ADMIRAL EGERTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the trial of the Whitworth guns, purchased with the ship then called "Independencia," promised on the 21st of March last year, has been made; and, whether he can state what were the nature and result of the trial, and what has become of the guns?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, the guns purchased in the Independencia were tried at Shoeburyness for accuracy and endurance in July last. 119 rounds were fired from the 35-ton gun, when it was pronounced unfit for issue. Firing was continued up to 147 rounds, when the vent choked, and it was impossible to fire it any further without re-venting. The range and accuracy of the gun were reported to be good, but not superior to those of the service gun. The guns now remain in charge of the War Department, but no decision has been come to as to their ultimate disposal.