The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-15 00:00:00

TRANSPORT SHIPS.

Colonel DUNNE asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether troops had been sent to America in the vessels
Adelaide and Victoria, which were lately nearly lost ; and
moved an address for copy of any report made by the com-
mandant of the troops on board, the Admiralty agents at
Cork, and the captains of those vessels ; and further asked
if either or both of these captains had retired or been re-
moved from their command, and the reasons for such re-
moval; and also moved for any correspondence between
Major-General Lord Frederick Paulett and the War-office
as to the Adriatic troop ship conveying the Grenadier
Guards to America, or any correspondence on the same sub-
ject with any Government department. The gallant mem-
ber complained of the unfitness of the ships Victoria and
Adelaide, and expressed his opinion that having been
built for the Australian trade they were totally unfit for the
voyage to North America.

Lord C. PAGET objected to producing confidential re-
ports, but was willing to give the official ones of the Admi
ralty agents. The fact was that the Admiralty were well
acquainted with the qualities of both ships, having pre-
viously employed them for the transport of troops to China.
The Adelaide put back not because sho was unseaworthy,
but simply because she was so unfortunate as to lose the
lid of her cylinder. She was thoroughly refitted, and was
minutely inspected during a heavy gale off the Eddystone,
before she was again sent to sea. 1 he Victoria put back be-
cause it was thought that after the heavy weather she had
experienced she had not coals enough to enable her to make
the voyage in any reasonable time. Admirals Swart and
Paisley had both inspected and approved her fitness before
she was again despatched, and she was sent south about,
simply because as there was now no pressure for time, it

was not necessary to expose her to the icebergs of the
northern passage. Lord F. Paulett had complained of the
cooking apparatus in the Adriatic, and of the stowage, but
that had nothing to do with the safety of the vessel. As to
the captains of the Victoria and Adelaide leaving, it was
true that they had done so, but ono had left for private
reasons, wholly irrespective of the seaworthiness of the
vessel, and the other had retired on account of ill health.

Mr. BENTINCK disapproved of any distinction being
made between confidential and official reports, and took that
opportunity of showing from an official document, in reply
to the noble lord at the head of the Government, that the
distress in Coventry had been caused by the commercial
treaty with France. In 1860, before the treaty came into
operation, the import of French ribbons was 442,0001b5. ; in
1861 it had run to 746,0001b5. French ribbons were im-
ported free, whilst the French charged a small duty on our
ribbons, retaining a power of increasing it.
Sir G, LEWIS objected to the production of Lord F.
Paulett's letter, as a confidential communication. If the
house insisted on its production, there would be an end to
such communications.

Col. DUNNE relied on the assertion of the Secretary to
the Admiralty as to the official reports, but believed that no
officer would shrink from the publication of the complaints
against the accommodation of transports.