§ MR. GOURLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If it be correct that the 132 ironclad ship "Iron Duke" is on shore at Shanghai; if so, if he will be good enough to inform the House what damage the vessel has sustained, and, if got off, if she can be docked at Hong Kong or elsewhere in Chinese waters?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, the Admiralty has not received any information, either from the Admiral commanding in China or the Captain of the Iron Duke; but information reached the Admiralty on Thursday from Lloyd's, which was to the effect that the Iron Duke was on shore, and I have this afternoon received a telegram through the Committee of Lloyd's—and I owe them thanks for their courtesy—informing me that the Iron Duke is not now on shore, but that she has been got off with assistance; and, so far as we know, there is no reason to suppose that she has sustained any damage. The Iron Duke was docked at Hong Kong on the 29th of March, and I think it was mentioned in the newspapers at the time. But she could be docked both at Hong Kong and Japan. If I receive any further information, I will take care to mention it as soon as possible to the House.