SIR THOMAS HERBERTsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he had any objection to lay upon the table of the House the instructions Sir Michael Seymour received from 1893 the Admiralty for his guidance as Commander in Chief in the China Seas, and in what relation he was placed with reference to carrying out any requisition made to him by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Governor at Hong Kong?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODSir, I object on general grounds to the production of instructions given to Sir Michael Seymour or to any other officer in a similar situation. Probably, what the hon. and gallant Member wishes to know will be answered by my telling him that Sir Michael Seymour had no other instructions than any Commander in Chief on any foreign station. He was placed in relation with Sir John Bowring in no other position than that in which any commander on a foreign station is placed as regards the Ministers or Ambassadors within the limits of his command, with whom, of course, he communicates on all subjects connected with the duty which he has to discharge.