§ SIR EDWARD REEDasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the Admiralty propose to make any provision for the training of young seamen in substitution for the "Eurydice" and the "Atalanta"?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRESir, there are no other sailing vessels in the Reserves at our naval ports which could be made suitable for the training of seamen to replace the Eurydice and Atalanta, if it were thought desirable to do so. There are, however, large numbers of young seamen in our home ports whom it is most desirable to send to sea. The Admiralty, therefore, have considered that, without waiting further for the determination of the question whether it would be desirable to build sailing vessels for the special purpose of training seamen, it is, at all events, most ex- 1278 pedient to send to sea as many of these men as they can. They have, therefore, decided to form a detached squadron with this object. It will consist of the Inconstant, the Bacchante, and two corvettes, the Tourmaline and Cleopatra. Of these vessels the Bacchante is already in commission, The Tourmaline is taken from the West Indian squadron, and will have fresh drafts of seamen put on board on her return home in a few days. As many young seamen will be drafted into the squadron as possible. The squadron will be under the command of Lord Clanwilliam, and will be absent from England about 15 months. The instructions to Lord Clanwilliam will be that the purpose in view is the training of the officers and seamen, and that with this object steam will only be used in emergency or for steam tactics.