2237. Whatever imputations you have made against the Admiralty of favouritism, have turned upon improperly requiring a compliance with that condition?—I do not say that; I say the two things are quite distinct; but if you will allow me to state how it did occur, I can explain it; I have a statement here to show how it originated, and another statement to show what “horse power” really means. I beg to state that the question of horse power originated in 1840, and it was the proposal of the Peninsular and Oriental Company; it originated with them, and not with the Admiralty or the East India Company.
2254. Do you impute corrupt conduct to the Admiralty, in reference to the ship “India?”—Certainly not; I think the Committee are labouring under a mistake in that respect.
2255. If, in any part of your former examination, you have been understood to impute either to the Board of Admiralty, or to any other Government department, any favouritism towards the Peninsular and Oriental Company, to the exclusion of their competitors, you have been misunderstood?—As far as the facts are on record, I could get no answer to my tender; I imputed certainly not a corrupt motive, but I said that all along I believed they were under a mistake, induced by this nominal “horse power.”
2256. In answer to question 2216, you stated that in 1841 the steamer “India” was excluded, by the conditions imposed by the East India Company, but that the Peninsular and Oriental Company wished them to accept her?—Yes, that is so.
2257. It was, therefore, the East India Company, and not the Peninsular and Oriental Company, who insisted upon the higher amount of horse power?—The two things are quite distinct.
2258. Do you adhere to your answer to question 2216?—So far it is correct that she was excluded, but the Peninsular Company, after they had bought her, urged the East India Company to accept her, and said she was an efficient vessel; they had abused her before, but they then said she was efficient.
2259. Are you now speaking of 1841?—Yes.
2260. Whose property was the steamer “India” in the year 1841?—She was the property of the Comprehensive party, who sent her out; at the time this negotiation was going on she was in Calcutta; I do not know what particular month this alludes to.
2261. It does not signify where she was?—It occurred in this way: we will say it was in June; two months would alter the matter altogether; there was a negotiation; the Peninsular and Oriental Company told the representative of the “India” in this country, Mr. Mackillop, that they would amalgamate with him; but the moment they got the engagement signed, they abused the “India” as much as they could; but when they found they could get her for little or nothing, then they said they would take her for £23,000, and they said “We will take her if the East India Company will pay £20,000 for her hire.” And then they write to the East India Company, and they say, notwithstanding the condition about the 500-horse power, that she was an efficient vessel.
2262. That was the opinion of the Peninsular and Oriental Company?—Yes; after she was theirs.