§ MR. BENTINCKasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Up to what date a copy of the log of H. M. S. "Atalanta" has been lodged at the Admiralty; if his attention has been called to the conflicting statements respecting H. M. S. "Iris" in the" St. James's Gazette" of the 9th, and the "Standard" of the 10th instant, the former stating that—
Owing to the severe tests to which the engines were subjected, the engines broke down. The ship was put under sail, but she had not proceeded far when the topmasts were carried away, leaving her in an almost disabled condition;whilst the "Standard" reports that—Her engines worked satisfactorily, and that she will make a trial of her speed on the measured mile in Stokes Bay, and shortly proceed to the Mediterranean;and, whether he will give the particulars of the trial trips of the "Iris" referred to by those journals?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE,in reply, said, the log of the Atalanta had been received at the Admiralty up to January 21. As to the trial trip of the Iris, the official report was to the effect that the engines worked very satisfactorily. The vessel was tried at the measured mile on Saturday; she realized a speed of 18 knots, and her engines worked up to 350-horse power beyond the contract power. In the course of her trial trip the foremast was sprung; it would be 73 replaced by a light steel mast. Otherwise, the vessel was ready to proceed to the Mediterranean.