§ MR. CUMMING MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that in the Hydrographic Bulletin, published in Washington, U.S.A., on 16th June last, a report is made in which it is stated that on 2nd May 1897, at 7.40 a.m., a rock 60 feet long, about seven feet wide, and about eight feet out of the water, was seen at about 600 yards distance by Captain Lloyd, of the British ship Crompton, in lat. 47. N., long. 37.20, W; and, whether, if upon investigation this report should be confirmed, the location of this rock, dangerous to navigation, will be placed upon the Admiralty Charts?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYThe report was duly received at the Admiralty. If confirmed, the rock would be shown on the charts in the ordinary course, but the existence of an unknown rock above water in the middle of the Atlantic, situated precisely on the line followed by the vast trade between Great Britain and America is so incredible that it is not proposed to take, in the meanwhile, any steps in the matter.