§ MR. T. HUGHESsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether a costly series of experiments is about to be made with a Whitworth 9-inch gun; whether a new 9-inch gun is to be ordered of Mr. Whitworth, and, if so, at what price; and, if so, on what conditions as to delivery within a reasonable time; whether any field guns are about to be ordered of Mr. Whitworth which are to be made of a peculiarly costly material, but otherwise in accordance with the existing Woolwich system; and, whether such experiments and orders are proposed or recommended by any professional department of the War Office or Admiralty?
§ MR. CARDWELLPerhaps, Sir, the House may be aware that Mr. Whitworth has invented a new mode of making what we believe to be a peculiarly valuable gun metal. In consequence we applied to Mr. Whitworth for the use of a small quantity of the material for making an experiment with it. Mr. Whitworth declined, however, to allow us the use of the raw material, and we consequently applied to him to know whether he was willing to make a gun of the size mentioned in my hon. Friend's Question. An offer on the subject was accordingly made to the Government by Mr. Whitworth, but it has not at present been accepted.