The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-14 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

SIR,—I respectfully and earnestly beg you will insert
the following lines in your widely-extended journal.
On the 18th of May last, agreeably to p revious
permission granted me by the Government autho-
rities, which permission was accompanied wit, h their
own printed memorandum and regulations how to act
in such matters, I went to Woolwich and laid before
the " Select Committee" certain plans of inven-
tions, one of which was for a proposed floatit ig bat-
tery, with a wide-extended base, a flat bott cm, to
be built with very strong wood, and externally c overed
with iron of sufficient thickness to withstam 1 and
throw off any cannon shot, to act in the sh allow
waters of the Baltic Sea and in rivers. I also laid be-
fore them at the same time the plan of a provosed
military carriage, or apparatus, to enable a regiment
of soldiers, at quick march, to approach an enemy's for-
tified position in defiance of, and held harmless .from,
cannon or grapeshot while so doing.
Both thee plans were favourably received, and de-
tained by the " Select Committee" of military officers,
with an assurance that they should be laid before
the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance. On the self-
same day, and before I even left Woolwich to return
home, I was told by a gentleman who knew that I had
been before the select committee, and that they had re-
ceived and kept my plans—" Whatever your plans or
inventions are, if they are not secured to you by patent,
they are sure to be rejected by the Government,
who will afterwards bring their military know-
ledge and scientific skill to improve them, and then
they will bring them out at some future time, in some
way or other—God knows under whose name." How-
ever, sir, as the welfare of iny country was my first ob-
ject, I felt that I had done my duty, and left the result
to feturity. On the 29th of the same month (May) I
received a letter from the Ordnance-office, of which the
following is a copy :

"Ordnance-office, May 29.
" The Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance having •re-
ceived the report of the select committee upon your plan
for a floating battery to be moved by steam power, I am
directed to acquaint yeu that the committee are of opinion
that the battery as well as the other plans you suggest for
the capture and destruction of the enemy's ships and forts
are quite inapplicable to the service.
" ROBERT BOYLE, Lieutenant-Colonel.

" To Mr. George Hale."
Thus matters stood until, about a fortnight ago, r
learnt from the public press that the Government bad.
ordered twenty floating batteries to be constructed
with all possible speed for the Baltic Sea. I wrote,
therefore, to the Ordnance Board, requesting to be
informed whether or not these batteries were being
constructed upon the principles which I proposed to
them on the 18th of May ; and I also requested
that my plans might be returned to me. To this letter
I have received no answer. I also wrote to Lieutenant-
Colonel Pickering, 8.A., Woolwich, requesting that
my plans should be returned to me ; and I reoeived them
back the next day with a letter, of which the following
is a copy :

"Select Committee-office Woolwich, Nov. 4.
"Sir,—ln reply to your letter of 'the 3d inst., I beg to
inform you that the Select Committee made a report of
your invention to the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance
on the 19th of May, and I now enclose your drawings acs
cording to your request.
" I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
" W. H. PICKERING, R.A., Secretary.
" Mr. G. Hale."
HOW, therefore, can the Government or any portion
of the public press assert that these batteries, which
aro now being constructed for the Baltic Sea, are
of French origin or design ? Had I patented my
plans, I could have contested the question with
Government whether or not they had a legal right
to infringe upon the fundamental principles of
my invention, such as the broad flat bottom and
external covering of iron sufficiently thick to with-
stand and throw off cannon-shot. As the case
stands, I have no patent, and, therefore, no protec-
tion. But I am not only the author and inventor
of those floating batteries, but I could show the Go-
vernment how they co'ild all be destroyed and sunk ;
and how 20 sail-of-the-line could all be destroyed and
sunk in less than one hour when brought into close
quarters, with a very inferior force. And I appeal
to you, sir, and to the British public, whether this
is a wise or an honourable policy on the part of the
Government towards an Englishman who unhesitat6
ingly, and without previous protection, lays his plans
and inventions before them for the benefit of the coun-
try ?—I am, sir, your obedient servant,
GEOR 11411,24
13, Tavistock-street, Cogent-garden, soy.

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