§ MR. W. EWARTsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether any British Officer or Officers have been sent to study and report upon the recent applications of and improvements in Artillery adopted in the war in the United States and in Denmark?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONreplied, that since the commencement of the war with the United States, the War Office had received from Lord Lyons frequent reports as to the progress of science applied to artillery, of all experiments, and of all new guns manufactured by the Government of the United States. Within a short time, however, it had been found that Lord Lyons was not able to supply that department with such correct detailed information as appeared to be necessary; and three Officers were sent out for the purpose of investigating and reporting to the War Office, in the fullest manner possible, all the improvements and alterations which had taken place in Artillery science in the United States. In September, 1862, a Commission, of which Lieutenant-General Sir J. Mitchell was the president, visited Denmark and reported upon the state of its defences and of the artillery in its possession. It had not been thought necessary to send any Commissioners since the breaking out of the present war, either to the Danish, the Prussian, or other armies.