§ MR. LEWISasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has received any representations showing that the further evidence stated to be on the way from America with re- 873 ference to the propriety of interfering with the due course of Law in the case of the convict Lamson for the crime of murder, are of any different character from those already submitted to him, which he describes as affording no justification for advising any interference with the sentence of the Law; and, if not, whether he will state on what grounds he has inflicted on the criminal the additional punishment of ten days' further suspense and doubt?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTIt is quite impossible for me to form an opinion on the nature and character of evidence which I have not yet seen. It is quite impossible, therefore, for me to express any opinion upon it.
§ MR. LEWISThe right hon. and learned Gentleman has not answered my Question. I did not ask him to form an opinion; but whether he had received a representation showing that the evidence on its way from America was of a different character to that already submitted to him?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI have received no representations that will enable me to form an opinion as to the character of the evidence.