§ Sir Charles Napierwished to put a question to the Secretary of the Admiralty. Considerable doubts prevailed among naval officers of high rank whether commanders serving on board line-of-battle ships were qualified to sit on courts martial as commanding officers. He wished to know whether the opinion of the law officers of the Crown had ever been taken on the subject?
§ Mr. Sidney Herbertsaid, that the point had never yet been raised. If the question ever should arise, the case would be submitted to the law officers of the Crown.
§ Sir Charles Napierasked whether there could be any objection to submitting the question at once to the law officers? The uncertainty which at present prevailed on the subject might lead hereafter to considerable difficulties.