§ MR. LAIRDsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is correct that the 5½-inch rolled iron armour-plate manufactured by the Mersey Steel and Iron Company for the Agincourt was only classed "A 4;" and if he has had any applications from Chain Cable and Anchor Manufacturers, whose private certificates are received by Lloyd's until the 1st of July, 1864, requesting the Transport Department of the Admiralty to place them on the same footing as Messrs. Brown, Lennox, and Co. were placed by the advertisement of the 19th of Janu- 303 ary last; and, if such applications have been made, whether the Admiralty are prepared to agree to their request by issuing a similar advertisement to that of the 19th January?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGET, in reply to the first question, said, that it was not n correct statement that the armour-plate referred to was only classed A 4, It was classed A 1. With regard to the second question, several applications had been made by Chain Cable and Anchor Manufacturers to the effect alluded to by the hon. Members, and the Admiralty had referred the question to the Committee of Lloyd's. It was the desire of the Admiralty that all the principal Anchor Manufacturers should be put on the same footing. If the hon. Member would repeat his question after Easter, perhaps he would be enabled to give him a more definite answer.