MR. MAC IVERasked the Secretary of State for War, If his intention has been called to a letter from Sir Samuel Baker that appears in yesterday's Times, which contains a strong recommendation for the immediate despatch of three thousand Indian troops to Suakin; whether there are at least half a dozen steamers in Bombay at the present moment which, if despatched before the change of monsoon, which invariably occurs early in June, could make the passage to Suakin in about a week; and, if Her Majesty's Government, in the absence of direct intelligence from General Gordon, would yield to the appeal of Sir Samuel Baker and despatch Indian troops while the monsoon is still favourable and it is not yet too late?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONMy attention has been called to the letter of Sir Samuel, to which the hon. Member refers; and I notice that Sir Samuel Baker makes a great number of recommendations besides that alluded to in the Question. It must be obvious that the question of the despatch of 3,000 or any number of Indian troops to the Soudan involves many other considerations besides that of transport; and I am afraid that on this subject I cannot make any addition to the statements made by Members of Her Majesty's Government in the recent debates.