§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSI wish to ask the Secretary for the Home Department a Question of which I have given him private Notice—namely, Whether he can give the House any particulars as to the explosion which took place at the Admiralty this forenoon; and, also, whether he can state if there is any truth in the rumour that another explosion had taken place at a later period of the day?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTAn explosion took place in one of the lower official rooms at the Admiralty at 11 o'clock this morning. It is too early yet to form a definite opinion on the subject; but it seems to be quite clear that the explosive, whatever it was, was placed inside the room. The quantity must have been small, as the structural damage to the room was very slight. It also appears that the explosive must have been placed on the top of some piece of furniture in the room against the wall. I regret to state that the Assistant Under Secretary of the Admiralty, Mr. Swainson, who was at work at a desk close to where the explosion took place, was serious injured; but the most recent accounts—within the last half-hour—from the hospital give a favourable account of his progress. He has recovered consciousness, and I am informed has taken some natural sleep. I have heard nothing of any other explosion, and I believe it is not the fact.