§ MR. DYCE NICOLsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, in the present unsatisfactory state of Telegraphic Communication with the East, steps are being taken to ascertain the soundings between the English Channel and Gibraltar, and along the Mediterranean to Alexandria, as also from entrance of the Red Sea to Bombay, for the purpose of facilitating and encouraging the early establishment of an independent 1459 and more efficient and economical Telegraphic Communication with India than now exists?
MR. CORRYreplied, that deep sea soundings between England and Gibraltar, and along the Mediterranean to Alexandria, and through the Red Sea, were specially obtained by the Admiralty between 1857and 1859, with a view to laying a submarine telegraph communication, and the line of the soundings had recently been successfully completed between Aden and Bombay. As far, therefore, as the soundings were concerned, there was no impediment to the establishment of telegraphic communication between India and England.