§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number and the estimated cost of the Special Missions which have been sent to foreign Courts to announce the King's Accession; what are the precedents for this procedure; and whether, considering the present national burdens and the improved modern means of communication, some more economical method of conveying the information might not have been arranged.
§ * VISCOUNT CRANBORNEFour Special Embassies proceeded abroad to announce the King's Accession. The accounts have not yet been received, and no estimate of the cost can at present be given. There are no precedents for the despatch of such Missions from this country, but the arrangements for conveying the announcement were made in conformity with the practice now generally observed on the accession of a Sovereign.