§ SIR R. H. INGLISsaid, seeing his right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty in his place, he would venture to put again in public certain questions, the purport of which he already knew, in reference to former questions asked by him in the early part of the Session, and to which he made a very satisfactory series of answers. The questions referred to the resumption of the search for Sir John Franklin. At that time he took the liberty to suggest that such resumption should be made by subdivision of the expedition into smaller vessels, and that it should consist in a great measure of steam power directly applied, and that each officer should in a certain degree be independent of the others, so that a greater stimulant might be given to individual exertion; and that rewards should be offered in proportion to the intelligence obtained. He had reason gratefully to acknowledge that these suggestions had been received with favour; and he wished now to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty in what state the expedition about to go in search of Sir John Franklin is now, of what force it consists, and how soon it might be expected to proceed, there being reason to fear that the delay of a week, or even a day, might be fatal?
SIR F. T. BARINGsaid, the expedition consisted of two brigs accompanied by two steamers under the command of Captain Austin, and there was also a separate expedition under the superintendence of Captain Fenny, of the mercantile navy, which was entirely independent of Captain Austin's command. Everything would be done by the Admiralty to forward the expedition. He was informed, that at the latest it would sail on the last week in April; but he could assure his hon. Friend that the Admiralty were anxious, and all under the Admiralty equally anxious, that the expedition should sail as early as possible.