§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, On what ground ex-Captain the Hon. A. C. Hobart-Hampden, who has been twice struck off the Royal Navy for causes deemed sufficient by the Governments of the day, has now been, for the second time, restored, with the increased rank of Vice-Admiral; whether, during the last twenty-five years, that officer has ever been employed in the active service of Her Majesty; and, if so, for how long, and in what capacities; and, whether during the greater part of that time he has been engaged in other pursuits, some of them in contravention of the Laws of this Country and of the Laws of Nations?
THE FIRST LORDCaptain the Hon. A. C. Hobart's name was removed from the list of officers of the Royal Navy in 1868, in consequence of his having accepted an appointment in the Turkish Service without the permission of the Board of Admiralty. In 1874 he was reinstated. The Papers connected with this transaction were presented to Parliament in 1877. In 1877 his name was removed from the list when war broke out between Turkey and Russia. But the late Government, after fully inquiring into his case, were pleased to accede to Admiral Hobart's request to be restored to the list of retired naval officers, and he resumed the place on the list as if he had not been removed. (Order in Council, June 24, 1885.) Vice-Admiral Hobart-Hampden was not employed as a Captain. His last service afloat was as Commander of Her Majesty's ship Foxhound from August, 1861, to March, 1863. His pay as a retired Vice-Admiral is the same as that which he received as a Rear-Admiral. As regards the last part of the Question, I have no evidence before me to favour that assumption.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked whether it was not perfectly well known to the Admiralty that this Vice-Admiral had been engaged for several years in blockade-running in America, and that he had been engaged in naval warlike operations against Russia at a time 4 when Russia and this country were at peace?
§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLDasked whether he was to understand that Vice-Admiral Hobart-Hampden received pay from the British Government while in the Turkish Service?
THE FIRST LORDI cannot answer that Question. The case was gone thoroughly into by my Predecessor (the Earl of Northbrook), who, as far as I am able to judge, arrived at a very just conclusion. My impression is that Vice Admiral Hobart-Hampden has not received pay from the English Exchequer while in the Turkish Service.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLWhat is the rate of pay?