§ MR. H. BAILLIEsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is true that the Achilles, of 6,100 tons burden, and constructed to carry forty guns, was only able to carry twenty, and those only 100-pounder Somerset guns; and, if it is so, whether he thinks that a satisfactory result of the first attempt of the Admiralty to build iron ships?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, in reply, that the Achilles was originally intended to carry fifty guns, but that that 1082 number had been reduced to twenty. When the Achilles was first designed it was intended to limit the armour-plating, as in the case of the Warrior and other of the earlier ships, to the central portion of the vessel. It was, however, found advantageous to carry the armour round the water-line but with this alteration there had, of course, been a great increase in the weight of the armour-plating. As the guns now placed on board the Achilles were of very much superior power to those which were at first intended, he might say, in answer to the Question put by the hon. Member, that he regarded the alteration as satisfactory.