MR. FORTESCUE HARRISONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is true that all applications from the navigating officers of the Naval Service for permission to accompany the Arctic expedition have been refused; and, if so, whether he will reconsider this decision in favour of a class of officers eminently qualified by their education and training and peculiar know- 1486 ledge of the laws of magnetism, for employment on this occasion?
§ MR. HUNTA selection of officers for the Arctic Expedition below the rank of commander was made from a list of 138 applicants, of whom 13 were navigating officers. None of that class were selected. Only one of them was supposed to have any special knowledge of magnetism, and his ago was against his being chosen. As I have before stated in the House, great pains were taken to select the fittest men, and, as all those who were chosen have passed the medical examination, no other appointments can now be made.