The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-03 00:00:00

No. 19,5301

SMITH TESTIMONIAL FUND.
37, GREAT GEORGE-STREET, WESTMINSTER.
S r,- The superior adv,,ntages of screw propulsion being fully de-
monstrated by its general ado; tiers for the public service and for the
commerei .1 operations of almost all maritime nations, a favourable
time appeirs to have arrived for inducing a pubiic recognition of
the merit if its introduction.
Con•;need that screw navigation—whoever may be regarded as
its o, i_•ina: inventor—must date its real commebcement from the
successful trials an voya, es of the" Archimedes" in 1839 and 1840 ;
and feeling that all naval nations are indebted to the performances
of that ship, for the first practical development of this great impaive-
ment is the means of maritime enterprise ; the following gentlemen,
personally cognisant of the facts connected with the progress of the
system, are strongly impt essed w.th the justice of the claim') of Mr.
Francis Pettit Smith, to %those talents and untiring energy it is well
known the " Archimedes" owed both h r origin and success.
They can also bear record tc the steady perseve ante with which
that gentleman has continued to devote the bast years of h,s life to
the purpose of e-tablishing the merits of the screw. And they know
that the national bellefit thus comerred by his labours—which was
nrst so clearly confirmed by the performances of the Rattler in 1845,
then so strikingly iilustrat, d at the naval review of 1853, and which
is now so confidently relied on for success in actmil war—has not
hitherto procured fcr him either public acknowledgment or pet nary
reward. _ . _ _ _

'I hey have therefore formed themsc Ives into a Provisional Commit.
tee, and have requested us most respectfully to solicit the honour of
your nsine, and the advantage of your influence and example, in sup-
port of an appeal to all clas. a and interest, fora genera 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 th, honour to be your obedt. servants,
EDWARD PELLE W HALSTED,/ Hon. Seel.
JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL,

PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE.
James Allan, Esq., Managing Director of the Peninsular and Oriental
Company
Charles Atherton, Esq., Chief Engineer ELM. Dockyard, Woolwich
Joseph l:eardrnare, Esq., Manager of the General Steam Navigation
Compans 's Engine Works
R. Wollaston Blake,Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
Isambard K. Brunel, Esq., F. 8.5., C.E.
Edward Chappell, Esq., Capt. R.N., Secretary to the Royal West
India Mailtompany •- -- • - - • -- ----
William Crispin, Capt. MT., the RoYal Yacht
John Utlay Ellis, Esq., Chairman of the General Screw-steam

hipping Company
Joshua Fi ld, Esq., F.R.S., Engineer, London
John • Fincham, Esq., late blaster Shipwright, H.M. Dockyard,

Portsmouth
it Richard Grant, Kt , Capt. R.N.
William H. Henderson, Capt. R.N., C. 8., Comptroller-General of
the Coast Guard
Edward Humphrys, Esq., late Chief Engineer H.M. Dockyard,
Woolwich
McGregor Laird, Esq., Managing Director of the African Mail Com-
pany
Thomas Lloyd, Fsa., Chief Engineer of H.M. Navy
Cbar'es J. Mare, E, q., ,biobuilder, London
.Joseph Miller, Esq , F.R.S., Engineer, London
Robtrt Napier, Esq., Engineer, Glasgow
lames Nasmyth, Esq., Engineer, Manchester
John Penn, Esq., Eng neer, Greenwich
George Rennie. Esq , F.R.S., Engineer, London
Joseph d'a Samuda, Esq., Engineer, London
Rolert Stephenson, Esq , M.P., 1.R.5., C.E.
Isaac Watts, Esq., Assistant-surveyor H.M. Navy
Money Wigram, Esq., ,hipbuilder, London
Joseph Whitworth, Esq., Engineer, Manchester

TREASURER
Charles Manby, Esq., F.R.S., C..E., Secretary of the Institution of
Civil Engineers
__ .• ,

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

Extract from the Report of Baron CHARLES Durex to the Academy
of Science', Pane, on the prizes awarded by the French Govern-
ment to M. DUPUT DE Loam, and M. Mom, Otliciers superieurs
du Genie Maritime, et Ingeitieurs de la Marine delere • 'lasse, and
M. BOURGOIS, Captaine de Fregate, for the successful application
of steam and screw propulsion to sal ing vessels of war:—
" En 1835, un fennier de Middlesex, M. Francis Pettit Smith, en-
cadre h••r zontalement une vis d'Archimede a l'arriere et dans la
partie la plus pincee de la carene ; cette vis est continue ; elle adeux
revolutions completes. L'auteur prend son brevet le al Mai, 1836."
" Revenons au fermier Smith. Aussi peu savant dans le
principe que le battier A rkwri ht, ii avast la meme perseverance et le
roemeinciomptable courage Ces deux qualites morales l'ont fait triom-
phe rde t ^tie acles. M. Smith, pendant deux annees, essaye son
bateau sur la Tamise et sur le canal de Paddington. Dans ce canal,
par an accident i•eureux, une rev tut on de sa vis d'Architrede est
brisee, et le navire mitrehe plus vite qu'aueatavant. C'est un trait
de lumiere, et l'on flnira tar n'employer qu'une mottle, qu'un tiers,
et meme une moindre partie de rev.lution d'helice. Par ce moyen,
l'on pourra loger le propulseur dans une etrotte onverture verticale,
en avant du gouvernail, entre deux etambots.
" Wessels en essals, M. Smith se hasarde a lutter contre les diffl-
cultes de la mer. Avec un n ivire exremement petit, it s'aventure
dans la Manche, et brave un mer toujours ci dure, en essuyant des
temps mauvais ; son courage inspire une taveur univ rselle.
" L'Amiraute d'Angleterre prend un vif interet a des easels tentes
si courageusement, et courounes par le succes. Elle demands a M.
smith un essai plus conside,able, et la construction d'un navire a
Mice de 200 tonneaux, avant de conduce a l'adopi ion du nouveau
systeme. En consequence, l'Archimede, de 237 tonneaux, est con-
struit et mis ala mer. L'Amiraute so serait montree satisfalte, at
daze; les experiences demandees, le batiment eut parcouru 5 nceuds
par heure ; it en parcourut prey du doub.e. MAgre le vent et la
mares, it no mit que vingt heures pour eller de Gravesend a Ports-
mouth.
"Convaincue par ces epreuves, I'Amiraute d'Angleterre accepte
l'helice pour ses propres n ivires. En 141, elle fait commencer a
.4hewiless eon premier batiment a propulseur helicoide, le Rattler
du port de 888 tonneaux, batim nt qu'on mit a la me, au printemps,
de 1843. Ott multipliet les experiences sur ce navire, et l'Amiraute,
completement edifice, ordonna de construire a la fois, vingt bati-
ments de I'Etat, a propul.curs helicoides."

Letter from the Richt H.sn. the Earl of Minto, G.C.8., &c.
(First Lord of the Admiralty, 1835 to 1841.)
" Lond,n, June 13, 1854.
"Dear have not a doubt' that Mr. Smith may justly claim
the nvrit of having been the first to introduce the use of the screw
propeller ; and 7t 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 purpo:e of testing the comparative
advantages of the paddle and the screw—Believe me, dear sir, yours
aithfully, (Signed) " MINTO.
"Charles A. Cal !well, Esq.
" I can have r.o objectio• whatever to your making any use of my
letter that can b servic,able to Mr. Smith."
Letter from the Right Hon. the Earl of Baddington, &c.,
(First Lo d of the Admiralty, 1841 to 1846).
yninghame, Pre-tonkirk, N.B , August 24, 1854.
"Fir,—Tt is imro,sible for me to tit'ie upon myself to ofTer an
ocdnion as to which of the claimants is to be attributed the merit of
the fir,t invention of the screw propeller; but I believe that t.,e
svic..ess of " the Archimi des," followed by the trial c f "the Rattler,"
Mit under Lord atirto's Board), led to the adoption of the screw in
H M.'s Navy, and in the merchant service.
" It is admitted, I believe, that to Mr. Pettit Smith belongs the
credi of the s iccess of " the 4% rchimedes," conseque itly he is en-
tith d to be consi !ered as the introducer of a most valuable Improve-
ment in E.tearn navigation.
"lie wiv employed generally under the Steam Department of the
Admiralty in my time, and I have every reason t., believe that his
services were found to be valuable.
But the profes,ional names attached to the attestation you have
furni.bet me with, as well es those of the most eminent engitvers,
are of I.lr greater va'ue to Mr. Smith, than any testimony of min.
can possibly be.—l have the honour to ha. ,ir, your obedient
ADDINGTOhu.
m-
ble servant, (Signed) "
"Captain Halsted, R.N.
" I enciose the answer to your letter, of WlllOll you may make
any use you may think lit."

SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Richard Abethell, Esq., master shipwright, H.M. Dockyard,
1 1
Portsmouth.... •• . . ............... . .................. £
Jas Allan, Esq.. managing director of the Peninsular and
50 0
Oriental Company, Leadenhall-street ............ .... • •
......... 25 0
N. C. Alston, Esq., Birmingham ... '.......
Captain W. S. Andrews, North of Europe Steam Navigation
5 0
Comnany, 84, King W•liiam-street ................
John George Appold, Esq., Wilson-street, Finsbury•square 10 0
C. Atherton, Esq , chief engineer, 11.31. Dockyard, Woolwich 10 0
Captain Horatio T. Austin, R.N., C. 8., Admiralty Inspector
2 2
of Peel, ets, Southampton .. • • . ...... .... • . • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The Au- tralasian Pacific M all Steam Packet Company, Moor-
6 0
g tte-street
Thomas Back, Esq., Military Department, East India House
10 1 0
1
Messrs. Bayley and Ridley, 2, Cowper's-court.. ••• • • ....
..
John Barrow. Esq . F.R.S., Admiralty........ 0
George 8 elnimore. Esq., Deptord .... .•
- •• .• .• • 1 0
Joseph Beardmore, Esq , manager of the General Steam
Navigation Company's engine works, Deptford .......... 5 0
Joseph Bear amore, Jun , Esq., Deptford .. ••••• . • • • ....... 1 0
William Beardmore, Esq., Deptford .. ••••••••.. • .. • • • • • • 2 0
ft.,ar-A dm; ral `Sir Francis Beaufort, K C. 8., Admiralty .• .. 5 5
The Birmingham Tube Company, Birmingham •••••• • • • • .. 25 0
Mes-rs. John Rmrne and Co., engineers, Greenock .•.. • • . 50 0
William Boxall, Esq., w elbeck-street, C.lvendish- square .... 5 5
Messrs. Brosvnlow and,Co., Hull .•• .. „ „......
.....
.., 3 0
Peter BrufT, E-q., C.E., Ipswich ••.. • • • ........ ...... .. 1 1
I. K. Brunel, Esq., F.R.S., C.E., Duke-street, Westminster 59 0
William Carpmael, Esq., C.E., Patent-oflice, Lincoln's•inn • • 21 0
William Catt, Esq., Brighton •• .
Captain E. Chappell, R.N., secretary of the Royal West
India Mail Company, Moorgate-street .. •••• • • • •
Henry Chatfield, Esq., master shipwright, H.M. Dockyard,
Deptford . ................. ••••••••• • • • •. • • • • .... •• •• 2 2
Jabez C. urch, Esq., C.E., Chelmsford .
D. K. Clark, Esq., C E., Great North of Scotland Railway
Company, Aberdeens 0
Lieut. J. E. Commerell, R.N. . 5 0
Robert Cowen, Esq., Carlisle
Commander Peter cracroft, R.N., H.M.S. St. Jean d'Acre••• 1 0
Capt. W. Crispin, R.N., the Roya• Yacht, Portsmouth lO 0
Messrs. Wm. Denny and Brothers, shipbuilders, Dumbarton 100 0
John Dinnen, Esq., inspector of steam machinery afloat, Ad-
miralty, Somerset-house .. •
Misses. Richard Durant and Co., Lloyd's -... 10 10
Messrs. C. and W. Earle, engineers, Hull ..... ... . ... 2 2
David Elder, Esq ,en ineer, Glasgow
James Elliott, Esq., C.E , Dymchurch, Kent
J. U. Ellis, chairman of the General Screw Steam Co., Ade-
laide-place, London-bridge
Messrs. Allen Everitt and Son, Birmingham ...• ........
Chas. Few, Esq., Henrietta-street, Covent-garden.. •• • •
J Fincham, late master shipwright, 11. M. Dockyard, Ports-
mouth
Capt. John Ford, marine superinteneent General Screw-steam
Shipping Company, Southampton
Capt. Robert Ford, Battersea
Joseph Freeman, Esq., Artillery-place, Finsbury
Charles Fredsham, Esq., Strand.. —.• • •
William Fronde, Esq., C.E., Dartington, Devon 5 0
Messrs. Joseph Gee and Co., Hull
Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and' 0., Livermol .. • 25 0
Lionel Oishorne, Esq., C...• Duke-street, Adelphi
1 0
Vice-Admiral 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
William Green, Esq.. R.N., harbour master, Lowestoft
Capt. E. P. Halsted, R.N. (Hon. Sec.), United Service Club,
Lona ‘n .•• • •
John Hawkshaw, Esq., C.'', Great George street, West-
minster •••• • • • •••••• • • • • • • .....
William Hartree. Esq.- engineer, Lewisham .
Captain W. H. Henderson, R.N.. C. 8., Comptroller General
of the Coast GU ird, Custom House.. .. ........
Messrs. J. • . 'Toby and Co., Renfrew ... • , •,, ,
..... . . 5 5
Captain James flosken -.•••••••••• • • • • • • • . • • • ..... .... 1 0
.
Messrs. Howard, Ravenhill, and Co., engineers, Rotherhithe 25 0
E. Humphr ys,
Esq.,
Deptford late chief engineer 11.51. Dockyard,
..... ••••• • • • • ..... ••• • • .... 10 0
Messrs. Humphrys, Tennant, and Dykes, engineers, Deptford 50 0
Captain Thomas Jackson, the Baron Osy steam-ship ...... 1 1
William .fackson, Esq.. engineer, Leman-street 5 0
Jabez James, Esq., engineer, BlackfriarS 2 2
M'Gregor Laird, Esq., managing
W. S. Johnson, Esq., St. Martin's-lane •• • • ......... ••• ,_ •
• 2 2
J. Hodgson Jones, Esq., engineer, Poet's-corner, Westminster 1 I
Townsend Mrkwood, Esq , Llandilo, Carmarthen 5 0
H. Rea( er Lack, Esq., Board of Trade 2 2
director of the African Mail 10) 0
Company, Mincing-lane ..... ..• • • . • • •
W. Langdon, Esq , engineer, W. B. Lambert, Esq., engineer, General Screw Steam-Ship-
ping Company, Southampton ................ •
James Laming, Esq.,
Thos. Lloyd, Esc'. Maida-hill West ••..• • • •
London-street lO 0
chief engineer of H.M. Navy, Somerset
House• ••• • • • "
shipwright, lI.M. Dockyard, ..... 10 0
James Luke. F:4;7 ......
• • • • .......
• . •
Civil Engineers Portsmouth 10 0
C. VI anby,
flee F
(treasurer), Great George-street, West-
.s., C. E., secretary of the Institution of
111 0
.
c.mji.nmst,,erre: :;,.q. :
g.;,,i..,;„
Messr. Martin, samtieloilder, Blackwell
, Esq , 4.trithe Great Britain steam-ship •• •• 2 0
Captain B. it, yi a me: Tit ant Co., engineers. Hull.. ••
John Matthew
Massie. Maa,islay, Sons, &nee::
T. W. NI Ile '• Em.s engineer, Field
~ • London Greenwich
• • : : : : :.
.:::: : : : : 10100 100
messrs. Miller, It ivenhill, min"' m• Dockyard, Portsmouth.• 5 5
G. Mills, Esq. -•"' " Ralkeld• engineers, Blackwell 100 0
William Morgan, Esq., engineer,........... ••• • • •
R. Napier,
.... .. ........
....GlOueester
, .4ilanlits?patne dham, Esq., C.C.: ntlif • • *--:7;.•P'e? •• • • • • .......
:
Ja:aPler, E,sq., engineer, Glasge;,• •' '• ••• • ......
es
74.u"3111, F sq., engineer, Pat.rj • • •.
''••'••• • • • .. •• 100 0
A d Commander Matthew 8' Nolloth, it-,croft, Manchester
mir:a Sir charley Ogle, Bart:, Eat,,,, 1:1, .M.S: Frolic •• 1 0
'terrace, Hyde-
-20 0
L "„, s Esq., cashier Of Green,...,, •• . • 1 0
,„.. •• 14 ....... '""
RosPltal, Green-
—_____ _
__ ....
_id'''. ..... •*....,,,, . . .
----.._____7-J, ............. 2 2