The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-08 00:00:00

No. 19,534.]

SMITH TESTIMONIAL FUND.
37, GREAT GEORGE-STREET, WESTMINSTER.
S The superior advantages of screw propulsion being fully de-
monstrated by its general adoption for the public service and for the
c.lnmerci:il operations of almost all maritime nations, a favourable
line 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 original inventor—must date its real commencement from the
successful trials ant voyages of the " Archimedes" in 1839 and 1840 ;
sad feeling that all naval nations are indebted to the performances
of that silty, for the first practical development of this great improve-
ment in the means of maritime enterprise; the following gentlemen,
pci sonally 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 whose 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 best years of his life to
the purpose of establishing the merits of the screw. And they know
Mit 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
1; therto procured for him either public acknowledgment or pecuniary
reward.
They have therefore formed themselves into a Provisional Commit-
tee, and 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 appeal to all classes and interests for a general 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. Seca;
JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL,

PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE.
Jmnes Allan, Esq., Managing Director of the Peninsular and Oriental
Company
Charles Atherton, Esq., Chief Engineer H.M. Dockyard. Woolwich
Jo eph eardmore, Esq., Manager of the General Steam Navigation
Compan, 'a Engine Works
H. Wollaston Blake,Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
Isimbard K. Brunel, Esq., 1.R.5., C.E.
Edward Chappell, Esq., Capt. R.N., Secretary to the Royal West
India Mail company
Wiliam Crispin, Capt. R.N., the Royal Yacht
John ITtlay Ellis, Esq., Ctialtrnavr"Or
-hipping Company
Joshua Field, Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
John Fincham, Esq., late Master Shipwright, H.M. Dockyard,

Portsmouth
Sir Richard Grant, Et , Capt. R.N.
William If. Henderson, Capt. R.N., C. 8., Comptroller-General of
the Coast Guard
Diward Humphrys, Esq,, late Chief Engineer H.M. Dockyard,
Woolwich
McGregor Laird, Esq., Managing Director of the African Mail Com-
p
Thomas Lloyd, Esq., Chief Engineer of H.M. Navy
Charles J. Mare, Esq., shipbuilder, London
Joseph Miller, Esq,, F.R.S., Engineer, London
Robert Napier, Esq., Engineer, Glasgow
tames Nasmyth, Esq., Engineer, Manchester
John Penn, Esq., Engineer, Greenwich
George Rennie, Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
.Toseph d'a Samuda, Esq., Engineer, London
Rot ert Stephenson, Esq., M.P., F.R.S., C.E.
Isaac Watts, Esq., Assistant-Surveyor H.M, Navy
%Toney Wigrant, Esq., shipbuilder, London
Joseph Whitworth, Esq., Engineer, Manchester
TREASURER.
Cha-les Manby, Esq., F.R.S., C.E., Secretary of the Institution of
Civil Engineers

HONORARY SECRETARIES.
E. P. Halsted, Capt., R.N., and J. Scott Russell, Esq , Engi-
neer.

Extract from the Report of Baron CHARLES DIIPIN to the Academy
of Sciences, Paris, on the prizes awarded by the French Govern-
ment to M. Durur DE LOME, and M. Moll, Officiers superieurs
du Genie Maritime, et Ingenieurs de la Marine delere Classe, and
M. Boyar:Km, Captaine de Fregate, for the successful application
of steam and screw propulsion to sal'ing vessels of war:—
" En 1835, un fermier de Middlesex, M. Francis Pettit Smith, en-
cadre her zontalement une vis d'Archimede a l'arriere et dans la
partie la plus pincee de la carene ; cette vis est continue; elle a deux
revolutions completes. hauteur prend son brevet le 31 Mai, 1836."
" Revenons au fernier Smith. Aussi peu savant dans le
nrincipe que le harbirr Arkwri ht, it avant la ineme perseverance et le
n.eme inoomptable courage Ces deux qualites morales l'ont fait triom-
pbe, de t us es obstacles. M. Smith, pendant deux annees, essaye son
bateau stir la Tamise et stir l a canal de Paddington. Dane ce canal,
'en• nn accident heureux, une reviut on de sa vis d'Archirrede est
tifisee, et le navire marche plus vite qu'auparavant. C'est un trait
de imniere, et l'on flnira par n'employer qu'une meitle, qu'un tiers,
et Ineme une snoindre partie de revelution d'helice. Par ce moyen,
l'on pourra loger le propulseur dans une etroite ouverture verticale,
en avant du gouvernail, entre deux etambots.
" !)'essais en essais, M. Smith se hasarde a !utter contre les diffl-
cultes de le mer. Avec un navire extremement petit, it s'aventure
dans la Manche, et brave un mer toujnurs si dure, en essnyant des
temps mauvais ; son courage inspire une faveur universelle.
" L'Amiraute d'Angleterre prend un vif Interet a des essais tentes
si courageusement, et couronnes par le succes. Elle demande a M.
Smith un essai plus considerable, et la construction d'un navire a
hel ice de 200 tonneaux, avant de conclure a Padoption du nouveau
.ysteme. En consequence, l'Archimede, do 237 tonneaux, est con-
,truit et mis ala mar. L'Amiraute se serait montree satisfaite, si
Bans les experiences demandees, le batiment cut parcouru 5 nceuds
par heure ; it en parcourtit pros du double. Malgre le vent et la
maree, it nc mit que vingt heures pour aller de Gravesend a Ports-
mouth.
" Convaincue par ces epreuves, l'Amtraute d'Angleterre accepts
I'h Jice pour ses propres navires. En 1841, elle fait commencer a
sheerness son premier batiment a propulseur helicoide, le Rattler
du port de 888 tonneaux, batiment qu'on mit a la mer au printemps,
(le 1843. On multipliat les experiences our ce navire, et l'Amiraute,
completement edifice, ordonna de construire a la fois, vingt bati-
meats de l'Etat, a propulseurs helicoides."

Letter from the Right Hon. the Earl of Minto, G.C.8., &c.
(First Lord of the Admiralty, 1835 to 1841.)
"London, June 13, 1854.
"near Sir,—l have not a doubt that Mr. Smith may justly claim
the merit of having been the first to introduce the use of the screw
propeller; and it was owing to his success in its application that
shortly before I left the Admiralty I felt myself justified in ordering
the Rattler to be built, for the purpat:e of testing the comparative
ad,,ntages of the paddle and the screw.—Believe me, dear sir, yours
faithfully, (Signed) "MINTO.
" Charles A. Caldwell, Esq.
" I can have no objection whatever to your making any use of my
lettier thateanAteirerrmemplei,..
;Letter from the Bight Hinialtdi AaaehgM.; •
(First Lord of, the Admiralty, 1841 to 1846). '
yninghame, Prestonkirk, N.B . August 24, 1854.
" ,ir,—lt is impossible for in to take upon myself to offer an
opinion as to which of the claimants is to be
bu Mutedt e t
eve that the
he merit of
the first invention of the screw propeller
success of " the Archimedes," followed by the trial the
of "he Rattler,"
(built under Lord Minto's Board), led to the adoption of t screw in
II M.'s Navy, and in the merchant service.
" it is admitted, I believe, that to Mr. Pettit Smith belongs the
credit of the success of "the Archimedes," consequently he is en-
titled to be considered as the Introducer of a most valuable improve-
men t in steam navigation.
"He was employed generally under the Steam
t) Den
believet
hat his
of the
Admiralty in my time, and I have every reasont
services were found to be valuable.
" But the professional names attached to the attestation you have
furnished me with, as well as those of the most eminent engineers,
are of far greater value to Mr. Smith, than any testimony of mine
can possibly be.—l have the honour tone, air,
obedient hum-
ble servant, (Sied) yourDNGO.
" Captain Halsted, R.N.
enclose the answer to your letter, of which you may make
any use you may think lit."

SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Richard Abethell, Esq., master shipwright, 11. M. Dockyard,
Portsmouth .....• . ......
director of the.......... . ....
Peninsular and
£1 1
.la 7. Allan, Esq., managing
.... ..... • 50 0
Oriental Company, Leadenhall-street . •.. ....
•
P 7, C. Alston, Esq., Birmingham .......... • ••• • • • ... . 25 0
Captain W. S. Andrews, North of Europe Steam Navigation
Company, 84, King William-street . ...............uare 10 0
.. • • 5 0
John George Appold, Esq., Wilson-street, •
Finsbury•sq
C. Atherton, Esq , chief engineer, II.M. Dockyard, Woolwich 10 0
Captain Horatio T. kustin, R.N., C. 8., Admiralty Inspector
2 2
of Packets, Southampton .. •• . ...... ... • •• •
The Australasian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company, Moor-
gtte-street .................. .... •• • •
Thomas Back, Esq., Military Department, East India House 1 1
Messrs. Bayley andßidley, 2, Cowper's-court. • ...
John Barrow, Esq.. E.R.S., Admiralty ...............3 0
George Beardmore, Esq., Deptford .. ••••••••• • • •• • 1 0
Joseph Beardmore, E. manager of the General Steam
Navigation Company's engine works, Deptford ... 5 0
Joseph Beardmore, Jun , Esq., Deptford ..•• ••••••.. .. •• • • 1 0
William Beardmore, Esq., Deptford .. ••••••• • •• • •• ••• .•• •• 2 0
R._ar-Adiniral Sir Francis Beaufort, K,C.8., Admiralty • •
• . 5 5
The Birmingham Tube Company, Birmingham • • • • • • •
..... 25 0
ates.rs. J•-thn Bourne and Co., engineers, Greenock ••• . . 50 0
Welbeck-street, CAvendish. square .• • • 5 5
William Boxall, Esq.,
Messrs. Brownlow and Co.. Hull .••.•••.. • • • • • . .....
.. 3 0
Peter Bruff, E-q., C.E., Ipswich .......................1 •• •
• 1
I. K. Brunel, Esq., F.R.S.. C.E., Duke-street, Westminster 59 0
William (` arpmael, Esq.' C.E., Patent-office, Lincoln's inn .• 2
0
1 0
W'illam Catt, Esq., Brieliton ••..•• • • • • •
Cap sin E. Chappe'l, R.N., secretary of the Royal West
India Mail Company, Moorgate-street
Henry Chatfield, Esq:, master shipwright, 11.11. Dockyard,
Deptford ............... •••••••••• • • • • • • • • • •.• 2
Jibe C urch, E-q., C.E.,Chelmsford
I). K. Clark. Esq., C.E., Great North of Scotland Railway 5
1 5
Company, Aberdeen ........ • • • •
Lieut. J. E. Commerell, R.N.
Robert Cowen, Esq., Carlisle • ...
Commander Peter Cracrott, R.N., H.M.S. St. Jean d'Acre• • • 1
!apt. W. Crispin, R.N., the Royal Yacht, Portsmouth
Messrs. Was. Denny and Brothers, shipbuilder., Dumbartcn 103
John Dinner), Esq , inspector of steam machinery afloat, Ad-
miralty, 'omerset-house ..
M, sirs. Richard Durant and Co., Lloyd's.. •. • ......
•. .. 10
Messrs C. and W. Earle, engineers, Hull • • .. 2
David Elder, Esq , en. lacer, Glasgow . . •• •
James Elliott, Esq., C.E , Dymchurch, Kent ..
J. IT. Ellis, chairman of the General Screw Steam Co., Ade-
-1 iide-place, London-bridge
31, s-rs. Allen Everitt and Son, Birmingham .. • • ...
Chas. Few, Esq , Henrietta-street, Covent-garden.. • • • • .... 105
J. Fincham, late master shipwright, H.M. Dockyard, Ports-
mouth
Capt. John Ford. marine superintendent General Screw-steam
Snipping Company, Soutliamrton
1
Capt. Robert Ford, Battersea .. • 1
Joseph Freeman, Esq., Artillery-place, Finsbury
Charles Frodsham, Esq., Strand....... •.. ... .• •
William Froude, Esq., C.E., Dartington, Devon ...... •• • •
Messrs. Joseph Gee and Co., Hull .... ............
Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and t 0., Liver' 00l
Lionel Gistorne, Esq., C.F.., Duke-street, Adolph' 1 0
vice- n din iral Sir James Alexander Gordon, K.C.8., Gover-
nor of Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich • ...
Captain Sir Richard Grant, Kt., R.N , 3, Connaught-place,
Hyde-park
Wi:liam Green, Esq., R.N., harbour master, Lowestoft
Capt. E. P. H..a.1.5t.e.d.,..R..N..
..
................. (I.n.i.t.ed..S.ervi..c.eCh.d ) ,
10 0
shaw, Esq., C.E., Great •George street, West-
Jollo,lncillioanw.k.
... ... 10 0
10 10
tv,lliam Hartree, E. engineer, Lewisham
Captsia CoH. Henderson, R.N.. C. 8., Comptroller General
of the Cast Gusr€l, Custom House • • .• ........ .... •• • •
.. 5 0
Messrs. J. x . Hoby and Co., Renfrew . ..... .... •• •• .. •• ••• 5 5
Captain James Flosicen.• •.••••• • • • • • • .••••••• • •• • • •• 1 0
Messrs. Howard, Ravenhill, and Co., engineers, R otherhithe 25 0
li E. umphrys, Esq., late chief engineer MM. Dockyar •
•• —• • ... 10 0
d,
Woolwich, Deptford •• • ... ........., engineers, Deptford 50 0
•
Messrs. II umphrys, Tennant, and Dykes
Captain Thomas Jackson, the Baron Osy steam-ship •••• .. 1 5
1
William Jackson, Esq., engineer, Leman-street....
• 0
Jabez James, Esq., engineer, Blackfriars .......• •:
W. S. Johnson, Esq., St. Martin's-lane.. •• . • .... .....
J. Hodgson Jones, Fsq., engineer, Poet's-corner, Westminster 1 1
Townsend Kirkwood, Esq , Llandilo, Carmarthen.. •
• • •
2
5 0
H. Reader Lack, Esq., Board of Trade ... ..... • •
MN ;regor Laird, Esq., managing director of the African Mail
100 0
Company, Mincing-lane .. •• • • ................ •
W. 11. Lambert, Esq., engineer, General Screw Steam-Ship-
5 5
ping Company, Southampton ................
51 0
James Laming, Esq., Maids-hill West . ..... ....•• .
TI lq.agdon, Esq., engineer, London-street •• .. ..........
10 0
. Lloyd, Esq., chief engineer of H M Navy, Somerset
10 0
J Horse
II 1..k.c.• .
Esq.,.. . •••..'
shipwright, H.M.il Dockyard,:• Portsmouth
C. ‘i Esq.,anbY;glierps
C.mji.nilsttaerre:
eao 1 F • ' It( irSe; (treasurer),
r. ,), secretaryGreatGo
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ttu, tio n
West-
-100 f
Esq., ............ lllackwall• ..... lO (10
Mew. Martin, Samuelson,-..'
Sons,
Greenwich Co.,et
Dockyard,
Britain
kd,
cyoh London
d steam-ship : . . .
~
..
.: :
.. .
.. . •. . .
.. . 2 0
Captain B. R. Matthews, and.:...... .................. I“1:1.11... ..
..
..
...
earLIIS•SI 0
John Matthew, Esq.
keld
Maser. Maudslay,
T.
Messrs.
sa.li il
Miller,e r , E sßqa. ,veenn
hg engineer,
G .litrikl 1 s Esq....
.......
..• .. •• : •• : : : '. *. i : .
, Gloucester-terrace,Pr oHyuthd:
, engineers, Blackwall 100 0
101050 101:
71a. .WilliamMorgan,,ca.pl,ll,arl
• • ••••• • • .. 10 10
roft, Manchester .... 10 0
Commander Matthew S. Nollotb, RNI ~ H.M.S. Frolic .... 1 0
' din ir : I Sir niE(37ht ili
.' 'ref Esq.,
el' Charles Onge engineer,
,g
!GI inalear:tr..7. I.Ew' :a.t tr.. o; en: -: p:1:a:c:e : ..
.. . :
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*I:. 'I:. 10120 001
‘ivalifyiTicasiit.o.lpl.l...F.e,,..EE.:.qq...:, Ceas.EiiierH. uolfi •G•
Greenwich
••• I 0
Hospital, Green,.
..... . .......
•..•••••.

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