§ MR. ATKINSON (Boston)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India what is the nature of the services of Messrs. Cook and Sons, referred to by him in an after dinner speech a few days ago, when he said—
The nation was not fully aware of the debt of gratitude which was owed to Messrs. 1246 Cook and Sons, for the practical and useful way in which they had strengthened our power in the East;and how Messrs. Cook and Sons are compensated for such services?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe service alluded to was the conveyance of Indian pilgrims to Jeddah by Messrs. Cook, which has materially improved the conditions under which the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina is made. There is a small sum guaranteed by the Government of India in case of loss—£2,000 for the first year, and £1,000 subsequently. The full sum was claimed in 1887 and 1888, but only a small part in 1889 and 1890.