asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the facts connected with the loss of the "Thistle" steamer, of Hull, have been brought to his notice; and if so, if any action thereon is proposed to be taken?

Sir, the facts connected with the loss of the Thistle have been brought to my notice, and an inquiry was ordered; but as the captain had gone to Calcutta and would not return for some months, it was considered inexpedient to retain the crew as witnesses for so long a time, and the inquiry has been abandoned. The report of the casualty from the pilot at Hel- voetsluys was to the effect that the ship drifted on shore in consequence of her engines refusing to work.