§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the suggestion recently made by a distinguished naval officer as 948 to re-arming 17 of the 45 vessels in commission or Reserve at present armed with muzzle-loading guns of an obsolete pattern, seeing that the total expense would probably scarcely exceed a million sterling, that our effective naval force would thus be increased, and moreover a saving take place by the reduction of a number of ships which are only nominally effective?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYThis Question is under the careful consideration of the Admiralty, but it is too large and important to be properly dealt with in reply to a Question across the floor of the House. The Question had better be reserved for some favourable opportunity.