§ SIR JOHN COMMERELL (Southampton)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If arrangements will be made by the Admiralty for allowing all Naval officers who were engaged in the late expedition up the Nile, to count the time served there as services qualifying for promotion in cases where the present Regulations do not already provide?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. HIBBERT) (Oldham)This question was very carefully and thoroughly considered by the late Board of Admiralty, and a decision come to not to disturb the existing regulations issued under Mr. Childer's Order in Council of February 22, 1870. These regulations were specially framed to insure that officers should not be qualified by certain home and other appointments which did not give experience in command of a ship of war at sea until such experience had been gained. The regulations are in the best interests of the Service, and the present Board do not think it desirable to infringe them, more especially as the officers who would be immediately affected are in no way prejudiced by their being maintained.