§ MR. FELLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the £9,000, part of the ransom paid for Mr. Abbott's release, was recovered from the brigands; and when it got into the hands of the Ottoman Government.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe brigands were captured in August last, and part of the money which had been paid as ransom was then recovered. In December the Court which sentenced the prisoners, ordered that the money recovered should be paid into the Treasury until it should be decided who was the proper person to receive it. Sir N. 44 O'Conor has now been instructed to request that it may be paid to His Majesty's Government forthwith.
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. And ews Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the £9,000, more or less, recovered by the Turkish Government from brigands for the ransom of the British subject, Mr. Abbott, has been handed over to the British Government, or whether it is still retained by the Turks; and, if so, will he press for the repayment of this sum as an instalment to the British Government.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have, at present, nothing to add to the answer I have just given to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth. As soon as I hear from Constantinople, I shall be ready to give the information.