§ CAPTAIN NOLANasked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, If he can inform the House whether any or all of the four Chief Military Powers of Europe have determined to discontinue the manufacture of field guns which load at the muzzle; and, what will be the probable cost incurred by the manufacture of muzzle-loading field guns, with the accompanying stores and ammunition, during the present financial year?
§ LORD EUSTACE CECIL, in reply, said, that the Reports with regard to other countries were of a confidential character; but that it was pretty generally known that the four principal Powers had either adopted the breech-loading principle, or were about to do it. The expenditure in this country during the present year on muzzle-loading guns, including equipments, would be about £40,000.