§ LORD FERMOYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is true that, so far back as last autumn, Mr. Alexander Samuelson sent in to the Board of Admiralty plans and specifications for a double-skinned self-submerging Gunboat, similar to the Nangatuck already built by Mr. Stevens for the Federal Government of America; and if so, whether the Admiralty will take steps to have the plan tested and adopted, as has been the case in America?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, that Mr. Samuelson proposed a vessel in 1860 that should during action have the advantage of submerging to a certain extent, so as to offer a very small surface to the enemy's fire. That gentleman brought his plans to the Admiralty, and he, with some other members of the Board, saw them. The plans were very carefully considered by the Admiralty, but they saw that Mr. Samuelson's plans, as proposed, would not be available for Her Majesty's service, and they did not think it proper to make any experiments with them; but Mr. Samuelson was informed, that if he had any modifications to make in his proposal, the Admiralty would consider them. This was on the 22nd September 1860, since which there had been no further proposal received from that gentleman.