§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask Mr. Attorney General, with reference to the confidential character of communications which passed between the Attorney General and the counsel for General Mitchell, whether he is aware that Messrs. Hare & Co., Agents to the Treasury, produced in Taxing Chambers Court of Queen's Bench a copy of one of these confidential letters to Master Archibald, taxing master, in support of a series of claims in their bill of costs in connection with the compromise; whether the gallant plaintiff reported the fact some weeks ago to the Attorney General; and whether Master Archibald struck out the whole of the items, and commented strongly on the course pursued by the Agents for the Crown?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir R, WEBSTER,) Isle of WightThe hon. Member has been completely misinformed. One letter from Colonel Mitchell's counsel was produced at his request; otherwise it could not have been read. As I, in common with other members of the Government, have received a large number of letters from Colonel Mitchell, it is not possible for me to say whether he had referred to the fact or not. There is not the slightest foundation for the suggestion that Master Archibald commented strongly or adversely on the course pursued by Messrs. Hare & Co. in the matter referred to in the hon. Member's question.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he will, in view of the decision in the Courts of Law in "Mitchell v. Regina," cancel the letter dated Treasury Chambers, 31st March, 1888, addressed to the Secretary of State for War?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSearch has been made, and no Treasury letter, relative to the Mitchell case, of the date named, or approaching that date, can be traced. If the hon. Member will furnish me with fuller particulars further search will be made.