HC Deb 10 July 1844 vol 76 cc560-1
Sir C. Napier

begged to ask the hon. and gallant admiral opposite two questions of which he had given notice. The first was, whether it were true that the Albion of eighty-two guns had sailed with a reduced crew? and the second was, whether the Caledonia and St. Vincent had embarked 150 supernumary marines, instead of the same number of seamen?

Sir G. Cockburn

, in reply to the first question, said, that the Albion had not sailed with a reduced crew; she had the full complement assigned to ships of her class, namely 750. With respect to the second question, it was quite true, that upon an occasion when it became necessary to send the ships to sea as soon as possible, the complement was filled up by adding 150 supernumary marines. The great object was to protect the lives and property of British subjects in Morocco; and it was a delightful thing to know that we had the means of providing for that object at a few hours' notice. He was glad to have the opportunity of informing the House of the fact, that though the order for preparing the guardship for foreign service was not received at Plymouth until between one and two o'clock in the day, she sailed the next morning. And with regard to the St. Vincent, the order was received at eight o'clock in the morning, and she sailed at six in the evening, in every way complete and fit to take her part as a British man-of-war either with friend or foe. The number of sailors on board when she sailed was sufficient to manœuvre her, and she was in every respect ready for active service.

Sir C. Napier

asked, was he then to understand, that for the future, instead of having seamen on board our ships, we were to make up the required number with marines?

Sir G. Cockburn

Certainly not; but in the case of an emergency like the present, when it was supposed that the lives of British subjects in Morocco were in danger, that was no unimportant alternative which enabled the Admiralty to dispatch a force to protect them at a few hours' notice, which otherwise could not be sent for months.