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

TIIE

fortsnaouth was not made by the inhabitents tit all. hut i wire [revere to llayt the anith ty which was natural];
was breught 'creard by the Adeetrelty to the pui:peee , ft !ton the s 0 bit:et of the proviti eee supplied to the Arctic
of obtaining a judicial decision on the suajeet; end the ' expedition. L was also well-known that meat in the
examination which they then made undoubtedly resulted I cold latitudes of the Arctic regions was not liable to
in the condemnation of so many of the canisters. He , decay, and in confirmation of the safety of supplying
had no apprehensions whatever as to the state of the 1 provisions of the kind, he might state that of 35.000
provisions supplied to the Arctic Expedition. But he I cases supplied to Captain Austin's expedition, only
wished to impress upon the House that in the present ' eighteen were found to be faulty. Some of the meat
state of science the Admiralty were not aye io secure a had been returned into store, and recent examinations
good supply
genera of preserved meat. With respect to the had tended to confirm the opinion upon the subject.
l supply of' the navy, they held contracts with Cap sin SCOBELL had no doubt whatever but that
several persons who had been exceedingly anxi us to those who had the management of the affairs of the Ad-
prevent the deterioration of the meat, consequent on long m!r111y had not been altogether so neglieent as that they
exposure to the air; but they had not been successful. would not he able in
committee to offer seine satisfac-
A general impression was, that the meat which the Ad- ter) explanation on the subject. lie was decidedly in
miralty supplied was all bad in quality; but he ventured favour of the amendment proposed by the Right• Hon.
to say, when the facts came before the Committee, it Baronet at the head of the Admiralty, as he considered
would turn out that the casesot bad meat were extremely it advisable that the Committee should carry their ie-
few indeed. The whole or most of the bad meat arose, quiries as far hack as possible. He thought that this de-
not from its being bad originally, but from its becoming scription of preserved meat would never be found to
so in the course of time.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Grf la• arl,rer well for the use of the navy.
tleman had indulged in many pathetic observations as t , Celonel SIBTHORP was not surprised to find that
the results ef using the bad meat in question; but, on the the Government preferred a foreigner to a British sub-
other hand, he (Sir F. Baring) could assure the Hon. jeer, and was not surprised at the consequences of this
Gentleman that Mr. Goldner was a-ruined man. He unjust partiality. Ho should like to know how many
might add, however, that there was no intention what- tenders had been sent in for the supplying of the pre.
ever on the part of the Admiralty to forego proceedings served provisions by parties in thi. country more re-
against his sureties for the nonperformance of his con- spt ctable by fur than Mr. Goldner, who would no doubt,
tract. He would propose, as an amendment to the mo- he supposed, as things now went, to be very shortly
tion of the Hon. Baronet, that the inquiry into the con- knighted—(Laughter)—what were the terms of such
tracts and the mode of making them, for the supply of tenders—and what were the reasons they had been re-
the meat provisions for the use of her Majesty's neve, fused. If the Ministry had partaken of the poisoned
instead of being confined as proposed to the years 1847, meat, it would have saved the country a round sum in
1848, 1849, 1850, and 1851, should extend over the salaries.—(Lauehter.) The bitted the poor sailors got
whole period from 1841 to 1851 inclusive.—(Hear, hear, was bad enough, but the cheese was quite enough to
and cries of " Oh, oh.") It the inquiry corns mplated choke a dog. The country was greatly indebted to the
was a real and bond fide one he could not see the Ho .. 13sr.net for bringing the question under the atten-
grounds fur the unwillingness to carry back the inquiry tion of the House, as it might. have the efF, ct of putting a
to the commencement of the supply of preserved pruvi- stop to malty discreditable practices going on in some
sions, and the nature of the contracts fu; the supply of other departments.
the provisions of the Erebus and Terror.—(Hear.) The Mr. M A CGREGOR was anxious not to let the question
remeoning portion of his amendment would be in the pass without a few words of observatien. With the
words of the original motion itself, exception of the ships of the United States, the British
_Colonel CHATTER roN stated that Mr. Gamble, navy was b. tar victualled than those of any other ser-
. why had a large establishment at Cornhill as well as at vice in the world. It was a fact which ought to be ex-
Cork, had enjoyed the exclusive contract for the pre- tensively known, that the victualling of ships was ex-
served meat for the navy for a peritel of five years, and elusively made up without reference to preserved meats.
_that no instance had occurred in which any complaint A sufficient quantity of food was put on board, and
had been made of the provisions supplied. lie had sus reservedp meats were only superadded to the store al-
Pplied the provisions to the expeditions of Captains- r any obtained. This was a circumstance which, were
arry, Austin. and Ross. Mr. Gamble had supplied the it known, would allay reach next: ty in the residents of
former expeditions in 1819 and 1820, and again in 1824 many of the seaport tewes. The Right Hon. Baronet at
and 182 e, with 24,314 cases of meat, weighing 108,3931b5., the head of the Admiralty had taken as much care, and
. and not one of them when opened was found in the bestowed as much pains on his department, as any
least defective state. It was also a remarkable fact that person who had ever preceded him in that office; and if
when the Fury was wrecked in the Arctic Seas, in blame were to he at.sched -to any person, it certainly
1826, she had some of Mr. Gamble's preserved meat on was not to the Right Hon. Baronet. If the information
board. This was examined by Captain Ross, and IA- were correct which he bad received, it might turn out
though it was exposed to all the vici-sitees of a climate that some canisters of bad meat were purposely con-
the thermometer ranging from 80 deg. above to 92 deg, veyed into the stack supplied by Goldner.
pjbelow z3ro for twenty-five years, it was perfectly sound, Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE had no particular reason i
uicY, and wholesome. With these facts before their for choosing the year 1847, and he was quite willing to
eyes, was it not strange that the Government should include the yearn 1845 and 1846, which would include
continue so to favour this Hungarian Jew, who since the victualling of the Erebus and Terror.
that period had had the contract? Not less than 7,468 Sir FRANCIS BARING was only too happy to give
canisters of the provisions supplied by him had, upon the fullest facilities, and to make the inquiry as strict
examination at Portsmouth, been found to be unfit for and as searching as possible.
Littman food; and he had no doubt but that, if an inquiry The motion as amended was then agreed to.
, had been made in other ports, a similar discovery would THE LAW OF MORTMAIN,
have been made.—(Hear, hear.) It was lamentable to Mr. HEADLAM moved the re-appointment of the
think of the sufferings which in all probability were en- Committee upon the law of mortmain. The labours of
dured by the brave Arctic voyagers, who had been sup- the Committee were interrupted by the close of the
plied
with provisions by the same contractor.—(Hear.) session of Parliament before they had time to report.
he neglect of the Admiralty had, however, been shown They had already collected a hire° amount of useful
not only in the present case, but upon former occasions, evidence, and their object was to place the laws of mort-
in July, 1849, the Apollo, a wretched crazy craft, was main on the best possible foundation. The Committee
thordered to take on board 689 men belonging to one of were not anxious that there should be any material ad-
finest regiments in the service. It was found, how- dition to the evidence now before them; but they were
e ever, upon touching at Cork, that the vessel would not desirous to examine the Master of the Rolls in Ireland,
accommodate that number of men, and five officers, 130 who had been a most active member of the board of
.. men, and seven women and children, were ordered to charitable bequests, as they considered his evidence
disembark, in order to be conveyed by another vessel. would be most material. The Act of Lord Hard wicke
Froth the first a most disagreeable smell arose. Malaria had entirely failed in its object, and an amendment in
was perceptible, which could not be accounted for, and the law was requisite. They had no desire to offer any
Which increased during the voyage. Most unfortunately impediments to the stream of charitable donations; but
the cholera broke out, and in a very short time -one considered that it was infinitely better for those who had
o_fficer and 25 persons were consigned to the deep. Those anything to give to give it during their own lives, when
casualties were doubtless caused by the crowded state of they could super Intend its distribution.
tthe ship, the malaria which prevailed, and the almost After a few words from Lord JOHN MANNERS,t
he ufferable heat, particularly at night, between decks of the motion was agreed to.
he Apollo. The soldiers becoming weak and debili- MAIL PACKET SERVICE.
tated fresh provisions were ordered to be issued, and Mr. FITZSTEPHEN FRENCH moved for copies of
eccle of Goldner's meat canisters were opened. The the tender made on the °green:rut or contract entered
cause of the impurity of the atmosphere was immediately into with the West India Mail Packet Company to carry
I,l_pParent for the contents of these were a perfect mass the mail to Brazil at 3e. 2d per mile, and the number of
of putridity, and were, of course, rejected by all, and voyages performed by that company under such tender,
thrown into '
wn nto the sea, whilst the preserved meat stock of agreement, or contract. The Honourable Gentleman
kthip officers, purchaeei at Cork, from Mr. Gamble's este- complained that the Admiralty bad shown an unjust
(B"lnthment, was in a perfect state of preservation.— preference for one particular company. Up to the year
ear, hear.) It was decided that they should steer for 1849, her Majesty's Government carried the mails to
diseto Janeiro, and on arriving there the troops were all Dublin and Holyhead at an annual cost of 56,0001. per
mbarked and placed under temporary huts and tents annum. At that time Lerd Auckland was at the head
he Isla, Grande, where, being plentifully supplied of the Board of Admiralty, and he advised that the
~swtirtehn
g as
frtehishwprovisions and vegetables, their health and service should be put up to public competition. It was
comparatively restored. The Apollo, in offered to be performed by the Dublin Steam Packet
MI6
meantime, was thoroughly cleansed and fumigated, Company for 45,000/. per annum. That offer was ac-
and the troops re embarked, and arrived in safety, after cepted. However, certain Members of Parliament con-
- tditivi
con-
this most perilous voyage, in eight months, the freight netted with the Chester and Holyhead Railway remon-
aelP, with the remaining part of the corps, reaching her strated with the Treasury, and the effect of their repre-
nation in four.—
disease hear.) The pestilential sentations was, that the Treasury decided that the ques-
rie__ease, however, generated on board followed the regi- tion should be re-opened. The result was that the Duh-
oa to its destination, and shortly after arriving at lin Steam Packet Company were obliged to take the con--
the eg.long one hundred and thirty of the men died in tract: and they were annual losers to a considerable ex-
the• Thus was 'one of the finest regiments in tent. In 1849 Lord Auckland, who was a loss to the Admi-
the servi . etuurood ce almost completely destroyed by the bad ac- ralty, advised that the last of the sailing packets between
tirurs.tGed°lta
teieorn and the execrable provisions provided by England and Brazil should he superseded by steam, and the
and the Admiralty.—(Hear, hear.) He Serew Steam Company entered into a contract with the
compiet at the whole subjcict would undergo a most that they should perform the service at a certain met ,
.e and searching invesiigation.—(Hear.) viz., 3s. 4d. per mile. The Treasury thought it neces-
theAidratral BERKELEY felt confident that the result of sary to intertrre. The contract was put up to competi-
;oA ,rantqairy would be to elbow that the present B ard of then, and a tender was put in by the West India Steam
re ralty, which had b-en so much abused, had done Packet Company to perform the service for 3s. 2d. per
than
for the comfort of the men in her Majesty's navy mile. It was for the production of these contracts and
un any of its predecessors had ever 13.1 en able to ac- agreements that he now moved. It was perfectly well
agreements
.heuneplish.—(Flear, hear.) With respect to the charge known :hat the company who had obtained the con-
wade by the Hon. and Gallant Member for Cork, of tract were not in a condition to carry it out. They had
. itile_n_cling
a crazy vessel to convey the troops to Hong- only one screw steamer, and they took no steps to carry
.6---ng., there was no ground whatever for it. The out their contract. He believed that it was the duty of
~,,_l'.._mo was a perfectly sound ship, new, and in every the Admiralty to have stepped in and deprived them of
d:deNroperly
that there was a better in the service. It was very easy pined, and then the Admiralty entered into a double con-
to make charges of the kind, but by no means so easy treat with them, to carry the two mails for the enormous
but Substantiate them. He did not find fault with the sum of 2701. per annum, and that contract was_given to
but
hein. which the motion had been brought forward; the company for ten years. Now it was not the lowest
zbirm, did with the manner in which the Board of Ad• tender that had been made./ The General Screw
faa__
el was abused, as not being fit to manage the af- Navigation Company, one equally competent to
after,
eta7dionamitted to its charge.—(Flear, hear.) Notwith- undertake the service, offered to do ie for ,
ng what had been said, the Admiralty did look 80,0004, and thus 190 0001. of the public money '
had
neverand effectively too, the comforts of the men, and had been wasted. The materiels of which the vessels
, Contend against ie,
Mac embarked troops in improper ships.—(oh.) of this favoured compeny were built were not of oak, as
to which allusion had been made, had to required by the Admiralty, but iron and pine were used,
ilhaocit the most trying and adverse winds, and and it was owing tn some d.gree to the circumstance of
wmithsdtanding the statements of a gallant admiral who the Amazon bein,g built of the last-mentioned wood that
letter.: e himself somewhat conspicuous in the art of it teas found utterly impossible to check the flames. It
I;paper 0 Ming, and who had written to the Times news- was said that the Government gave this contract to the
e_r.l!_.o n the subject, he contended that the vessel West India Company partly from a commisseration of
e every way fit for the service for which she was their losses. He did not think they were so much to be
`Le tee
kr, W. pitied, since at their last meeting they declared a divie the tro• MILES thought that the question then before dend of eight per cent., and reported a reserve fund for
charge nSe was, not the fitness of vessels for the dis- building ships of half a million sterling. He was in-
-o:_centof their duty, but rather whether a proper and formed that the Admiralty had entered into a contract
11;71`484 1 supervision bad taken place with reference to with the Austral* Steam-packet Company
that PPY of the meat fur the navy, and more especially riage of toe mails to that country, but at so low a figure
lueat,,,descriptiona of preserved meat known as " Goldner's they would be unable to carry it out.
consistedor the car-
arge proportion of which it could be proved Mr. COCOWPER thought there were no such documents
ti_us
in tof abominable, unwholesome, and excrementa- in existence as those referred to by the Honourable
from
all ter•—(Hear, hear.) He had received a letter Gentleman. There was no tender for 3s 2d. per mile;
z°___,
and
_ officer who had been long connected with the there was no contract for it, and consequently no me-
urtlan
id
ande stated with reference to this description of morial.
meat knout./ supplied to the- navy :—" The preserved Mr. FRENCH—WeII, let me have the correspoiadence.
*Way
With.eas `Goldner's patent' is now being done Mr. COWPER—The Admiralty would be most wil-
of some of th It was utterly disgusting to see the contents ling to throw all the light they could upon the subject;
with the dune tine. In some cases they contained offal the Honourable Gentleman had brought a grave charge
'dung than lig inside—(Hear, hear)—more like horse- against them, which, after all, would only amount to good meat. ;laving else, lying packed equally with this—that the Admiralty had entered into a renewal of
on board ship feu oeft,8!)011. myself, provisions when issued those contracts which were before in existence. With
which were issued welrn_weight 15 per cent., and the parts regard to the Dublin and Holyhead contract, he ed-
it:eat was
a large quantity of thiesexceedingly indifferent." In 1849 milted the charge made by the Honourable Gentleman.
board; but, notwithstand disapproved of by the The Admiralty were on the point of entering into a
into with Mr. Goldner 4,attahother contract was entered contract fur that service at 45,000/.; but, before anything
would ask, became of the secur7ti"miralty'' What, be was signed, another party stepped forward, and the re-
Were they not proceeded agtonste; in that ease ? Why suit was, the contract was taken at 25,0001, thereby
wanted to know tha quantity of me,.cilearr hear.) He saving the public 20,000/. He could speak confidently
the contracts with Mr. Goldner sincelhdestroyed under of the circumstances of ibis case, because it was brought
tered into, and how the country stood any'e were first en- before a Committee of the House, who reported that the
with the contractor—(Hear, hear)—wa.4l3:eceY matters Board of Admiralty had done their duty in every res-
er Air. the country pect, and entertained quite a different opinion to that of
, Goldner had been mulcted, and if
eZ.e •-. from the preserved meat, the
seas
(,jortio what the Hen Gentleman. With regard to the Brazilian con-
ber neap read a passage from the same letter a ' Meta- tract, the lowest tender was accepted, being that of the
des • •
cribua the condition of the salt provisioes—e,
first ni g, s le.t')ve West In.lia Company. It was true the Screw Steam
lan for
r ace' seid the writer, " the quantity P i
o. seat toe
" the Pecket Company made a proposal and laid a p
obi- the service before the Admiralty, but instead of acce-
ceedenaned to be returned into store, or sold for th
, taZu-r-db
nefit of the Crown, ordered to be thrown away, is, ing that proposal at once, they called for tenders, ands s
acceptance the
41.'14. Li the second orplace, there is a very great loss ‘3? ttlb'e Screwdi Company did not make the lowest tender,
teight in boiling. All the meat is cut into 41b. pieces, not obtain the contract ; so far the result was
Now, as the men unable to corn
stillieluding bone, before boiling. The average weight of of the awleesto the practice of the Admiralty. The tender
penditur
madeounces,in for eachthoseweight •
halflargethey
efficientmustvesselsva proposal to the Admiralty
the• November 22, and he found tke result to be that In the year 1849. 'PI-
A. hat p.r itENca—How long after?]
Proper all,,wanee of moat issued for the crew during once, but when the West eunaii sal was not accepted at
Waxed for , time was 2,4451b5., and the extra quantity the Brazilian line was ineorpouractundtract was remodelled
Ipaii 'or making up for the loss of weight in belling India contract had been carried oe t with
it. The West
was 4,0121 b• tie found from the same account that there with the Brazilian in addition, tbe uAda'' 240,0001.; and,
I,7l24e.tiondt mned to be sold for the profit of the Crown continue at 270.000/. per annum. Them Admiralty
agreed to
to b 11'4.; and of meat which was so bad that it required der for the Brazilian contract was above 3eoxot
_loowest ten-
dse thrown overboard the weight was 1,1181b5., making the additienal sum paid Wet India Com Pan se
issue,' as Possible treble the allowance of the weight 30,000/ , the public had still
the adv Y as
u foramaze of the lowest
Visa,— the crew of that ship. The case of salt pro- tender, and of the two services being executed by thus
ei,eitt"..,. although not so bad as that of the pre,er same parties, edoch enabled the company to put
Rollie t?' Mr. Goldner, equally showed the necessity for more efficient and powerful vessels. He understood 'the
be _ tn.quiry, and he trusted that the Committee would Hon. Member say
to that peculiar favour -had been
..a.nrPointed.—alenr, hear.)
shown to the West India Company in not compelling
41- OI;
itami • , RY said that having been connected with the them to use vessels built of wood. He (Mr. Cowper)
.? re'tY at the t'
the Admiralty regulations had
rettlitli ime the provisions were supplied to the could -the
assure House
je) a expedition in 1845, he felt bound to remove the - with;every vessel was carefully
of a n strictly complied
crews
~, watch appeared to be entertained, that the sirveyed, and .1 on one occasion, au iron vessel was
Properwrthe Arctic vessels were suffering from the itn- put othe • wi'en,vessel, to which no a-
u line it was an extra
eery A food supplied by Mr. Goldner. In 1845 pre- jectio
be made, so long as the company
e" meatcould ' n of course
one f . was not issued as an article of toed, but as continued to * • r number required by
maintain the proper
these medical comfort. At that time so excellent were the Admiralty,
lii , provisions that contract. It eny reproach was due to the ,
not more than 1 per cent, of them it was for having driven rather a hard bargain with the
4.4_ peen found .
IA s.,i, to be bad,'while in the hest qualities of %Vest India Cow ran—,
that meat it
,y arid not for having shown them
at iii . amounted to from 2to 3 per cent.; so any partiality or h - •
t.
Point of fact,uvouritisin.
" Pot there was then ereater safety in Mr. HUME said ' s
(gear, potted meat than • - . -
salt . . . . , tee explanation of the Admiralty wa
ever ) The tnedi
lin the ordinary provisions perfect y sati•raetory to bile, and he merely rose to im-
ine Most carotin e ;comforts of the crew were, how- press on the Gevernment the importance or giving our
tt for the use dr"kuct to. The ordinary preserved colonic. the advantegra of the penny ostage. A letter
nitrateY at thc. „ the navy was supplied to the Ad- could be sent to Irelatid or the Channelp Mar ene: --. price of sd
ds fee a
...emus that 5d per pound. Being however penny, and he ceuld not see why 1 -
hished at tne crews,of •
this t x edition should be fur- hies should nut have the same y every one of our co o
rate e wlth meat of the beatPsepa- _ advantage.—(Hear, hoar.)
4...
_entrant wag entered Possible character, a we wer« paying for foreign postage service 600,0601 or
th,L.kieldner, for Et sus 101° bY the Admiralty with 700,000/. a year, and the amount of postage r reset is was
04 • ittaices ranging, t' of
the very best description of inconsiderable. In vessels of 2,000 ton - receipts '
-4.) . thought . rom Bth
that Ulla ezni
to ls. per lb.—(Hear, no difficulty in 100 to the s there could be
devoting tons mails instead 'of
venation would &actin 30 or 49 tone, audit would be so beneficial; and bo bigh

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