§ SIR JOHN HAYsaid, he rose to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, To lay upon the table of the House a Return showing the number of Guns in store and in use of such a nature as the late experiments show can be effectually used against Armour-clad ships of the Warrior class; and also to ask what steps Government are taking to provide a sufficient supply of Guns for the armament of our forts and fleets, of such a nature as late experiments show can be effectually used against Armour-clad ships and forts, specifying as follows:—The calibre of Gun; whether Rifled or Smooth bore; the Construction of Gun; Cast Iron, Coil, Steel, or Wrought Iron; the Weight of Gun; the Length of Bore; the Weight of Shot and Shell; and the Service Charge of Powder.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he was sorry he could not lay upon the table a Return entering into such minute details of the armaments of this country. He did not believe that on any previous occasion Returns entering into such minute particulars had been granted, as the effect would be prejudicial to the public service, such information being made known not only to that House, but to the whole world. He had no objection, however, to state, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman was aware, and as he had stated to the House several times this Session, that pending the course of experiments which were now going on we had no guns in the public service which could be relied on in the circumstances contemplated by the hon. and gallant Gentleman's Question. The only guns we were in possession of were a small number of twelve ton guns which the House was aware had been proved effective. The Government had ordered—and they were now in the course of construction—150 guns of weights varying from six to seven tons, which, if rifled, would have a calibre of 826 about seven inches, or, if smooth bores, of nine inches. There was also in course of construction seven more of twelve ton guns, and provision had been made in the Estimates for a number of guns of twenty-four tons weight for placing upon fortifications. These fortifications, however, were not so far advanced as to be ready for the guns, and the guns might be appropriated to some other purpose.