§ MR. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars, &c.)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether Captain Lestrange was recently superseded in H.M.S. Surprise; and, if so, can he state for what reason; whether he had previously been missing from his ship, and why was he so missing; and, is he the same officer who has since been appointed Commander of H.M.S. Boadicea; and, if so, for what reasons was he so appointed?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)Commander Lestrange was superseded in July last in consequence of medical certificates reporting him temporarily incapacitated from service by illness. While at Marseilles he left his ship for a few days to visit Paris, and did not return. On inquiry, it was ascertained from medical reports that he was seriously ill, suffering from cerebral congestion, which was attributed to sun- 1042 stroke. The weight which is invariably attached to medical opinions in cases of this sort resulted in Commander Lestrange's supersession from his ship without trial by court-martial, which must otherwise have been ordered. He was reported in October last to be again fit for service. It is customary, when the Service admits of it, to allow captains to nominate their seconds in command, and the captain of the Boadicea applied for this officer.