§ MR. SERJEANT SIMONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the proposal of the Governor of Jamaica to the Legislative Council of that island to pay, out of the Colonial Exchequer, the damages and costs awarded for the seizure of the foreign vessel "Florence" and her cargo, was rejected in consequence of the resignation of two members of the Council holding important offices under the Crown who, rather than vote for the proposal, gave up their seats in the Council, and of the refusal of another member, the Commander of the Forces, an ex-officio member, to support the proposal, and who did not vote; whether the resignation of the two members have been accepted, and their places filled up; and, if not, if 1597 he will state the reason why; whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to follow the precedent in the case of the foreign vessel "La Have," and recoup the sum stated by the late Under Secretary of State for the Colonies to have been "provisionally" paid by the Governor out of the local Exchequer "in order to save interest;" whether there is any objection to lay the Correspondence before the House; and, when the Return relating to the Revenue and Expenditure of Jamaica, promised early in the Session, will be printed and distributed?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, the statements contained in the Question are substantially correct. The resignations referred to have not yet been accepted, and the matter is still under consideration. As to the question of recouping the money, nothing is yet finally decided; but we hope within a few days to send out to Jamaica a proposal which we believe to be just, and hope will be satisfactory. The main portions of the Correspondence will be given if the hon. and learned Member wishes for it. The Return relating to the Revenue and Expenditure of Jamaica is bulky and complicated, and takes some time to prepare; but it shall be laid on the Table as soon as ever we can complete it.