HC Deb 13 February 1871 vol 204 cc167-8
SIR JOHN HAY

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If he will lay upon the Table of the House, Copies of the In- structions given by the Admiralty to the Committee on Designs of Ships of War, and the Report of the Board of Construction of the Navy to that Committee on the cause of the loss of Her Majesty's ship "Captain?"

MR. BAXTER

If the hon. and gallant Baronet will move for the first Paper referred to in his Question — namely, the instructions given by the Admiralty to the Committee on Designs of Ships of War, there will be no objection to its production. But it would be unusual and inconvenient to lay on the Table of this House Papers in the nature of evidence furnished to such Committee before it has reported, and therefore I hope that the second Paper referred to will not be asked for in the meantime.