§ SIR R. TEMPLE (Surrey, Kingston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what are the reasons why the firm of James Curtis and Company, the successors of Messrs. Pringle and Curtis, have been excluded from the list of importers and brokers on whom the Inspectors of the Admiralty call to examine tobacco that may be offering for Navy purposes?
* THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH,) Lancashire, ClitheroeThe other members of the original firm (Pringle, Curtis, and Co.) have also started separately in business. Messrs. James Curtis and Co. claimed the right to tender as the successors of the late firm, and were informed that this could not be admitted; but if they applied to be allowed to tender, the request would be fully considered. This they did; but as on inquiry it did not appear that they possessed the necessary qualifications, they wore informed that the request could not be granted for the present. The nature of more recent communications from Messrs. James Curtis and Co. can be inferred, from the reply sent to them by the Admiralty informing them—
That letters containing threats to appeal to Parliament, if requests are not granted, can receive no reply beyond the simple acknowledgment of their receipt.