Lords Sitting of 17 May 1861

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS.—1a Combination of Parishes Dissolution (Scotland).
2a Offences in Territories near Sierra Leone Prevention.
3a Smoke Nuisance (Scotland) Act Amendment.
Royal Assent.—Princess Alice's Annuity; Charitable Uses; Admiralty Court Jurisdiction; Law of Foreign Countries; Queen's Prison, &c.; Post Office Savings Banks; Marriages Validity.

INDIAN PRIZE MONEY.

  OBSERVATIONS.
  LORD BERNERScalled the attention of the Under Secretary for India to the delay which had taken place in the distribution of the Delhi and Lucknow Prize Money. It was now three years and a half since Delhi was captured, and unless some decided action were taken by the Government of India the prize money would not be distributed for years to come. He wished to know whether the Government have taken or would take any efficient means to enforce early payment of the Indian prize money?
  EARL DE GREY AND RIPONsaid, that the warrants for distribution were issued at the end of last year. Some delay had arisen in consequence of the difficulty of making up the rolls of claimants; for un-
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  til these were completed it was impossible to ascertain the shares payable to each, and some of the regiments engaged in the operations at Delhi and Lucknow had subsequently left India. The Government were making every effort to obtain the rolls, and as soon as these were complete the prize money would be distributed.

OFFENCES IN TERRITORIES NEAR SIERRA LEONE PREVENTION BILL.

  SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for Second Reading read.
  LORD BROUGHAMsaid, that we were bound by every tie of duty, principle, and interest, to see that offences committed in the neighbourhood of Sierra Leone should be punished. He regretted that, notwithstanding all the treasure lavished on Spain to induce it to abolish the slave traffic, that country still maintained it without the slightest diminution.
  Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday the 27th instant.

THE STADE DUES.

  QUESTION.
  THE EARL OF HARDWICKErose to put a question to the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs on a matter of some importance. He must first tender an apology to the noble Lord for not having given him notice, but as the matter was one of fact, the noble Lord would have no difficulty in saying Yes or No. As the Question related to finance, and might affect the surplus which the Chancellor of the Exchequer expected to have at the end of the financial year, it was important to know whether what he was about to state was true or not. The noble Lord, of course, would exercise his discretion in replying to the question; but if the noble Lord should decline to answer it, he would conclude that what he was about to state was true. Their Lordships were aware of the existence of what were called the Stade Dues, which involved a question of great importance between this country and Hanover, the settlement of which had been continually deferred. He was informed that the affair of the Stade Dues had been settled within the last 48 hours, and that England had engaged to pay a considerable sum of money almost immediately. What he wished to know was, Whether the information he had re-received was correct?
  EARL GRANVILLEasked the noble Earl why he had departed from the rule which required that public or private notice should be given of a Question, whether it related to fact or theory?
  THE EARL OF HARDWICKEsaid, he knew he owed an apology for putting a Question without notice, and he had apologized.
  EARL GRANVILLE: The reason?
  THE EARL OF HARDWICKE: I have heard the matter stated only since I came into the House, and I had no opportunity of giving notice.
  LORD WODEHOUSE:—I decline to answer the question, and, at the same time, I protest against any conclusion being drawn from my silence as to the accuracy or inaccuracy of the statement made by the noble Earl. It is obvious that it would be improper on my part to undertake to answer questions relating to that Department without previous communication with my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
  House adjourned at a quarter-past Five o'clock, to Monday, the 27th instant, a quarter before Five o'clock.