The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-20 00:00:00

,Ide. James Wells, who is in his 37th year, has been very
strongly recommended as being well qualified for the charge
of a smithery; and I therefore submit that he be appointed
master smith at Portsmouth yard, in the present vacancy,
and that, as in the cue of Messrs. Black and Ainslie, ap-
pointed respectively to Woolwich and Devonport yards,
under similar circumstances, he be entered on proba-
tion for six months, to be paid at the rate of 2401. a year,
with the underidandiug that if, at the expiration of
that period, his conduct and abilities should be found
to be perfectly satisfactory, he shall be appointed
master smith at the full salary of 2501. a year."
I In pursuance of that recommendation, Mr. Wells was flp-
' pointed ; the letter announcing his appoitionent was sent to
the Admiral-Super late intent of Portsmouth Dockyard, and
a duplicate of that letter was sent to Sir B. Walker to in-
form him that his recommendation was about to be carried
eat. Both those letters were shoed by Captain Hamilton.
It appeared that Wells went down to Portsmouth, and per-
formed his duties there; his conduct was found perfectly
irreproachable; and he conducted the business of his
department satisfactorily to everybody. Sir B Walker
was asked, in cross-examination before the election ciimmit-
: tee, if previous to his appointment of Wells he made any
inquiry as to his political sentiments, and he said most de-
cidedly that he had not, and did nut know anything
about his politics. Wells continued in his appointment till
21 days afterwards, when the following order was sent down:
"Admiralty, Ist October, 16.52.—Y0u are to consider tilt ir
lordships' order of the loth ultimo, for the appointment of
a master smith, as cancelled. Mr. George Cotsell, master
smith of Chatham Yard, has this day be en appellate' mas-
ter smith of Portsmouth Dockyard, vice Tyler, superan-
nuated.—By commandef their lordships, J. 11. Hay l'ro Se-
cretary.—Admiral Superintendent, Portsmouth Dockyard.''
Mr. Wells naturally felt very indignant at being Mass.' in
this extraordinary way, mahout any reason being given,
and he,sent a memorial to the Admiralty, ah. at the middle
of October, in which heewet forth:hie grieve:x...4, and stated :
" Humbly sheweth, That your memorialist was induced,
after an interview with Sir Baldwin Walker, the surveyor
of the navy, to accept an appointment as master smith in
her Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, on probation for six
months, at a salary of .00/. per annum, at the cud of which
period, if his conduct and abilities were approved by your
lordships, he was to be established at the full eatery of 250/.
a year. On receipt of his appoiatment your memorialist
relinquished a business in which he had itiveated 1,200/.,
and proceeded to Portsmouth, confident in his ability to
give satisfaction (which he has the gratificatiun of knuwiug
he afforded to both officers and men during his short stay),
and anxiously looked forward to the expiration of his pro-
bationary term; but was deeply mut titled at the end of a
fortnight, to receive his aismissal, without any reason
being assigned for such proceeding. Your memorialist, in
calling your lordship.' attention to these facts, is anxious to
bring under your notice the heavy ',Tani:try sacrifice lie
has made, not only in relinquishing a profitable business,
but also in travelling, and the expeuses of removing his
family ; and particularly the stigma that is thrown un his
character by his di.mi-s d, which, until it be re-
moved, will almost render it impnssible far hint
to resume business with any chance of success."
This letter a as inclosed theme from Sir P.Walker, in which he
said: " When their lordships decided, in August last, that
the vacancy for a master smith at Portsmouth should he
filled by the appointment of a competent person from the
private trade, as had been lone at Woolwich and Devonport
yards, Mr. Black, the master smith of the former yard, was
consulted on the subject, and stroegly recommthded Mr.
Wells, who had served with him in the same firm at Liver-
pool, as a man well qualified by experience and ability to
take charge of a smithery. Mr. M ells was, ceaseceuently,
directed to proceed to Somerset House, and was examiued
by myself and Mr. Lloyd, the chief engineer, as to his
qualification. for the appointment, which were considered
so highly satisfactory
that I submitted for the approval of
their lordships that should be appointed master smith at
Portsmouth, and that the other vacancies at that yard for
first anti second foremen of smiths should be filled by the
promotion of those qualified persons next in seniority in
their respective grades. Their lordships approved of this
arrangement, by their order dated the 10th of September,
appointing Mr. Wells master smith, and Mr. Willeocks filet
foreman of smiths, in Portsmouth yard. Mr. Wells imme-
diately proceeded to that yard to take up his appointment,
and during the time that he had charge of this smithery
he gave universal satisfaction. Mr. Well', however, wits
superseded in his appointment by Mr. Cotsell, the master
smith of Chatham yard, being removed to Portsmouth by
their lordships' order of the Ist of October, and, being thus
early deprived of his si .uation, without any notice, or raison
assigned, he is not only thrown out of employ, but also put
to great pecuniary loss, feud naturally feels much aggrieved
by such an unexpected and sudden removal. lie was in-
duced to relinquish his situation and prospects in the pri-
vate trade for the more certain appointment in her Ma-
jcsty's service ; and in consequence of having accepted that
situation he now finds himself deprived of employment,
and I feel in a measure personally responsible fur the serious
injury which, by the cancelling of his appointment, has
been inflicted on this highly deserving individual, he having
been engaged by me, although under their lordships' sanc-
tion. I therefore submit hi. case, as one of peculiar hard-
ship, for their loolehips favourable consideration, ob-
serving that Mr. Wells his been anxiously waiting
in London for the last fortnight, iu hopes of their
lordships' decision in reference to his future disposal."
In answer to that memorial came a letter from the hon.
gentlemen: "Admiralty, 18th October, 1852.—Sir,—I have
received your memorial without date: and I am com-
manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
acquaint you that they are not aware that you have re-
ceived any appointment from them, and that their lordships
do not consider you justified in designating yourself s late
master smith of her Majesty's Dockyard at Portsmouth ;'
they thcrefure return you your memorial. If, however,
front any communication with any of the officers of the
several departments, you have been led to expect such an
appointment, their I.rdships are prepared to give their
consideration to any memorial from you on that subject;
but my lords cannot recognise you as late master
smith of Portsmouth Dockyard, as no warrant has been
given to you by their lordships for such appointment."
Ile should like to know why no warrant had been
given. (Hear, hear.) It was determined by tho Board
of Admiralty that a man should be selected from
the private trade. A men was selected ; the selec-
tion was approved of; he was sent down by the Aitni!
ratty order ; a letter announcing his appointment was sent
to the Admiral Superintendent at Portsmouth, and also to
the Surveyor of the Navy; and though, in the strict,
technical, official sense, no warrant was made out for
his appointment, or r.ether no warrant was found to be in
existence—for he wished to draw that distinction—yet some
explanation ought to be given why this man was superseded
and another put in his stead. (Hear, hear.) But the case
could not end here ; and, thanks to the Chatham election
petition, a good deal of evidence had been obtained on this
part of the case. Mr. Robert Bell, who had been a clerk in
the Admiralty 12 years, stated that he bad seen a minute of•
the appointment of Wells, and that he himself got the war-
rant out five days after the appointment was made. (Hear,
hear.) Where was this document? He (Sir B. Hall) had
asked for it in that house, and the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty said it was not in existence. Perhaps he could en-
lighten the house a little as to what had become of it.
(Laughter.) As this was a matter of grave importance, not
only as regarded the hon. gentleman opposite, hut himself,
he would state exactly the course he had taken in reference
to this document, in order that he might be exonerated
from all blame. A genlleman had called on him a few days
ago, and stated that he could give some information as to
the non-appearance of this document. Ile stated the
circumstances; and he (Sir Benjamin) told him that the
matter was one of such serious import, the charge was of
so extraordinary, he might almost say of so extravagant a
nature, that he would not make it in his place in parlia-
ment or elsewhere, unless he received it in the form of a
deposition, and had the authority of the person making it,
to read it to the house. Ile received that deposition
yesterday morning, and had since communicated it to
the Board of Admiralty and to the late secretary.
It was the statement of Thomas Scott, of High-street, Chat-
ham, relieving officer of the Medway union; and was to the
effect that he had been told by Cotsell that he went to the Ad •
miralty, and there saw the warrant made out for the appoint.
ment of Wells, and that some gentleman put it in his pocket.
Sir B. Walker stated that it was the determieution of the
Board of Admiralty that a man should be taken from the
private trade to be master-smith of Portsmouth yard ; and
his evidence was corroborated by the fact that this deter-
mination was acted upon, and that Mr. Wets was condi-
tionally appointed. It appeared that Sir F. Smith was a
candidate for Chatham at the last election ; his committee
sat at the Sun Inn. The hon. gentleman the secretary of
the Admiralty went there, and they both sallied loth from
that house to the dockyard. They went through the
smithery, the smelting shops, some ships, and the ropery.
In the smithery they saw Mr. Cutsell, who asked Mr. Staf-
ford for his removal from Chatham to Portsmouth. Whe-
ther the promise was made or not remained to be proved ;
but if made, it was religieuely carried out. Thies man was
an active partisan of Sir Frederick Smith's, attended his
meetings, and was the great orator of the evening. The
election concluded ; Wells was appointed ; Cotsell came te
the Admiralty and remonstrated ; and though no warrant
was in existence, Wells's appointment was as completely
made, in an honest sense, as anything could possibly be.
(Hear, hear.) Ile did not deny that Cotsell was a good
workman ;he might be fit for the situation. Still, a man
front the private trade was to be selected; therefore there
must have been some strong inducement, not only to break
through the order of the Board, but to cancel that which
was almost a completed appointment. No less than four pro-
motions had taken place inconsequence. The great orator and
advocate of Sir Frederick Smith was sent to Portsmouth.
female having voted plumpers for the conservative candi-
date, was sent from Woolwich to Chatham. Forbes, at
Sheerness, who had friends at Chatham, and they having
memorialised in favour of him, was sent from Sheerness to
Woolwich ; and Thomas Bailey was sent from Woolwich to
Sheerness, rice Forbes, Bailey having been an active com-
mittee man of the conservative candidate for Woolwich, and
his brother having plumped for that gentleman at the last
election. He was, therefore, right in saying that this pa-
tronage had been extended for political purposes. (Hear.)
Ile should conclude by inquiring how the influence of the
Admiralty had been exercised in the Dockyards ? A sys-
tem had been pursued by the hon. gentleman—and a very
effective one, standing at the gate of the yard where the
men delivered their time-tickets, along with the conserve
tive candidate, in order that all the men might know who
were the parties that were associated with the lion. gentle-
men. (Ileer.) That took place at Deptford. Ile had a letter
from a working-man there, the credibility of which he had
tested, and which bore out the statement he had made.
(Cries of "Name, name.") He had said that it was the
teeter of a working man, and he heel, male every exertion
to test its truth. But ii the Leine erant• a com-
mittee, he would promise that the letter should be laid be-
fore them, and every part of it inquired into. (Hear,
hear.) Those hon. gentlemen who were so fastidious and