§ LORD COLCHESTERbegged to ask in consequence of measures which had been brought forward in the other House by the First Lord of the Admiralty with reference to the manning of the Navy and the formation of a body of naval volunteers, whether Her Majesty's Government would object to lay upon the table of the House such portions of the evidence taken by the Committee of naval officers appointed by the Board of Admiralty on the 6th of July 1852, to inquire into the present system a manning the Navy, or of their Report as related to a system for the establishment of a coast militia, and to the training and subsequent employment of the boys educated in the schools of Greenwich Hospital? He thought it was very desirable that these portions of the evidence should be laid before the House; but if it would be inconvenient to the Government to produce them he would not press the matter.
§ The EARL of ABERDEENbelieved that the Report of the Committee to which the noble Lord referred was considered to be of a confidential nature; but he would com- 166 municate on the subject with the First Lord of the Admiralty, and, if there should be no objection, the documents asked for by the noble Lord should be laid on the table. He must say, however, that he inclined to the opinion that the papers ought not to be produced.
§ House adjourned till To-morrow.