The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-13 00:00:00

LMPERLIL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—Moz4DAY, Meson 12.
The Loan Cariontoa took his soot c the woolsack at
Soo o'clock.
she Animal* and Dublin Consatatri gas Bill. the Lou-
don Cu Bill, sad the Colombia (13ethaaknO) Markel
anvatelpeoachis Bill, ware respectively read • thirdilos: Wad

- -
PRINCESS HELENA'S ANNUTIT BILL —PRINCE
ALFRED'S ANNUITY BILL.
Thine bills paned through sosamlttes.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (1.137,7221.) BILL,
This bill was read a third thus and ward.

CAPTAIN COLES, TURRET-SHIPS, AND THE
ADMIRALTY.
LORI DUNSANY rose to ask the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty whether it was the intention of the Admiralty to
adopt the cupola or turret principle invented by Captain
Cowper Coles, R.N., andif to, whether it was true that the
eminence of the inventor, although offered, has been re-
fused, and his exits pay and allowances stopped ; and to
move that an humble address be presented to her Majesty
far reports of the committee of naval °Mears appointed to
exarniae the dengue of • turret ship designed by Captain
Coles. He maid it was the general impression
that Captain Ooles had met with rather harsh treatment
at the hands of the Admiralty. There was no doubt, who-
the! we adopted the impels principle or not, that other ,
stations were adopting it, and that our navy mould have to
meet cupola ships in every sea. They were intended to
starry 600-pounders, but the artillerists had not as yet been
table to manufacture • good 600-pounder gran, and they
versa* present armed with 300-pounders. The noble lord
then read • report of the cruising of the Sovereign turret
slim, which was highly favourable, and he also read poi,
tiossmf the correspondence between Captain Coles and the
Admiralty on the subject. Captain Coles had also written
a letter to a newspaper, which he admitted was an objec-
tionable course ; but Captain Coles no doubt thought he
bad been harshly treated.
The Duke of SOMERSET said there would be no objem
tan to lay on the table the reports for which the noble
lord had moved. He must say, in justice to the °Mows of
the dockyards, that, both at Chatham and at Portsmouth,
they had cordially assisted Captain Coles. But it was said
that the Admiralty objected to cupola ships and put hope-
&meets in the way. Now when he went to the Admiralty
in 1859 Captain Coles had been already applied to by the
Admiralty in March of that year. The board submitted
Lis designs to the surveyor's department, and they disap-
proved of his system, sad accordingly the Board of Admi-
ralty declined to adopt it. They were moth occupied with
the !affairs of China at the time, and till the Inter end of
1860 he had not time to attend to this question. But to-
wards the ead of 1860 he again called the attention
of the ooestracters of the navy to the merits of Captain
I:kales'a invention, and he received • report that in their
opinion it was unfit for sea-going ships, and that it would
require great modifications to be suitable even for coast
detente. He was then informed that a small cuoMa, to be
placed on a battery, was in mitres of construction at Mr.
Sean Russell's ship-building yard, under the direction of
the War-office, who were desirous of making some experi-
xnents with it. He therefore saw the late Lord Har-
bert upon it, who told him that there had bees
we many difficulties with the ciontraetor and with
Captain Coles, and so many delays, that he thought
the cupola never would be completed, and that W
be would take it off his hands he should be very glad. He
said he would try, and he bad it removed io 1861 from Mr.
Soott Russell's yard to Woolwich, and in about four
month's time they finished it, and put it on board the
Thunderer. It was tried, and he considered it sumeadal
in shoeing its great power of resistance of the gum of that
day. For the purpose of attack he considered it very sum
medal, and be went so far as to have • design prepared
with a view of baying estimates prepared for the construc-
t:Ms of a cupola vessel for coast defence. He, therefor,
thought it was somewhat hard upon him to be told
that he was adverse to the principle, seeing that he
even went out of his way to have the prin-
ciple tried, and even complimented Captain Coles
on his icveriticre. In the estimates of 1862 money was
taken for the building of such • vessel for coast
defence. At that time came the report of the per-
formance of the Monitor, and the whole country was then
in favour of the cupola system. They finished the vessel,
and also cut down the Royal Sovereign, in order to give an
Caportunit•y to try the principle at sea ; and be agreed that
ptain Coles should be employed by the Admiralty to
superintend the building and arrangement of these vessels
It was then said that the Admiralty had adopted a
rival plan—had adopted the box principle, an
invention of Mr. Reed. That was totally Moor-
reel. Mr. Reed never invented the box principle.
What was called the box principle was the principle
on which the Warrior was oonstmoted ; it was, in fact, the
lightening of the two ends of the shin by Dot having the
armour all round it. It was still found to be very difficult
to construct a sea-going cupola ship SO LS to be able to tarn
the gins when the ship was fully armed and rigged.
Whilst the question was under consideration it was neces-
sary to settle first what gins were to be used on board
them ; and when it was stated that they should get • 3001 b.
gun, Captain Coke abandoned the cupola and adopted the
turret principle. That of course occasioned more delay.
He west down himself to Shoebnryness and saw • 3001 b. gun
tried, bat it burst. They thought they should be able to get
a 12-too gum, and they bad since got one, though not
• 300-pounder, but • 250-pounder : and from that time
Captain Coles had been continuously employed by the
Admiralty. When the Royal Sovereign went to sea he put
ter under the command of Captain Shemrd Osborne,
because he had • predilection for cupola ships, sod he
reported that if the improvements be suggested were
carried out they would become good coast defence ships,
and quite capable, with prudent management, of proceed-
ing from one port to soother. That was not very encou-
raging for the construction of ships that were required for
sass-going ships as well as for fighting qualities. The
Scorpion, which was one of the rains that they purchased
at Liverpool, was unsatisfactory, the report of her being
that she was asuncomfortableonthe lower deck os possible.
It was most important that the shies should be made com-
fortable for the men. The Admiralty appointed a com-
mittee of naval offieers, of which Lord Lauderdale was the
chairman, to consider • design by Captain Coles, sent
in 1864 to compete with the Pallas. They took a
good deal of evidence, and recommeoded the Admiralty
not to build the ship, and stated there objections to it. They
said it was most desirable that they should build a cupola,
er turret ship to awry two turrets. He (the Duke of
Somerset) called on the oonstructors to turn their attention
to this, and see if they could build a good sea-going ship
with two turrets. If they were to build • ship to carry •
army heavy gun they must build it with heavy armour.
They were now beildieg a very powerful ship, but under
their own responsibility, and not that of Captain Ogee ;
but at the same time he was willing to seed to Captain
Coles any drawings upon which he might be able to give
some opinion and suggest alterations of a bsneficial charac-
ter. As in all probability they would have from 18 to 20
If uat 21 toe guns it would be necessary to carry them in
turrets, and he was anxious to carry out euciessfully the
principle.
The Earl of HARDWICKE said what was called
Captain Coles' invention was merely the adaptation of the
railway turn table, on which to turn guns on the decks of
ships as easily as engines were tuned on turn tables.
Be must say the speech of the nob!e duke had left on his
mind the impression that he was not favourable to the
Aem.
fter a few words from Lord Dressmore in reply,
The Earl of ELLE:SRO/LOUGEE observed that it ap-
peared that Captain Cole. was neither an engineer nor a
shipbuilder, and therefore, instead of having claims to be
employed to bei'd these pm-Mahar ships, he was the last
person who ought to be employed.
The motion was then agreed
SALE OF LAND BY AUCTION BILL.
The house again west into 'committee on this bill in order
have certain amendments re-inserted.
On the motion of Lord Itoitirme the ameadments were
inserted accordingly, and the bill ordered to be recom-
mitted next Monday.
SALMON FISHERIES BILL.
On theraotio a of Lord &wrist of ALDr.ittrtihis bill was
read a second time and ordered to be referred to • select
committee.
The house then adjourned at twenty minutes to seven
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, MARCH 12.
Mr. Doosos, in coisequenee of the continued indisposi-
tion of the Speaker, took the chair at a few minute. before
4. There was a very unusual attendance of members at
prayers, and the strangers' galleries were quickly filled.
Amongst the numerous peers prevent were the Duke of
CsiMr.dgs, Earl Russell, Earl Granville, Earl de Grey, the
Duke of Argyll, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Lord Dufferin,
tho Archbishop of York, the Doke of Cleveland, the Mar-
quis of Salisbury, the Earl of Cardigan, the Earl of Shrews.
bury, the Earl of Devon, Earl Stanhope, the Earl of Albe-
marle, the Bishops of London and Peterborough, Lords
Overstoms, Llanover, Belper, Taunton, Ebury, ka. Arch-
bishop Maiming also occupied a piece in the peers' boa.
The Princess of Wales arrived ll3on after Mr. Gladstone
had begun his speech.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.