§ COLONEL FRENCHsaid, he would beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether it is true that previous to the intelligence of the late disaster in India reaching this country, the East India Company had applied to the Admiralty for transports to take out troops, and that that application had been refused? 634 He also wished to know, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to send out reinforcements in sailing vessels, or in steam vessels belonging to the navy, which at present were lying idle.
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, it was not true that any application had been made by the East India Company for transports, and consequently it was not true that any such application had been refused. It was not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to send out Queen's vessels with the reinforcements, as hired vessels were more speedily prepared for the conveyance of large bodies of troops.