MR. CORRYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to his Statement, to the effect, that if it had not been found at the eleventh hour that it was necessary to pass a private Act of Parliament to enable the Admiralty to commence the work, a sum would have been proposed in the Navy Estimates for the construction of a large basin at Portsmouth; whether the necessary measures for obtaining such an Act of Parliament will be adopted during the Recess; and whether provision will be made towards the construction of the basin in next year's Estimates; also whether, in that case, there would be any objection to referring the detailed plan to a Select Committee, as was done by the Admiralty in 1861, in respect of the proposed extension of Chatham Dockyard.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGET, in reply, said it would be the duty of the Admiralty during the Recess to prepare a Private Bill with a view to enable them to construct a basin at Portsmouth; and he would introduce a sum into the Navy Estimates for the accomplishment of that undertaking. He might further state that it was his intention to move, on the reassembling of Parliament, for a Select Committee to inquire into the question of the basin and docks at Portsmouth.