HC Deb 23 June 1879 vol 247 c420
MR. MUNDELLA

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any Replies have been received to his Despatches to Sir Bartle Frere, dated March 19th and 20th; and, if so, whether he will communicate the same to the House?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

Sir, my despatch of the 20th of March to Sir Bartle Frere has been acknowledged; but no reply has been received to the despatch of the 19th of March. It is, perhaps, but right to say that those despatches must have reached Sir Bartle Frere when he was on the point of leaving Pretoria or on his journey to Cape Town, and he might not have had an opportunity of replying until ho reached Cape Town.