§ SIR WILLIAM GALLWEYsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether Her Majesty's Government have urged upon the French Government the adoption of the recommendation of Captain Tyler for a Joint Commission relative to the improvement of the communication between the two countries; and, if this has not been done, are the Government prepared to take any immediate steps to that effect, or to adopt any other means for enlisting the co-operation of the Trench Government in furthering so important an object? He had also to ask, with respect to the recent loss of the steamer "Normandy," what boats were in the packet. It had been stated that the average number of passengers of these steamers was 300, in addition to the crew, while the boats would only suffice for forty or fifty persons. He wished to ask if this was consistent with the regulations of the Board of Admiralty, and whether some means could not be adopted to compel steamers to carry large boats on the paddle-boxes?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREWith reference, Sir, to the first Question put to me by the hon. Baronet, I have to say that Captain Tyler's most able Report was communicated to the French Government through the Foreign Office, and Lord Lyons reports that he has frequently brought the subject under the notice of the French Government, and has always found that they are fully alive to the importance of improving the communications between the two countries. As the recommendation of the Report had reference mainly to improvements to be effected on the other side of the Channel, it has not been thought necessary to propose to the French Government an International Commission; but I understand that the French Government have themselves directed a Commission to report upon the subject. With reference to the other Question put by the hon. Baronet, I believe I am right in saying that the loss of life caused by the sinking of the Normandy was not due to the insufficiency 324 of boats. The lifeboat of the Normandy unfortunately was staved in by the collision, otherwise the boats would have been sufficient to save all. At the same time I must say that, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, it will not be possible to compel the passenger steamers running between England and France to have boats sufficient for the very numerous passengers they often carry. They would encumber the decks, and rather add to the danger than detract from it.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he wished to know whether in the case of the collision between the Normandy and the Mary the bells had been kept ringing, or any other precautions taken in the very thick fog which prevailed?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREsaid, he had received no information on that point. He understood that the fog had come on very suddenly, and that only a few minutes elapsed before the collision occurred.