§ LORD STRATHNAIRN,who had on the Paper a Notice
To call the attention of Her Majesty's Government to Lord Chelmsford's statement in the House on the evening of the 19th August 1880, as compared with his despatch dated Pietermaritzburg, 27th January 1879, on the Isandlana disaster; and to ask Her Majesty's Government to place on the Table of the House further papers on the question if they are in possession of information differing from the despatch quoted, together with a map (with proper scale of distances) of the ground on which the Headquarter Camp was pitched, and of the hills above and near it; and to submit certain mistakes in the operations in Zululand: And also to move for a Return of the ages and length of service of the soldiers and non-commissioned officers of the 1st and 2nd Battalion of the 24th Regiment,—intimated his desire to postpone bringing the matter forward.
§ LORD CHELMSFORDprotested against the postponement for the second time of this subject, without any reason whatever so far as he was aware. The matter was one affecting him personally; and he was most anxious that the discussion, which he was sure must be distasteful to their Lordships, should proceed without further delay.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, the case did not appear to be so strong as to detain their Lordships, most of them having already left the House after the very interesting and exhaustive debate which had just concluded.
§ LORD STRATHNAIRNsaid, he had postponed his Notice because he found the House so thin. He would certainly bring on the subject on Thursday.
LORD DENMANurged that the debate should go on, so that the facts might be presented to the country.
§ House adjourned at half past Eight o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter before Five o'clock.