§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he hoped that both for the public interest and for the satisfaction of the House, the question which had been twice raised by the hon, and gallant Member for Chatham (Sir Frederic Smith) would now receive an answer. He wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he can inform the House that Mr. Reed, previous to bis employment by the present Board of Admiralty, had ever drawn the lines, or prepared the models, or superintended the construction, of any man-of-war or other ship? In putting that Question it would be understood that he referred to the models of ships which had actually been built and completed.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETAs Mr. Reed is just about to appear before the House, I hope it may be thought better that I should defer answering that Question.