§ MR. DE LISLE (Leicestershire, Mid)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether there are a sufficient number of Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants upon The Navy List, to carry on the duties of the service as watchkeepers, and to take command of torpedo and picket boats in time of war; and, if so, how it comes that in a time of peace their Lordships recently refused to accept the resignation of a Lieutenant who was able to give what have, until recently, been considered sufficient grounds to have such a request granted?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)Exceptional measures would have to be taken in time of war to provide the number of Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants required for the duties specified, which could not be resorted to in time of peace. Owing to various causes there was at the latter part of last year an insufficient number of Lieutenants available to meet all the requirements at that time; so the Admiralty were, in consequence, compelled in the public interest to withhold their assent for the time to certain officers of that rank resigning their commissions.