The Press.
London, England, 1853-11-05 00:00:00

THE LATE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY.

LAST week Admiral Sir Thomas Herbert, K.C.8.,
arrived at Dartmouth on a visit to Sir Henry Seale,
But., at Mount Boom. On Tuesday the gallant
admiral made a round of calls, and on Wednesday
night gave a grand ball and supper in the Public
Booms, to which about 500 of the principal residents
and neighbouring gentry were invited.

Next day, the 27th ult., Sir T.llerbert met a large
party of his constituents at a public dinner given in
the London Inn. In the absence of Governor Holds-
worth, the chair was taken by It. F. Burroughs, Esq.
Among the party were Sir J. Yarde Buller, Bart.,
M.l'., Sir IL I'. Seale, Bart., Captain Godfrey, It.N.,
P. Elliott, Esq., Rev. Sloane Evans, J. F. Kelly, Esq.,
W. Newman, Esq., J. Tracy, Esq., J. Cann, Esq., E.
liingston, Esq., George Ilingston, Esq., Lieut. Ford,
ILA., J. Brooking, Eaq., J. l'ritleaux, Esq., S. Strung,
Eaq., P. Makin, Esq., &e.
When dinner was over, and after the usual hayed toasts
had been given, that of "The Bishop and Clergy of the
Diocese " war acknowledged by the Rev. Mr. EvANS, who,
in the course of an able speech, mentioned that being in
Barnstaple during the last election he was told by an agent
of Lord Ebrington, in the presence of that nobleman, Ihet
clergymen ought to abstain from voting at varies 1111 l query
elections. lie had beets since informed that on the late
parliamentary inquiry It had transpired that many this.
s-itting ministers had voted fur his lordship, several of
whom had been induced to de, so by the payment of money.
(Cheers and laughter
The CHAIRMAN next proposed" The health of their gal-
lant and eistemued npreemitative," alluding to the unjusti•
liable attacks made, evidently from party motives, on the
late Board of Admiralty, upon which be felt assured their
representative could afford the fullest explamati 111 l , and
prove himself and friends wholly undeserving of the at:
t.tnipte made to misrepresent their actions. (Land and
prolonged applause.)
His Tuouss lIYnnBItT, in acknowledging the toast, Aar
mentioning the pleasure he felt in meeting the electors on
the termination of the first session after he become their
member, said, in reference to the attacks alluded to by his
lon. friend in the chair, that, from the position he held at
the Admiralty, his constituents hail it perfect right to
expect an explanation from him on the subject, empecially
on this the first °mei • yof his lotting enabled tee do so.
(In all tpteetiona which affected the navy turd army he hall
no politics. (('heers.) He would always aliment what-
ever party was in power in any measures brought lawman'
tending to promote the etheiency of either service and
improve the condition elf the sailer and soldier. ( .freluage.
When Mr. Keating brought forward the mot on the
subject of the late Admiralty, he (Sir Thomas Herbert I
had atteudeil in his place to meet the charges, being cane
tined he could satisfy the house how bete' diem those
accusations were; but the determination pot to allow the
motion to be then debated, and the refusal of the learned
gentleman to postpone the question for another night, had
prevented his entering into spy explanations. The Nei'll•
PlititHlN brought against the late Board of Admiralty he felt
were unmerited, from the eonscionatirm that, during the
whole course of their administration, they were governed
by an anxious and sincere' &tare to promote the efficiency
of every branch of the noble service over which they had
the honour to preside, and that, when they retired from
office, the naval forces for the defence of the country, both
in men and ships, were in a far more satisfactory stale
than they had found them. In proof of this lie had only
t t reefer to the return of the naval forces on the honee
station in March, I`s.'ll, and the bit of January, Isret. At
Plymouth in March, 11451, then' were seven, mounting lea
1
guns, with 1,7;10 men. (In leaving ofilee there were tell
ships, 01•2 gum, end ;1,102 men. At Portsmouth. on en-
tering office, they found nine ships. mounting '271 guns,
with 2.9M1 men ; they left it with twentrone elutes, 1013
guns, and 7,013 men. Much was send about some dock-
yard appointments, alleging that the regulani 111 l s of IMI7,
respecting them, hail been deviated trout by the late bowel.
As to this charge, be could state that no complaint what•
ever was brought before the. hoard during the whole time
he was a member. It was the duty of the surveyor-of the
navy, and of the euperintendents of the several yards, to
report officially to the Board of Admiralty all irregularities
that might take place in their departments. Evidence
W is given before the dockyard committee, to which he had
listened with extreme regret and surprise, that Admiral
Hyde Parker, under whose stele anpervisien the &save'
rested. haul had private anal confidential corresponaent
with the surveyor, RIO with some of the superintendents,
who had expressed dissatisfaction with some of the seen.•
taw's appointments to the doekyerds. Was it just to the
public service ? was it fair to his colleagues? and wets it
not the duty of Admiral Parker to hove brought these
appointments he objeeteil to before the bean,. where the
matter could have been rectified without 'Hey ? 1 Thor.
heal%) And it' that board dm not act to his satisfection,
then he hail an alternative and could lime dime ea be (Sir
T. IL) certainly should have done, anal, as he believed,
most of his brother officers would have done—resign his
seat at the Lusted. ( Loud AI ) Admiralrarklr cote
evaded his complaints—retained his seat, anal the first his
late colleagues heard of these eomplaints and of his private
and confidential correepontlence and conversatioes was
before a committee of the I louse of Commons, see • gig
With the object of damaging the late I:over:mem and his
then colleagnea. The eines particularly complained of
were those of Ridgeway, Cotsell, and Wells. llidgewsy, it
appeared, had been pre tell on a vacancy from second to
leading man at the metal-mills at Chatham by the Seen,
tary of the Admiralty, early in April. and when thee appoint-
'acid was eamipleined of ley :sir It. Walker and the wiper-
iutclukut at Outtbaut (t:aptain Richards) to the first