§ SIR EDWARD GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, the names, class, and number of ships told off to visit ports on the east coast of Scotland and northeast coast of England, prior to their being brought back to the dockyards; and, whether these vessels will be told off for the Reserve with one-third of their normal crews, or sent to Gibraltar for the usual winter's cruise?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareThe composition of the Channel Squadron now visiting east coast ports is as follows:—Battleships:— Royal Sovereign, Empress of India, Resolution, and Repulse. Cruisers:—Blenheim, Endymion, Bellona, Halcyon, 1689 and Speedy. There is no intention of placing the Channel Squadron in reserve The Squadron will cruise during the winter in ordinary course.