The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-13 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—Deploring as I do, in common with the p 3 ula-
tion of the whole kingdom, tho dreadful fate of Vie pas-
sengers and crow of the unfortunate etearn acket
Amazon, and desirous that the public shall be enabled
to form a correct opinion of the means whereby to
avert a similar calamity, I feel it a duty to give, by
your favour, the widest circulation to the following
truths, in regard to which I challenge the most strict
investigation.
It is a startling fact, respecting the steam department
of the naval service, that vague theories have been con-
fidently adopted without trial, while the most successful
proofs have been rejected from crude theory—leading
not only to the misapplication of millions sterling, but
attended with the far greater evil of accumulating non-
effecti▪
ve ships of war, whose engines exceed the evapo-
rating power of their boilers by full 25 per cent., unless
indeed, the fires are urged by nearly a double amount
as compared with economical practice.
D superintendence); consequently, the engineers and
tless tho steam packet Amazon was no exception
toot this mode mode of equipment (the packets being Under the
same
stokers of this now untried vessel, zealous in their duty,
used their best endeavours to Effect a superior passage: I
am confident in this opinion, from the calamity having
occurred
shortly after the watch was relieved, previous
to whi▪
ch it is the notorious practice of stokers to make
and leave a good fire for their successors, by most waste•
fully throwing as much fuel into the furnaces as they
can hold.

The inevitable result of such an injudicious proceed-
ing is, that the limited surface fur the absorption of heat
is insufficient to prevent a large amount of lime from
arriving at the chimney, which becomes redhot, and,
though cased, radiates abundant heat to evolve resinous
gas from new pine planks, the vapours of which may
speedilyignite.
Overwhelmed as the Admiralty Board is, not only by
the official duties of that once most important office, but
by the accession, in detail, of the former Navy-office,
tho Transport Board, the Sick and Hurt Board, the
Victualling Board, the Post-office establishment, the
dockyards, and the minute details appertaining to foreign
commands, the appointments and promotions on all
these, and last, though not least, their duties as indi-
vidual Members of Parliament, which I by no means
prospectively envy during the approaching
seeing this conglomeration of incompatibilities, I ask is
it reasonable to blame the Admiralty fur mismanage-
ment to any extent in anysession,—
department? I am, sir, your
obliged and obedient servant,
DUNDONALD Admiral of the Blue.
2, Belgravo-road, Jan. 12.

0 n erroneously
Thursday
TO THE EDITOR OE THE TIMES.
Sir;
news-
papers that the committee of inquiry which met at
stated in some of the
circum-
stances attendant
.. upon the destruction of the Amazon,
last to investigate the
after (mammas all the crew and enginemen, had ad-
journed sine the.
amipttwonas
Southampton

.- -
On the contrary, a committee met again this day in
Moorgate-street, and examined some others of the sur-
vivors, and it is adjourned till eleven o'clock on Thurs-
day next, when it is expected Mr. Neilson and others of
the
paat portionssenger of
passengers
may furnish their evidence; and, so soon
as the crew who landed at Brest reach
Southampton, the inquiry will be resumed at that place.
Short-hand writers have been, and will be, employed
throughout, and it is probable that the whole of the
d willthecommittee be published
h assembled at Southamp-
ton were not correctly stated in the first instance, but
evidencescoef
they were as follows:
wwichh when it is completed. The
m
Mr. Thomas Baring, Deputy-Chairman of the com-
pany; Messrs. Charles Short, genr
y Nelson, Charles
E. Mangles, Thomas Masterman, director; Captain A.
L. Corry, R.N,, Admiralty Superintendent of packets at
Southampton; Captain Richard Barton, R.N.,
Marine
Superintendent of the company; Captain Edward Chap-
pell, R.N., secretary and joint manager of the company;
Captain Revett, commanding steam-ship Teviot; Capt.
Wilson, commanding steam-ship Dee.
The committee that met this day consisted of—Capt.
John Shepherd, director of the company and chairman
of the East india Company; Captain Henry Nelson,
Messrs. Charles Short and Charles E. Mangles, direc-
tors; Captain Whish, R.N., auditor; Captain Chappell,
R.N., secretary and joint manager.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have been
written to expressive of the directors cordial acquiescence
in any further inquiry their Lordships may desire to servant
Your obedientes-
tablish.E. CHAPPELL, Secretary.
55, Moorgate-street, January 12.

TafffteEr c rlarrying the sum of
Company,
the payment of a
...,IVIDEND. The
dd
ai rtßeecalt olrGss
dividend for the half-year of 31. per cent. on the Consoli-
-10,000/. to the credit of the reserve fund. This will make
tuojeakov N e
o decided
eictlih,ieetdAi .CloV uponAm rp. a
r
cent.
YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK RAILWAY.—
the total dividend for the year 1851 amount to 4/. 16s. per
This company estimate the expense of constructing the de-
viation in the line of the Thirsk and Mallon Branch Railway
and other works, to be applied for in the ensuing session,
DrufEeld
with power for Malton and Junction Company to
subscribe towards, and enter into agreements, and to raise
capital for such purposes, at 8,8421. ; and that the total cost
of constructing the Thirsk and Malton branch, according to
such deviated line instead of the line at present authorised,
will be 100,0001. ; and that by the adoption of such deviated
line a saving, of 5,058/. in the corkstruction of the Thirsk and
Aisiltelz branch will be effected.