§ LORD ELCHOsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will lay before the House a Return showing the number of heavy rifled guns of not less than 7-inch calibre, and up to 13.2-inch calibre, that have been tried, specifying the mode of rifling employed, the number of rounds fired, the charges of powder, weight and nature of the projectile used, and stating the injuries resulting to each gun; and whether the Secretary of State for War will also lay before Parliament the Correspondence between the War Department and the leading gunmakers in reference to the War Office Circular, of January 1st, 1866, asking the reasons which had deterred them from taking any part in the proposed competition for military breech-loading small arms?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, he had no objection to give the Returns mentioned in the first part of the Question. With reference to the second part of the Question, the noble Lord was aware that the correspondence had only recently taken place, and, as it was now under the consideration of a Select Committee, he must decline to produce it pending the inquiry.