The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-26 00:00:00

THE LATE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY. The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances under which a circular sent to the super intendents of her Majesty's dockyards, dated September 26, 1849, was cancelled on the 19th of April, 1852, without any order or minute of Board ; also, to inquire into the circumstances under which a letter addressed by Sir Baldwin Walker to Mr. Siafford, as Secretary to Admiralty, in which letter Sir Bald Win Walker tendered his resignation, as Surveyor of the Navy, was withheld from the Board ; also, into the circumstances connected with the appointment of Mr. James Wells as master smith in the dockyard at Portsmouth, the subsequent cancelling thereof, and the appointment of Mr. George Costell in his stead ; and generally into the exercise of the influence and patronage of the Admiralty 'in the dockyards and Government departments connected with the several Parliamentary boroughs, and to whom the return respecting the case of Lieutenant Engledue, R.N. (presented 11th April), was referred ; and who were empowered to send for persons, papers, and records, and to report their observations, together with the minutes of evidence taken before them, to the House— have considered the matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following report : " Four distinct questions appear to be contained in the terms of the above reference, and your committee will ac cordingly proceed to offer separately their observations upon each. "FIRST.—The circumstances under which a circular sent to the superintendents of her Majesty's dockyards, dated 26th September, 1849, was cancelled on the 19th April, 1852, without any order or minute of the Board of Ad miralty. " In order to render intelligible their remarks upon these circulars your committee must revert to the proceedings of the Admiralty at an earlier period. " On the 27th of February, 1847, while the late Lord Auckland was First Lord, an Admiralty order was issued in the form of a circular, addressed to the admirals and captains superintending her Majesty's dockyards. In this document, which will be found at length in the Appendix, the Lords of the Admiralty state their determination to introduce and maintain a system of promotion under which every man who shall have once entered the service of the dockyards may learn to look to his own exertions as the only means of future advancement. With the view of giving effect to this determination the circular contains a scheme, according to which, whenever a vacancy offering an opportunity for promotion shall occur, the principal officers of the dockyard are directed to select three names of the persons who, after examination, shall appear best qualified to fill the vacancy, and they are required to submit those names, with a full report of the respective merits of the candidates, to the superintendent of the dockyard. The duty is then imposed on the superintendent of investigating closely these returns, and of satisfying himself as to their perfect impartiality, after which he is authorized to reduce the number of candidates to two by striking out the name of that candidate whom he considers least qualified. The report of the superintendent, containing his opinion of the merits of the candidates, with the original documents an nexed, is then to be forwarded to the Admiralty, and the Lords of the Admiralty announce their intention to be guided by these reports in the selection of one from the two names submitted to fill the vacancy. "In laying down this scheme of promotion the Lords of the Admiralty reserve to themselves the right of making any further inquiries which they may see fit ; but they state that they will in all cases seek the advice and con currence of the superintendent before their choice is finally notified. They call upon the superintendents and the principal officers of the dockyard to assist them in working out this plan honestly. They further assert that, by the surrender of their own patronage, they have given proof of their sincerity, and have removed everything which can warrant a suspicion that preferment will be the result, not of services, but of political favouritism. They conclude by observing that the good or bad working of every system must depend, in a great measure, upon those who are en trusted with its administration, and they can only express their determination to mark with their severest displeasure every attempt to thwart their intentions, and to reward those who shall cheerfully second them by every proof of their favour and approbation. "It is important to notice, in reference to the above circular of February, 1847, that the patronage therein re linquished is solely the patronage of promotions, and that the Board of Admiralty did not surrender their right of making the first appointment—that is, of naming persons to be entered in the dockyards. " In the year 1849 Sir Francis Baring, being then First Lord of the Admiralty, introduced an additional precau tion for the exclusion of political influence from the ad ministration of the dockyards, by writing himself to the superintendents and principal officers whom he had ap• pointed, asking them, as officers and gentlemen, to give him an assurance that they would not interfere in the politics of the place. " Thus it appears that the superintendents of the dock yards, and the officers appointed since that period, who re ported on the qualifications of candidates for promotion, were bound by feelings of personal honour, as well as by obligations of public duty, to abstain studiously from any conduct which might cast a suspicion over the perfect im partiality of their recommendations. The superintendents of dockyards are invariably men of rank in the naval ser vice, and in regard to them the condition imposed by Sir F. Baring is the strongest tie that can be used to bind honourable men. _lt has, moreover, a double effect, inas- much as the First Lord who imposes such an engagement is thereby himself bound to support the superintendent in strictly maintaining its observance. Your committee, however, doubt the expediency of maintaining this condi tion on storekeepers and subordinate officers in a dockyard. They have, indeed, only examined ono storekeeper from a victualling-yard, but it is manifest that he was not qualified to appreciate an honourable engagement, and that in his case such a condition was futile and ineffective. Your committee have been informed that during the early part of the year 1849, as well as in some years pre vious, a practice had prevailed of transmitting to the Sur veyor of the Navy the reports and recommendations re ceived from the superintendents of the dockyards, in order that the Surveyor might add his remarks upon the promo tions submitted, and his advice upon the filling up of vacancies in the several yards. " In the summer of 1849 the Surveyor, Sir Baldwin Walker, mentioned to the board that some report had not been transmitted to him, and that, in consequence of this oversight, certain vacancies had boen filled which he could have supplied more economically by transfers from another yard. Sir B. Walker then - suggested that, in con formity with a more ancient practice, the reports from the superintendents should be sent direct to the surveyor, and should then be forwarded by him to the secretary of th e Admiralty. This suggestion was discussed at the board, who assented to it, but no minute was made at the time ; and shortly afterwards Sir B. Walker again mentioned the matter to Sir Francis Baring, who told him the board were perfectly agreed, and that if he would write a letter to Mr. Parker, the Secretary, the minute should go on. The let ter was written and submitted by Mr. Parker to Sir F. Baring, who marked upon it his initials, with `Approved.' On this authority the circular of September, 1849, was issued. The minute, therefore, was not a board minute. Sir F. Baring, states, `lt was not a minute made by the First Lord ; not, however, without the knowledge and con currence of tho board' " The late Board of Admiralty entered upon their du ties on the 2d or 3d of March, 18452. The Duke of Nor thumberland states, that as soon as he had accepted office he gave up to Mr. Stafford, the Secretary of the Admi ralty, all the civil patronage, excepting the master ship wrights, and one class of messengers, which he reserved for deserving sailors and marines. Mr. Stafford states, that upon his acceptance of office, the first thing which was forced upon him by all his political friends was the amount of his patronage, and the first thing he had to in quire at the Admiralty was the limit of that patronage. lie further informed your committee, that as soon as he entered upon his official duties he received repeated com munications that the promotions and appointments in the dockyards took a direction invariably hostile to the Go vernment with which ho was connected. • " On the 31st of March, or thereabouts, Sir. B. Walker states that Mr. Grant, a clerk of the Admiralty, and pri vate secretary to Mr. Stafford, came to his office at Somer set-house, with a request that he (the Surveyor of the Navy) would not submit the names of persons to be pro moted into the vacancies for foremen and inspector of shipwrights in Devonport Dockyard ; as Mr. Stafford's political friends were dissatisfied. 'he wished to promote some of their party. Sir B. Walker replied that he had been upwards of four years in the department ; that he had not allowed political motives to influence his submis sions to the board ; and that he was not going to com mence jobbing for him or anybody else. He requested, therefore, that such a proposition should never again be made to him. " Mr. Walter Eden, a clerk in the Surveyor's depart ment, says that he entered the room during this interview, and hoard the roply made by Sir B. Walker. " Mr. Stafford denies that he sent Mr. Grant to the Sur veyor on such an errand. Mr. Grant states that the object of his visit to Sir B. Walker was, as far as he can recollect, to ascertain whether certain vacancies existed in the dockyards, the Secretary of the Admiralty having received applications for certain vacancies which- were stated to exist, but the reports of which vacancies had not reached him. His own impression is that he stated to Sir B. Walker that some inconvenience was felt in consequence of the reports of the vacancies not coining direct to the Secretary - , but coming in the first instance through the 'Surveyor ; to which Sir B. Walker replied, that ho trusted the system then in force was not about to bo altered, as he thought it worked very well, and ho hoped no system of jobbing was about to be recurred to. " According to Mr. Grant's evidence, therefore, the first intimation in regard to cancelling the circular of September, 1849, was made by himself, a clerk in the Admiralty, to the Surveyor of the Navy. Mr. Grant adds that he made these inquiries from his own wish to ascer tain the facts, and not by direction of Mr. Stafford. " On the 2d of April,' 1852, Mr. Stafford wrote a private letter to Sir B. Walker, wherein he adverts to the great dissatisfaction felt by his political friends as to the present arrangement of appointments and promotions in the dock yards, in regard to which he says, there is a general im pression that all those things are dispensed among political opponents, insomuch that there seems no alternative but to resume the system which existed previous to September, 1849.' " Mr. Stafford stated it as his belief that, before writing the above letter to Sir B. Walker, he had consulted the First Lord, or at least he had, in his various conversations with Was iththeDuke of Northumberland, mentioned how much on " e _ oof pressed , and referred to cancelling the circular as ~i4t.(l meeting the difficulty. '''." Grace says that Mr. Stafford had at various times conversations with him in regard to cancelling the circular of September, 1 wa , s , sirE. , but that the letter of the 2d of April writtenw.Nvaitheout his knowledge. letter, Points out ala tli his reply to Mr. Stafford's private is regulated by the nctly that the system of promotions circulare,ifth , of 1847, which preference impossible, renders political yards perform their dut superintendents of the dock -1849, he adds, `lt is at!h ainl ' Lords of to the circular of do cile whether they will rescind that of the Admiraltyelto Surveyor of the control which is fie order, and deprive the On the sth of April Sir B. ;ahighly necessary,' &c. with Mr. Stafford at the Admiralty,lker had an interview subject *as warmly discussed. Tioeni-which occasion the differ ence in their recollection of this conversation. material Walker asserts that Mr. Stafford said, . ;l e t' Sir B. blinking the question; I am so pressed by Lord herby use the Chancellor of the E x chequer that I cannot help Y and _ my self. " Mr. Stafford states that is difficult to pledge himself, either affirmatively or negatively, to the precise accuracy of any particular words, but ho can say there was no pres m either by Lord Derby or by the Chan sure put upon hi cellor of the Exchequ er ; and what he believes he stated was, ` The pressure up on me from members of my own party was very severe indeed, an d gat the Government of the Exchequer would Lord Derby and the Chancellor o f THE SUN, LONDON, TRURSD►AY EVENING, MAY 26: 1853, not, any more than any . other Government, permit all the patronage to bo in the hands of their political opponents. " Sir B. Walker asserts that the expressions, as cited by himself, were used a second time by Mr. Stafford, in the presence of Admiral Hyde Parker ; and that, upon his readin g this portion of his evidence to Admiral 11. Parker while Admiral Berkeley was present, Admiral Parker admitted having heard the expression as cited by Sir B. Walker. Admiral Berkeley confirmed this fact before your committee. " A rumour of this evidence having reached Lord Derby . and Mr. Disraeli, they attended a meeting of your com mittee, and denied having either pressed Mr. Stafford, or used language which could afford any ground for such a statement. " There is a materiral difference between the assertions of Sir B. Walker on the one hand, and Mr. Stafford on other, in reference to the precise words spoken at this interview ; but, as regards one material point, it is agreed on both sides that the names of the two most influential members of the Government were introduced in an argu ment, wherein the Secretary of the Admiralty endeavoured to constrain the Surveyor of the Navy to consent to an alteration of the system under which promotions were regulated. On the sth of April, the day when this interview occurred, a promotion was authorised by the Admiralty, which gave rise to serious remonstrances, and brought again to Mr. Stafford's notice the danger of any hasty exer cise of patronage among men in the dockyards. Captain Richards, the Superintendent of Chatham Dockyard, stated that on the Ist of March, 1852, in his monthly report to the Admiralty, he informed the board that there was a vacancy for a leading man in the metal mills, and that, as the inferior leading men were not competent for such a po sition, he recommended an entry of a man from private trade. This suggestion was not approved, and on the sth of April, 1852, a letter was sent from the Admiralty, ap pointing Joseph Ridgway, a second class man in the metal mills, to this vacancy. " Upon receiving this appointment which Captain Richards says seemed to him a violation of the orders of 1847—he thought it best to write a private letter to Mr. Stafford. " Accordingly, on the Bth of April, he related fully, by letter, the circumstances of Ridgway's case. He informed Mr. Stafford that Ridgway had in a former year attempted to obtain this promotion from Sir Francis Baring by poli tical influence, through some friends at Portsmouth ; and he sent some extracts of the letters, showing that Ridg way had been then reprimanded for transgressin g the orders of 1847, and warned that a repetition of his conduct would be followed by dismissal. Capt. Richards further repre sented, in explicit but respectful language, the ill effects which such a promotion must have in the dockyards, and ho added that he brought all these facts to Mr. Stafford's notice before putting in force the order for Ridgway's pro motion. " On the 9th of April Capt. Richards also wrote to Sir B. Walker on the subject, expressing his fears that the system of promotion established in 1847 was about to be entirely set aside. " On the 11th of April Mr. Stafford replied to Captain Richards, that the appointment of Ridgway must go for ward. " Your committee inquired by whom Ridgway had been recommended, and were informed that Sir F. Smith, then a candidate for the borough of Chatham, represented to Mr. Stafford, or to Mr. Grant, his private secretary, that Ridgway was kept out of his just promotion on account of his political opinions, and that for this reason Capt. Rich ards proposed to select a man from the private trade. " On the 11th of April, when Mr. Stafford persisted in making.this appintment, he knew the facts of this case ; he was aware that Sir F. Smith had applied to him for Ridgway, and that, according to the circular of 1847, any attempt to obtain promotion through political influence had been strictly forbidden; he had been told that after the re port of the superintendent, the promotion of Ridgway would be viewed in the yard as the supervision of the sys tem of 1847, and that such a step must produce an influence on all the men, as well as diminish the authority of the su perintendent. He acted, therefore, in opposition to the advice of Captain Richards, and he did not ask for the opinion of the surveyor. " As a justification of this proceeding, Mr. Stafford states that ho was at this time prepossed with a notion that Capt. Richards was a decided political partisan. This notion, however, rested on some rumour which Mr. Stafford had accepted without inquiry; and he states he did not then know the engagement into which Captain Richards had entered upon his appointment to this office. Your com mittee have not received one word of evidence in support of this rumour ; but, on the contrary, decisive evidence that it was unfounded. "On the 16th of April, 1852, the circular was issued can celling the previous circular of September, 1849. " Your committee have endeavoured to ascertain the authority under which the circular of the 19th of April was issued, and the occurrences which led to its issue. " Mr. Stafford states that ho had not then seen the original minute sanctioning the circular of September, 1840 ; that he had found a transcript of it in the general minute book, but could trace no notice of it in the general minute book. This seemed to prove that it had not been issued by the board. Again, in the general minute book no mark showed that it had received the sanction of the First Lord, Mr. Stafford, therefore, without inquiring for the original document, concluded that the minute of Sep tember, 1849, had been issued upon the sole authority of the previous Secretary of the Admiralty. He made this erroneous statement to the Duke of Northumberland, and contended that he, as Secretary of the Admiralty, was fully justified in revoking an order which a former secre tary had of his own authority issued. "The Duke of Northumberland admitted that he had on several occasions refused to interfere in cancelling the circular of September, 1849 ; and it was only when he thought the power belonged to the Secretary . that he ac quiesced in it. Under this erroneous impression, the First Lord permitted the circular of the 19th of April to bo issued, and was cognizant of its purport before its issue. Two Lords of the Admiralty had been themselves superin tendents of dockyards, but neither these Lords nor any other members of the Board of Admiralty were consulted in regard to this circular, or even informed of it until after it had been issued. " From the evidence of the Earl of Derby, it appears that the Duke of Northumberland had himself selected the distinguished naval officers who were his colleagues at the board. It may be presumed, therefore, that his Grace had full confidence in their judgment and experience; yet on this occasion he did not consult them, but relied on the assertions of the Secretary of the Admiralty, who had nei ther official experience, nor any knowledge of the details of the several departments under the Admiralty. " The Duke of Northumberland remembered, as ho said the undeviating traditions of former times respecting job bing in the dockyards, and it seems that his Grace studi ously avoided all cognizance of such proceedings ; ' he never knew, from the day he entered the office until he left the office, whether the patronage was in the hands of the Surveyor, or whether it was in the hands of the Secretary, he never knew anything about it.' "The evidence shows, however, that the duke's .mind had been imbued with a notion that the circular of 1849 had transferred patronage from the Secretary to the Surveyor of the Navy, for his Grace said, ' Under the circular of 1847, the superintendent sent up two names to the Secre tary of the Admiralty, who selected one of those names, and that selection was the only patronage which the Secre tary had in the promotions.' Under the circular of 1849, he believed that the Surveyor erased one of the two names, transmitting the other to be registered at the Admiralty. " The duke admitted that he spoke only from hearsay ; and your committee, relying upon evidence, must pronounce his Grace to have been misinformed in regard to this point. Under the circular of 1849, the Surveyor, having received two names from the superintendent, did not erase either ' • he merely made a submission, giving his opinion as to which was the more, deserving person. Patronage, in regard to promotions, could not honestly be exercised either by the Surveyor or by the Secretary. The circular of 1847 had announced that promotions should be governed by the merits of the candidates, and that no preference or favour should influence the decision. For the justice of the deci sion, the Board of Admiralty remained equally responsible under the circular. of 1849 as under the circular of 1847. " The authority, therefore, under which the circular of 1849 was cancelled on the 19th April, 1852, was undoubt edly the consent of the First Lord ; a consent given under the assurance conveyed to him that the power of cancelling that document belonged properly to the Secretary. Th& sanction, therefore, of the First Lord, was given iu igno rance of all the facts which were essential to bo known, before a correct opinion could be formed upon the pro priety of maintaining or rescinding the order issued by Sir Francis Baring. " Your committee repeatedly asked Mr. Stafford to state any facts which had made him desirous of cancelling the circular of September, 1849. Mr. Stafford did not state to you committee the source from which he derived his im pressions, nor did he furnish any facts enabling your com mittee to institute a more searching inquiry. Under the authority of that order the Surveyor of the Navy had acted for two years and a half ; and if, during that period, it had been shown that any promotions had been unfairly submitted, or any names unjustly withal by the Surveyor, or by the Surveyor's department, your committee would have deemed it their duty to report facts so injurious to the interests of the public service. " In regard to promotions unjustly withheld, your com mittee were suprised to find that Mr. Stafford, when he gave his evidence, still considered the case of Ridgway a very strong case in justification of altering the system under which recommendations were submitted. It is unnecessary to speak further of this case, except to say that a timely warning had been kindly but fruitlessly sent to Mr. Staf ford, which does honour to the gallant officer from whom it emanated. "Mr. Stafford said that he had some distrust or mis giving as to the Surveyor's department ; it was represented that there was nepotism and jealousies at work between that department and the dockyards. Representations were made to him that there was a concert between the Surveyor's department and Chatham, or, in other words, that some hint was given from the Surveyor's department to persons in the dockyard at Chatham, as to whom they should re commend. In regard to the Surveyor himself, Mr. Stafford says,. that he entertained no suspicion, but he so far gave credit to the numerous private hints and anonymous re ports which reached him in reference to that department, that he thought it desirable to bring the correspondence from the dockyards directly under his own inspection, without allowing it first to pass through the Surveyor's office. -4 gincti, however, it appears that in two cases at least, the promotions were specially recommended by Sir F. Smith, the evidence given by this gentleman before the Chatham Committee, will perhaps throw some light on this subject. Sir F. Smith there states, in reference to Mr. Cotsell, that `he understood Cotsell was about to be jockeyed by some contrivance in the Surveyor's office.' Again, it will be remembered that Mr. Grant states, Sir F. Smith, his friend, had represented the injustice done to Ridgway, at Chatham. " Your committee earnestly endeavoured to obtain something more definite than these rumours, because they deemed it important to ascertain whether the promises held out by the circulars of 1847 and 1849 had been honestly fulfilled. " For this purpose, the first question to be asked was— whether the Surveyor's department had duly submitted the recommendations as received from the dockyards. The superintendents of the dockyards were unanimous in testi fying to the fairness with which their recommendations had been treated while the circular of 1849 had been in force. They had perfect confidence in the impartialityof the Surveyor's department, and considered the system in troduced by the circular of 1819 an improvement on the previous practice. te:ia."Y our committee next i nqu i re d wheth e r the superin nts had ma d e recommendat i ons where b y t h ey appeare d haveto been actuated by any preference in forwarding or in withh olding the names of candidates. Mr. Stafford motives, and t! read to your committee iwinhpicrho,,gitohnesy ttioischthiaEing a statement which he had made in the house, acquitting f the superintendents of any such into office he had entertained, his belief in the good faith with geeod. contrary duty. He discarded any " Another important ti w on hie r h onl o a n iu lLs n firs am t e e i n y t , ra D n i c d e the principal officers and their assistants in the dockyards who conducted the examinations, and recommended three names to the superintendent, invariably perform this duty with care and impartiality ? " It is manifest that the good intentions of the Board of Admiralty, , the fairness of the Surveyor, and the justice of the superintendents, are all liable to be defeated, unless the principal officers of the dockyard execute their portion of the task with honesty and diligence. " On this point your committee have received conflicting evidence. The superintendents testify their belief in the honesty and good faith of their principal officers, while the contrary is positively asserted by one witness, a political agent in a dockyard borough. Mr. Stafford also says that he was was influenced by the prevalence of such reports. When further pressed by your committee to furnish names and to instance some cases, he replied that this would be injurious to the persons who had given him the informa tion, that he had himself tried to remedy the injustice, and then destroyed the letters. " Your committee consider that if the Secretary of the Admiralty entertained such suspicions, and was from this motive induced to cancel the circular of 1849, he would have done no more than his public duty in endeavouring, by every means in his power, to expose such dishonesty and fraud. Mr. Stafford, however, thought it useless to inquire further, and probably in his case he judged wisely, for when the Secretary of the Admiralty accompanies political candidates through the dockyards and invites the officers of the department to meet electioneering agents on the eve of an election, it becomes obvious that he cannot consistently take any steps for the purpose of repressing favouritism and party preferences. Before any useful in quiry into such rumours can be instituted, it is essential that all the men in the dockyards should be convinced that the authorities at head-quarters are sincere in their intentions. " Your committee have been unable to discover any facts which justify the issue of the circular of 19th April, 1852, cancelling the order of September, 1849, and the evidence proves that this proceeding was adopted by ➢lr. Stafford to satisfy his political friends. The circular of September, 1849, has since been restored, and its pro visions rendered more secure by being embodied in an Order in Council. _ _ " In'concluding their observations on this head of their inquiry your committee feel it due to the Surveyor of the Navy to declare their opinion that they have heard nothing which casts the least shadow of suspicion upon the integ rity of his conduct in the performance of his official duties. Sir B. Walker asserts that he never allowed any one in his department to interfere with these duties, and that the re sponsibility of the submissions rests solely on himself. SECOND. Also to inquire into the circumstances under which a letter addressed by Sir B. Walker to Mr. Stafford, as Secretary to the Admiralty, in which letter Sir B. Walker tendered his resignation as Surveyor of the Navy, was withheld from the board. " On the 21st April, 1852, Sir B. Walker 'states that he was first informed of the issue of the circular of the 19th by the dockyard returns acknowledging its receipt. On the same day he wrote a letter tendering his resignation, and addressed it to the Secretary of the Admiralty. " Sir B. Walker says that he took this letter to the Ad miralty, and read it to Admiral Hyde Parker, who was the immediate head of the Surveyor's department. Ad miral Parker took the letter, and said he should give it to the First Lord. Admiral H. Parker is not certain as to the date, but it is certain that he took the letter, on the same day on which he received it, to the Duke of Northum berland ; that he gave the letter to the duke, having first taken it out of its cover. He did not read it to his Grace, but told him the purport of the letter. "The Duke of Northumberland has no recollection of this letter, and he thinks there is some confusion as to the date of this interview. He believes that Admiral H. Par ker came to him on Monday the 26th of April, and repre sented the annoyance which the Surveyor felt on account of a slur which seemed to be cast on his character by the issue of the circular of the 19th. Admiral Parker spoke very warmly, and justly upon the subject, and the duko told him he felt confident that Mr. Stafford meant no dis respect to the Surveyor. After this interview his Grace sent for Mr. Stafford, and told him that the Surveyor con sidered the circular cancelling the order of 1849 had cast a stigma on the Surveyor, and the duke was much afraid he would resign ; and he added to Mr. Stafford, who treated it rather lightly, It is much more serious than you seem to think ; for, if he resigns his office, I may not find a suc cessor.' Upon that Mr. Stafford went into Admiral Par ker's room, and at the end of about half an hour they came into the duke's room, Sir B. Walker and Admiral if. Par ker together. The circular of ;the 26th April was then read in the duke's room, upon which Sir B. Walker said, I am perfectly satisfied. " Sir B. Walker asserts confidently that the duke is in error as to this interview ; but he states that be did see the duke between the day of the delivery of his letter and of the circular being issued, and that the duke said to him, I know all about your letter ; Admiral Parker has told me all about it ; remain perfectly quiet, and everything shall be set right.' " In the midst of these contradictions, there is one point on which all the witnesses agree, namely, that the purport or draught of the circular of the 26th April was read in the presence of Admiral Parker and of Sir B. Walker before its issue. "The circular of 26th April was afterwards read at the board. This circular informs the superintendents that the circular of the 19th was not intended as an imputation on the Surveyor of the Navy ; and it proceeds in these words : The arrangements with regard to the dockyard promo tions, as laid down by their lordships' circular of the 27th February, 1847, will be strictly adhered to ; and they deem it desirable to revert to the system then in force, of having all communications on the subject addressed to this office in the first instance. "Admiral Parker states that aday or two after the above interview he destroyed Sir B. Walker's letter of resigna tion, considering the matter to be settled. As regards the letter of resignation, therefore, it appears that, although it was addressed to the Into Secretary of the Admiralty, it was never delivered to him, and, consequently, he is in no way responsible for the act of withholding that letter from the board. " Your committee were informed by Sir E. Walker that he did not until November know that his letter of resigna tion had been destroyed ; he had found in the circular of 26th April a reference, as he thought, to the words he had used in his letter, and he concluded that his letter had been submitted to the board. Sir B. Walker acknowledged that the circular of the 26th cleared his character, and so far, and so far only, was he satisfied ; he did not think the course taken by the board satisfactory, inasmuch as they confirmed the act previously done by the Secretary with out their knowledge. " The Duke of Northumberland, and the other Lords, in sanctioning the circular of 26th April, repeated and con firmed the order of the 19th. They had now removed all imputation upon the Surveyor's honour ; but they had not provided for the efficient working of the system which they stated would be strictly adhered to. "The First Lord and several of his colleagues seem to have considered that in regard to promotions the Surveyor would be consulted as before, the only change being that the recommendations would be sent, in the first instance, to the Secretary. The duke did not, however, give any directions on this subject; he tweeted that the Secretary and the Surveyor would work together, as this was essen tial for the efficiency of the service. The First Lord sup posed that the Secretary would communicate upon all matters with the Surveyor, and his Grace said that it was impossible for him to contemplate any abuses. This expectation was not realized. Sir B. Walker denies that he was afterwards consulted by the Secretary upon vacan cies or promotions, and Mr. Stafford cannot remember that he over did consult the Surveyor upon such business after April, 1852. "The duke received, however, other intimations that the appointments in the dockyards were not satisfactory to officers in his department, and that abuses were not alto gether impossible. He had granted an interview to Captain Richards, who had brought to his notice the circumstanees of Ridgway's promotion, and the correspondence with regard to that case. The Surveyor of the Navy had also seen his Grace upon that subject. His Grace'sconversa- tion induced Captain Richards to think that the duke quite concurred with him in his view of dockyard promotions. Admiral H. Parker remonstrated frequently upon the rescinding the circular of September, 1849, and said ho `should bring the matter before the board. In reply to Admiral H. Parker, the duke spoke very confidentially, and encouraged him to bring the subject before the board. This, however, was never done. _ _ " On the lOth of May Sir B. Walker, having received many communications from different dockyards in regard to the iminst filling up of vacancies, and being now re lieved from personal feeling in regard to any imputation on his character, which had been at first involved in this question, wrote a letter to the duke calling his attention again to the subject, and expressing and earnest wish that his Grace's administration might not be tarnished. " The duke states that he considered this letter well, and thought he saw in it a desire to revive personal disputes ; he however, showed the letter in confidence to Mr. Stafford, saying that he should not make it public. " Sir B. Walker received no reply to this letter. " Your committee examined Sir B: Walker upon the details of the cases which he adduced in justification of his letter to the Duke of Northumberland, and they ob tained evidence in corrobltion of his statements from the superintendents of Woolwich, of Devonport, and of Cha tham. The officers concurred in stating that the appoint ments made by Mr. Stafford were, in many instances, un just to the men in the yards, contrary to the circular o -1847, and detrimental to the efficiency of the service. he explanation of these various cases Mr. Stafford said, that holed regarded many of these appointments as first entries, the nomination to which had been invariably vested in the Board of Admiralty. Under this impression he had not followed the recommendations of the superintendents, but had, without reference to their advice, named the persons suggested to him by his political friends. The evidence of Commodores Seymour and Eden, of Captain Richards and of Sir B. Walker, will show the view which these officers took of these appointments, and the meaning which they attached to the circular of 1847. In regard to several of the appointments inquired into by your committee, the origi nal documents could not be produced, having either been lost or abstracted. The original minute of the 19th of April, 1852, was also not forthcoming. Some evidence re specting it will be found in the appendix. " Your committee desires distinctly to state that in the majority of cases, after cancelling the circular of 1849, Mr. Stafford appears to have followed the recommenda tions of the superintendents ; but it is obvious, as regards the efficiency of these establishments, that even a few pro motions obtained through political influence would defeat the authorities of the dockyard, subvert the confidence of the isen, and rendar nugatory all the solemn assurances of circulars issued by the Admiralty, to the effect that men should rise by merit, and not by political influence. " There can be little doubt but that these results have attended the appointments adverted to by witnesses well qualified to give an impartial opinion on this subject. Officers of high character in the navy, distinguished alike for professional abilities and unblemished honour, observed the course of promotion in the dockyards during the last summer with apprehension, with feelings of humiliation, with dismay, and even with disgust. " One officer, of high standing in the navy, and supreme at the Admiralty, had power to check these proceedings ; an appeal was more than once made to him ; he intimated his disapproval, but he declined to interfere. His rank and station in the country, his position in the Government, his connexion with the gallant service of the navy, were deemed to be securities for the administration of a depart ment confided to the Duke of Northumberland. On this responsibility the Earl of Derby stated that he had placed his reliance. " His Grace had surrendered to the Secretary the civil patronage of the Admiralty ; and it is due to his Grace to state that the few appointments connected with the dock yards which he himself made were apparently selected for no other motive except the good of the service. Your committee, however, would ill discharge their duty if they did not point out that in every branch of the Government the head of the department must be held responsible, not indeed for every individual appointment, bnt for the sys tem under which the patronage is distributed ; and he is specially bound to uphold subordinate officers who cannot properly perform their duty without his countenance and support. "THIRD QUESIIOII.--The circumstances connected with the appointment of Mr. James Wells as master smith in the dockyard of Portsmouth, the subsequent cancelling thereof, and tho appointment of Mr. George Cotsell in his stead. " Mr. George Cotsell, the master smith at Chatham, stated to your committee that he had for some years been desirous of being transferred to the same situation at Ports mouth, and in the spring of 1852 lie made an application to the Admiralty on this subject. lie subsequently saw Mr. Stafford in the smithery at Chatham, accompanied by Sir F. Smith and other gentlemen. He then took an oppor tunity of reminding Mr. Stafford of his request. In August, 1852, Admiral H. Parker, directed Sir B. Walker to select a man for the smithery at Portsmouth from the private trade. " Sir B. Walker thereupon communicated with Com modore Eden, because at Woolwich a smith from private trade had been found of great service. Eventually James Wells, a smith from Liverpool, was recommended for the place, and Admiral Parker signed a minute, considering himself entitled to appoint a master smith, and believing that this appointment would be an advantage to the service. In accordance with this minute letters were sent from the Admiralty, on the 10th of September, to the supeiinten dear at Portsmouth, to the Surveyor, and to the Account ant-General, acquainting them with the appointment of Wells. A warrant was also prepared, but this was sub sequently stopped by Captain Hamilton, the permanent Secretary of the Admiralty, without any communication with Admiral Parker. Captain Hamilton said that the minute by Admiral Parker was not regular, because he had no authority to make it, the patronage being at the dis posal of the Secretary. "At the end of September Mr. Stafford returned, having been absent for some weeks ; he wished to appoint Cotsell to the place, but Admiral Parker remonstrated. On the Ist of October Cotsell was appointed, and Wells, who had entered upon the duty, was dismissed. " Cotsell had a very good character as a workman, as will be seen by referring to the evidence. The chief ob jection to the appointment was, that he !had been named through political influence, and that, as this was well known in the yards, it must operate prejudicially to the service. "On the Bth of October Admiral H. Parker, wrote to the Duke of Northumberland, complaining of this substi tuting as injurious to the public service and as an affront to himself. His Grace states that he was vexed at the manner in which Admiral H. Parker had been treated, and expressed an opinion that it was wrong. The admiral, had, however, committed an irregularity in making the appointment, and the duke desired to allay the angry feel ings which had arisen. " Mr. Stafford defends the appointment of Cotsell upon two grounds—first, that Wells had, in fact, received no warrant of appointment ; next, that Cotsell had a stronger claim, because he was an excellent master smith, and hav ing served in the dockyards was fairly entitled to be pre ferred to a stranger. "Admiral Parker said that he made the minute rightly, as First Naval Lord, when he appointed Wells. The duke states, on the contrary, that the conduct of Admiral Parker was irregular, for that he himself had given this appoint ment to Mr. Stafford. " The expediency of introducing persons from private trade, and thereby stopping the usual course of promo tions, must depend on the special circumstances of the case. In the circular of 1847 attention is directed to im provements in working copper and iron, and to the early introduction into the Government yards of the best mode of working adopted in private establishments. Great be nefit had resulted in Woolwich from this introduction, and Admiral Parker, having been superintendent of Ports mouth Dockyard, was well qualified to give an opinion on this question. " Under the present Board of Admiralty Mr Wells has been restored to Portsmouth, and Mr. Cotsell remanded to Chatham. " FOURTH QUESTION.—To inquire generally into the exercise of the influence and patronage of the Admiralty in the dockyards and Government departments connected with the several Parliamentary boroughs. "An extensive field of inquiry is here submitted for in vestigation. .P 4,11 the witnesses, who have been asked the question, admit that the political party enjoying the power and patronage of office exercise an influence, more or less effective, upon the constituencies of the dockyard boroughs. " The evidence offered upon this general subject con vinced your committee that, if they examined into the political conflicts within these boroughs in former years, they would immediately be bewildered by contradictory assertions and statements as to long-past transactions, which the lapse of time renders it difficult to verify ; and probably, after devoting the whole session to such an in quiry, they would be unable to afford to the house any more useful information than can be now obtained from the reports of different election committees. "Your committee have therefore restricted their inves tigations to proceedings subsequent to the issue of the cir cular of 1847, when a new_ era commenced. In former years it is generally admitted that corrupt practices ;;; vailed in the dockyards. To prevent a recurrence of such practices the circular of 1847 was avowedly issued, and the accompanying evidence tends to show that from the time of its issue until April, 1852, the Board of Admiralty had honestly fulfilled their part of the engagement. Your com mittee limit their report to the subject of dockyard appoint ments, and to the direct exercise or influence upon men in the dockyards. They wish, therefore, to state, that they pronounce no opinion upon the general exercise of patron age by the Board of Admiralty. The patronage of the first entries would probably give a preponderating influence to a Government which had held office for a continuous term of years. There are, however, objections to permit ting the officers of the dockyard to exercise patronage in reference to the first entries. The admission of numerous relations and persons locally connected with each other would neither tend to the good discipline of the yard, nor to impartiality in the examinations for promotion ; while the power of rejection, if properly exercised by the super intendent, seems to afford some security against the intro duction of unfit men into the yard. " No general election had occurred since the issue of the circular of 1847 until the summer of last year, but two elections for Greenwich had occurred in the years 1849 and 1851 ; your committee endeavoured, therefore, to ascertain whether the Government, in the years 1849 and 1851, had interfered with the course of promotions at Woolwich, either before or after the two elections. Commodore Eden states that his recommendations were duly confirmed, and he does not remember any case where other influence pre vailed against him. " The late Secretary of the Admiralty was accompanied by the parliamentary candidates of his own political party when he visited the dockyards at Chatham, Deptford, and Devonport, and at the two last places he stood with the candidates at the ticket office, whore all the men must necessarily pass in review. During his stay at Devonport, a few days previous to the election, he invited men, who were taking an active part in the political contest, to meet several officers of the dockyard at dinner, and this dinner was charged to the contingencies of the Admiralty. " In regard to these proceedings Mr. Stafford has ad mitted that his conduct was wrong, and not consistent with his duty. " Your committee asked Mr. H. Hay, who has been at the Admiralty during 47 years, whether he ever knew any occasion upon which a Secretary of the Admiralty had gone round without the board in the way in which the late Secretary did, and Mr. Hay said, ' I do not think I can in stance a case." "Mr. Stafford states that he was not then aware of the stringent obligations under which the superintendents of the dockyards, as men of honour, were required to abstain from all political interference. " Thus, in ignorance of much that he should have known, seeking counsel from none, and rejecting such counsel as had been tendered, he acted in disregard of precedents, and pursued a course which rendered the circulars of the Admiralty, and the conditions imposed on the superin tendents, equally nugatory and valueless. "Some observations will be found in the evidence upon the expodiencyof disfranchising the men in the dockyards; this is a question of State policy involving considerations which were not referred to your committee, and which it is not within their province to report upon. They have, however, not deemed it irrelevant to obtain some opinions upon the question from witnesses whose judgment and ex perience deserve the attention of the House. "In its bearing upon the public interest, the importance of the system under which labour in the dockyards is regu lated, can hardly be overrated. The vote for wages alone in these' establishments at home has this year amounted to 683,6001., and the present number of men is fixed at 9,653. A few years since the expense under this head was still larger ; but from the evidence of Sir F. Baring it appears that by the regulations of the years 1847 and 1849 the dock yards were so much improved that an equal amount of labour was obtained from a diminished number of work men. " An impartial system of advancement must be produc tive of industry, and therefore of economy ; such a system your committed believe may be enforced, if the Board of Admiralty honestly persevere in its maintenance, and if, having appointed fit persons as superintendents, they dir ec t them vigilantly to watch those whose fair co-operation can Alone insure justice to candidates for promotion. " For the purpose of securing a proper system of promo tions in the dockyards, it may, perhaps, fairly be required that if the system under which these promotions aro uow again regulated should be hereafter altered or modified the information shall be laid before Parliament as soon as an opportunity may be afforded for such communication. Before closing this report, your committee wish to di rect attention to some matters of detail which appear to theni susceptible of improvement. The minute books of the Admiralty do not Wont all the information in regard to past transactions which is desirabl e f or re f erence . The evidence here annexed shows that important documents have been either withdrawn or lost, and the loss of papers is, it is stated, not an unfrequent occurrence at the Admi- nay. In order to obviate the inconvenience of such loss, an unproved arrangement might, perhaps, be made, so that orders entered in the general minute book may not long remain without the cognisance of the board, and so that in after years a reference to the general minute book may show not only the purport of the minute, but the autho rity for its issue. May 23, 1853." EXTENSIVE FAILURE IN BRIGHTON.—It is with no small regret that we announce not only the failure of Mr. Robert Winter, jun., but the breaking-up and dis persion of the Brighton School, which be succeeded in establishing in Clifton-road. It has for some time past been known that Mr. Winter was struggling against formidable difficulties into which the several speculative schemes in which he had embarked involved him ; but it was hoped that such assistance would have been ob tained as would have enabled him "to weather the storm." These hopes have not been realised ; and some large creditors being in possession of a bill of sale, and all prospect of a retrieval having vanished, the pupils, up wards of one hundred in number, received their conge last week, and the effects will be brought to the hammer without delay by Mr. Wilkinson. Mr. Winter's liabi lities are, we hear, nearly 20,0001., and we fear that much distress in several quarters will result from this failure. We regret to add that Mr. Winter has disap peared, and his absence will of course complicate matters the more.—Brighton Guardian. [ADVERTISE3tENT.]-11olloway's Ointment and Pills, excellent Remedies for the Cure of Bronchitis and Ulce rated Sore Throats.—Extract of a letter from Mr. James Downing, of Paris-street, Exeter, dated March 80, 1853.—" To Professor Holloway.—Sir, Your oint ment and pills have effected upon me a perfect cure of a dreadfully diseased throat, arising from cold, which ul timately terminated in bronchitis. The medical aid I received was unable to combat with the disease, and I was rapidly sinking under its influence. At this stage I had recourse to your medicines, which in a few hours relieved me, and I am happy to inform you, that in less than a fortnight I was entirely cured by them."— Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway's establish ment, 244, Strand, London. HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK. (From the Registrar-General's _Return.) In the week that ended last Saturday the deaths re gistered in London numbered 1,098, being nearly the same amount as in the previous week. In the ten cor responding weeks of the years 1843-52, the average number was 900, which, if raised in proportion to in crease of population during that period and up to the present time, will give a mortality for last week of 990. Hence it appears that the actual number of deaths last week exceeds the estimated amount by 108. Fatal cases arising from diseases of the respiratory organs continue to decline, but they still exhibit an ex cess above those of corresponding weeks, for last week they were 174, while the corrected average is only 131. Plithisis destroyed 152 lives, hooping cough, 65. The weekly temperature rose 10 degrees, and an increase of diarrhoea is the immediate result ; this complaint was fatal in 18 and 28 cases in the last two - weeks. Typhus in the same times declined from 71 to 58. In the sub-district South St. Giles-in-the-Fields five deaths were registered in the week from typhus, one from gastric fever, and one from brain fever. One of these occurred in Short's-gardens, one in Endell-street, one in Smart's-buildings, and the rest in the workhouse. Mr. Foulker, the registrar, says :—" Typhus has been very prevalent lately in my sub-district. I have regis tered 11 cases since 4th May, and 8 of these occurred in the workhouse." Mr. Matthews, registrar of Somers Town sub-dis trict, observes : "The warm weather baying now set in, I would suggest that that part of my sub-district which is under the control of the commissioners of the Somers Town Estate, should be better cleansed, and that the streets should be watered." At 141, High Holborn, on the 13th May, a spinster, teacher at the Field-lane Ragged School, aged 31 years, died of "typhus (8 days." Mr. Yardley, the registrar, was informed that " the deceased came home ill from the ragged school, where it is supposed she had caught the infection, as two or three of the children attending the school had died from typhus, and two of the missionaries visiting the Refuge, which is under the school, had also died from it. There was also registered the death of a man, on the 11th April, who died from typhus abdominalis, in the Hahnemann Hospital, and who had been re moved from the Refuge." At 7, Sun-square, Bishopsgate, on 20th May, the daughter of a deceased mariner, aged 16 months, died of diarrhoea. Mr. Spencer, the registrar, adds :—" The mother and child were in the Workhouse, Bishops gate, on account of ill health, but the former discharged herself and child for the purpose of getting further ad vice from St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where she was reproved for bringing the child away in so dangerous a state. lam sorry to say that such conduct is too often exhibited by the inmates of the workhouse towards the medical officer, whose kindness and skill are deserving of greater confidence." The following five deaths occurred in the week in the London Fever Hospital, two on the 17th May, two on the 19th, and one on the 21st : A labourer, brought from Marylebone Workhouse, aged 34 years, " typhus, 21 days. In hospital six days." A woman from Lambeth Workhouse, aged 36 years, "typhus (duration unknown.) In hospital one day." A labourer from Smith's-buildings, Peckham, aged 32 years, "Meningitis (18 days). In hospital 13 days." A labourer from Greeman's-lane, Islington, aged 40 years, "typhus (duration unknown). In hospital six A. widow from Orchard-place, Marylebone, aged 45 years, " typhus (duration unknown). In hospital 7 days." The following additional cases are selected from the returns of the week :—At 21, Rosemary-lane, Aldgate, on 17th May, the son of a journeyman plasterer, aged 1 year and 9 months, died of " fever hydrophobia." Certified— A moulder in Whitechapel, aged 23 years, died a natural death, accelerated by grief and disappoint- ment." Inquest ---In the Strand Union Workhouse, on 20th May, a carpenter, aged 62 years, died of" destitution and debility." In King's College Hospital, on 13th May, a brass-dresser, aged 41 years, from 11, Bennett's-court, Drury-lane, died of "acute oedema of fauces, glottis (9 hours), tracheotomy, bronchitis, pneumonia ; died 47 hours after operation." Post snort.—At 21, Eversholt street, Somers-Town, on the 13th May, a greengrocer aged 39 years, died of " atrophia, anthrax." On the 13th and 19th May respectivly, at 13, Barclay-street, Somers-Town, two daughters of a carman, both aged 9 months, died of pneumonia, one after 7 days, the other after 14 days' illness. At 28, Surrey-square, Walworth, two sisters, aged 9 and 2 years, died on 13th and 17th May of scarlatina, one after 14 days', the other after 18 days' illness. At 30, College-street W6t, Camden-town, on 15th and 20th May, two sisters, aged 3 and 6 years, died both of hooping-cough• (one month), pneumonia (one week). In Poplar, at 11, Providence-place, Woolmore-street, on 10th and 14th May, two daughters of a labourer, both aged 14 months, died of " hooping-cough, pneumonia, convulsions." In Marylebone, a gentleman, aged 73 years, died from "cut ting a corn too deeply on the little toe of a paralysed leg, erysipelas (10 days), gangrene (6 days.") At 13, Sydney. street, Islington,the daughter of a la,bourer, aged 4 months, died of "erysipelas (11 days), on the fourth day after vac cination. A saddler, from Hackney, aged 18 years, died on the 16th May, in the Small pox Hospital, of " small pox confluent, unprotected (13 days)." A man, aged 55 years, died of " hwmatemasis, ulceration of stomach, accelerated by intemperance in spirit drinking." Post mort.—A. woman also died of intemperance. In St. Thomas's Hospital, on the 3d May, a fisherman, aged 28 years, died of " inflammation of the stomach, urticaria, after eating shell-fish." Last week the births of 791 boys and 776 girls, in all 1,567 children, were registered in London. The average number in eight corresponding weeks of the years 1845-52 was 1,347. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MAY Zymotic Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain. Nerves, and Senses l2l Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 34 Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of Respiration • 174 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digeston Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus &c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations _ Premature Birth and Debility 25 Atrophy 22 Old Age Sudden ll Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemper ance 4l Causes not specified .. 13 bRATIIS FROM ALL CAUSES Population Deaths in corre- Deaths Enumerated. sponding week in the • 1851. of 1552. West Districts North Districts 490,396 Central Districts 393,256 East Districts 485,522 South Districts Week 162 .... 184 201 .... 231 .... 320 Totals Males Females 943 1,098 610 488 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males Females.. Total . 791 7.76 1,567 ALLEGED MURDER AT HOLLOWAY.—Great excitement was yesterday occasioned at Holloway and in the vicinity, by a report, which was very generally circu lated, that a man had been fatally stabbed by a woman. On inquiry it was ascertained that the report was not wholly without foundation, and the horrid deed of vio lence had been perpetrated with fatal results, From what has been allowed to transpire, it appears that a man of the name of James Welch, aged 47 years, shoemaker, living at 1, Pleasant-passage, near the turnpike-gate, Holloway, and who is represented to have been a most inoffensive man, had been out spending the evening of Wednesday, the 18th inst., and on his return home between one and two o'clock, the police on duty received information that a, man had been frightfully stabbed in the abdomen and groin ; on their arrival they found the unfortunate man bleeding profusely. Medical assistance was at once sent for, who advised his immediate removal to Saint Bartholomew's Hospital ; a stretcher having been pro cured, he was removed without loss of time, when he was placed in Bentley's ward, under the care of Mr. Lawrence, surgeon, who dressed his wounds, which were inflicted wth a sharp instrument ; but notwithstanding the medical skill and attention he gradually sank, and ex pired yesterday morning, having previously stated that he was fatally stabbed by a woman, but refused to give up her name. Grave suspicion is attached to a party who was convicted for an assault upon police constable Cooper, 61 N. Information has been forwarded to Mr. Payne, the coroner, but no day is yet named for the inquest on James Welch. ESCAPE OF AN EMIGRANT SHIP.—The American ship Connecticut, Mr. Williams, commander, which left Liverpool on the 21st of last month, for New York, with about 600 emigrants on board, has just succeeded in reaching Falmouth, after a most narrow escape of being overcome by a succession of frightful gales to the westward of Cape Clear. Some five or six days after she had left the Mersey, with every prospect of a rapid voyage across the Atlantic, the wind veered round to west-north-west, and in 12 hours it blew terrifically from that quarter. It continued for days, the ship labouring severely, and there appearing no chance of beating against it, the officers thought it prudent to put back. This had no sooner been done before a change took place, and eventually the wind dropped to a calm. In a few hours, however, as dusk set in, another storm broke forth, if possible more furious than the one they had previously encountered ; the sea ran tremendously high, and the ship carried away her main and foretop mast, besides sustaining other damage. For three days and nights there was no abatement in its fury, the vessel shipping heavy seas and rolling in a manner to create the utmost dismay among all on board. Attempts were made to bear up for Cork. In retracing her course she narrowly escaped destruction by collision. The ship Martha Rae, in attempting to speak with her, got foul of her a n d occas i oned considerable mischief. She was unable to reach Cork. Some pilots succeeded in boarding her off the Scilly Islands, and a steam-tug subsequently coming within hail, she was employed to take the Connecticut in tow, and she was got into Falmouth. The emigrants seem to have suffered greatly,--Liverooi Chronicle. STATE OP TRADE. ( From the Manchester Guardian of yesterday. ) MANCHESTER, MAY 24.—We learn from the advices of the 11th inst. that, at New York and New Orleans, cot ton had receded lc. per lb, in consequence of the previous transatlantic reports having produced a less effect on the Liverpool market than had been expected. Yesterday and to-day, the Liverpool market has been quiet, but decidedly firm in prices. Last week, there was a more general abandonment of business for the enjoyments of the Whitsuntide holidays, than has been known in Man chester, we believe, in any former year. To-day, there has been a resumption of business in a cheerful and healthy spirit. The buyers of yarns and of various kinds of goods have manifested a disposition to operate rather freely at previous prices. But higher rates have been required by the spinners of the medium and lower counts of yarns, whether mule or water, bundles, warps or cops ; and the transactions of the day have reached a fair amount at an advance of an id. to id. per lb. upon the quotations 'of this day fortnight. improved accounts from Batavia as regards the sale of Dutch (not English) goods, have led to some consicierable purchases of 28's warps and 30's pin cops for Holland, at id. more than was given last Tuesday but one. Common 40's mule are still affected by the turn-out ; but some of the hands have now resumed work, and the dispute appears on the point of settlement. Rather better prices have been obtained to a fair extent for 7-Bths and 9-Bths printers, jacconets, madapollams, and the lower qualities of 40- inch shirtings. As re g ards domestics, however, although saleable at somewhat higher prices than were lately ob tainable, the position of the manufacturer is worsened by the greater relative rise in the yarns he uses. ROCHDALE, MAY 23.—There is little or no change in the piece market to report either in price or demand. The stocks on hand are very light, which is not gene rally the case at this time of the year. The wool mar. ket continues inactive, but prices remain firm. HUDDERSFIELD, MAY 24.—The market is quiet to day, and has been so during the past week. There is a slackness in the demand for all kinds of woollens, which may be expected now for a few weeks, considering the length and briskness of the nearly ended season. Stocks are not much on the increase, and prices remain firm. In wools not much has been done, brokers being up in London, attending the present sales. Business trans acted has been done at former rates. HALIFAX, MAY 21.—The only noticeable change in the trade in our piece hall to-day was that a little more was done in low mixtures, but not, we believe, at remu nerative prices. Yarns are firm, but the demand not actire. Wools change hands slowly, and the late quo tations are stiffly maintained. BIRMINGHAM: MAY 23.—The Whitsun holidays have materially interfered with the usual business transactions of the week, otherwise there is little alteration to re port in the state of the iron trade. The feeling of dis satisfaction naturally consequent upon the abandon ment of prices wantonly adopted, without the slightest effort to maintain them, has not yet subsided ; but the supply of an unusually brisk consumption of iron in most of the home as well as export departments, is still found suf ficient to keep in employment all our works, to the extent to which fuel and labour can be obtained. It is gene rally believed that manufacturers of the great staple hardwares of the district are declining for the time good orders, and are unable to give work to their hands for want of iron, which they, in common with our mer chants and dealers, lack confidence to purchase. While this feeling remains, but little activity can be expected ; and unfortunately it has been fostered by the ironmas ters themselves, who have availed themselves of every possible shift to avoid entering into their usual contracts for pigs, and the pig-makers also have lent a helping hand by attempting to beat down the prices of materials, although the supply of the district is notoriously far be low the consumption, and the furnace yards have not in our memory exhibited so universally naked an appear ance. The question of a further reduction of 10s. per ton for the next quarter has been broached. In pig iron transactions still remain very limited, and manufacturers pressing► for reductions which the pig maker is not in a position to concede, are chiefly working upon their stocks, or draining the few remaining lots from the hands of small speculators—a state of affairs which cannot ob tain long. Ironstone banks are being rapidly cleared at sustained quotations, and the quality of South Stafford shire iron is being put in jeopardy by the increasing substitution of ore from other districts. Coals maintain their full value, and appear likely to do so, under a more pressing demand than has been experienced for the last 12 or 14 years.—iris's Birmingham Gazette. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, MAT 25. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market to-day has been very flat, and very few transactions have taken place. The) little business done has been at lower prices than the cur rency of yesterday. The following are the transactions : Eastern Counties, 13 5-16 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 80 ; ditto (fifth shares), 48 d. ; London and North Western, 117 a ; Ditto (eighth shares), a 7-16 p. ' • Midland 75 ; ; Shrewsbury and Hereford, lid. South Eastern and Dover, 22i ; Manchester, She ffi eld, and Lincoln (10/. shares), 11 ; St. lelen's Railway and Canal (44 per cent.), 1 p. BIRMINGHAM, MAT 25. STOOK EXCHANGE.—This market was steady to-day, and prices well maintained. London and North Western Eighths were done at 10s. prem ; Midlands (Bristol and Birmingham), at 150. MANCHESTER, MAY 25. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market has been inactive, and the few sales made were at a slight decline. Eastern Counties 13 5-16 ' • London St oc k. 118 ; ditt o N ew Ei g h ths, 7-16 p. ; Sheffields 30 ; ditto Pref., 101 • Midlands, 74-g ; Dovers, 22} ; Ease Lancashire Pref. Quarters, 9 5-16. LEEDS, MAY 25. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There is no change to report in the share market to-day. A general dullness prevails, but with out any material effect upon prices. This morning East Lancashires have been done at 18i ; Lancashire and York shires at . 804 ; and Malton and Driffield Junctions, at Bi. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. NOTICE TO MARINERS.—SANITARY ARRANGE MENTS OF THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT. STOCKHOLM, May 7, 1853. The navigation of this part of the Baltic, which has been impeded by ice longer than usual, is at length open, and the Swedish Government has promulgated the following sani tary regulations ` 7 St. Petersburg and Cronstadt are held to be infected with cholera, and vessels from those ports are subjected to ten days' quarantine, counting from the day of departure. " All other Russiari ports in the Baltic are held to be suspected of cholera, and vessels coming from them are subject to seven days' quarantine, counting from the day of departure. " On the other hand the regulations of last year, sub jecting vessels from other ports in the Baltic to visits from health officers, and requiring them to produce bills of health, are rescinded." CUSTOM-HOUSE, Mir 25. ENTZBED INWARDS.—The Isabella, from Aveiro • Ida, Dantzic • Louise, Stettin ; Dantzic; Grefswold ; Catharina, Christiania ; Nedelfam, , Gothen burg ; Palestine, Hamburg ; Organ, Hodstind ; Johan Fre derick, Konigsberg; Seadrift, Dantzic, Ferdinand, Stettin; Leah, Wilmar ; Vorwaerts, ditto ; Elise, Konigsberg; Mi nerva, Stettin ; Germania, Memel ; Klyn, Dram ; Twen, Gothenburg; Margaretha, ditto; Jane and Mary, Hamburg; Vectis, Stettin; Primus, Malta; Sarah, Ghent; Anna, Mi sted ; Alexander von Humbold, Dantzic : Rakter, Konigs berg; Najaden, Uddewalla ; Hannibal, Nestved ; Hawk, Stettin ; Vorwaerts, Konigsberg ; Selina, Dantzic; Eleanor and Anne, Memel ; Aphrodit e , D an ti c ; A gnes, J amaica ; Brancb,Wolgast; Maria Hardy, Tobago; Jeldenrust, Dant zic; Julie, Stralsund; Exp e dit, K on i gs b erg; S yn i a, Stettin; Frederick, ditto; Prince Albert, Dantzic; Erbgrossherzog, Wismar; Frithiof, Uddewalla; Flora, Nykiobing ; Milton, North Sea ; Faedrenes Mimic, Holbech ; Christine Maria, Thisted ; Canada, Memel ; Restless, Stettin,; Convention, Memel;Jan Jacob, Groningen; Waterlily, Jamaica; Dank baarheid, Randers; Hillechina, Konigsberg; DrieVrienden, Amsterdam ; Charmides, Rostock ; Sjamko, Memel ; Milan, St. John's, N.B. ; Mary Ann, D an t z i c ; B r it ann i a, Memel ; Cactus, Stettin ; Henkrika Alicia, Konigsberg ; Anninies, Stettin ; Barbara, Antigua ; Elizabeth, Ham burg ; Bellerophon, Memel ; Nancy, Holbeck ; Anna Maria, Griefswald ' • Elizabeth, Konigsbe rg.; A n ti c S c h oen, Stettin ; Fraukea, Rugenwald. ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Omen, for Aalborg ; Argyle, Melbourne and Port Philip ; Samuel, Caen ; Hertha, Stettin ; Roehna Eissina, Dantzie ; Union, ditto ; Antina, Hamburg ; Maria Hardy, Tobago ; Har mony, Labrador ; Iberia, Demerara ; George Robinson, Bermuda. CLEARED OUTWARDS, WITH CARGO.-The Coalition, for Coquimbo; Gibson Craig, Port Philip; Hanover, ditto; Joven Caudida, Gijon, &c.; Alfred, Valencia, • Mary Emma, Melbourne and Geelong ; Enterprise, Ceylon and Hong gad Kong ; Sarah King, Moore ; Louise, Hamburg ; Bri tain, Hobart Town. LIVERPOOL, May 25. LIVERPOOL SHIPS AT FOREIGN PORTS.----The Emilie, at St. Jibes ; Centipede, Oporto ; Amad ora , A ma d a, an d Pastoritas, Havana ; Gaspe, Palermo, and sailed May 9 for Liverpool ; Frankfort (s. s.), Palermo, and left May 14 for Gibraltar and Liverpool • Tiber (s. s.), Palermo, and left May 17 for Messina ; Breton, Algesiras. The Sea Nymph, from Liverpool for Prince Edward's Island, was spoken May 15, lat. 51 N. long. 9 W. Tho Cuba was spoken May 22, lat. 50 N. long. 8 W. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. The Rhondda, from Buenos Ayres to Liverpool, April 8, lat. 22 S. long. 33 W. The Giaour, from New York, bound south, May 4, lat. 32 N. long. 41 W. The J, P. Curtis, bound east, 19th, lat. 49 long. 8 W. The Gold en Fl eece, May 19, lat. 49 N. long 43-W. The Shenandoah, 24th. The Eliza Perrin, Bombay to Liverpool, April 10, on the Equator. The Emma, Liverpool to Calcutta, April 16, lat. 2 N., long 21 W. The I. 0., Buenos Ayres to Liverpool, April 22, lat. 32 N., long. 38 W. The James Armstrong, London to Hong Kong, April 1, lat. 30 S., long. 26 W. The Breezo, of Wexford, bound west, May 1, lat. 44 N., long. 50 W. The Columbine, bound west, May 1, lat. 47 N., long. 37 W. The Samuel, of Whitehaven, for St. John's Newfound land, May 7, lat. 47 N., long. 34 W. The Ann Johnstone, Hamburgh to Newfoundland, May 8, lat. 47 N., long. 32 W. The Lively, of Newcastle, for Miramichi, May 10, lat. 47 N. long. 28 W. The Wellington, Australia to London, April 6, lat. 27 S. long. 31 W. The Sabina, Month Video to Liverpool, May 6, lat. 36 N. long 37 W. The Northumberland, New York to London, May 10, lat. 41 N., long. 64 W. The St. Dennis, New York to Havre, same day, by the America, Lawrence, arrived at New York. The James Calder Wright, Charleston to Liverpool, May 1, lat. 32 N. long. 73 W. The Princeton Russell, New Orleans to Liverpool, May 2, lat, 24 N. long. 80 W. IVAV.AL INTELLIGENCE. r. , •"'''' PORTSMOUTH, 310 2 5 ' The Vesuvius, 6, paddle-sloop, manned from the stee r guard-ship Blenheim, and in charge of Conanlsuarer Gardner, of that ship, left this steam - reserv e to.claYl' Southampton, to embark the 23d Fusiliers and CO" them to Cowes. The Porcupine steam-vessel arrived at Spithead morning from Jersey, which port she left o n the" se°l May, leaving on the station her Majesty's steanrosj Dasher. She came into harbour at noon to re fit, all t will afterwards proceed to the Isle of Ma n to pTO the fisheries. The Sidon, 22, steam-frigate, Captain Goldsmith9l/Ij,, towed into harbour this morning and hauled into ste The Siam-bsin to receive her new. shaft. a moom steam troop-ship was docked to-dap te hav htom scrubbe. Orders b ha ot ve been received down to hasten the fittings ° f t r il •li e royal yacht for the service of her Majesty ; the vi° men are employed over-hours to get her ready. , The Sprightly steam-tender conveyed Vice-A-unl" Sir Thomas Cochrane to Southampton this morning; ej The Court, being at Osborne, Royal salutes were rile at 12 o'clock from the ships in harbour, in hon our° birth-day of the Princess Helena. • "d , PLYMOUTH, fa Her Majesty's screw steam-frigate Impe rieuse, Captain R. B. Watson, arrived yesterday evoking o'clock, from the eastward. .°314 The, screw steam-sloop Brisk, 14, was cow on Monday by Commodore Seymour. of ol The barque Amphitrite, Captain F. F. Aren—l, for Hamburgh, 70 days from Buenos Ayres, wit ' g 1 0 1 and hides, passed up Chan n el yesterday mor',,,t, landed here M. Brasch and family, M. SchneidOctbe and Miss Fokleberg. On the 10th inst. 01 34 e barque Agnes, all well, bound for Liverpool. t Admiral Corry's squadron, the Prince Iter yit the London, 90, the Sanspareil, 81, the Imper og9 3:ti, the Amphion, 34, the Highflyer, 21, and Lee Par left the Sound this evening. La Hogue returned from a c r uise this afterno o t. o , His Netherland Majesty's ste a m-sloop Seoul:l,4i Captain Fabries, four days from the Texel, put morning, bound to the Mediterranean. rhsr, The screw stea o mer, Victoria, Captain ---c made her number utside the Breakwater this fores WOOLWICH) gAI ' APPOINTMENTS. 1 01 ` Lieutenants—John W. Pike (1848), t o the .- a -' eo rg D'Acre, 101, screw ste am - s hip a t Devonport - v o ttr Stratton (1848), to the Excellent gunnery-shiP at • m outh. sort Surgeon—Frederick F. Morg an (1852) • to th ° 8, Maste sloop at Chatham. je o rs'-Assistants—C. H. J. Baker, to tile.nile r D'Acre ; G. Christie, to the Comus, 14 , sloop 4 " ness. 40, Naval Cadet—W. W. De Burgh, to the SYbille? frigate at Devonport. o p 3 1 Gunner—Edward Dean, to the Brisk steanv °l°- Devonport. col g Captain Clendon, First-Lieutenant Stokes, - 14 ° ov e , Lieutenant Burton, one sergeant, two corPor, 3 l l l' drummer, and 72 privates of the Chatham Pt,' Royal Marines arrived at Woolwich yesterday a'";tro‘' having come up by the North Kent Railway from o p to the dockyard station, and immediately march's' 1r the barracks of the Woolwich Divi s ion, where t r e i rl mained for the night, and this morning emba r 4 board the Salsette receiving-ship, where theY; main until the Forfarshire freight- s hip c alls at Iv 9 0 to take them on board fo r a p assage t o the Eas t to join the Winchester, 50 flag-ship on that statioe. COUNTRY MARKETS. • EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET—MAT 2k ' There were in the market to-day, 4 sacks oat ipe r";o l* weighing 2801bs imperial, which sold thus :- 1 * and 3 at I/ lOs Od. Te EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW gET MAY 24. Supplies were again large. f 1 6 8 43' toP fi Oat straw, from 5s Od t o 6s Od p er k e mple o tron ; wheat do., 58 Od to 6s Od ; barley do., 4s Od Hay from 10d to is per stone. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET—MAY :41. cat $l, si e There were in the market to-day 54 bags bes;c of barleymeal, and 0 bags pot-ba r l e y. Sales 'for To v Oatmeal up is per bag on the top and s econd pric e4. ol l sold at 27s 6d was of inferior quality. Barlelol i. same as last week. - cpl Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. Secon a d. oij imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto .. A A i Flour, per ditto —s 0(1 —s Od A r Pot-barley, per ditto COAL MARK' Prices of Coal per ton at ti s. d. Bate's West Hartley 16 0 Huddle's West Hartley 14 0 Chester Main 15 3 Hasting's Hartley 16 61 Holywell. Howard's West Hartley Netherton 16 6 Tanfield Moor l5 0, Tanfield Moor Bates 15 q Walker Primrose .. l4 9 Wylam 16 0 Wallsend, &c. - Hatton — 16 0 Hedley 16 0 Lawson l5 6 Ships at market `-' ET—MIT 2 1. he close of the market • 1 , Hetton l, 9 Haswell ..................... 9 t 1 ' 11 Plummer ............ ••• 'I 9 ICassop ................ •• • 16 Hough Ha 11..... • • 'll 9 South Hartlepool •• • •'11, 6 West Kelloe .... • Tees Woodhouse Close .• • le/ 9 Derwentwater Hart . 51 1 Llangenneeh ........ •• •• ' 15 Grey's West Hartle , ' '' . l 6 Sidney's Hartley ••••"'' 04 j 501 d......... SEABORNE MAILS. ral pJl t.otl° (N signifies that the mails are sent from the by the night—and M by the morning —dispatch.) 11 1 '1i From w hat pe . ,,j, port fpl l. / . Dispatchea• lac A , 4W " I oe et , Si , , t J A le) 4 PO' irsi! , l6 o' Jali 0 0 31Ar'16 Apo' • r AP il JO ' 4 W 4 4 111 11 . ° o'' rWW ror 4 /411/ lone COUNTRIES. America(byßrit.pack)N America (by United Sta. packet) ....... America (by U. Slate., Day when made up' In General Post- Office, London.* (Every Friday .. . „ packet) ....... _ _.N Australia (rla South- ampton) Ditto (via Marseilles) N Ditto (via Cape of Good Hope) ..... Africa (West Coast) ...N Alexandria........ Alexandria ........ Bahamas ........... N 1 Belgium ............N Bfazil Buenos Ayres Cape of Good Moue ..N' Cape of Good hope N Cape de Verde ..N Ceylon (see India) Ceylon... .....„„„N Channel isles.... ..N Chi 11.............. China (see India) Constantinople ......N Constantinople ........ cont. of Europe M & N Egypt (see India) France ........ M & N Gibraltar Greece (see India) 13Iay 31 ....... May 25 •••• Os • July 4 .• .. •• ... July 8 •. June 4 23rd of the month. +5, 9, 24, & 30 of m 4th & 20th of mon. 2nd of the month „ 9th of the month.. 9th of the month.. 14th of the month 14th of the month 14th of the month 14th of the month Moo ..Wed.,&Frid _d& 17th of month ►,8,17,24,8:27 am Ith /lc 20th of mon Twice daily ...... Twice dai1y...... 14, 7, 17, 20, 27 of ni Ureytown Haniburgh Havannah .......... Holland ............ M Honduras India (vlaSouthanipt.)M India (via Marseilles)3l lonian Isles (see India) Ireland ........ M & Is Lisbon. ..... Madeira .. Madeira ...... • ..... is Malta (see India) Mauritius (see India) Manritlus Mexico Naples . .• • . ...N New Granada ...... New Zealand .......... Papal titates Peninsula Peru .... • Port Natal Sicily Tuscany Venezuela Van Dieinen's Land (lei Australia) . . West Indies ----I 2nd & 17th of mon Tuesday & Frida3 2nd or the montl. Wednesday & Sat 17th of the month 4th & 20th of mon ith& 24th of month twice daily ...... 1,9, 17, St 26 of In hh of the montt• t3rd of the rnontl Liver Pool LiverPoo- •" southamP o° southamPtoi Dover 7,17,19,28, 30 of in Ith of the month. ?lid of the month. ithlbth2sthoftnon I,LI & 17th of mond , ,By private ship • • thlSttasthotinon I thl7tll2Bthotmon & •z7tll or mon 4th of the moral ithlsth2sthofmon. ;tl,lslli2stholino n. ed& 17th of mouth Ymouth e iy m outn •: Dover •••::,, Southarar"; SouthaelP t° Dover • • ••:; ioat haelpt% :ioutharept.• Plymou th elymoutil pjyraotith • usill • When any of these dates fall On a Sundnotollot t j he_so ,l dispatches on the followin day, with the ezrel ) dlsP' Southampton), and the Mal i. ta, both of which w "- day preceding. Plymout li t ; southarepto, southsol Dover •..::11 4 o uthalni n ". Dover • Dover .. 300 sharDP to 111 1 04 o..., 4 [4 : o o ° oo ; u nyttb ttddeiil 110131.0 to, :uutla illiP top 4outlinnii) e tyrnoilth • Myer • •• • 4outliang' o u ver • • to l, 4outtla n , P rt Various ()o ver •• , o utbaroP 011thaniPte Utk t 'VO W Dover • .oita , >over " t A 1 4Ntion'o' !LI& 17th of month A A wFonnml .an in D T u A tt ß m l l li:T N ET :Tt 7T r il ece e 1- I t / y ie) ' b n ee to i t l * *4.e li of fou • lice bouncing boys, at a, single birth. " fe as s dvice l s the whole crowd ere doing not only could be expected,' but rather better. --------- ...-- BIRTHS. ( or A SON• 0 On the 23 1 ' i inst., at 12, Connaught-0 Lieutenant - Colonel Townley , stillborn. d On the the 15th inst , itt Nohhorram-hall, ne" Yorkshire, the wife . of William Moore, Esq. dd b odo c OF A DAUGFITR. ‘ ,... s 1,11 1 - On the 20th inst., at Hythe, lient , fi. " ' Douglas. go quaro, t:o°, MARRIED. . o: o,di/lPivo, On the 24th inst., at St. James's-church, l'esof F. If. Gregory, of Clapham-road, SurreY, f° o f lii r o ° second daughter of Mr. Abraham Field, p et , street, Golden-square. F. . 1. c a r Esq., tohfeo2vi4tnhgtoinislt.t.e,nasteSot,.l3Lrucanke;so,llC,helsos, , PO,. to Aug u : Gr oco n ' daughter of John Minney, Esq., of BronlPW° 0 , DIED. 8 0° ' On the 24th inst., Mason's -hill, Broniel' --nre Thomas Edwards, aged 73• cbels o ' y 0 On the 24th inst. at 9, Cheyne-row, ,* Blyth, Esq., o f t h e 'Audit_effice Someret-Dtooroll, On the 24th inst., at Denmark -hill, Ci"a 40, Robert Donaldson, Esq., of that OW' LONDON : Printed and Published bY Irce, I° V ei of No. 112, Strand, Dila ter , at The S n 11 0 4 the 0 00 Strand, in the Precinct o f the i Middlesex, Thursday, May 26, ISSS'