§ SIR J. COLOMB (Yarmouth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty in what way the officers and men of the Royal Marine Artillery are specially employed in ships where there are the largest guns, in view of the fact that the Prize Firing Return shows that no gun crews are drawn from the Royal Marine Artillery for the service of the heaviest guns.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareAccording to the scheme of complements the officers and men of the Royal Marine Artillery are drafted only to flagships and battleships, where they take part in the general duties of the ships as directed by the commanding officer. The circumstances 1036 that no Marine Artillery competed for prizes for the firing of barbette and turret guns, as shown in the return referred to by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, is accounted for by the fact that they do not qualify as captains of these guns, which are worked and mounted hydraulically.