§
Resolutions [11th December] reported.
(1.) "That a sum, not exceeding £3,247 (including a Supplementary sum of £500), he granted to Her Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1889, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of Her Majesty's Secretary for Scotland and Subordinate Offices.
§ MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)said, he rose to ask a question—[Cries of "Oh, oh!"] Hon. Members might cry "Oh, oh!" but if they had been in the House on the previous day they would have seen a very improper use of the closure made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Scotch Votes. He did not think the Chancellor of the Exchequer saved much time by it, because there might be another debate and Divi. 76 sion The question he had risen to ask last night, which had been repeatedly asked and never answered, was—Did M'Leod make a declaration in which he stated that he was the person who committed the assault, and that Matheson was not present? It was a material question, because M'Leod was not likely to give himself up to justice unless he thought that his doing so was likely to relieve someone who was not guilty.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON)replied, it was the fact that M'Leod said that in his declaration. But that was not only asserted last night, but it was admitted, and in the whole debate it was the foundation of the arguments.
§ Resolution agreed to.
§ Subsequent Resolution agreed to.