§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, in accordance with his promise made in this House on the 9th February, a Court of Inquiry has been held to investigate the circumstances attending the drowning on the 13th of December last in the China seas of Mr. Wingfield, midshipman, and three seamen belonging to Her Majesty's ship "Newcastle?"
§ MR. HUNT,in reply, said, that a Court of Inquiry would sit to-morrow at Sheerness to inquire into the matter referred to in the Question. The Court would be an open one. The father of the poor young man who had been midshipman on board the ship had received notice of the inquiry; and although lie could not, according to the rules, appear as a prosecutor, either in person or by counsel, any question he might suggest to the Court would be put to the witnesses, subject to the discretion of the president.