§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Ber-mondsey)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that, on the 24th instant, the White Star steamship Britannic brought intelligence to England of the abandonment of the Norwegian brig Ilpotar in the Atlantic on the 30th ultimo, in latitude 47, longitude 40, full of water; and whether the Government propose to take any steps to minimise the danger involved in this fact to sailors and passengers who have to cross the Atlantic?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThis Report has not reached the Admiralty in any form. The position given is 500 miles east of the coast of Newfoundland. The danger from these derelicts is much exasperated. The 1794 Admiralty cannot undertake to scour the high seas for every vessel that is abandoned.
§ MR. MACDONAAre not measures being taken in America to protect travellers on that side? Can we not act in concert with the United States Navy to secure the protection of the enormous number of passengers from our shores?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHI answered that question the other day. No official information has reached the Admiralty as to what is being done by the United States.