MR. H. BERKELEYsaid, he wished to ask the late First Lord of the Admiralty whether the petition of the Masters of the Royal Navy (which was presented to the Admiralty in November last, praying that their position and prospects might be improved), has been considered; and, if so, what conclusion has been arrived at?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he had received a memorial from the Masters of the Royal Navy, such as the he n. Gentleman had described. It was only one of several memorials which he had received from different ranks of officers—namely, Medical Officers, Chaplains, Masters, and Paymasters. He was enabled to deal with the case of the Medical Officers and Chaplains, and he had hoped to be able to deal with those of the Masters and Paymasters also. He intended to have proposed some concessions to meet the wishes of those officers, which he thought reasonable and well-founded, but before he could complete the arrangements the Government of which he was a member came to an end. He had therefore left the matter, with all the papers relating to it, in the hands of his successors.