§ LORD SUDELEYMy Lords, I beg to ask Her Majesty's Government when the Return respecting "Admiral Colomb's Flashing Signals," laid on the Table and ordered to be printed on 5th August last, will be delivered? These Papers are of very considerable interest, and have been anxiously looked forward to by the Navy for a long time. It is now six months since they were ordered to be printed, and I hope the noble Lord the Secretary to the Admiralty will be able to say that there is to be no longer delay. I am told that owing to one letter not having been delivered in time delay has been caused; but I understand from Admiral Colomb that the letter was sent in as long ago as the 14th October, and therefore a period of four months has elapsed since. I hope the noble Lord will be able to give a satisfactory answer, as the delay in this matter has caused a great deal of unpleasantness.
§ LORD ELPHINSTONEIn answer to the question asked by the noble Lord, the Papers which he refers to are now in the hands of the printer, and will, I hope, be laid on the Table within a very few days. The delay to which he refers has been caused, as I understand, by two long letters having been received by the Government from Admiral Colomb. Those letters it has been necessary to print, and accordingly the Papers have been sent back to the printer. However, I hope in a few days they will be in the hands of the noble Lord.