MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the defective state of some of the men-of-war of the Mediterranean Fleet; whether it is a fact that the guns and gun carriages of some of the ships composing that Fleet are in such a condition that with some of their 6-inch guns they can only fire half-charges of 24 lbs.; whether in firing these guns with a reduced charge of 36 lbs. accidents have ensued; and whether it is proposed, and, if so, when, to put these guns and mountings into a condition that will enable them to be fired with their full charge of 48 lbs.?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThere is only one ship in the Mediterranean to which the question is applicable in any degree, which is the Phaeton, and arrangements were made some time ago to bring her home and replace the guns and mountings with those of new pattern which are ready for her.