§ SIR MASSEY LOPESsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the fatal accident which has recently taken place from Artillery practice in Plymouth Sound; and what measures he proposes to recommend in order to preventt he repetition of so painful a disaster? The accident took place on Monday last in Plymouth Sound while the Artillery were practising. A boat had landed passengers from the Warrior, and was coming back to Devonport, when a shot struck the boat on the starboard side and shattered both the thighs and the spine of one of the boatmen, who lingered for six hours. Another of the boatmen was only saved from drowning by a boat putting out immediately to his assistance. Many other boats, he understood, had been struck in the same way.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, in reply, that a Report of the accident had been supplied, but up to the present time no further details of the circumstances under which the boat had been struck had been received. A full Report had been called for as to the circumstances attending the accident, and also as to the precautions that ought to be taken to regulate the Artillery practice. In the meantime, orders had been sent by telegraph to suspend all further Artillery practice until that Report had been received.