§ MR. LAMONTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is true that the Captain of Her Majesty's ship Gannet refused or delayed to proceed to the assistance of a Scotch merchant vessel, called the Arouca of Glasgow, in distress off the Island of Trinidad in the month of November last; whether it is true that a French steamer did actually render the required assistance to the distressed vessel while the Gannet lay at anchor; and, whether he will object to lay upon the table of the House any Papers which he may have received relating to the subject?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONNo official information has reached the Admiralty on the subject of the hon. Member's Questions. I understand there was a statement made on the subject in a Trinidad newspaper, which I have not seen. If there was a statement relative to this complaint in that paper, I have little doubt that the circumstance will have been brought under the notice of the naval Commander-in-Chief of the Station; and I think it probable that by the next mail I shall receive information on the subject. If so, I shall be able to communicate it; and, in any case, if the hon. Gentleman desires it, I shall be happy to make inquiry on the subject.