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War Office, January, 1882" (p. 218), to which I shall also refer again, not to interrupt the narrative of events just now.
The Committee also took the evidence of Sir Edward Watkin, Bart., M.P., on the 13th December, 1881 (p. 194):— that of Sir John Hawkshaw, on the 16th December, 1881 (p. 204; these two gave evidence "upon the rival schemes," see p. 192):—that of Lord Wolseley, on the 25th January, 1882 (p. 220):— and that of Sir John Adye, on the 26th January, 1882 (p. 227; these two officers had been selected by the Secretary for War (see p. 192), to all which evidence 1 may have occasion to refer later.
To this period of time also belongs a letter from Admiral Sir A. Cooper Key to Lord Northbrook (First Lord of the Admiralty at the commencement of the present Ministry in 1880). This letter is dated 31st January, 1882 (p. 190), and to it I shall again have occasion to refer.
"The Committee took evidence as to the rival schemes, but on the 1st February, 1882, the chairman informed the president of the Board of Trade (Mr. Chamberlain) that during the course of the inquiry the effect which such schemes might have on the military defences of the country had assumed great importance, and that the Committee desired to have further military and naval evidence on this subject (p. 192).
"In reply (on 2nd February), the President of the Board of Trade informed the chairman that as the final decision of a question of such magnitude would not rest with a Departmental Committee, but must be settled on the responsibility of the Government as a whole, he would not prolong the labours of the Committee.
"The investigations of Mr. Farrer's Committee being thus brought to a close, the Board of Trade immediately notified on 3rd February to the War Office (and a similar communication was made to the Admiralty), the circumstances under which this Committee had been dissolved, and forwarded copies of the evidence taken and of other documents brought before the Committee, in order that such further enquiry as the Secretary of State for War considered necessary, might be made.
"It was then decided by the Secretary of State for War that before the wider military question involved in the Channel
