SIR FREDERIC SMITHsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he has any objection to lay upon the table of the House, Copy of the Reports of Captain de Horsey on Her Majesty's Ships Research and Enterprise?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGET,in reply, said, he had already stated that Captain de Horsey's Reports upon these two ships were partly favourable and partly unfavourable. They were very voluminous, and were accompanied by various diagrams, so that they could not easily be published. He had further to observe that they were to all intents and purposes confidential Reports from officers to their superiors; and if he were to make a practice of laying Reports of this nature on the table, the Admiralty would never receive papers which were not drawn up with a view to publication.