§ MR. ROEBUCKsaid, he wished to be allowed to put a question, of which he had not given notice to the right hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty. The House was perfectly aware that the Government of the United States had made a present of the Resolute Arctic ship to this country. There was a very current report, that since that vessel had been brought back to England she had been ordered to be pulled to pieces. He wished to ask the right hon. Baronet if that report was true. He hoped that it was not, and he believed it would be a source of great satisfaction to the people of this country to learn that it was unfounded.
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, he hoped his hon. and learned Friend would not feel 744 offended if he gave him a very short answer. But the fact was, that the shortest answer was, in that case, the most satisfactory. He had simply to state, that the report was not true.