The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-17 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 17, 1855.

SMITH TESTIMONIAL FUND.
37, GBEAT GEORGE-STREET, WESTMINSTER.
Sr, The superior advantages of screw propulsion being fully de-
monstrated by its general adoption for the public service and for the
cummerci 1 operations of almost all matitime nations, a favourable
time appears to have arrived for inducing a public recognition of
the merit of its introduction.
Convinced that screw navigation—whoever may be regarded as
its o iginak inventor—must date its real commencement from the
successful trials ant voyases of the " Archimedes" in 1839 and 1848 ;
and feeling that all naval nations are indebted to the performances
of that ship, for the first practical development at this great imp,anve-
ment is the means of maritime enterprise; the following gentlemen,
Personally cognisant of the facts connected with the progress of the
system, are strongly impressed with the justice of the claims of Mr.
Francis Pettit Smith, to whore talents and untiring energy it is well
known the "Archimedes" owed both her origin and success.
They can also bear record to the steady perseverance with which
that gentleman has continued to devote the bust years of his life to
the purpose of establishing the merits of the screw. And they know
that the national benefit thus conferred by his labours—which was
first so clearly confirmed by the performances of the Rattler in 1845,
then so strikingly illustrated at the naval review of 1853, and which
is now so confidently relied on for success in actual war—has not
hitherto procured for him either public acknowledgment or pecuniary
reward.

i Rear-Admiral Sir William E.• Parry, Kt., lieutenant-gover-
nor of Greenwich Hospital 3 0
...
William Parsons, Esq , Leicester
......... ....... 2 2
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
•• 109 0
Messrs. John Penn and Son, engineers, Greenwich .. • lOO 0
John Diston Powles, Esq., Witripole-street 5 0
Edward J. Powell, Esq., Hydrographic Department, Ad-
miralty .
• ..... •• •••••
Captain William Ramsay, R.N., I-I.SLS. Hogue ••
Messrs. G. Rennie and Co ,engineers, Holland-street, Black-
friars
William Rigby, Esq., Glasgow .- .. ...... ..
..... .
... .
Major E. C. Robb, E LC.S., Beaulieu House, Southsea .•• • J. Scott Russell, Esq., E.R.S., C.E: (Hon. Sec.) Great
George-street, Westminster
• • •••• •
Messrs. Sam uda Brothers, engineers, Poplar
John Scott, Esq., engineer and shipbuilder, Greenock .... • • 25 9
Messrs. Seaward and Capel, engineers, Limehouse
Joseph Sims, Esq., Birmingham 5 0
Messrs. Sims and Muntz, Birmingham
... .......
.. •.. lO 0
Edward Slaughter, Esq:, engineer, Bristol
Commander Luke Smithett, R.N., H.M.S. Vivid
It. Stephenson, Esq., M, r• , F.R.2., C.E., Great George-
sti-eet, Westminster .... ............. ... 50 0
Captain James N. Strange, R.N. ... ... .. . ... . I 0
John M. Sunley, Esq , insurance broker, Cornhill • • •
.. •• ...... 10 0
William Swann, l• sq., Queen-street, Westrainster ..... ..... 2 2
James Tilling, Esq., Hendon ..... • ....... • ......... ..... I 1
0. IL J. Watford, Esq., Serle-street, Lincoln's-inn ...... .... 5 0
Captain Frederick .Warden, R.N., H.M.S. Ajax 5 0
Thomas Waterman, jun., Esq., shipbuilder, Blackwall lO 0
mems. James Wstt and Co., e ;gineers (per H. Wollaston
Blake, Esq , Soho, Birmingham ............ ,
I. Watts, Esq., Assistant-Survey-or H. X. Nav;, Somerset-
house . -
2 2
••••••• Messrs. J;)hn and Robert Wiiite, shipbuilders, C0we5....... 20 0
Joseph Whitworth, Esq., engineer, Manche5ter............ 25 0
M. Wigrarn Esq., shipbuilder, Blackwell ... ......
G. T. Wright, Esa., Lympstone, Devon
2
Thomas Wright, Esq , engineer, Georg
Su,scriptions are received by Messrs. Martin and Co.. 68, Lom-
bard-street, London; Messrs. Ransom and Co., •1, Pall man Fast,
e- Yard, Lombard-st. 2 2
Lon
insterdon: J. Scott Russel
m (Honorary Secretary) ; mid by C. Manby, Esq., 25, Great
George-street, Westminster ( Ire surer).
E. P. HALSTED, J. SCOTT RUSSELL,
Honorary Secretaries.
j
37, Great Georgzi-street, Westminster, 1855.
•

They have therefore formed themselves into a Provisional Commit •
tee, anti have requested us most respectfully to solicit the honour of
your name, and the advantage of your influence and example, in sup-
Port of an anpeal to all classes and interests for a generat subscription
to present a suitable testimonial to Mr. Francis Pettit Smith, for his
prominent services in bringing into practice the system of screw
navigation.—We have the honour to be your obedt. servants,
EDWARD PELLEW HALSTED Hon. Sect.
JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL,

THE MILITIA AND YEOMANRY.
The Victoria Rifles will muster for target practice
every Wednesday afternoon during the summer at their
shooting ground at Kilburn.
The East York Regiment of Militia was reviewed by
Lieutenant-General 6. G. Arbuthnot, commanding the
northern district, at Westwood last Thursday. At the
conclusion the inspecting officer said he was pleased with
the efficiency of the corps, and should report favourably
of them. Notwithstanding the number who recently
quitted the corps, their 56 days' duty having been per-
formed, the regiment at Beverley now includes more
than 500 men. During the month more than 100 men
have enlisted and been re attested. This corps is soon
to go to the Curragh of Kildare, and, previous to its de-
parture, efforts are being made to increase its numbers.
The recruiting party in Hull, under Ensign Gilby, are
progressing favourably.

THE CRIMEAN HEROES.
HORSE GUARDS, MAY 16.
Iler Majesty the Queen having graciously signified the
Royal intention of presenting medals for the battles of
Alma, Balaklava, and Inkertnan, the following officers
and men of the Household Brigade of Foot Guards will
receive the decoration on Friday morning.
GRENADIERS, OR IST REGIMENT OF FOOT GUARDS.
Lieut. Colonel K. Bradford Lieut.-Col. C. L. B. Maitland
Major A. Tipping Major W. B. De Horsey
Captain Burgone Captain C. N. Sturt
Quartermaster Lilley Surgeon C. R. Nicoll
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Serjeant Thomas Dawson I Serjeant Benjamin Owen
Corporal Benjamin Massey
PRIV.
Samuel Ashford
Edward Barrett
Charles Guyett
James Hawes
George' Jackett
Matthew Lake
James Pepper
Thomas Spencer
John Werrieriel
George Willies
Of the foregoing Serjeant Dawson has lost an arm,
r and Serjeant Owen has received a medal for special ser-
vice at Inkerman. Private Church, of the same corps,
who received a medal for gallant services at Inkerman,
and who lost his right band, has been discharged on a
pension of 10d. per diem.
COLDSTREAM, OR 2D FOOT GUARDS.
Col. the Hon. G. F. Upton Col. V. S. Newton (Brevet)
Lieut. Colonel Lord Charles Lieut.-Col., Lord Dunkellin
Fitzroy Captain and Brevet-Major
Lieut. C. T. Wilson the Hon. Percy Fielding
Captain Charles Baring Capt. George Lord Bingham
Captain G. R. Fitzroy Major the Hon. W. Boyle
Captain Masse Lieut. the Hon. W. Am
Mr. Skelton, M.D. horst
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Serjeant-Major A. Talbot Colour Serjeant T. Austin
I Serjeant Robert Harvey Corporal F. Brydges
PRIVATES.

.TES.

lEdward Bettey
James Blow
George Green
Simon Hain

John King
William Norton
George Smith
Charles Smith
George Wright

William Scrutton
John Simmons
John Rutter
Manuel Bernard
William Burrell
Peter Burton wood
Joseph Hawkins
James Lacey
William Clatworthy
William Nicholas
James Ashkett
SCOTS FUSILIER GUARDS,
GUA'

John King
Thomas Gerrard
John Burt
Samuel Hibbard
John Hoey
Walter Robinson
James Hadley
George Sergeant
Frederick Shildrake
Wyndham Guold

OR 3D REGIMENT OP FOOT
RDS.
Colonel Tyrwhit
Colonel Dalrymple
Captain Fraser
Captain Knollys
Hon. Lieut. Annesley

Colonel Ridley
Colonel Berkeley
Major Shuckburgh
Captain Gipps
Capt. Viscount Ennismore
Lieut. Beaumont

THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE CHURCH-
RATE QUESTION.
(From the Time., of this day. )

. _
We live in a time of impossibilities. Every-
thing in turn is pronounced to be impossible. Only
a twelvemonth ago it was impossible to reform
some half-dozen departments, all confessed to be in
the worst possible condition, and still more impos-
sible to amalgamate them. We have now been
assured from both sides of the House of Lords that
it is impossible to find men fit for office, that the
breed does not exist, and that we must be content
with what we can get. It is impossible to do any-
thing in the Baltic, or in the Black Sea either.
Impossibilities have latterly been closing around
us, like a huge wall, darkening and oppressing
their
the soul of the nation. Physiologists tell us that
the sense of impossibility is one that increases
of it,
with age ; and doubtless it is a wise provision
of nature, to prevent old men getting
ahnadndsshfuoullldof
bweortkhwinhkeinngthoefyanaroethienrelvaNypeoaargldre.e
its dotage.
e with
out a race of old
England is not growing old, nor can
truenkin stohna
that
thatw e theare world
workingicisin its But
epartment of the
il‘sirverjye
almt
.they are everytii It
ipublicnen just
service,no w
i andn
is impossibl men who tell
us everything
when a states-
man has spent half a centetirylnedin:drYpOlitical life his
strong point is the past, and he risks a good deal

"The Royal 'Transport Patriotic Fund," and 'there is I SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.
every probability of its receiving liberal support.

PEACE OR WAR.
(From the Times of this day.)
It is high time that by some means or other the
opinion of Parliament on peace and war should be
fairly tested ; indeed, so serious is the necessity for
this step, that we grudge the interval of three or
four days that must elapse between the present
time and the day fixed for Mr. Milner Gibson's mo-
tion. We are constantly in fear of receiving intel-
ligence that the degrading scene so recently acted
at Vienna has been renewed, and that we are once 1
more debating with Russia, not whether she will
guarantee the integrity of Turkey, and thus bind
herself against any infraction of that integrity—
not whether she will consent to limit naval forces
utterly useless for defence, and only required for
the purpose of aggression on an unoffending neigh-
bour—but whether she will condescend to limit
herself to the status quo, or require, in addition,
that the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, pass-
ing as they do through the very heart of the
Turkish empire, shall be thrown open to her
fleets. We can never feel wholly free from the
apprehension of an ignominious peace. We know
what advances have been made in this direction
already, and we do not know to what further
compliances the nation may not be destined to be
reduced. M. Drouyn de l'Huys has already
resigned his position in the Ministry/ of Foreign
Affairs because he condescended. to listen to propo-,
sitions and overtures which, in the opinions of his
Imperial master, were derogatory to the dignity of
France, and fatal to the objects for which the pre-
sent war was undertaken. Our own Plenipoten-
tiary has returned to us, but has not imitated
the example of his colleague and remains in
our Cabinet, to exert that influence which
a year and a half ago was put forth to urge us into
the war, in order to bring about a dishonourable
peace. 'What change the air of Vienna or the con-
tact with Russian and Austrian plenipotentiaries
has wrought upon Lord John Russell we do not
pretend to know, but it is now said that, with that
versatility peculiar to minds not of the highest
order, nor sustained by lofty and consistent princi-
ple, iordJ.Russell is now seeking to undo the work
of last year—to renounce the career on which we
have entered, to throw away the task we have un-
dertaken, and to abandon to the discretion of Rus-
sia the ally whom last year we promised to defend
with all the weight of our power and all the pres-
tige of our influence. In this ignoble task he is, we
fear, seconded by no inconsiderable number of his
colleagues. The division in the Cabinet is, we are
told, clearly and distinctly marked, and would long
ago probably have resulted in open discord and dis-
ruption, had the smallest encouragement been
afforded from without to the craven desire of peace
at any cost. Happily, however, if so many of their
leaders are unsound, the people themselves have
shown a manliness, firmness, and consistency which
put to shame the vacillating conduct of men who
claim to themselves the monopoly of statesman-
ship, and look down with all the disdain of prac-
tised politicians on the plain sense and clear in-
sight of the mass of the nation. Were it other-
wise—did Lord Grey and Mr. Gibson command
anything but a small minority—were there any
quarter in the political horizon to which the
advocates of peace at any price could turn
for support, we should possibly" have, seen ere this
a repetition of the proceeding at the beginning
of this year, and had to chronicle the fate of a
second Ministry overthrown by the same hand,
—the first; because Lord John Russell could not
defend the management of the war ; the second,
because he could not defend the war itself. It
seems incredible that the same man who could last
year denounce the conduct of the Emperor of
Russia as fraudulent, declare that the existence of
Sebastopol was a standing menace to Turkey, and
announce in the firmest terms his resolution to carry
the contest through with the utmost vigour and
pertinacity, should, in one short year, so totally
have lost confidence in himself, his country, and his
cause as to be ready to compound with the fraud
and submit to the menace only to avoid that very
war which in such magniloquent phrases he has
proclaimed against the common disturber of the
peace of Europe.
Let Parliament, let the country, look to it well.
This is the very turning point in our destiny, the
very crisis in our fate, the very instant which
for good or for evil is to decide the future of Eng-
land. We have been accustomed to regard our
Ministry as weak, but well-intentioned, possessing
no special gifts of eloquence or talent, but true to I
the task they have undertaken, and pledged, above
all things, to prosecute the war with vigour and
with honour. We are now told that even in
this we have miscalculated, and that we may
have at this very moment at the head of affairs
men as little to be intrusted with the stern and
trying emergencies of a struggle for life or
death as the members of the Peace Society them ,
selves. We have made all the sacrifices for which ,
a nation could be called upon in order to
secure success, and we have not secured
it. We are content to wait, to pay, and to suffer
till better times and better leaders arise; but surely
we have a right to expect that a nation which has
done and suffered so much shall not, without its
concurrence, nay, against and despite of its feelings
and convictions, be forced to sue for peace, and to
accept those terms from its enemy which not the
power of that enemy, nor its own weakness, but
the miserable timidity of its councillors, forces
upon it. If Parliament is really anxious to per-
form the duties with which a confiding nation has
intrusted it, no time should be lost in ascertaining
who is on our side, and who on that of the Empe-
ror of Russia, in order that, at whatever sacrifice
of historic names, noble connexions, and official
experience, we may deliver ourselves from the dan-
ger and discredit of being any longer represented
by persons who believe our national credit and in-
terest to be as nothing compared with the escape
from that responsibility which a little while ago
they were so ready to undertake. To make peace
with Russia now, with all the objects of the war
unattained, would be to snatch from the hands of
our troops the blood-stained laurel they have striven
so long and so heroically to gain ; would give Russia
the power a second time of tricking the sagacity of
statesmen and ambassadors by passing off defeat
for victory ; would raise her character in every
capital, nation, and language, and lower our own
in the same proportion ; would place the Powers of
Northern Europe at her mercy ; would make the
kingdoms and empires of Germany her willing and
obsequious vassals, and leave Turkey without a
hope, without a friend, without a resource, to
perish whenever it should please the Power from
which we vauntingly profess to save her to sign the
warrant for her execution. When such things are
neither impossible nor improbable with our present
Cabinet, we do but do our duty in calling upan
Parliament to place on record with as little delay
as possible its own opinion, and to make itself
thoroughly acquainted with the opinions of our
Ministers. Whatever be the evils attendant on a
change—whatever the difficulties of replacing cur
present Government, these evils are as nothing-
compared with the risk of finding ourselves some
day hampered in the trammels of a hollow and dis-
honourable peace. Let the efforts of our enemies,
let the treachery of our Allies do their worst, but
let us, at whatever sacrifice, by whatever means,
be freed at least from men who are capable at such
a moment of abandoning our honour and our in-
terest, and tarnishing by degrading compromises
the name of a nation which never before could be
brought to lower its resolution to the level of its
fortunes, or draw any lessons but those of encou-
ragement and perseverance from the very depths
of its darkest disasters.

• On similar occasions—at the banquets of last
year and the year preceding, the expression of
• feeling which greets the presence amonL!st our citi -
zens of her Majesty's Ministers was marked and
enthusiastic. Our people know how to give honour
even when they can stretch a point in iniaining
where honour is due, and the constitution's; ad-
visers of the Crown are commonly received with
that feeling which results from deep and abiding
loyalty to the Sovereign, and respect f r her chosen
servants. We remember the reception accorded
from the essence of civic hospitality to the cold
and ungracious Thane of Aberdeen, even twelve
months since, and the rapturous applause, the
' passionate acclaim with which Lord Palmerston
was then greeted wh n he rose to respond to a com
paratively insignificant toast. '
ominous and almost distressing silence—oscarce
oda.
Last night the Prime Minister rose amidst
cheer, not a token of satisfaction, or even 1
he semblage, to which, with bitter,, irony,.
his speech
the
co 2. d' "cordial imposingreception" as
-
pro-
ceededwari n t
o recognitionr
urn tha
thanks
sscfoapred the
of the compact alli-
ancen his allusion to the result .
o ,
friends failed to move his
accorded to himself and his colleagues. As be went
with our Imperial
audience ; nor was he more fortunate, when, in
stirring accents, he referred to the chivalrous bear-
was unacknowledged, and its premature conclusi
ing of the allied troops. Throughout,
was not a greater relief to the generality ell
of his
hearers than it must have been to himself.
The Duke of Argyll attempted all
the confusion of his chief, and by an
aptly to cover
division of Monday night to arouseyan allusion to the
feel-
ing ; but his efforts were vain—th a Massing dressed was not to be moved e assembly he ad-
did not long continue the and the noble duke
difficultand
task. The general res ungracious
space as Lord John of
Russell rose to speak, and
expressio
the representatives ot applause which greeted
rated the feeling '
of the City of London evapo-
ters are w t, with which her Majesty's Minis.;
on to be r •
guests in the Et received by the assembled
As to poor Lordg" ian Hall.
Clarendon we felt disposed to
pity him. The task of the •
Lady of proposing the health
Mayoress fell to him. The Foreign Secre-
tary had manifestly prepared his speech with a very
different purpose. The graceful and felicitous sen-
timents proper to the toast contrasted most ab-
surdly, we must confess, with his allusions to our
foreign relations:--a combination as curious as it
was ridiculous. - •
And so ended the last. Ministerial dinner at the
Mansion House. ..If the guests -to whom it vas
intended to do honour have been disappointed,
they know best to what that disappointment is
attributable. Nothing that tact, good taste, and
lavish hospitality could effect wary wanting.