§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Colonies a Question of which I have not given him 1433 Notice, but which, should he prefer it, I shall be happy to put again to-morrow. I should like to know, Whether the latest despatches from South Africa mention any fresh overtures for peace having been made by the Zulu King; and, if so, whether he will state to the House the result of the negotiations which have taken place?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHHon Members may probably have, seen the telegram published by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for War in this morning's newspapers. That I think is practically correct. It appears that some messengers came from Cetewayo to General Crealock stating Cetewayo's strong desire for peace; but they did not appear to have been authorized by the Great Council or by the King to offer any terms of peace, or to be of the rank ordinarily sent for such a purpose. I believe Lord Chelmsford directed General Crealock to tell these messengers that he had informed previous messengers that any message was to be sent to him at General Wood's camp, that he was ready to recive any message under a flag of truce, and that something more than words would be required, alluding, of course, to the terms of peace dictated to Cetewayo in December last, and anticipating some reply to these proposals.