§ MR. GOSCHENwished to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty a Question in reference to the Papers produced on the subject of the loss of the Mistletoe. In explanation of the Question, he begged leave to state that the Papers produced did not contain the report or proceedings of the Court of Inquiry. They contained only the letters of the officers giving explanations and the decision of the Admiralty. He should like to ask Whether, looking to the impossibility of adequately discussing the Motion of the hon. Member for Glasgow, without a full statement of the facts being before the House, the First Lord of the Admiralty would undertake that the Report of the proceedings should be produced and delivered to Members before the Motion was brought forward?
§ MR. HUNTI beg to say that the Report was designedly omitted from the Papers laid before the House, on the ground that it has always been considered undesirable, on grounds of public policy, to produce the Reports of Courts of Inquiry, either military or naval. I have ascertained that there is no precedent for producing such Reports, and it is on that ground, and not because there is any wish to keep back anything in the present Report, that the Paper was not included in those already presented to Parliament.
§ MR. ANDERSONI beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, if the inquiry as to the loss of the Mistletoe was not among the Papers asked for and promised by him?