§ MR. JOHN CAMPBELL (Armagh, S.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to withdraw H. M. S. "Espiégle" from Niu-chwang; whether the British Consul has protested against such withdrawal; and whether, considering the position of the British residents in that place, he will give orders that the gunboat shall remain there for their protection.
§ EARL PERCYLast month His Majesty's Consul urged the retention of a British man-of-war at Niu-chwang during the war, but, for the reasons I stated in my answer of the 16th instant, it was decided after consultation with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and on the advice of the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, that it would not be desirable to retain His Majesty's Ship "Espiégl" at the port. The newly appointed Commander-in-Chief has since been also consulted and has advised that the former decision be adhered to.