MR. CORRYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, considering that in the papers respecting the "Cyclops" and "Devastation" classes, recently delivered, reference is made to the question whether the "Devastation" and the "Thunderer" should be completed in conformity with certain modifications of the original design which have been suggested by the Constructor's Department, he will lay upon the Table the Report of the Constructor explanatory of the modifications in question, and of his reasons for proposing them; and, whether he will lay upon the Table the evidence taken before the Committee to the date of their preliminary Report, and the answers to any questions sent to Naval Officers relative to the "Thunderer" and "Devastation," or other ships, received down to the same date, in order that the House may have the means of judging how far they are confirmatory of the opinions of the majority of the committee?
§ MR. GOSCHENreplied, that the suggestions alluded to by the right hon. Gentleman were contained in a Report embracing many other kindred subjects. That Report, however, was a confidential document, and, therefore, he was not prepared at present to lay it on the Table. As regarded questions sent to naval officers, they had been sent out subsequently to the Report on the Devastation and Thunderer, and the correspondence arising out of them was of a strictly confidential character.
MR. CORRYasked whether the right hon. Gentleman would consent to produce such portions of the Papers as would show what the modifications made really were?
§ MR. GOSCHENsaid, that the Report had been prematurely forced from the Admiralty by what he might call an 630 indiscretion. He appealed to the House to suspend its judgment even upon the Report now presented, until the whole of the labours of the Committee were concluded, when they would be at liberty to judge for themselves.