The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-11 00:00:00

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COPPERING SHIPS' BOTTOMS.
There are few measures of policy, and few discoveries
in science, however obvious, that, on their first being made
11[1101,10t- are not opposed by some individuals, either from
mistaken or interested motivic ; to what class we arc to
attribute the constant attacks in some of The Papers on
Sir Humpbry Davy's improved method of coppering ships'
isottoms, we know not; it is our business to show that they
are unfounded,
It is already known, that many months ago the Sama-
rang was fitted out at Portsmouth, on Sir I lumpliry Davy's
plan; and that she has recently returned to that pert,
fsotln a voyage principally undertaken to put the experi-
ment to the test. About a fortnight ago the Hampshire
Telektaph, noticing the return of the Samarang, stated,
that though " the oxidation of the metal (a slip of which
is, aesording to Sir umpliry's plan, placed on the edge of
the copper sheathing), is prevented by the defensive action
of the iron, the animalcule, which this oxidation used to
destroy, now prey in such security upon the vessel, that
the bottom of the Samaraug is covered with worms, bar-
nacles, gild seaweeds, to a degree which prevents her being
steered with necessary safety. She has, therefore, returned
to Feaglitnalm rethwked and re-copperetl.7
To this statement we gave, on the best authority, the
most positive contradiction, and should scarcely have re-
curred to this subject had not the Timis of yesterday morning
prefaced another article from the Hampshire Telegraph,
by afFecting to doubt the accuracy of our refutation, as
the source of it was not mentiooed. It is true we did not
give our authority, but it was not anonymoue ; and we now
do not hesitate to say that it was such as the l'imes would
not for a moment have daqbted : we shall now, however,
give other evidence in support of our statement.
The Hampshire Telegraph, without noticing the direct
contradiction of its former paragraph, gives, " from a
Correspondent," ar.other article, asserting that the boa, m
of the Semarang ." is In ithe same state as any other ship
without the protectors—that the weeds Lave grown about
two indlies. in length—that the protectors themselves are
decomposed ;" and that "an mlicer belonging to her
states, that he saw, in the clear water of Bermuda, that her
bottom was covered from stem to stern, from two feet be-
low the waft:-lice down to the kelson, with weeds front 12
to 15 inches in length. The Alp was then so incapable of
being steered, that the Bermudian pilots would not take the
charge of navigating her into that port."
These are positive assertions; 'they are, however, as posi-
tively trontradicted by the HampchireChreuicle (an equally
good authority as the Telegraph) received yesterday loom-
ing, in the following paragraph
The Satherang has been docked, for the purpose of inspecting
tbe stetter her capper, which is found to be perfectly free (rem all
accumulation of binnacles, tec. as was at first reported. The iron
plates fixed In her km .i, very notch corroded. but the copper is as
clean ae when ft was first tried: the experiment, we understand,
was made with old cropper."
The 'same paptr contains a report of the meeting of the
Portsmouth Philosophical Society, which is still snore Ile-
esive, anti. is confirmed by a letter we have received from a
known correspondent in that town, which we subjoin.
Mr. Cull, the President of the Sobriety, took the opportunity
of contradictine the erroneous statements which bad gone
forth. He said,' "he had minutely examined the Samarang
since she came into dock, and he-said it on the authority of
naval gentleman experienced in the subject, as well as on
his own, that no ship in his Majesty's navy ever came home
from a foreign station, with a dearer copper, or in a better
state ef bottom. Nothing, in fact, could be more satisfactory
than the appearanee of the ship's copper. The accumula-
tion of weeds or shells was peculiarly small, and little else
but a few of the minutest limpets had become attached in
the space of several months."
The President also denied that the Semarang had been
sent home in consequence of the failure of Sir Humphry's
plan, or that it failed at all. We now subjoin the letter
from our correspondent, and leave the lierripshice Teit-
,feraph and its correspondent to defend its charges as they
can.
" Portsmouth, Sunday Evening.
" Sta—Various reports being in circulation relative to the state
of his Majesty's ship Swimsuit, docked here on Thursday last,
and the subject having excited the liveliest interest in this neigh-
bourhood, I beg leave to hand you some remarks made by the
President of the Philosophical Society of this town, on Friday
evening.
" The President (James Cull, Eaq.) remarked—. I wi,h respect
to the experiments of Sir 11, Davy. I thine it would have been
much more in accordance with what is due to this able experi-
mentalist, that no observations should be made on the success of
these esperimenti till Sir Prirnvy had Waidleret thaw, as ass*,
give his own tesimony as to their importance, and the value to
which they are entitled. Considering, however, the degree of in-
terest which these experiments have excited in the public mind, it
was not, perhaps,. extraordinary that persons, whose province it is
to make communications to the public. should have allowed them-
tofives to be misled by the representations of persons who wete pro-
bably but ill qualified to report on such important and delicate sub-
Jests, and which must require some degree of chemical knowledge
to aid their observations; nor should I have thus publicly noticed
these things, if the reports had not originated in these towns.'
" 1 have carefully examined the bottom of the vessel, and instead
of the experiment having failed, the contrary is most decidedly the
case. The Semarang had been represented to be so fool that she
would not answer the helot, and the pilot of Bermuda refused to
take charge of her, so that it became necessary to bring her home
and dock hem The lovers of natural history here were milt en the
alert, expecting to find an association of everything curious in the
marine world adhering to her copper; when, to the astonishment
of all, she was found to be in a very considerable degree less foul
than ships in general are, returning from this station, after such a
space of time as she bar been out. A Naval Captain, of the highest
rcputation, made at the same time a like observation. It was
quite appar,nt that a very active principle had been in fell and
vigorous operation. The Iran plates were softened into a spongy
mass • and, for some distance round the plates, the iron was as
larigfit as when it first issued from the rollers of the Dock-yard a
very few small barnacles were attached to the copper in the inure-
d:ate vicinity ul the plates; and in no part of the ship did the valet-
Linen exceed two incites in length, and it was of the most minute
kind, and of the greatest delicacy 01 structure.
'' Sir 11. Davy is expected here to-morrow, to view the ship."

Sit C. GSA NT.—We are concerned to state, that this
gallant officer met with a serious accident on Wednesday.
.lifter attending the morning parade at the Royal Barracks,
be was about to return home, when his horse becoming
restive, threw him violently, and the animal itself falling,
railed over him. Sir Colquitoun was with some difficulty
Aliened from his dangerous situation, and conveyed to bra
house, when surgical aid was immediately procured. We
utdcrstand he is very severely hurt.—lrisA Times.
DEVIZES, SUNDAY NiI:MT.—RU TII L ILFORD V. HAYNE
AND OTIILRIL—The public curiosity respecting the trial
far the assaith in this case, which was to have been tried
st air approaching Sessions an Tuesday, is not likely to he
gratified. A paracraph asipeared respecting it, by which it
was evi.lent Mr. Bayne intended to prefer cross bills against
the prosecutor. The circumstances were inquired into, and
an arrangement commenced, the result of which was, that
the attorneys for the prosecution consented on the part of
the proseeutor to withdraw his proceedings on payment of
their costs. This stun, amounting to 601. was this eveni _
paid them, and the husir.ess settled.
Time LATE Ma. LEE.—We noticed in our last paper,
that the Inquest held at Rossinptnn-bridge, on the SsAth
ult. on the body of Mr. John Lee, of Awkley, who was
found drowned, had bseu adjourned to Tuesday last, at
Doncaster, ha consequence of the absence of evidence which
was deemed material. At eleven o'clock in the morning of
this day, the Coroner and Jury assembled at the Mansion
gouse ; and after a long and elaborate investigation, the
411EY retired for a few minutes, and, on the evidence before
rt
teem, returned verdict of " Wilful murder against B.
Adams and r e, his wife, of this place." The Jury
war compotk -of highly respectable gentlemen of the
:own and neighbourhood, and, it was After midnight before
the Coroner closed his professional duties on this Inquisi-
sap. i We forbear entering into the evidence at prosent.
ars prisoners were committed, under the Coroner's
witrrant to York Castle on Wednesday, to take their trials
at she miming Assizes.—Doncaster Gaiette.
kisser. I NST•S; C K or SUDDEN DE•Tli.—StthdAy
morning a Lady who war attending with her family the
peeferrnauee of public worship, at Dr. Rees's Chapel, Jew-
in-street, fell down in a tit of apoplexy. She was
standing in the act of prayer at the time. Medical aid was
latmediately called Al, but to no purpose • the spark was
quire extinct. The Rev. Gentleman who Officiated for Dr.
Item; at the conclusion of the sermon, alluded to this nit-
laischoly evert in a very feeling and powerful manner.
hissisc lisrissictocs.—Copper OYES sold at Redruth,
...lao:ti ins, 9.525 tons. Average produce, 7s. Quantity
of fine capper, 191 tons 16 cwt. Amount of sale,
17,/1341 lag Average standard, 1261.