On the 14th July, Lord Palmerston promised in his place
in the House to stay proceedings in the case of the Banda and Kirwee prize-money until the matter could be discussed in Parliament. It was this promise which satisfied Sir Stafford Northcote and his friends, and induced them to withdraw a motion they might have carried. In spite of the promise, however, the Treasury two days afterwards issued, we are informed, its decision, which is even in some quarters accepted as final. We have reason, however, to believe that it is little more than a reiteration of the decision given in March, when the actual captors were wholly in the dark as to the grounds of their opponent's claim. That judgment has already been suspended in consequence of a protest against the irregular proceedings of the Government, irregularities, it is said, ad- mitted by the Crown lawyers, and a mere repetition, whether dated after or before Lord Palmerston's speech, cannot destroy the right of Parliament to an opinion on the mode in which the Queen should be advised on the matter. At all events, the Premier's promise was unmistakable, and must be kept.
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