonial Secretary's despatch of the 19th of March beyond an acknowledgment of the receipt of that despatch?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS -BEACHYes, Sir; I think some despatches have been received.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTThen. I beg to ask, will these despatches be 1285 communicated to this House? I must say I do not see anything that justifies the manner in which the Colonial Secretary is answering these Questions. I think I am fairly entitled to ask the Question, and I venture also to think that I am entitled to a courteous reply. I again repeat a courteous Question, and I ask for a courteous answer. The Question is, Whether any despatches have been received from Sir Bartle From since he received the despatches of the Secretary of State of the 19th and 20th of March; and, if so, whether they will be communicated to the House?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI had every intention of giving the hon. and learned Gentleman a courteous reply, and I am exceedingly sorry if in any respect I failed to do so. My impression was that the Question of the hon. Member for Sheffield related to a despatch which he anticipated Sir Bartle Frere would send upon the particular points touched upon in my despatches of the 19th and 20th of March; and I think the hon. Member will admit that that impression is correct. Well, then, my reply is, that the sole answer to these despatches which have been received has been the acknowledgment of which I informed the House the other day. There have been despatches relating to other subjects altogether, and such of them will be communicated to Parliament as appear consistent with the interests of the Public Service.
§ MR. MUNDELLAMay we not have the acknowledgment?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHOh, certainly.
In reply to Mr. COURTNEY,
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, that the despatch of Sir Bartle Frere, dated Pretoria, April 17, 1879, would be laid on the Table in a few days.