§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many third-class cruisers of the "Pelorus" class are in commission and the station on which they are serving; and whether he will state the present speed of the different ships of this class, and what duties these ships are suitable for in the event of warlike operations?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSeven of the class are in commission, two in the East Indies, two in Australia, one at the Cape, and two homeward bound which are now passing through the Mediterranean. The actual present speed of individual ships depends on the state of their bottoms and other circumstances, and I should not propose, even if it were in the public interest, to give figures which could only be momentarily exact. It is not convenient to make public statements as to the duties on which various classes of ships would be employed in war.