The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-13 00:00:00

Yortstnouth was sot by the ir,!",qh:f,rlr, a 11, but
rat bra fereatel by the Adeorelty f tee purpose
oft btaining a judicial cleehion on the so tjc er; and if),
• examination which they then nil& undettb:edly rt suited
in the condemnation of so many of the canisters. He
had no apprehensions whatever as to the state of the
provisions supplied to the Arctic Expedition. But he
wished to impress upon the House that in the present
state of science the Admiralty were not able to secure a
good supply of preserved meat. Wah respect to the
general supply of the navy, they held contracts with
several persons who had been exceedingly anxi us to
prevent the deterioration of the meat, consequent on long
exposure to the air; but they had not been successful.
A general impression was, that the meat which the Ad-
miralty supplied was all bad in quality; tint he ventured
to say, when the facts came before the Committee, it
would turn out that the cases ot bad meat were extremely
few indeed. The whole or most of the bad meat arose,
not from its being bad originally, but from its becoming
so in the course of time.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gen-
tleman had indulged in many pathetic observations as to
the results of using the bad meat in querion; but, on the
other hand, he (Sir F. Baring) could tessere the lion.
Gentleman that Mr. Goldner was a ruined man. He
might add, however, that there was no intention what-
ever on the part of the Admiralty to forego proceedings
against his sureties for the nonperformance of his con-
tract. He would propose, as an amendment to the mo-
tion of the Hon. Baronet, that the inquiry into the con-
tracts and the'mode of making them, for the supply of
the meat provisions for the use of her Majeety's navy,
instead of being confined as proposed to the years 1847,
1848, 1849, 1850, and 1851. should extend over the
Whole period from 1841 to 1851 inclusive.—(Bear, hear,
and cries of " Oh, oh.") It the inquiry coetemplat.ed
was a real and bond fide one he could not see the
• grounds fur the unwillingness to carry back the inquiry
to the commencement of the supply of preserved provi-
sions, and the nature of the contracts fin the supply of
the provisions of the Erebus and Terror.—(Hear.) The
remaining portion of his am-ndoaent would be in the
words of the original motion it,elf.
Colonel CHATTER CON stated that Mr. Gamble,
Who had a large establishment at Curnhill as well as at
Cork, had enjoyed the exclusive contract for the pre-
served meat for the navy fur a period of five years, and
that no instance had occurred in which any complaint
had been made of the provisions supplied. lie had sup-
plied the provisions to the expeditions of Capteins
Parry, Austin. and Ross. Mr. Gamble had supplied the
former expeditions in 1819 and 1820, and again in 1824
and 1825, with 24,314 casesof meat, weighing 108,3931 N.,
and not one of them when opened was touad in the
least defective state. It was also a remarkable fact that
when the Fury was wrecked in the Arctic Seas, in
1826, she lied some of Mr. Gamble's preserved meat on
board. This was examined by Captain Ross, and al-
though it was exposed to all the vici-situdes of a climate
the thermometer ranging from 80 deg. above to 92 deg.
below zero for twenty-five years, it was perfectly sound,
juicy, and wholesome. With these facts before their
eyes, was it not strange that the Government should
continue so to favour this Hungarian Jew, who since
that period had had the contracr? Not less than 7,468
canisters of the provisions supplied by him had, upon
examination at Portsmouth, been found to be unfit for
human food; and he had no doubt but that, if an inquiry
had been made in other ports, a similar discovery would
have been made.—(Hear, bear.) It was lamentable to
• think of the sufferings which in all probability were en-
dured by the brave Arctic voyagers, who had been sup-
plied with provisions by the sera() contracts r.—(Hear.)
The neglect of the Admiralty had, however, been shown
• not only in the present case, but upon former occasions.
In July, 1849, the Apollo, a wretched crazy craft, was
ordered to take on board 689 men belonging to one of
the finest regiments in the service. It was found, how-
• ever, upon touching at Cork, that the vessel would not
accommodate that number of men, and five officers, 130
•
,men, and seven women and children, were ordered to
• disembark, in order to be conveyed by another vessel.
From the first a most disagreeable smell arose. Malaria
Was perceptible, which -could not be accounted for, and
Which increased during the voyage. Most unfortunately
the cholera broke out, and in a very short time one
officer and 25 persons were consigned to the deep. Those
casualties were doubtless caused by the crowded state of
the ship, the malaria which prevailed, and the almost
insufferable heat, particularly at night, between decks of
the Apollo. The soldiers becoming weak and debili-
tated fresh provisions were ordered to be issued, and
acitne of Goldner'a meat canisters were opened. The
• cause of the impurity of the atmosphere was immediately
'aPParent, for the contents of these were a perfect mass
f Putridity, and were, of course, rejected by all, and
thrown into the sea, whilst the preserved meat stock of
bthlieshc
ffie
mcnetr, s, purchased at Cork, from Mr. Gamble's este-
was in a perfect state of preservation.--
(Hear, hear.) It was decided that they should steer for
Rio Janeiro, and on arriving there the troops were all
disembarked and placed under temporary huts and tents
at the Isla Grande, where, being plentifully supplied
with fresh provisions and vegetables, their health and
• strength was comparatively restored. The Apollo, in
the
meantime, was thoroughly cleansed and fumigated,
and the troops re embarked, and arrived in safety, after
this moat perilous voyage, in eight months, the freight
ship, with the remaining part of the corps, reaching her
destination in four.—(Elear, hear.) The pestilential
_disease, however, generated on board followed the regi-
ront to its destination, and shortly after arriving at
silent its destination,
one buadred and thirty of the men died in
the :sPiitai• Thus was one of the fittest regiments in
en 8 rt`ce almost completely destroyed by the bad at-
larnmedetion and the execrable provisions providsd by
414 r. Goldner and the Admiralty.—(Hear, hear.) He
trusted that the whole subject would undergo a most
• complete and searching investigation.—(Hear.)
Admiral BERKELEY telt confident that the result of
the inquiry would be to show that the present B •ard of
.Admiralty, which had been so much abused, had done
More for toe comfort of the men in her Majesty's navy
• than any of its predecessors had ever been able to so-
complish.—(llear, hear.) With respect to the charge
Made by the Hon. end Gallant Member for Cork, of
Sending a crazy vessel to convey the troops to Hong-
a,'ung, there was no ground whatever for it. The
'_"•130110 waci a perfectly sound ship, new, and in every
dweeifiye
dproperly and fully
equipped as a troop ship; and he
any one who kneseauything of the subject to sa that there
was a better in the service, It was very easy to make charges of the kind, but by no means so easy
to
substantiate them. He did not
find fault with the
• tone in which the motion had been brought forward;
but he did with the manner in which the Board of Ad-
. istpaticraslty was abused, as not being fit to manage the af-
committed to its charge.—(Hear, hear) Notwith-
a_anding what had been said, the Admiralty did look
badtt e!r,
n ander effectively too, the comforts of the men, and
~v embarked troops in improper ships.—(Oh.)
Megmra, to which allusion had been made, had to
e n
n!”e.d against the most tryin and adverse winds, and
nwithstanding the statements gof a gallant admiral who
had Made himself somewhat conspicuous in the art of
letter-writing, and who had written to the Times news-
ViPs on er
the subject, he contended that the vessel
kdecte
ic
d every way fit for the service for which she was
•
kr to.
the House Charge ws not the fitness of vessels for the dis-
oof theirduty, but rather whether a proper and
theelent supervision had taken place with reference to
that description of preserved meat known as "Gldner's
large proportion of which itw could a° proved
!jeunsisted of abominable, unwholesome, and excrementa-
ou& matter.—(Hear, hear.) had received a letter
1v°132 an officer who had been long connected with the
and he stated with reference to this description of • human food supplied to the navy :—" The preserved Meat known as 'Goldner's patent' is now being done
away with. It was utterly disgusting to bee the contents
. Wofitshomtrleodf
uthneg tins. In some cases they contained offal
d g than anyinthsiindge—efaile ea
lying packed
like horse-
y.n,, equally
good irt(at I have se
on board ship Nll off hien. with
myself, provisions when issued
which were issued wer
thiessinictialctlilnsgplyer cent., and the parts
a large quantity of indifferent." In 1849
in;at was disapproved of by the
board; but, notwithstand
133; izher contract was entered
into with Mr. Goldner
Admiralty. What, he
Would ask, became of the seeurittes in that case ? Why
Were they not proceeded against ?'(Hear, hear.) He
°f nneatthe destroyed under
. Wanted to know the quantity
ittY_ were first en-
Wuh , ine contracts with Mr. Goldner since
*red into, and how the country stood
Ron.oht
hear)—whettlin sues matters
the contractor—(Hear,
er the country
GOldner had been mulcted, and ir t ntry
pusina from the preserved meat, the
em-
ber next r • d a
deser•b• €a • •
passage from the same letter
as abo.
It Provision Bove
In the
firm7l ing the condition of the salt
Place," said the writer, " the quantity of salt meat
condemned to be returned into store, or sold for the be-
ne6t of the Crown, or crdered to be thrown away, is very
great.
In the second place, there is a very great loss of
weaght in boiling. All the meat is cut into 41b. pieces,
includingi hone, before boiling. The average weight of
lea,
after boiling has been about lily, some I have
see
nas low as 9 ounces, with bone. Now, as the mena
are allowed 2lbs in weight extra for each 41b. piecet t
hoses half its weight in boiling, there is a very consider-
Curwe amount paid for extras, as the following account ofd
iatilleti will show." The account began July 12, and
en•
ded November 22, and he found tke result to be that
proper allowance of meat issued fcr the crew during
re Specified time was 2,44511e5., and the extra quantity
'glel for making an for the loss of weight in 13- fling
,0121 b. He fuund from the same account that there
13241ndemned to be sold for the profit of the Crown
to bt.; and of meat which was so bad that it required
be thrown overboard the weight was 1,1181b5., making
neeard for as possible treble the allowance of the weight
visa the crew of that ship. The case of salt pro-
' elQns, although not so bad as that of the pmerved
bi
eon!! (,)/ Mr- Goldner, equally showed the necessity for
be— `n,quiry, and he trusted that the Committee would
PPomted.—(Hear, hear.)
Arr.• CORRY said that having been connected wills the
Franklin
at the time the provisions were supplied to the
expedition in 1845, he felt bound to remove the
Q11'246'4011 which appeared to he entertained, that the
tent: e_sl
we of the Arctic from the im-
proper
fvessels were suffering
ood supplied by Mr. Goldner. In 1845 pre-
ttiest was not issued as an article of food, but as
these
our medical comfort. At that time so excellent were
L.rbeers that not more than 1 per cent. of them
ap°._ found to be bad,'while in the best qualities of
thattha,g,!alt meat it amounted to from 2 to 3 per cent.; so
oila point of fact, there was then greater safety in
ePotted meat than in the ordinary salt provisions
e 11-
,oatTchaerenitueldil
ever
ml at for the use of: t ahl
01 ieocomforts of the crew were, how-
The ordinary preserved
44tY at the p • navy
anxious that theuce
beat was supplied to the Ad-
of 5d per pound. Being however
titshed
With
meat
erfeWs of
contract wa:entuereld into by
h this expedition should be fur-
Possible character, a sepa-
ratekr. Goldner, for a b
at prices ranginPPY of
the very best description of
the Admiralty with
lie thought
thatoty. gd.
ex
to Ir. per lb.—(Hear,
--Plonation would send in

THE

some measure, to allay the anxiety which was naturally
It on the: tithjeet of the provisieae supelted to the Arctic
vx,,euittOo. It was also virli-khOwti that meat io the
calif latitudes of the isictic regions was not iiahle to
decay, sad in coefirreation of the safety of sure-dying
provisions of the kind, he might state that of 35 000
cases supplied to Captain Austin's expedition, only
eighteen were found to be faulty. Some of the meat
had been returned iato store, and recent examinations
had tended to confirm the opinion upon the subject.
Captain SCOBELL had no doubt whatever but that
those oho had the management of the affairs of the Ad-
mirelty had not been altogether to negligent as that they
would not be able in committee to offer some settisfac-
! tory explanation on the subject. He was decidedly in
favour of the amendment proposed by the Rigkt Hon.
Baronet at the head of the Admiralty, as he considered
it advisable that the Committee should carry their in-
quiries as far back as possible. He thought that this de-
scription of preserved meat would never be found to
answer well for the use of the navy.
Colonel SIBTHORP was riot surprised to find that
th, Government preferred a foreigner to a British sub-
ject, and was not surprised 'at the cons, quences of this
unjust partiality. He should like to know how many
tenders had been sent in for the supplying of the pre-
served pi °visions by parties in this country more re-
st.), &able by far than Mr. Goldner, who would no doubt,
he supposed, as things now went, to be very shortly
knighted—(Laughter)—what were the terms of such
tenders—and what were the reasons they had been re-
fused. If the Ministry bad partaken of the poisoned
meat, it would have saved the country a round sum in
salaries.—(Laughter.) The brt ad the poor sailors got
was bad enough, but the cheese was quite enough to
choke a dog. The country was greatly indebted to the
Hoe. Baronet for bringing the question under the atten-
tion of the House, as it might have the elf, et of putting a
stop to many discreditable practices going on in some
other departments.
Mr. MACGREGOR was anxious not to let the question
pass without is few words of observatien. With the
exception ut the ships of the United States, the British
navy was b, tter victualled than those of any other ser-
vice in the world. It was a fact which ought to be ex-
tensively known, that the victualling or ships was ex-
clusisely made up without reference to preserved meats.
A sufficient quantity of food was put on board, and
preserved meats were only superaelded to the store al-
t, ally obtained. This was a circumstance which, were
it known, would allay much anxiety in the residents of
many of the seaport towns. The Right lion. Baronet at
the head of the Admiralty had taken as much care, and
bestowed as much pains on his department, as any
person who had ever preceded him in that office; and if
blame were to he attached to any person, it certainly
was not to the Right Hon. Baronet. If the information
were correct which he had received, it might turn cut
that some canisters of bad meat were purposely con-
veyed into the stock supplied by Goldner.
Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE had no particular reason
for choosing the y-ar 1847, and he was quite willing to
include the years 1845 and 1846, which would include
the victualling of the Erebus and Terror.
Sir FRANCIS BARING was only too happy to give
the fullest facilities, and to make the inquiry as strict
and as searching as possible.
The motion as amended was then agreed to.
THE LAW OF MORTMAIN.
Mr. HEADLA NI moved the re-appointment of the
Committee upon the law of mortmain. The labours of
the Cemainte e were interrupted by the close of the
sessi n of Parliament hetore they had time to report.
They had already collected a lar -o amount of useful
evidence, and their object was to place the laws of mort-
main on the best possible foundation. The Committee
were not anxious that there should be any material ad-
dition to the evidence now before them; but they wore
desirous to examine the Master of the Rolls in Ireland,
who had been a most active member of the board of
charitable bequests, as they considered his evidence
would be most material. The Act of Lord Hardwicke
had entirely failed in its object, and an amendment in
the law was requisite. They had no desire to offer any
impediments to the stream of charitable donations; but
considered that it was infinitely better for those who had
anything to give to give it during their own lives, when
they could super ntend its distribution.
After a few words from Lord JOHN MANNERS,
the motion was agreed to.
MAIL PACKET SERVICE.
Mr. FITZSTEPHEN FRENCH moved for copies of
the tender made on the agreement or contract entered
into with the West India Mail Packet Company to carry
the mail to Brazil at 3e. 2d per mile, and the number of
voyages performed by that company under such tender,
agreement, or contract. The Honourable Gentleman
complained that the Admiralty had shown an unjust
preference for one particular company. Up to the 3 ear
1849, her Majesty's Government carried the mails to
Dublin and Holyhead at an annual cost of 56,0001. per
annum. At that time Lerd Auckland was at the head
serviceof
shouldtheßOatd b at,
put Ad
pmuiratloty, and he advised that the
offered to be performed byputhbelicpcuoumlipuetSteam t
Packetwas
Company for 45,0004 per annum. That offer was ac-
cepted. However, certain Members of Parliament con-
nected with tho Chester and Holyhead Railway remon-
strated with. the Treasury, and the effect of their repre-
sentations was, that the Treasury decided that the ques-
tion should be re-opened. The result was that the Dub-
lin Steam Packet Company were obliged to take the con-
tract: and they were annual losers to a considerable ex-
tent. In 1849 Lord Auckland, who was a loss to the Admi-
ralty, advised that the last of the sailing packets between
England and Brazil should he superseded by steam, and the
Screw Steam Company entered into a contract with the
that they should perform the service at a certain rate,
viz., 3s. 4d. per mile. The Treasury thought it neces-
sary to interfere. The contract was put up to competi-
tion, and a render was put in by the West India Steam
Packet Company to perform the service for 3s. 2d. per
mile. It was for the production of these contracts and
agreements that he now moved. It was perfectly well
known that the company who had obtained the con-
tract were cm in a condition to carry it out. They had
only one screw steamer, and they took no steps to carry'
out their contract. He believed that it was tho duty of-
the Admiralty to have stepped in and deprived them of
it, or enforced its fulfilment. Nothing was done until
the contract for the carriage of the West India mails e x-
pired, and then the Admiralty entered into a double con-
tract with them, to carry the two mails for the enormous
sum of 2701. per annum, and that contract was given to
the company for ton years. Now it was not the lowest
tender that had been made. The General Screw
Navigation Company, one equally competent to
undertake the service, offered to do . it for
80,000/., and thus 190 0001. of the public money
had been wasted. The materials of which the vessels
of this favoured company were built were not of oak, Ha
required by the Admiralty, but iron and pine were used.
and it was owing in semis degree to the circumstance of
the Amazon being built cf the last-mentioned wood that
it ems found utterly impossible to check the flames. It
was said that the Government gave this contract to the
West India Company pertly from a commisseration of
their losses. He did not think they were so mach to be
pitied, since at their last meeting they declared a divi-
dend of eight per cent., and re ported a reserve fund for
building ships of half a million sterling. He was in-
formed that the Admiralty had entered into a contract
with the Australian Steam-packet Company
for the car-
riage' of the mails to that country, but at so low a figure
they would be unable to carry it out. •
Mr. COWPER thought there were no such documents
in existence as those referred to by the Honourable
Gentleman. There was no tender for 3s 2d. per mile;
there was no contract for it, and consequently no me

Mr. FRENCH—WeII, let me have the correspondence.
Mr. COWPER—The Admiralty would be most wil-
ling to thr ,w all the light they could upon the subject;
the Honourable Gentlemen had brought a grave charge
against them, which, atter all, would only amount to
this—that the Admiralty had entered into a renewal of
those contracts which were before in existeece. With
i regard to the Dublin and Holyhead contract, he ad-
mitted the charge made by the Honourable Gentleman.
The Admiralty were on the point of entering into a
contract for that service at 45,0001.; but, before anything
was signed, another party stepped forward, and the re-
sult, was, the contract was taken at 25,0001, thereby
saving the public 20,000/. He could speak confidently
of the circumstances of this case, because it was brought
before a Committee of the House, who reported that the
Board of Admiralty had done their duty in every res-
poet, and entertained quite a different opinion to that of
the Hon Gentleman. With regard to the Brazilian con-
tract, the lowest tender was accepted, being that of the
West India Company. It was true the Screw Steam
Packet Company made a proposal and laid a plan for
the service before the Admiralty, but instead of accept-
ittg t that proposal at once, they called for tenders, and as
th_ a.eer Company did not make the lowest tender,
u.Y am not obtain the contract ; so far the result was
ofafvtohuerawb loeutothde practice of the Admiralty. The tender
acceptance the 14 Company was accepted, but atter its
unable to compete w
company found their vessels were, by age,
those seas by the U it
- the
h more rapid vessels, put in
penditunrited
to a large ex
Entoadprocure
States, and that they must go
of grater power; tee; more efficient vessels
. Pak-awn—How long
for a fresh coati: act, rah e a proposal to the Admiralty
Teat
In the year 1849. L 'after?]
once, but when the Wesird?B4l was not accepted at
the Brazilian line yews incor la contract was remodelled
India contract had been curriedporatoed with it. The West
with the Brazilian in addition, the oat
240,0001; and,
continue at 270,000/. per annum. The
eiralty agreed to
der for the Brezdian contract was aboven37o lowest ten.
the additional sum paid to the West India aooo/., and as
30,0001, 'he public had still the advantage of Int
hpealnoy w"
tender, and of the two services being executed West,
h . the corn by the
same parties, W-:erl enabled company to put on
more efficient and powerful vessels. Be understood the
Hon. Me tuber to say that ptnuliar favour had been
shown to the West India Company in not compelling
theen to use vessels built of wood. He (Mr. Cowper)
could assure the House the Admiralty regulations bad
been strictly complied with; every vessel was carefully
surveyed, and when, on one occasion, an iron vepel was
put on the line, it was an extra vessel, to which no ob-
jection could of
course be made, so long as the company
continued to maintain the pro er Dumber required by
the contract. I, - P
due to the Admiralty,
,
it w any reproach wa- -
a for h,ivir,g driven bard bargain with the
West Indies rather a.
Company, and not for having shown them
any partiality or favouritism.
Mr. HUME said the expl • fthe Admiralty was
perfectly satisfactory to
him, and he merely rose to im-
press on the Government th mi . • • our
penny colonies the advantegee of the importance of giving
could be sent to Ireland or tieenChannelletter Islands for a
penny, end he could not see why every one of our colo-
nies should not have the same ad
We vantage,—(Hear, hear.)
were paying for foreign postage a•
erv:ce 600,0601 or
700,000/. a year, nod the amount Of
inconsiderable.postage
Ire vessels of 2,oooottsns ge receipts was
,
there could be
no difficulty in devoting 100 tone to the ails instead of
30 or 40 19124-1114 it would in 09 beneficial
.mails
VW o Lii6

LONDON,