§ SIR CHARLES NAPIERwished to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty 772 whether it was true that a French steam aviso, with two French cutters, had entered Spithead a few nights ago, and after the exchange of a few words of courtesy, these vessels had proceeded to Stokes Bay in the night, and had taken soundings there? Also whether he knew that these vessels had more than the usual complement of officers?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, that the hon. and gallant Admiral had given him notice of his question, which he would answer to this effect. He had received information from Portsmouth that two or three nights ago a French vessel, accompanied by two cutters, had anchored at Spithead; that they got under weigh during the night, but were at anchor again the following morning. Whether they took soundings in Stokes Bay, he confessed he was not in a position to state positively to the House. The fact, however, he believed to be this, that the officers of those vessels had been for along time doing duty on the coast of England, being engaged in the operation of protecting the French fisheries. That was the ground on which they constantly visited our waters. He was not aware that there was anything more remarkable in their visit the other night than heretofore, nor had he any reason for supposing that there were more officers employed on the occasion alluded to than the ordinary complement.