§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is the intention of the Government to give the House any information as to the probable cost and possible perils of the proposed Expedition to the Arctic Regions, and also as to what scientific or geographical results they hope for; and, if so, when that information may be expected?
§ MR. A. EGERTON, in reply, said, that on Friday last he laid on the Table of the House the Report of the Admiralty Arctic Committee which was summoned to consider the equipment of the Arctic ships, and the conditions 311 under which they were to be despatched. He intended, in the course of that evening, to lay on the Table a detailed estimate of the expenditure—as far as it was at present ascertained—connected with the sending forth of that expedition. It might interest the House to know—before it was printed—that the amount of that estimate was £98,000, which, of course, included the cost of the ships that had been purchased and the three years' stores with which they were to be provided. He might also say, with regard to the latter part of the Question, that those most conversant with the subject did not expect for the expedition any considerable perils. The First Lord, in moving the Vote, which he hoped to be able to do shortly before Easter, would give a more detailed statement as to the objects of the expedition.