DR. CAMERONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is a fact that the master of the Spanish Steamer "Leon XIII." having been imprisoned by the British authorities at Singapore for refusing to produce the engineers of the vessel, British subjects, whom he had arbitrarily placed in irons, the vessel a fortnight ago "escaped" from Singapore, carrying off the engineers in question; whether, before escaping, she complied with the Law as to clearance at the Custom House; if not, whether he will insist upon the Spanish Government restoring to British jurisdiction the British subjects thus piratically carried off; and, whether he will instruct our representative at Manila, whither the "Leon XIII." is bound, carefully to watch over their interests?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe statement of my hon. Friend with regard to the imprisonment of the master, and the escape of the engineers, of the Leon XIII. is substantially correct. No Custom-house exists at Singapore; but the engineers in question have been handed over to the British Consul at Manilla.