The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-16 00:00:00

TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Petition of Rooert Rettie, Inv < n'ot:ard Con-
sulting Engineer, from Glas,zow (Crystal Palace,
Class 7, No. 159, Engineering Department),
Humbly sheweth that he is the orig'nd Inventor of
sill the R-d, White, and Green Signals, now in use upon
the/ railways and the ocean, by day at d night, for the
safety of lite in the preventing of " Collision on Rail-
ways aretat Sea," " Shipwreck'," showing " Signa!s of
Dis!ress" at ail hours of the "night," also the depth of
water at all the ports and harbours throughout the
world, with a universal udo of Sizzlela for ail Nations.
That your petitioner was written to, when in Scot-
land, by the late Sir R. Peel's Government as far back
as the year 1842.3, when engaged in busines., and re-
siding iu Glasgow, as the proprietor of the " Glasgow
Brass Foundry"—and assured, that should his system of
using Colours and Signal Ligh6 succeed, after trials to
be made at Woolwich and Portsmouth—which trials
were suceetsfully accomplished—l should be provided
with an appointment to carry out the same under Go-
vernment.

Teat this was accomplished successfully, I nerd only
refer your attention to the Government Report, No. 568,
August 3. 1846—laid before your Honourable House in
1846, clearly showing that these trials were not only
highly successful, and also approved of by the Govern-
ment authorities appointed by Sir Charles Ogle, Bart.,
Port Admiral at Portsmouth; but also the various bar-
beur and port commissioners throughout England and
Scotlend, whom the petitioner visited personally 1845-6.
end explained them; all presented memorials and peti-
tions, and documents to the inventor and the Board of
Admiralty
And the Peninsular, Dublin, and Scottish navigation
steam companies, with Lloyd's and the Generel Ship-
owners Association of London, cordially joined in ex•
pressing with ethers, thsir general utility for the saws,
and protection of life and property (ate printed work
Bettie on Ma ice-Nisht Signalza" 1847). Your me-
morialist *het efore humbly lays before your Honourable
Houie the plein frets of his case;—AttPr having thus
served faithfully my Lords of the Admiralty—during Sir
it Peel's Administration—at the clockyardsof Woolwich
and Portsmouth, and then returned to Scotland, when
your memorialist was itgaia sent for a th'eel time by
Captain Hamilton, R.N., secretary to the admiralty,
who, when I arrived, told me, I was entered now on
heard the Hagler steam frigate—(entered on board 15th
November, 1845)—anal that I must again proceed to
Portsmouth, and that I was to be paid for my services
us an officer, and having pone to Portsmouth tad re-
eeeved a series of new trials and remained upwards of
eight weeks on board and twelve months on shore—and
leave of abreact granted by Sir Charles Ogle, hart
Port Admiral—at an enormous expense and neglect of
my business, and after all have never received one for-
thing of pay while there ! And these trials were then
so successful that all parties admit, and to prove they
were so, they have actually carried out and used my plat
by alterations so evasive, that much loss of life and pro-
perty has been the result by using three different lamps
at a great t xpense—from 1001. to 1501. each steamer--
when one lamp at 101. to 301. woul.i hive been sufficient
as to expense and tare in safety for life.
Thus was my time engaged away from home, and I
was obliged to sink my little capital for the Government
service, and for six years have I been kept waiting, day
after day, expecting justice being done me, by the party
who had then assumed power under "Lord John Rus-
sell," Commodore Houston Stewart, at Woolwich dock-
yard. When my trials were concluded and after attend-
ing daily for three years at the "Admiralty," I was sent
to the Board of Trade," and by them to Lord John
Russell, and from all I have had nothing but evasion,
though one and all of them know that I have been by
their treatment brought from effluence to poverty,
Havieg paid 3001. for my patent rights (which they,
the Admiralty have infringed!) and expended up-
wards of fifteen hundred pounds sterling, besides years
of labour and fatigue, and have had no redress nor
remuneration, but injustice from the Admiralty,
whi, have placed one of the name of "Captain Den-
ham" to till the place appointed by Sir R. Peel,
But., for me, to carry out these. inventions; and they
have also encouraged a Mr. :thiler, in Piccadilly, a
candle maker, to surreptitiously make for them, and
reunufacture, sell, and infringe on my coloured lights,
for the navy and commercial marine, under tie it coun-
tenence and support! Your memorialist htnebly urges
his &aim, from the poverty which these pie ceedings
and injustice have brought upon him; for such a long
period be has been kept out of business, and ruined by
the Lords of the Admiralty proceedings, and he feels
assured that our Honourable ll use will not only hear
the pra3t-r of one whose labours have so much contri-
buted to the safety of all nations, both by railway and at
sea! 'as it is universally acknowledged by all nations.
That your memnrish.,t is the " only true inventor who
gave to coloured lights a eignifiiev inn and meaning for
ttsy vici night," and that without these lights and colours
they; could not travel by day or night one hour in
surety.

Trat your memorialist having spent his all for the
coed of bi, country, and the sole object in saving of the
lives of our seamen and vessels-600 sailtog vessels,
100,670 tons, and 11 siesrners, 1,306 tons, having been
wracked and run down during the last year, 1851—and
'or seven years since this plan was brought out and
triid, and kept tick by parties for interested purposes,
to the sacrifice of human d-mands at least investi-
gation to the folks:, extent ; also that due reparation
may ID3 aiven for himself and family, &e.,
Your memorialist will ever pray,
RonEra' RETTIE, Consulting Engioeer.

Sir,-1a a motion upon the subjoet of this petition
by John M.'Grevr, Esq., M.P. for Glasgow, stands in
the v;rfos of the limpet t f Cummons tor Thursday, the
27th May, your friendly rid is respectfully solicited in
behalf of humanity and justice.

BANK OF FRANCE.
The following is a monthly return of the situation of
the .dank of Franco up to October 14 :