EARL BEAUCHAMPasked the First Minister of the Crown, Who was responsible for having advised Her Majesty with regard to the appointment of the new Lord Lieutenant of Ross-shire? The matter was one of great interest. It was a matter of notoriety that on Monday the 18th of June Her Majesty's Ministers were in a minority in the House of Commons, and that on the following day they tendered their resignation to Her Majesty, and a Minister of the Crown stated that the functions of the executive Government were in abeyance. On the 21st of June Colonel Baillie, the Lord Lieutenant of Ross-shire, died; and on the 3rd of July the Gazette announced that Her Majesty had filled the vacancy by the appointment of Sir James Matheson. It was of great public interest to know who was responsible for that appointment. It could not be the present Prime Minister, for he had not been sworn in office. It could not be the noble Earl opposite, who had tendered his resignation. Perhaps it was some clerk in the Privy Council Office. In 1859, during the time a change was being made in the Ministry, no appointments other than those absolutely necessary were made.
§ EARL RUSSELLsaid, it would perhaps be better that he should answer the Question. On receipt of the information that the office alluded to had become vacant, he consulted with others of his Colleagues, and the result was that he tendered to Her Majesty such advice as led to the appointment referred to.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.