The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-22 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE BOMBAY.

Mr. 0. STANLEY asked the Secretary to the Admi-
ralty if there was any special report made to the Lords of
the Admiralty, by the Admiral of the station, as to the loss
of 92 sailors and marines from the burning of her Ma-
jesty's ship Bombay, off Monte Video, on the 14th of last
December ; if he could state the number of marines
and sailors who wero drowned, separately, and the
length of time that elapsed from the breaking out of the
fire to the sinking of the ship ; if there were any patent life
belts on board ; and if there was any order, rule, or system
in the navy, or the marine corps, under which the recruits
or men were taught to swim ; and if the boys in the ser-
vice were instructed in the art of swimming.
Lord C. PAGET said there were unfortunately 91 per-
sons lost in the Bombay. All the boys in the Admiralty
training ships were taught to swim, but the Admiralty
did not supply life belts to her Mojesty's ships. Cork beds
were some time ago partially supplied, but the crews ob-
jected to them. There were, of course, life buoys on board.
An experiment was now being made in the Channel fleet
of certain life belts, and if they were deemed successful, a
number of them would be supplied to her Majesty's navy.
The crew of the ship amounted to 641 in all. The origin
of the fire had never been satisfactorily explained.
THE SEE OF BRISTOL. _ _

Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Secretary of State for
the Home Department, whether the Government had re-
ceived any communications from the city of Bristol, or
whether their attention had been directed to any commu-
nications made by the city of Bristol to the Ecclesiastical
Coommissioners respecting the claim made for the restora-
tion of an episcopal residence at Bristol ; whether he was
aware of the circumstances under which the union between

the sees of Bristol and Gloucester was effected ; and whe-
ther there was any objection to produce the correspondence
which had taken place on the subject.
Sir G. GREY said ho bad note seen the communications
referred to. There had been a great deal of correspondence
on the matter, to the production of which there would not
be the slightest objection.
THAMES EMBANKMENT.

Mr. CAVE asked the President of the Board of Trade
whether the Metropolitan Board of Works had complied
with the requisition of the Board of Trade, as suggested in
the report of Messrs. Goode and Rawlinson, that they should
draw larger quantities of material for the Thames embank-
ment from the bed of the river ; and, if not, what course
he proposed to take in the matter ?
Mr. M. GIBSON said the Board of Trade had been in
communication with the Metropolitan Board of Works on the
subject, and a special resolution had been agreed to. It
appeared they were now acting in the spirit of the resolu-
tion, and he believed it had been decided that a great deal
of the material dredged up from the river was fitted, gene-
rally, for filling up the embankment.

„ _ p tne
SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY.
Mr. BUXTON asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether he was prepared to give an answer to the appli-
cation made to him by a deputation which waited upon
him some time since, with regard to affording the clerks in
the several Government offices the opportunity of obtain-
ing a half-holiday on Saturdaay afternoon.
Lord PALMERSTON said the subject had been consi-
dered by the heads of departments, and he believed there
were many departments from which a great many of the
clerks could avail themselves, by turns, of the Saturday
half holiday.
CLERICAL SUBSCRIPTION BILL.
Sir G. GREY moved the second reading of this bill.
[LEFT SITTING.]