The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—l have read in the Times of this morning with
considerable surprise your Parliamentary report of a
discussion on this very important subject between the
hon. member for Louth and the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, in which I find my name mentioned in a manner
which is both unexpected and incorrect.
From the report of that discussion it would naturally
be inferred that I had made some tender to the Admi-
ralty regarding iron steam-gunboats - that that tender
had been rejected by the Admiralty—and that I, as a
disappointed projector, had had recourse to the not un-
common expedient of getting a friend in the House to put
an inconvenient question to the First Lord with the
view of furthering my supposed interests. Allow me to
add that any such interference, however naturally it
might be drawn from the course of the debate, would be
entirely without foundation. On the contrary, I have
never had any communication, directly or indirectly,
with the hon. member for Louth ; and I have made it a
rule where I have been in personal communication with
the Admiralty on subjects of this nature to regard these
communications as confidential until published by them-
selves.

Having stated thus much on the merely personal part
of the subject, I beg your permission to add a few words
in explanation of certain important facts regarding the
construction of these steam-gunboats.
I know as a fact that the navies of certain foreign
Governments are in possession of steam-gunboats of a
description and power for which no vessel in our own
navy is at all a match. These vessels have proved them-
selves in the open sea to be perfectly good sea-boats.
They go under steam in their best trim 15 statute miles
an hour, and in their worst 13 statute miles an hour.
Their light draught of water, when fully armed and
equipped, is only 5 feet; and their load draught, with
coals for 2,000 miles, is less than 7 feet. They carry 4
long 68-pounders and 4 long 32-pounders. They can
fire two of the 8-inch guns parallel to the keel at either
end, and they can bring all the four 1-inch guns over to
either side for a broadside. These lon.. 8-inch guns are
t'
all mounted on traversinc, slides, and ° there is ample
room for the stowage of the guns when out of use
and for working them in action. I have seen these guns
worked with perfect ease and security in a heavy sea—in
so heavy a sea that the water was coming in over the
weather bow in such quantities that an experienced offi-
cer in the navy, now commanding one of her Majesty's
ships in the Baltic, assured me that it would have been
impossible to work the long guns of her Majesty's steam-
sloop
of 1,200 tons, which be then commanded, in simi-
lar
circumstances, without the water pouring down the
bore of the gun. Two experienced captains in the navy
were on board at the trials of these ships in the North
Sea three years ago, and I know they communicated
in high quarters their opinion that in case of a war it
would be most important that our Admiralty should be
prepared with a sufficient number of such vessels.
I may further be permitted to state that these vessels
were surveyed at the time by certain officers of the navy,
who reported favourably on their extraordinary arma-
ment, light draught of water, and unparalleled speed,
Two of these vessels were entirely designed, constructed
and equipped by my firm. They have now been about
three years in service, and have completely answered all
the purposes for which they were designed, and it is not
impossible, though I hope improbable, that they may yet
be among the vessels Sir Charles Napier may have to
encounter in the Baltic. _ _ .

MERCHANT SEAMEN'S ORPHAN AsYLuM.—The annua
dinner of this excellent society took place last evening
at the London Tavern ; Lord John Russell in the chair.
There were about 150 gentlemen present, many of whom
are largely interested in shipping. Among the company
at the cross table were Lord Radstock, Sir James Duke,
Mr. Forster, M.P., Mr. Lindsay, M.P., Mr. Ker, M.P.,
Mr. Green, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Mulholland, &c. After
the usual loyal toasts, which were drunk with great en-
thusiasm, the noble Chairman proposed " Prosperity to
the Society." His lordship made an eloquent appeal in
behalf of the charity, reminding the company that, while
in time of peace the merchant seamen were the men by
whose exertions all the produce of the tropics was brought
to this country to increase the comforts of all classes, in
times of war, like the present, they formed a nursery
for the British navy, and by their indomitable courage
contributed to maintain the glory of the country.
With
respectthatmight
gt to
tany
have measuresoceup affectingedthe
autehhet
attention
shipping
in-
terest
ment, all he could say was, that he believed the British
sailor was ready and able to compete with all the world,
and in that belief he had acted. He then alluded to the
value of the present society, observing that by the bene-
volence of the public it was enabled to support and edu-
cate 120 orphan children. The lease, however, of the
spacious premises now occupied by it would before long
expire, and it was, therefore, highly desirable that their
means should be so increased as to provide for that
contingency. He trusted that with the increase of com-
merce and the growing prosperity of the nation their
liberality would also extend. The children were then
introduced, and his lordship delivered a few appropriate
words of advice to them. The amount of subscriptions
announced was 1,3151. 15s. 7d. The band of the Ist
Grenadier Guards was in attendance. Mr. Harker
officiated as toastmaster.
NEW BILL ON INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES.
—Yesterday a bill before the House of Commons was
printed to amend the Industrial and Provident Societies
Act, 1852. It is considered expedient to vary the exist-
ing law in relation to societies registered under the act
so far as concerns the manner in which legal proceed-
ings shall be carried on in any manner concerning such
societies. It is proposed to enact that suits are to be
carried on in the name of one of the officers of any
society to be appointed for that purpose. Officers are
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.—In consequence of the to be appointed to sue and to be sued, and returns of
excess of the male over the female population of Mel- the same to be made to the registrar of the Friendly
bourne, the Emigration Commissioners have for some Societies Act. The returns are to be made and certifi-
, time past checked the emigration of single young men cates to be given in evidence. The bankruptcy, in-
labourers to that colony, and the applicants have been solvency, or stopping payment of any officer or member
persuaded to take their passage to Western Australia. of such society, in his individual capacity, shall not be
The Commissioners have encouraged the emigration of construed to be the bankruptcy, insolvency, or stopping
families where the majority of the children are of the payment of such society, and the property and effects of
female sex, as there is a favourable opportunity for such society, shall, notwithstanding such bankruptcy,
young women to become settled in life. For some &c., be liable to execution in the same manner as if ouch
weeks it iti expected the same course in be pursued,
'os‘ruptcy, em, had 110 t talon place.
_ _

I ought to add that the portion of these vessels which
is immersed in the water is entirely of iron, while the
portion above water is mainly of wood, and the bulwarks
behind which the crews are placed in time of action are
entirely of wood, and similar to those of any other men-
of-war.
I believe that certain experienced steam officers in the
navy, besides the two I have already mentioned, have
spoken strongly to some of the authorities in favour of
the immediate construction of this class of vessel for our
use in the Baltic and on the Danube, as a class of vessel
which has been tested and proved to have been success-
ful by experience, and which is, therefore, no longer
liable to the chance of failure of a mere experiment.
Among these I may take the liberty of mentioning my
friend Captain Claxton, of the Royal Navy, one or our
oldest steam promoters, and who has examined the ves-
sels I have described.
These vessels having appeared peculiarly well suited
to the present exigencies of our steam marine, having
been much and openly discussed among many officers of
the navy and their friends, may, perhaps, have laid
.the
foundation of the discussion in the house last evening,
and have led to the mention of my name in a manner
which has forced upon me this explanation.--I have the
honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant,
May 10. -J. SCOTT RUSSELL.