ADMIRAL DUNCOMBEsaid, he wished to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if the ships are taken up for the conveyance to India of the additional troops required for service there; and, if so, what amount of tonnage of both sailing and steaming?
MR. VERNON SMITHsaid, that advertisements had been issued for tenders for ships to convey the additional troops. As soon as the tenders should be accepted, he would present a return of the amount of tonnage.
ADMIRAL DUNCOMBEsaid, he would then give notice, that as the ships were not yet taken up, he should to-morrow call the attention of the First Lord of the Admiralty to the best means of transporting the troops.
§ SIR CHARLES NAPIERsaid, he would now beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in the event of the Government deciding to send troops to India by steam, he has one screw ship in either Sheerness, Portsmouth, or Plymouth in commission, fit to carry troops, and ready for immediate service.
§ SIR CHARLES WOODCertainly not. We have not a single screw ship of the line in commission fit to carry troops to India. The ships in commission at home are calculated for home service.