CAPTAIN EGERTONsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether there is any foundation for a report which appeared some weeks ago of the disabling of the heavy guns of Her Majesty's Ship "Hercules?"
§ MR. CHILDERSThe 10-inch guns in the Hercules are vented in a peculiar manner for the sake of experiment, the upper part being of copper and the lower part of platinum; in five of these guns the platinum tip forming the lower part of the vent, and which projects into the bore, has been broken off by the effects of firing heavy charges; but four of these guns still remain in a serviceable state, and could be fired with perfect safety in case of necessity. The other gun was severely injured on the 14th of December while firing at target practice by a Palliser shell, filled with 10 lb. of powder, bursting prematurely in the bore near the muzzle, and is unserviceable. A flaw also exists in the cascable screw of a sixth gun; but until it has been examined by the Woolwich authorities, it cannot be ascertained whether it is of importance. It has been decided to revent the whole of the 10-inch guns with copper, which can be completed in fourteen days after the ship's arrival at Portsmouth; and a 10-inch gun has already been sent there to replace the one damaged by the Palliser shell.