SIR JOHN HAYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, If he will lay upon the Table of the House Return of the Contracts in force at the Admiralty on the 1st day of December 1868, and the names of the Contractors; of the penalties at that date falling due upon any then existing Contracts, and of the names of the parties so contracting whose character is considered by him to be unsatisfactory; and, of the names of the firms or others excepted now from Government Tenders, and of the causes for such exclusion?
§ MR. BAXTERSir, a Return of formal contracts, even if it were desirable to furnish it, would not give the hon. and gallant Gentleman the information which he wishes, inasmuch as many persons have transacted business with the Admiralty who are not contractors; and there is certainly no intention of laying on the table of this House the names of individuals or firms with whom, 898 as responsible Financial Secretary, I decline to have commercial relations of any kind.