§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether his attention has been called to a statement to the effect that H.M.S. Opal, having shelled a village in the Island of Malayta, as a punishment for an attempt made by the Natives to seize the Dick, a schooner engaged in "recruiting" labourers, proceeded to Lendara Island, and demanded of the Natives the surrender of the murderers of Captain Home and his mate, who were murdered in January of last year; if he can inform the House whether it is true, as stated, that, although the village had been shelled three months after the murder, because the murderers were not then given up, H.M.S. Opal again shelled the place, and landed a company of seamen to destroy every thing they could find; and, whether he will lay Papers relating to the operations of the Opal before Parliament?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)I am indebted to the hon. Member for having sent me the information on which he based his Question. We have no official Report; but we know that the Opal is engaged in investigating certain alleged outrages. That Report will come home; but I cannot undertake to lay it on the Table until I see it.