The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-12 00:00:00

which had a stronger regard for the efficiency of the ser-
vice than for the estimates voted by Parliament, and he
had felt it his duty to protest against measures which, he
feared, would cause an expenditure beyond the estimates.
He considered it his dutyto control the expenditure withthe
assistance of the Surveyor and Accountant-Generals, but
never felt it a duty to consult the Surveyor particularly
upon the question of savings to be effected by not filling
up vacancies. In cancelling the circular of 1849 he did
not think he was destroying the efficiency of that control
on the part of the surveyor. He did not consider that by
taking the correspondence relating to vacancies to himself
he prevented the surveyor from offering any suggestion as to
savings by not filling up vacancies, as that officer, being in
constant communication with all the dockyards, must have
been fully aware of every vacancy that occurred.
Upon the question of the agreement of the board with
the House of Commons,
Mr. Stafford said—The committee must be aware of the
increasing habit of the house to inquire into the minute
details of every branch of the service • and consequently,
being almost the only member of the Aniralty who sat in
Parliament, it was necessary for him to be acquainted with
all the correspondence that took place relating thereto.
The chief difficulty, as he bad before stated, arose from
Parliamentary friends complaining that all dockyard pa-
tronage was given to hostile patties. Many names were
mentioned of people passed over from political causes. He
made no inquiry into them, because he thought the best
way to meet the difficulty was by cancellinc, the circular of
1849, which he did not then think of such importance as
it was said to be now. Mr. Parker surrendered, in 1849,
the little patronage which was left him by Sir H. Ward.
The Chairman reminded Mr. Stafford that he had, in a
speech upon the motion for this inquiry, led the House of
Commons to believe that the circular of 1849 had been
something like a delusion during the period when Sir
Francis Baring was First Lord and Mr. Parker Secretary
to the Admiralty, and asked him to explain.
Mr. Stafford replied that Mr. Parker surrendered his
patronage to Somerset-house, and that portion he (Mr.
Stafford) sought to get back by the cancelling of the cir-
cular of 1849. It had been represented to him that the pa-
tronage was bestowed on persons opposed to the Govern-
ment, and that although Sir B. Walker might know of it,
this was done by other people in his name. He could not
mention any names to prove this statement. In cancelling
the circular of 1849 he had not intended to diminish the
power of the superintendent of the dockyards in recom-
mending persons to fill vacancies.
Several cases of direct appointments from the Admiralty
without the intervention of the Surveyor, were explained
by Mr. Stafford, who stated that all those cases were ap-
pointments to the lowest classes, which he considered
were to be looked upon as first entries, whether the
men had been previously in the dockyards or not, and
in most cases, he was not aware, when making the ap-
pointments, that the people were already employed in the
service.
Sir B. Hall referred to the evidence of the Duke of
Northumberland, who had said Mr. Stafford had informed
him that the circular of 1849 had been issued by the
sole authority of Mr. Parker, and not by a board
minute • and that as he possessed the same power as
that gentleman, he should cancel it. The hon. member
asked Mr. Stafford if he had informed his Grace that the
circular was approved by Mr. Parker and minuted by the
First Lord.
Mr. Stafford said—He had not. On the 2d of April he
wrote to the Surveyor, saying that his friends were dissatis-
fied with the distribution of the patronage, and he could
only remove that dissatisfaction by cancelling the circular
of 1849. It was not in consequence of consultations with
political friends that he cancelled that circular, but they
had complained that all the influence was used against the
Government, and he did all he could properly do toremedy
that complaint by cancelling the circular, which had been
done without any order of the board, as it had been issued
without such authority.
Sir B. Hall asked if Mr. Stafford declined to name
the friends whom he consulted' before cancellingc, the cir-
cular ? It was necessary to know that in order to decide
upon the course of the inquiry, as, if the names of those
friends were given, it might necessitate an extension of this
inquiry.
Mr. Stafford considered the communications with those
persons had been quite confidential, and he must, with all
respect to the committee, decline to mention names.
In reply to further questions from Sir B. Hall,
Mr. Stafford stated that he received no instructions
from the Board of Admiralty to visit Devonport. He
arrived in that port on the 22d or 23d of June, and met
Sir J. Maxwell and General Berkeley the same afternoon
at Moreshead's Hotel.

Sir B. Hall referred to the evidence of Mr. Triscott,
who spoke of being present at a dinner given by Mr.
Stafford, at which were present also Sir John Maxwell,
one of the candidates, Messrs. Beer and Smith, his agents,
Dr. Butter, chairman of Mr. Mare's committee, Dr. Blan-
cross, Admiral Morris, and several others, who took active
parts in the pending election.
Mr. Stafford admitted that it was not consistent with
his duty as Secretary to the Admiralty to invite those per-
sons to dinner at that period, but he must observe that
there were two dinners included in the charge of 421. 15s.
The first party included 17 persons, who were all con-
nected with the service. The second party comprised 19
persons, of whom the majority were also officers connected
with the service ; and, although he was sorry that he had
invited the particular gentlemen alluded to on the second
occasion, he must say that neither party was got up with
any view to election matters. It was true that he was
at Plymouth in April a few days after Mr. Mare
became a candidate for that borough, but he had not
the slightest notion of that gentlemaiis candidature at
that time. The reason of his going upon that occasion
was that, from the commencement of his taking office,
he had felt a strong desire to have a trip in one of her
Majesty's vessels, and Admiral Parker placed the Retri-
bution at his disposal during the Easter vacation. Upon
that occasion he did not believe he ever was in Mr.
Mare's committee-room. He admitted that Commodore
Seymour was correct in stating that he (Mr. Stafford)
went round the dockyard with the two Conservative can.
didates. He repeated now what he had told the House
of Commons, that it would have been better if he had not
done so ' • but he declared that his reason for stopping at
the gate to see all the men pass was to view the extraor-
dinary manner in which a vast number of men deposited
their tickets in a short space of time. It was impossible
to expect that his appearance with the two Conservative
candidates could have had any effect upon the men, who
passed through so rapidly that very few could have seen
him at all. He had gone through Deptford-yard with
Mr. bolt, but simply upon that gentleman's request that
he would accompany him through the yard, and not with
any view to influence the votes of the men. Had such
been his object, ho would have adopted the same course at
Chatham. Captain Dundas had stated that he (Mr. Staf-
ford) had written to him asking him to use his influence
i n the yard in favour of Mr. bolt, but, to the best of his
recollection, he had never written to Captain Dundas in
his life, and regretted exceedingly that that officer had
destroyed the letier, which would have decidel the ques-
tion whether it was an election hoax or a genuine one. If
Captain Dundas had believed it was a hoax, he ought to
have sent it to him (Mr. Stafford) ; but, if he believed it
came from the Secretary to the Admiralty, with a view to
induce the superintendent of a dockyard to canvass for a
particular candidate, then he should have sent it to the
First Lord of the Adiniralty.
In answer to Lord Hotham—There was no fixed rule at
the Admiralty respecting the distribution of patronage.
He believed that not many years ago the clerks of the Ad-
miralty were considered as the clerks of the Secretary.
At present the board usually arranged its own distribution
of patronage.
Captain Dundas was then recalled, and said he received
a note from a gentleman with the compliments of Mr.
Stafford. He could not state the precise terms of the note,
but it conveyed the general impression that it was desired
that he (Captain Dundas) should give what assistance he
could to Mr. Rolt. He knew the handwriting of that note
to be Mr. Stafford's. If ho had the slightest doubt upon
that point he should have been most happy to acquit Mr.
Stafford of writing that note, but he had not the slightest
hesitation or doubt upon the matter.
Mr. Stafford re-asserted that he had not the remotest
recollection of having written, on any occasion, to Captain
Dundas, especially in a manner so completely out of his
ordinary line of conduct. He, of course, assumed that
Captain Dundas must have received such a note, but was
inclined to believe it to have been an election hoax, and
deeply regretted that it should have been destroyed.
Sir Baldwin Walker, being recalled, repeated his former
evidence that Mr. Grant had stated to him that he had
been sent by Mr. Stafford to inquire what vacancies there
were, to which he replied that having held the office of
Surveyor for four years without allowing political influ-
ences to interfere with his duty, he was not going to begin
then for Mr. Stafford or anybody else. The gallant cap-
tain then proceeded to reiterate several points in his
former evidence which have already been published.
The sailing orders of the Black Eagle were produced,
with an original order, dated June 19, and addressed to
Commodore Eden, directing that vessel to be sent to Ports-
mouth, which order was marked with the initials "H. P."
(Admiral Sir Hyde Parker.)
The Chairman then asked Mr. Stafford whether he had
any further evidence to give, or any witnesses to suggest?
Mr. Stafford remarked, that the committee had not gone
into the proceedings of any Board of Admiralty but the
last.
The Chairman reminded Mr. Stafford that he had asked
him on a former occasion whether he had any witnesses
who could elucidate the statement he had made in the
House of Commons respecting the evasions of the circular
of 1819, practised in the time of Sir F. Baring's administra-
tion. The hon. gentleman had also read some letters in
support of that statement.
Mr. Stafford replied, that evidence on such a subject
was extremely difficult to obtain.
The Chairman—But you have had the best opportunities
of obtaining It.. I have always found that all persons
who consider themselves injured by an outgoing Govern-
ment take an immediate opportunity of bringing their
grievances under the notice of a new Government,
Mr. Stafford said, the people who wrote to him had
given all the information they could, and he remedied their
complaints as far as he could, but they feared personal
consequences if they were called upon to give evidence.
The Chairman—Then wo are to understand that your
statement that there was jobbing and lax practices under
Sir Francis Baring's administration rests upon anonymous
communications only.
Mr. Stafford—l believe I could produce some evidence
upon that subject, but I expected the committee would
have gone into it.
.h
aHalld originally called Mr .
moved
na
qt attention i o n
intoto
tthhee
exer-
cisefct,thaStirhße
gofe iiinpthriebdolcBksy2a(rtehl so
sinceoft the patronage
cdoantue
of
ft
the
can
ebosui, bo sf
the circular of 1819), but had struck out the
io n worodf s
s"isr F.
ine
the 19th of April, 1852," at the suggest
had made in
on account of the statement he (Mr. Stafford)e
in his address to the House on that occasion.
morrow (this day) to consult the other members of the late
Mr. Stafford askethe committee to allow him until
Board of of Admiralty.
Captain Duncombe then tendered his evidence in expla-
nation of his reasons for sluing Cotsell's appointment. He
said he backed Cotsell's warrant as master-snaigr.gport,
mouth, knowing all the circumstances of ,the case and be
concurred with Mr. Stafford in thinking that the appoint-
ment
of
he
hWellsaa
e byee n
upon Admiral
Admiral
Parker'si rr. e g u
table l a r
his
minute e be-
lieved
approving of Wells's nomination, but took no notice of it,
Parkerha
dthliaon mheor(eC apowerptai (Captain
taes hapepocoinntsiademreadsttehrastmAitdhmairt al
Portsmouth
Danuinnctermodbue)othioand tforosmentdhtehepleeattetotrade_ sea. It was, moreover,
a practice which
the late Board of Athiairalty hads set their faces against.
',.§StairffoFra said . not
A knowu that thatir
.
He
etdseilldmith had. recommended
senior master smith in the service,' ways that Cotsell was
to Portsmouth'. He 'Giulio agreed -and was anxious to go
it was' merely a %rfirisfer and o
not percei've the slightest injury
ing.a man to lead in a
tilled an inferior situation,
.in promoting an A.B.
with 'the Secretary that
ought to be allowed. Could
hard
to the service in appoint-
to ibi!) any
Admiral Berkeley was then
was present with Sir 33. RI which he .had previously,
more than there would be
boatswain in the same ship.
_ called, and stated that he
Walker when the latter officer read

over to Admiral Parker his statement of Mr. Stafford's
words, " That it was of no use blinking the question ; he
was so pressed by Lord Derby and the Chancellor of the 7;
Exchequer, that ho could not help himself." When those
words were read he (Admiral Berkeley) said, " Surely, no
man could be guilty of such an indiscretion." Upon which
Admiral Parker turned round and said, "He did, though;
I heard him."
In answer to the noble Chairman, Admiral Berkeley
said, he had been on six Boards of Admiralty, and believed
1 the practice to be, that the appointment of men to enter
the dockyards for the first time was the Secretary's pa-
tronage, but that when once a man had entered the yard
the Secretary had nothing further to do with him as to pa-
tronage. That was the practice under Lord Auckland and
Sir F. Baring.
The committee then adjourned until to-day.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

- -
The commercial advices from New York indicate a
state of business not unlike that which is observable on
this side. The prices of securities show great steadiness,
and the tendency is towards an advance ; but owing to
the activity of the legitimate commerce, and the con-
stant employment for capital, there is little disposition
for mere stock speculations, and the market is conse-
quently without excitement. The general movement
fof increased wages was also manifesting itself as exten-
sively as in England, and strikes were causing inconve-
nience. The importations of foreign manufactures con-
tinue large, and there was a renewed disposition to an
advance in the rates of exchange, but the demand for
money was still sufficiently felt to cause all remittances
to be delayed where practicable, and hence the ship-
ment of gold by the present packet was inconsiderable.
The first parcels of the new silver coinage had just
been issued from the Mint, and so great is the
want of small silver that they fetched a premium
of 11 to 2 per cent. The Crystal Palace was to
be ready for the reception of goods on. the Ist of
Ericssonehinery,
and ship
June; and, meanwhile, the price of its shares of
$lOO each was steadily maintained at $l4O. The
onstolheter
July,ma-
was
ss
to receivinghf
ready some
fer
ad
sead additions
the
when, it is said, she will proceed direct to London. The
emigration from New York to Australia was increasing,
and it was believed that 600 persons had left within a
fortnight. A bill before the Massachusetts Legislature,
to compel the banks of that State to keep specie to the
extent of 10 per cent. of their capital, had excited remark
from its uselessness, since the capital of these institutions
is no measure of their relative circulation, some of those
with the most-usoderate capital having the largest issue
of notes. The arrangements for the California mint had
at length been decided upon, and the Government at
Washington had accepted a tender for the building of it
at a cost of 239,913 dollars, or 48,0001. The intelligence
from the territory of New Mexico, of the act of aggres-
sion on the part of Governor Lane in taking forcible
possession of a district claimed by Mexico, had created
no disquiet, the opinion being general that it was a pre-
cipitate proceeding, and would meet with no countenance
from the American Cabinet.
The accounts from Oregon by this arrival contain
further references to the discovery of the new harbour
on that eoast, but make no mention of its actual capacity.
Gold is said to be found in its vicinity, and a city, to be
called the Crescent City, is already rising there. The
agricultural progress of the State was very favourable,
and great efforts were being made to raise large crops
for California. •
With regard to the gold discoveries in the State of
Texas, the following is the principal paragraph, which
must be taken with every allowance for the interested
motives of land jobbers :
" A new El Dorado is now being found in out own beau-
tiful State. Rumouri are rife of large quantities of gold
being found throughout the western portion of the country.
We understand that there is great excitement prevailing at
Austin, San Antonio, Seguin, Gonzales, and other points
up the count-Ay, and that several companies have left those
points within a few days past in search of the hidden trea-
sure, and others are making ready to follow. These mines
are found on the Upper Colorado, Hamilton's Valley, and
various other places, and are said to be very rich—supposed
by some to equal the best California mines. We have
been shown a letter from a merchant at San Marcus, fully
confirming the above reports. If these reports should
prove to be well founded (as 3 we have every reason to be-
lieve they will) it will turn the tido of emigration from
Australia and California to our own State, being more
accessible than either of these points. One person sold a
piece of quartz in San Antonio for 25 doll."