§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clause 1.
§ SIR MORTON PETOsaid, that great care and caution should be exercised in the prosecution of the works, and he believed the estimate he had formed as to the expense of the armament would be found to be correct. He had no doubt our interests would be well protected by the present Secretary at War.
§ MR. O'BEIRNEsaid, that experiments had proved iron fortifications to be most efficient for defensive purposes, while iron plates introduced into masonry formed a most imperfect defence.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONexplained that iron shields, which would be expensive, were not provided for by this Bill. It merely provided for the re-appropriation of money already granted. The subject of iron plating would, however, receive his most careful attention.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Remaining clauses agreed to.
§ House resumed.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time upon Thursday.