§ MR. ADDINGTONsaid, that he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the Officers of the Royal Navy now in the service of the Emperor of China have received permission from the Admiralty to wear the uniform of Her Majesty's Navy during the period of such service; and whether there would be any objection on the part of the Government to produce a Copy of the Instructions given to Commodore Sherard Osborn on his proceeding to China?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, in reply, that the officers who were about to serve under the Chinese Government were not entitled to wear Her Majesty's uniform in that service. As to that part of the question relating to instructions given to Commodore Osborn, he had to state that the Admiralty issued no instructions whatever to that officer. He was absent on foreign leave, and would obtain his half pay, as he and other officers were, by an Order in Council, allowed to serve under the Chinese Government.
§ MR. ADDINGTONsaid, he wished to know whether the noble Lord was aware that the naval uniform was worn by those officers.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, he believed that the Emperor of China had established a uniform for the naval officers.
§ MR. ADDINGTONsaid, he spoke from information he had received when he stated that officers with Commodore Osborn were wearing the naval uniform.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETreplied, that all he could say was, that they were not entitled to wear Her Majesty's uniform.