MR. ALDERMAN W. LAWRENCEasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been directed to the accident that occurred on Tuesday last to the "Albert Edward" steamboat a short distance from Boulogne, on her passage to Folkstone, by the bursting of one of her cylinders; and if he has any official Report upon the subject explaining why she remained for four hours at anchor without receiving any assistance from the authorities at Boulogne; and, as to what provision is made by the Railway Companies at Folkestone and Dover to render assistance to a steamer disabled on her passage, so as to prevent in future the passengers being detained four hours at anchor, and then towed into Dover or Folkestone by a steam-tug in eight hours more? He wished also to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention had been called to a letter in The Times of that day giving a full narrative of the dangers run and the miseries endured by the passengers; and whether it was not compulsory on Channel passenger steamboats to carry lights in case they were overtaken by fog?
§ MR. DIXON - HARTLANDasked whether the Albert Edward was not the same boat which had some of her machinery broken only the week before Easter, and drifted four or five hours before reaching Calais Harbour?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINWith respect to the last Question, I have no information. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put the Question another day. As regards the additional Question of my hon. Friend the Member for the City, my attention has been called to the letter to which he refers, and it is no doubt the fact that the Channel boats, like all other passenger boats, are required to carry a proper supply of lights. As to the Question on the Paper, the Board of 1258 Trade have instructed their officials to make a preliminary inquiry into the accident that recently occurred to the steamship Albert Edward shortly after leaving Boulogne on her passage to Folkestone; and when the Report of this inquiry is received, I will consider whether any further investigation is necessary. As to the vessel not receiving assistance from the authorities at Boulogne, I have no official information; but I learn from a private source that a pilot boat was sent off, the state of the tide preventing a tug from leaving the harbour. As to the last part of the hon. Member's Question, I will communicate with the Railway Companies.