CO885-(10-11) — Page 56

9971.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

19

C.O.

Reference:

· 885

No. 36.

(BRITISH GUIANA.)

QUEEN'S ADVOCATE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

MY LORD,

Doctor's Commons, October 15, 1860. I AM honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Lord Wodehouse's letter of the 6th of October instant, stating that with reference to my Report of the 18th September ultimo he was directed to transmit to me, together with the former papers bearing upon the question of the claim of the Portuguese Consul at Demerara to administer to the effects of Portuguese subjects dying intestate and having no heirs

in British Guiana, a Despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, stating what is No. 181, Sept. the practice in parallel cases in Portugal as regards the interference of Her Majesty's 26, 1860. Consuls there; and to request that I would take this Despatch into consideration and furnish your Lordship with any further observations which may suggest themselves to

me.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands I have taken these papers into con- sideration, and have the honour to

Report

That the information now supplied as to the Portuguese law and practice on this subject shows that such law and practice is so widely different from that prevailing in the British dominions that no legal reciprocity on the subject can be arrived at.

If, therefore, the Government of Portugal means to insist upon complete reciprocity this cannot be granted by Her Majesty's Government owing to the wide difference between the British and Portuguese law and procedure. The common object, how- There is no urgent grievance or ever, appears to be sufficiently attained in each case. wrong; and the point is only raised, as it were by accident, and in one British Colony, and should be settled with as little discussion as practicable.

Upon all other points I can only refer to my former Reports, and especially to that of the 29th August last.†

The Right Hon. Lord John Russell,

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. D. HARDING.

&c.

8:0

&c.

• No. 84.

† No. 82.

0 16278.-805.

95.-9/86.

10PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO