§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his notice has been called to a letter of a Methodist Free Church missionary at Gaugoin, which has appeared in the Daily Chronicle of 11th April, in which it is stated that two of the military police of the Imperial British East Africa Company dragged an escaped slave out of her house with a view to take her back to the harem of her master; that subsequently the missionary was summoned before the Judge of the Company; the summons was withdrawn, but the slave had to be returned to her master, and was only restored to her home on the missionary paying her master in the Court the sum of £11 6s. 4d.; and whether he can give the House any information on the matter?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickI am informed by the East Africa Company that they have requested the Society to whom the letter was addressed to furnish full particulars in order that a full inquiry may be made.
§ *MR. SNAPE (Lancashire, S.E., Heywood)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable sums were contributed to the East Africa Company by the British Missionary Societies for purchasing the freedom of slaves who had escaped; can he inform the House how the money was expended?
§ SIR E. GREYI have not been supplied with that information. I did not understand it was asked for. Inquiry shall be made, if the question is put on the Paper.