HL Deb 11 May 1848 vol 98 c834

The EARL of ELLENBOROUGH then called attention to reports which had been received in this country, and were understood to be true, relative to the disgraceful fact of more than one of the officers of the Supreme Court at Calcutta, in the receipt and custody of public money, having been guilty of defalcations in their accounts to a large extent. He trusted he would receive from the noble Marquess an assurance that a measure would be introduced on this subject, the provisions of which would have the effect of guarding against the repetition of such disgraceful conduct.

The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE concurred in characterising the conduct referred to as most disgraceful. In reply to the noble Earl, he could only observe that as soon as the facts became known, affecting as they did one of the highest officers of the Supreme Court, immediate steps were taken to remedy the evil as far as possible. No time was lost in investigating the whole matter; and at the present moment the case was before the law officers of the Crown, with the view of ascertaining how the transaction stood in a legal point of view. As soon as their report was received, it would be seen whether it was necessary to introduce a Bill on the subject.

House adjourned.