§ DR. BOWRINGwished to read a paper from Hong-Kong, dated the 30th of January, which stated that the system of corporal punishment on board ship had, they were happy to state, been done away with, and that no punishment would now take place without a trial, in consequence of the discussion which had taken place in the House of Commons. He wished to know whether the Government had received any official assurance of what was thus stated?
§ MR. HAWESsad, that no official confirmation had been received by the Government; but he could, at the same time, state that he had great reason to believe that there would shortly be a great amelioration of the system of punishment in the whole commercial marine of the country.