§ MR. HANBURY TRACYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is true that the Iron Plate Committee are about to terminate their labours; and, if so, whether the Admiralty will have any objection to lay the Report of their proceedings on the table of the House?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, in reply, that the Iron Plate Committee, as soon as they had terminated certain inquiries now being made, would cease to exist. With regard to their Report, there would be no objection whatever to its being furnished for the information of the House; but, inasmuch as it would consist of four bulky volumes, in which there were many hundreds of woodcuts, showing the results of the firing upon the plates, the shape of the shot, and various other particulars, he thought it would be hardly wise to go to the expense of printing them. What he proposed to do, therefore, was to lay six copies of the Report, which were now printed for the Committee, in the Library for reference by hon. Gentlemen; and if afterwards it was thought desirable, he should have no objection to print it for general use.