§ Sir C. Napiersaid, he did not know whether or not her Majesty's Government considered itself responsible for the lives of British subjects voyaging in steam-boats, but he hoped he might be allowed to ask a question on the subject of the right hon. Under-Secretary of the Board of Trade. It was generally known that steam-boats voyaging in various parts, and carrying a great number of passengers, were often very ill provided with boats for succour in case of casualty. In the case of one of the mail steamboats, which was wrecked the other day on the coast of Spain, great advantage resulted from her being provided with paddle-box boats; and he wished to ask the hon. Gentleman whether her Majesty's Government had an intention of taking any steps to oblige steam-vessels to carry a sufficiency of boats to rescue the lives of passengers in case of shipwreck? He wished also to ask the gallant Officer opposite, who was a Lord of the Admiralty, whether it was true that the Surveyor of the Navy had objected to the Queen's steam yacht being fitted with these paddle-box boats?
Mr. Gladstonesaid, that he was not able to state, whether her Majesty's Government had in contemplation any enact- 898 ment of the description spoken of by the hon. and gallant Gentleman opposite, but the hon. and gallant Officer was doubtless aware that a committee was sitting on the subject of shipwrecks, and he had no doubt the facts mentioned by the hon. and gallant Officer would be brought under their consideration. Whenever the subject was brought before the House, it would become very proper that this point should be taken into consideration.
Captain Gordon,in reply to the question of the hon. and gallant Officer opposite, could state that the Board of Admiralty approved very much of the use of paddle-box boats, which were used in all their own steam-vessels. He was not prepared to say what was the opinion of the surveyor of the navy upon them, but he should apprehend it was in their favour.