MR. MAC IVERsaid, with reference to a Question he had addressed earlier in the evening to the Secretary to the Admiralty, he desired to know, Whether it was not a fact that three of the ships which he named as being at Alexandria could hardly be described as fighting ships? He believed that the Invincible was an old-fashioned vessel, which was re-commissoned by the present Government. [Cries of "Order."]
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, the Question now put by the hon. Member had no reference whatever to the Question he had previously asked.
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANSir, the hon. Member for Portsmouth (Sir H. Drummond Wolff) asked me to make a statement with regard to the visits paid to Alexandria by Her Majesty's ships of war. I stated the ships of war which have gone there, and that it was for the hon. Member, by referring to the Returns which are before the House, to find out what the character of those ships of war is. But I must say that on one or two occasions I have had the not altogether pleasant duty of saying that it is very undesirable at this moment, on public grounds, to state particulars of the vessels in those waters. The hon. Member for Birkenhead now asks me a Question without Notice, and in putting that Question he makes certain statements in regard to one of those vessels, and I can only say I do not] think it is a very patriotic course to take.