§ MR. SERJEANT GASELEEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has informed himself as to the reckless Artillery practice at Portsmouth and Dover; and, if so, what measures he has taken to prevent a course so dangerous to the safety of Her Majesty's subjects?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, in reply, that full inquiries had been made in regard to the artillery practice at Portsmouth, when it was found that the officer in command had acted in complete disregard of the strict rule laid down by the Commander-in-Chief in 1865—that no artillery practice of the kind should ever be continued after nine o'clock in the 1669 morning. He had therefore acted on this occasion in violation of orders, and had been reprimanded in consequence. But a further step had been taken so as to render such irregularities impossible. The firing would for the future be on the eastern side of Gosport. With regard to f Dover, lie could not give so complete an answer. The investigation was still going on. There was some discrepancy as to the evidence, and he was not yet in a position to give a final Answer to the Question.