§ LORD PANMURE, in reference to the question which the noble Earl opposite 1397 (the Earl of Ellenborongh) had put yesterday on the subject of the fittings of the Medway, wished to bring before the House, in addition to what he had stated yesterday, the report of an officer (Captain Connell) who had been sent from Woolwich to Southampton to examine the condition of the vessel; that report, dated the 5th of May, was as follows—
In compliance with your instructions, I yesterday visited the Royal Mail steamship Medway, at Southampton. I have to report that she has stable room for 220 horses; the boxes are well and securely built, and the ventilation is admirable; 115 of the horses are boxed on the lower deck, which is nearly seven feet high, and thoroughly ventilated; the rest are on the spar deck. The main deck is entirely set apart for the use of the men, and can berth 220. The only place for stowage of harness, guns, carriages, &c., is the forehold, and there is not more room than necessary to hold the harness vats, six guns and carriages, and six waggons. If thirty of the horseboxes in the fore part of the vessel were taken away there would be ample room for all the carriages of the battery. I beg most humbly to suggest that an officer with a strong party of men should proceed down to Southampton with the harness and guns the day before the horses are embarked, which will enable them to store everything before shipping the horses.It would appear, as he had stated yesterday, that the accident to the Medway was only the consequence of a severe storm she encountered in the Bay of Biscay, and not in any way connected with the boxing of the horses.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, he thought, from the sketch he had seen, that there was some defect in the fittings, and suggested that, in all cases, means should be taken to secure the boxes from sliding from one side of the deck to the other. He believed no blame attached to the authorities, but he would suggest that the noble Lord should himself take the trouble to go down to the ports of embarkation to see that the transport arrangements were properly made, for it frequently happened that the eye of a civilian discovered defects which did not occur by scientific gentlemen who had charge of the preparations.
§ LORD PANMUREsaid, that no doubt the suggestion of the noble Earl might be useful, but he feared, from the pressure of other important business, he should not be able to act upon it.