Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-09-28 00:00:00

IRON SHIP BUILDING.

There are some people who will never allow any
improvement to take place unless it is absolutely forced
upon them. Such an one appears to be our correspondent
of last week. It is futile to follow him seriatim into
details—he is an alertnist ; and with these words we must
dismiss him, as whatever premises 'he advances can only
be taken quantum valent. In returning to the subject of
iron ship building, we must again reiterate what we have
previously enunciated—that it is a subject of paramount
and national ireper:ance. We have no wish to propound
either the theory of Mr. Brunell or that of Mr. John
Clare, jun, of Liverpool. Their endeavours. though
somewhat differing, are both tending to the right direc-
tion—that is, the extension of our mercantile marine,
This accomplished, Government must follow in the wake,
and we need not thsn fear competition with other powers.
The question of wood and iron has been entered into so
fully in other places, that it would be boet lees here to give
rise-to a prolonged discussion on their merits. What Mr.
Herring has confirmed of the perform tnces of the
Himalaya we have previously sated. Wooden ships have
done their duty in their time. Tnoee who have sailed on
the ocean are perfectly aware of the superiority of iron.
over wood as far as regards Sailing qualities. We are
speaking now of earlier periods, when the compartments
were net so arranged as they are at present ; and if an
iron ship broke her back it became then a serious
question—whereas the carpenter and a little tow could
stop;;a leak in a wooden wall. There is no doubt but
occasionally ships constructed of iron have been formed
upon a false principle, and likewise that most defective
material has been used. Mmy of these have been passed
by the Board of Trade ; and if they have answered the
requirements of the officials there it has been sufficient.
The gentlemen there, we believe, have the requisite amount
of talent for aGevernment office,aad no owner or contractor
who is up to " red tape" stands any rick of being ques
tioned by them. Another complaint has been made, that
Lloyds' will insure:unseaworthy vessels. The gentlemen
comprising the committee there have a high standing is
society ; they are commercial men, and, like all other in-
surance companies. they take the risk at a corresponding
premium. ()tie correspondent tells us that if Lloyds' did
not insure vessels we should have most trustworthy ones.
Indeed, he is prepared to build one to perform the voyage
to Australia in 30 days. While another, although he
believes irt, the efficacy of iron ships, yet conjures up
" visions dark and drear" of great ships looming in the
distance. We say at once, away with these alarmists.
Merit should be accorded where it is due ; they who have
struggled manfully in the battle should reap the reward ;
this, however, in life, is not always the case, but sooner
or later posterity does justice to those who hive achieved
a great °Fleet. The subject is now fairly before the I
British puttee; their common sense can judge between
the relative merits of wood and iron, and it is not oar
intention here to discuss their separate advantages and
claims. The pretensions put forward by Mr. John Clare,
jun., can now be tested, as he has constructed the model
of a vessel which he states combines both severity aid
speed. Thoso who have seen it observe that it is built
according to natural laws ; and now that, as regards this
gentleman, the question h is assumed a definite shape, we
trust that ironenasters, merchants, and others interested,
will calmly weigh, and dispassionately judge, the merits
of Mr. Clare's invention. He has laboured tong and hard
in the cause, and it his improvement be what he avers,
he ought in all justice to receive the reward. The corres-
pondence that has hitherto taken place must, however,
have been conducive of great good; there are many en-
thusiasts, some wrong-headed gentlemen, and a few prac-
tical men, who have discussed this question, and civea
the public the benefit of their lueuhrations. In presenting
these to our readers, we shall feel satisfied if our eladea-
voure have but been instrumental in placing before the
world "some grains of wheat" out of the many bushels of
etiaff we have ilad,to 51:I.-3fining Journal.