§ SIR JOHN HAYsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is true that the naval Command-in-Chief 20 in the Mediterranean is to be confided to a Rear Admiral; and whether this appointment is rendered necessary by the unfitness of the forty-eight active Admirals and Vice Admirals to undertake that command, or in consequence of the reluctance of some of them to incur the expenses incidental to the appointment?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGET, in reply, said, it was quite true that Admiral Smart was to be appointed Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. The appointment, however, was not rendered necessary by the unfitness of the active Admirals and Vice Admirals to undertake the command, nor was it made in consequence of the reluctance of some of them to incur the requisite expenses. Rear Admiral Smart had been recommended to Her Majesty by the Government in consequence of his superior merits, and because they thought his appointment would be beneficial to the public service.