§ MR. LEFROYsaid, he wished to ask, If any steps have been taken during the recess to ascertain, through the Chaplains' Quarterly Returns, how far the Chaplains have been able to comply with the Admiralty Instructions directing clerical visits to be made to transports and small vessels of war not entitled to bear Chaplains; if the revised edition of the Chaplains' Instructions mentioned last Session has been issued; and if there is any objection to the annual publication of a Précis of the Chaplains' Quarterly Returns?
§ MR. CHILDERSreplied that the information given in the Chaplains' Quarterly Returns would not enable him to state to what extent the Admiralty Instructions with respect to clerical visits to transports and small vessels had been complied with. With regard to the second point, no revised edition of Instructions had been issued, and no promise to that effect had been given; but the whole question of the Returns made by, or relating to, the Chaplains was now under consideration. It was considered expedient that for the future fuller statistical accounts of the educational condition of the seamen should be furnished; and that the religious work of the Chaplains should rather be reported at inspection than in the shape of quarterly Returns; but the Admiralty had not yet come to a final decision as to the exact forms to be employed.