The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 185 4.

LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS.

211 20 11

5G 1

12/ id

FOREIGN.
10 7 Antwerp&Rotterdam 31
5 3 Belgian Eastn. June. 1 1
20 8 Beziers toGraissessac 41 —31 d
20 2s. Bombay, Baroda, and
Centrallndia,Scrip p PM
Central of Italy —
20 all Charleroi di Erquelin —
17A all Demerara
20 14 Dijon andßesaucon p
20 8 Dutch Rhenish 3f 2id
20 all East Indian 2k 2p
20 2 Do. Extension —
5 all Gt. Indian Peninsula p
20 10 3d. Junet. of France
25 71 Grd. Trunk of Canada 51 —41 d
100 30 Do. Debentures —
100 all Do. do —
20 10 Gt. Central of France 2i —2l d
201 all Gt.WesternolCanada
Shares
Do. Bonds (Ist is.)'s7
201 152 Hamilton & Toronto 1 —1 p
100 all Do. 6 per cent.
20 5 Lake Const. & Basle
5 all Lucca dr Pistoj a 5 p.c.
pref . die
20 15 Luxembourg 6l 7 61 7
10 10 Do. (Railway) 4/ 41
5 2 Do. Pref 1 1.
5 3 Do. (Canal) 1
10 5 Do. 6p. ct. pref 1 id
20 8 Lyons and Geneva
20 12 Lyons di Mediterran
20 10 Madras d par
331 331 Maria Antonia,
10 all Do. do. New
20 2 Melbourne Dk. & Ry. ••• •••
20 all Namur & Liege (with
interest) 7i 71
20 all Do. (ex interest) —
16 all Northern of France.. 29.1 —29 291
Do. 201. 3 p. c Bets.
20 all (fmy.B.diAms.Shs.)
10 all NorwegianTrunkPre 74 81
20 10 Paris and Lyons 124 —121 p
40 all Ditto Bonds
10 all Paris and Orleans.... 42 —44
20 all Paris and Rouen 34 —36 xd
20 all Paris and Strasbourg 281 —2B 281
20 10 PaiisCaen & Cherbrg. —pm
10. f 10 Quebec & Richmond 3 1
20 all Rouen and Havre
20 9 Royal Danish ld par
5 2 RoyalSwedlsh
20 all Sambre and Meuse 8 gi
6 Do. 5. p. cent. Pref —
21) 6 Southern. of France —pm
41 St. Andrew's and
gi all w2obec (A)
10 all Do. 51 -Were 3f
20 10 Western of FrKlet••• • •
10 7 West. of Switzerlan. ...i 11
20 2 Wiesbaden
20 15 Zealand

94 vl
83

102 M

80 79i

G2l i i id

4f xd

MINES.

Agua Fria
Auglo Austrin. Gold
Anglo Californian _
Australasian
Australian
Australian Cordillera
Australian Freehold
Ave Maria
Baden (Gd. Duchy of)
Blaenarvon Ir. & Coal
Stith Austrlu. Gold
i British Iron .
Brazilian I mp . (issue d
at £5 pus
Do. Cocaes & Cuiada
Do. St. John Del Rey
Carson's Creek
Clarendon Con. Min.
Co. of Jamaica__
Cobre Copper
Colonial Gold
Copiapo
Copper Min. of Eng.
Do. Pref. 7. p. cent.
English and Austrin.
Copper Smeltg.Co.
General
great Nugget Vein...
Do. Registered
Great Polgooth
Liberty
Linares
Lond. &Californ. Gold
Quartz Crush. Co
Hariquita
Niexicau&S.Amerien
New Granada
New Linares Mining
and Smelting Co
Nouveau Mondo
Pontgibaud Silver

lid = 1 pa
ip
1 - d
2i
id
k -
9 —1
7 Oad

10s.
10
20

50
1
20
35

41 51
28 — 30
Ad

42 44xd
Ad 4 p
11 13
60 70

15
all
all
all

4 - 6pi

-2.#

id par
lf
fi d
11 12

1
10
1
1

*
6 6i
d

id I 1,1
17 19

Lead Min. & Smelt,
Port Philip ,
Quartz Rock ,
Rhymney Iron ,
Do. New

all
all
15
10
all

- (11
- P
28 - . 0 ,

Santiago de Cuba
outh Australian
Tin Croft
United Mexican
Waller
West Granada
(Worthing
Mariposa
Worthing Mining 01

8 10
36 A
—4 d
4 5
3 3.4
id
A d
d

Yuba

_al

993 8i

107 A
102} xi

JOINT-Si

British Colonial Bank
and Loan Company
British N. American
Chart& Bank of Asia
'Chrtd. Buk. of India,
Australia, & China
Colonial
Commercial of Loud
English Scottish and
Australian
Lond. Chart. Bk. of

50
50
100
100

Australia
London and County
London Joint Stock
Lond. & Westminster
National Provincial,

20
50
20
25

10
22
all
all

BANKS.

76 - 78

... ---- d

2 lid

3 —2d
id

of Eng'aud
Do. New
national of Ireland
New South Wales
Oriental Bank of
Corporation.
Do. New
Provincial of Ireland
Do. New

.. - . .

43 - 45

44 - 46

loyal Australn.Bkg.
& Gold Imp Co
south Australia
Union of Australia
Do. New
Union of London

40 - 42
67 - 69
7 - 7i

Shr. Paid. RAILWAYS. Leasing yeste Clositgrday. this day Prices Business .
Compaus.
50 all Bedford and Loudon
Bletchley.. N. West
St. 100 Buckghamsh. L.&,N.W. 99 101
50 F all Clydesdale Jc. Caledon 48 50
St. 100 E. Lincoln gr.
6 per cent. Gt.Nrthn. 140 142
25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldouian.
Neils. Direct ••• •••
25 all Do. New...... Do
25 all GlstrADn.Fr Gt. Westn 30 32
100 all Eirtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New.
Railway & Berw.
50 all Hull & Selby Y. &NMd 104 —lo6ad 106 x d
25 all Do. 5 Shares. Do 52 —53 „ x d
125 all Do. 1 Shares. Do 26 —27 „ x d
13i all Lon.&Greenw S. Eastern 13 135
20 all Do. Preference Do 245 .-255xd x d
20 100 Lowestoft gr.
4 per cent. Norfolk —
20 1.00 Do. 6 per et.
55 all Nianch. Bxtn. L.&N.W.
and Matlock & Miclld. 21 3
50 all 3diddlesbro' & Stckton&
Redcar Darlingt. x d x d
100 all Niidld.Braclfd Midland.. 98 100
50 all Northern and
Easternsp.c. E. Count. 59 61
50 Do. 6 per et. Do —
50 allr. Do. Fixedsp M Do..— .
25 all Prest. &Wyre &N.W.
&Ln&Yk
125 12 Do. 5 Shares. Do —
St. 100 Roystn.&Hit. 3;,Nortlin 138 142
St. 100 Do.Shepth.Sl-, 90 .....
25 18 Shef.lloth.anO r_Aaneas"--_&
Goole g. 5 p.c. Yorksh. .
12 95 S. Stafiordsh. A.MClean 21
50 all WearValleyg:, Stockt. &
6 per cent... Darlingt. xd x d
25 all Do Do 295 305„ x d
St. 100 Wilts&Somrs dtWestn 95 -- 97

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at 5 o'clock.

JUVENILE MENDICANTS.
Lord CAMPBELL inquired whether it was the in-
tention of the Earl of Shaftesbury to re-introduce his
bill of last session for the suppression of juvenile men-
dicancy.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said it was certainly
his intention to submit a bill on this important subject
to their lordships during the present session.

WAR WITH RUSSIA.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said it appeared from
the last information from St. Petersburg that 12 Russian
frigates and corvettes were in preparation for sail-
ing on the breaking up of the ice in the Bal-
tic, and he wished to know whether the Go-
vernment proposed taking steps for the purpose
of preventing them leaving the Baltic ? The noble
earl pointed out how easy, unless this were done, it
would be for this fleet, in five weeks' time, to go
round by the north of Scotland and Ireland and capture
unsuspecting British merchant vessels. He also mentioned
the various parts of the world in which Russian men-
of-war were stationed, and said it was not unlikely that
as soon as war was declared against Russia that
they would pounce upon that portion of our shipping
which was not under the protection of convoys. He
considered that not an hour ought to be lost in adopting
measures to stop the Russian fleet leaving the Baltic.
The Earl of ABERDEEN thought that his noble
friend who had been accustomed to conduct military
operations of great importance and extent, could
scarcely expect him to give an answer to the question.
(Hear.) He hoped his noble friend would give the
Government credit for showing the same activity and
watchfulness which belonged to himself. He (Earl
Aberdeen) declined to give any reply to a question the
answer to which could only be useful to the power
against which we were proceeding. (Hear, hear.) He
begged to say to their lordships that henceforth he
should consider it his duty to answer no question re-
specting prospective-military operations of that descrip-
tion. His noble friend had with mere or less accuracy
described the position of the Russian naval force in
different parts of the world ; but he made a grievous
error in saying they were not watched. (Hear.) Fur-
ther than this, however, he did not think it necessary
to enter into this subject. He trusted the house would
see and feel the propriety of the reasons which induced
him not to reply to the inquiry of the noble earl.

The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH did not think he
was justified in giving the Ministers credit for activity
and watchfulness. (H,ear, hear.) As regarded all finan-
cial and political ‘estions, he believed the Go-
vernment were fully equal to their position, but
as war ministers they were utterly untried, and when
he looked to their conduct in respect to affairs in the
East, and saw their desire to persuade themselves that
the coming war was a little war, though in reality it
would be the greatest in which we had ever engaged,
he could not give them credit for watchfulness and ac-
tivity. (Hear, hear.)
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed that the war
would not be a little one, but denied that the Govern-
had ever looked at it in any other light. If the noble
earl knew more of our preparations than he appeared to
do, he would acknowledge the zeal, the activity, the fore-
sight, and the determination of her Majesty's Ministers;
and be among the first to own that their watchfulness
spread over every portion of the globe.
After some observations from the Earl of WICKLOW,
the subject dropped.
REFORM OF THE COMMON LAW.

The LORD CHANCELLOR then proceeded to call
the attention of the house to the second report of the
Common Law Commissioners. The first report of the
commissioners related to the subject of special pleading,
and the amendments introduced into the law in conse-
quence of that report had proved most beneficial. In the
second report, the commissioners considered the ques-
tion what amendments could be made on the trial of
matters in dispute. One of their first recommenda-
tions was, that whenever both parties wished to have
the matter tried by a judge without a jury, it should be
competent for them to have it so decided. He could
not quite agree to this recommendation unmodified, for
hs.veral reasons, which he detailed ; and therefore he pro-
resed that whenever both parties wished the matter to
this lay e fudge, without a jury, it should be with
'ion—if tho judge should think fit, or if the
case came wis
certain general rules, to be framed by
the judges. rats s be a sate ssep:and if experience
proved the system to wu.s,
well it rmg‘\'s +
extended. The Commissioners hen be easily
recommeisled that
cases involving matters of account stoke's, at once be
sent to a referee without coming to the court. a_ us I,e
approved. A number of improvements were also recom-
mended in the trial by jury itself, nearly all of which he
accepted. At present a distinction was made between com-
mon and special jurors; but it was proposed, and he con-
curred, that an alteration should be made by raising the
qualification, and by providing that there should be ontyone
panel for both. Some alterations were recommended in the
mode of trial, by both parties having the right of ad-
dressing the covet after having called their witnesses.
These he approved, and should adopt. Some technical
alterations, which he approved, were also recommended,
which he need not detail ; but there was one he might
mention. The rule of calling attesting witnesses to
prove documents !would be abolished except in certain
cases. He did not propose to interfere with the rule
which required unanimity in the jury; but if the jury
could not agree within a given time, say twelve hours,
then they would be discharged, the judge having in the
meantime the power of ordering reasonable refresh-
ments. In the case of a jury not agreeing and being
discharged there would be a new trial. These were
the principal recommendations relative to the jury.
Another recommendation had great good sense in it.
It was that the evidence of parties who had con-
scientious scruples to take an oath might be re-
ceived, if the judge was satisfied their scruples were
conscientious. But be was extremely reluctant to give
up the security which was ensured by the oath ;
therefore the oath would be retained, except in the case
of those persons who stated they held conscientious ob-
jections to it. Having detailed the recommendations
with respect to the proof of handwriting, and the re-
ception of insufficiently stamped documents, which he
adopted, the noble and learned lord referred to several
others to which he could not accede, and which therefore
he did not intend to propose. He then mentioned that
the court which had adjudicated upon a case would have
the power of issuing an injunction to prevent a repeti-
tion of the injury, but he did not propose to give the
common-law courts the power of issuing decress for spe.
cific performance. The commissioners recommended
greater facilities with respect to equitable defences. He
proposed also that equitable defences should be pleaded
in bar to the action. After some further explanations,
the noble and learned lord laid a bill upon the table,
which, after the second reading, he proposed to refer
- to a select 'committee, the committee to meet imme-
diately after the return of the Lord Chief Justice from
circuit.
Lord CAMPBELL pointed out several details in the
bill which would require great consideration, but gave
it a general approval. He expressed his satisfaction
that it was not proposed to take away the trial by jury,
though he admitted there were cases in which a single
judge would be sufficient. He approved, however, of
all the improvements proposed to be introduced into
the mode of trial by jury,
. and particularly of the discre-
tion given to the judge in cases where witnesses had
conscientious objections to the taking of an oath.
Lord BROUGHAM described his satisfaction at the
measure, and mentioned that, without any concert, but
solely from a consideration of principles, the commis-
sioners and himself had arrived at the same conclusions.
The bill was a step in the right direction, which, before
their lordships had done, he hoped would be converted
into a stride.
The bill was then read the first time, and their lord-
ships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER. took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BILLS.

The following private bills were read a second time
and ordered to be committed :—Aboyne, Ballater,
and Tarland Road ; Ballymfma, Ballyßallymoney,Cole-
raine, and Portrush Junction Railway (No 1) ;
Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, and Portrush
Junction Railway (No 2); Bannow Reclamation ;
Belfast and County Down Railway; Birkenhead Docks ;
Blackburn Improvement, &c. ; British Guarantee Associa-
tion ; Buckingham and Towcester Road ;
,Caledonian
Railway (General Terminus, Sze.) ; Canterharn Railway ;
Deptford Gas ; Downpatrick, Belfast, and Dublin Rail-
way ; Executor and Trustee Society ; Festiniog Railway .
Glasgow Suspension Bridge ; Great Western, Shrews-
bury and Birmingham, and Shrewsbury and
Chester Railway Companies (Traffic Arrangements) •
Inverness and Nairn Railway ; Kingston upon Thames
Gas ; Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport ; Lancashire and.
Yorkshire; East Lancashire ; and Manchester and South-
port Railway Companies ; London and North Western and
North Staffordshire Railway Companies ; London and
North Western, and North Staffordshire Railway Com-
panies (Traffic Arrangements) ; Londonderry Bridge ;
Louth Waterworks ; Oxford Poor Rate ; Rossall Sea
Wall ; Scottish Central and Scottish Midland Junc-
tion Railways ; South Shields. Roads.; Stroud,
Painswick, and Gloucester-road ; Sunderland Gas ;
Tacumshin Embankment ; Thirsk and Yarm-road ; Tor-
moham and Saint Mary Church Gas; Tralee and Killar-
ney Railway.
Mr. FILMER presented a petition from a place in Kent
against the alteration of Oaths Bill.

missioner at the late Bribery, &c., Commission, which sat
at Hull, be printed, in order that the case may be fully
understood.
CHARITY COMMISSIONERS AND SCHOOLS.

Lord J. MANNERS wished to ask Sir George Grey, by
what authority, and with what object, the 19th question
is inserted in the form of inquiry as to Endowed, National,
British, Infant, and other schools ; and the 20th question
in the form of inquiry as to endowed Grammar Schools,
by the Charity Commissioners ; and whether these ques-
tions are addressed to Roman Catholic and Dissenting
Schools, or only to those of the Church of England.
Sir G. GREY said the authority under which those
questions were inserted in the forms were contained in sec-
tions 9 and 10 of the act passed last session, by
which the charity commission was established. With re-
gard to Roman Catholics none of those questions could be
applied.

unfortunate a position. The speech delivered by the
hon. member for the West:Riding (Mr. Cobden), he charac-
terised as able, but at the same time dangerous. (Hear.)
Although the hon. member might not be disposed to go
out of his way to prevent the Czar from entering Constan-
tinople, such was not the sentiment of his constituents.
(Hear, hear.) Representing a borough in the heart of the
West Riding he knew that not one in 100 shared the opinions
of the hon. member. It was hoped that if we went to war
we should get rid ef the old treaties. (Hear.) He trusted
also that in the issue Russia would be taught a lesson to
respect the independence of nations. (Hear.)
After a few observations from Mr. MUREOUGH and Mr.
PHILIPPS,
Lord J. RUSSELL expressed a hope that the discus-
sion raised by the hon. baronet (Sir H. Willoughby)
might now be considered as finished. Reverting to the
question of the noble lord, the member for Colchester
(Lord J. Manners), the noble lord said he should have been
very glad to have been able to answer it on the moment;
but, as he had not now the papers with him, he could not
be sure of the accuracy of any statement. There had been
rumours, which afterwards turned out to be false, that
an attack had taken place on the Turkish coast, upon the
fort of St. Nicholas. Three small steamers had attacked
a part of the coast near Trebizond ; but, after firing a few
shots, the ships dispersed. Nothing of a serious charac-
ter had occurred since the disaster at Sinope. On the
other hand Sir Edmund Lyons had twice proceeded to Ba-
toum with convoys, and a squadron of two French and
two English steamers had gone to the neighbourhood of
Sebastopol, and near the Sea of Azoff, but could not see
anything more than three small Russian steamers at
anchor. No Russian man-of-war had been seen by the
various vessels despatched in different directions, and it
did not appear that any Russian vessels had been sent to
sea since the last orders had been issued. He trusted that
now the house would consent to go into committee in order
to proceed with the estimates.
Mr. LUCAS having postponed his motion with respect
to alleged grievances suffered by Roman Catholic soldiers
and sailors, in the absence of the Secretary at War,

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

The house then went into committee of supply.
On the first vote of 50,0001., for defraying the charges
for the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers,
Mr. W. WILLIAMS said, he wished to call the atten-
tion of the First Lord of the Admiralty to several points
in connection with these estimates. It appeared from the
votes that there were 16 admirals in active service of
whom two were in command of dockyards, and four were
what were denominated port-admirals, so that only ten
were actually employed on board ship. There were, how-
ever, 261 admirals in a state of idleness, receiving half-pay
or pensions. Then there were 93 captains and 127 com-
manders, altogether 220 of both ranks on the active list,
but there were 544 captains and 920 commanders receiving
half-pay or pensions, and in a state of idleness. The num-
ber of lieutenants to be employed was 519, while 1,143
were unemployed. This was a monstrous state of things,
which, in his opinion, well deserved the consideration of
the First Lord of the Admiralty. Only 755 officers of all
ranks were to be employed in a fleet which they were told
was the most powerful ever sent to sea by this country,
while 2,868 officers were left in a state of idleness. He
(Mr. Williams) must say that, since the present First Lord
of the Admiralty had been in office, he believed the manage-
ment of that department had been much more economical
and efficient than was formerly the case ; but he wished to
call the attention of the right hon. baronet to the fact that,
since the termination of the last war, there had been an
expenditure of 62,000,0001. upon wages, machinery, and
other items in the dockyards, and he would like to know
what practical advantage the country had derived in return
for such vast expenditure. Within the same period, also,
there had been an expenditure of 10,500,0001. for the en-
largement of the dockyards. He was quite sure that if
the right hon. baronet would take stock in his department
he would find there had been, since the war, fully
25,000,0001. sterling spent, and very little loft to show for
it. He would also suggest that much advantage and saving
might be effected by placing the navy agencies in the colo-
nies under the commissariat ; and, in conclusion, he
trusted that the right hon. baronet would take measures
for promoting savings-banks in the navy.
Sir J. GRAHAM said, with reference to the large num-
ber of officers on half-pay, beginning with those in the
highest rank, the hon. gentleman would recollect that full
inquiry had been made by the committee which had sat
on naval estimates under the presidency of the noble mem-
ber for Totnes, and upon the recommendations of which
considerable reductions in the list complained of had been
made ; of lieutenants on the effective list, indeed, the num-
ber had been so much reduced that in the recent armament
considerable difficulty had been experienced in making up
the requisite staff of lieutenants—so much so that an alte-
ration of the rules which had been introduced with refe-
rence to promotions from this very valuable class of officers
would'probablybe necessary. (Hear, hear.) There was no
doubt that large expenditure had been incurred in the
adaptation of existing ships to a more useful construction,
and more especially in the adaptation of vessels to the
screw system ; but the result, as manifested in the pre-
sent condition of our navy, would, he thought, be accepted
as a valuable consideration. (Hear, hear.) The plan of con-
centratins• the naval agencies in the colonies with the com-
missariat had been tried, experimentally, at Hong Kong,
but it had been found productive of such complication of
accounts, and such inconvenience to the naval service, that
it had been abandoned. The importance of encouraging
savings-banks in the navy was by no means new to him,
for he had, twenty years ago, carried a measure for that
very purpose. The measure, he was sorry to say, had not
been so successful by any means as the introduction of
savings-banks into the army ; but he was disposed to attri
bute this rather to the different mode in which sailors were
paid than to any inherent defect in the sailors themselves,
as compared with soldiers. (Hear, hear.) Receiving their
wages as the sailors did, in comparatively large sums,
with long intervals, and when the ship was paid off in
some port where every temptation to spend his money
was presented to the seaman, it was not much to be won-
dered at that savings-banks were of less avail in the navy
than in the army. He was very desirous, therefore, of
remedying this defect by assimilating the pay of the
sailor, in its mode of payment, as nearly as possible to that
of the soldier. (Hear.) The existing condition of things
was altogether inopportune for the introthiction of so great
a change, the various classes of seamen now afloat receiv-
ing, from circumstances, wages so various in their nature
and amount ; but he could assure the house that he would
take the earliest practicable occasion to lay before them a
measure to carry out the principle, calculated as that pan-
ole was, he thoroughly believed, materially to improve
the ossbsseter of our navy.
Captain bssansELL considered that the system of offer-
's/3 largo bounty at.a. other special advantages to the naval
coast volunteers was unit... so the other seamen who were
invited, at this critical juncture, enter the navy, and
who, if really seamen, were quite as welsssy of this en-
couragement as any particular class of their proiess,oe.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that to extend bounty to all '0.(3
seamen required for the present emergency would involve
the country in au immediate outlay of not less than
200,000/.—an expenditure which was entirely unnecessary,
since the full number of seamen who were required were
found ready to enter without that inducement. (Hear.)
With the gallantry and high spirit so conspicuous in their
profession, as our seamen saw danger to the country in-
crease, so increased their willingness to enter the service.
Some few months ago, indeed, there was a difficulty in
getting seamen for the fleet; but since it had become clear
to the seamen of this country that danger was at hand,
they had come forward with a spirit which could not be
too highly admired. (Hear.) He was most anxious to
give to every seaman a fair remuneration for his services,
but, with reference to the naval coast volunteers, it should
be recollected that they stood in the same position towards
the general navy with relation to the bounty question as
the militia occupied in reference to the army.
Sir G. TYLER thought it would be extremely useful to
the house if some information could be given them as to
how the force of naval coast volunteers had been
raised, and whether the number of men who had come
forward—many of whom could not be altogether seamen—
was equal to that for which the vote had been taken last
year. He had always been of opinion that we must look
to the merchant service for our seamen; but it was most
desirable that there should be always at hand a sufficient
supply of sailors for continuously manning our fleet when
required. The plan proposed, in a pamphlet written by
Admiral Bowles, was, that there should be a naval mi-
litia, independent of the coast volunteers, formed along the
coast and within five miles of it, and also that there should
be a quota established for each great seaport town in Eng-
land. This force the author proposed to divide into classes,
and suggested that the first class, composed of men from
18 to 30 years of age, should be made available for the
service of the Royal Navy for a certain fixed period, liable
to be called out like the militia, and with equal bounties
and advantages. The second class would consist of men
between 30 and 40 years of age, liable to limited service in
the United Kingdom ; and in this way a force would be
established which would be at all times available. He
hoped the right hon. gentleman would give to the plan of
the gallant officer that consideration which he (Sir G.
Tyler) thought it deserved.
Admiral BERKELEY said, it was true they had been
obliged to take a certain number of landsmen in the force
which had been raised; but the progress which these
young men made in the schools was perfectly wonderful.
The coast-guardsmen were a remarkably fine body of men,
and the various captains whose ships had received quotas
spoke of them in the highest praise. The enrolment of
volunteers had not fully commenced; but the force already
raised in the three weeks during which enrolment had
been going on amounted to about 1,000 men.
Captain SCOBELL said, that in proposing a system of
bounties he wanted to induce men to come forward for a
longer period of service. He would not give a bounty to
any man who did not enter for 10 years, and would ex-
eludet ordinary seamen and landsmen from the system ale -
gether.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS was convinced that the diminu-
tion .inus-
tion of corporal punishments on board Her
031_ jrvitayid. &IL)
had been an inducement to seamen toe ccelida fo
hoped the right hon. gentleman at thh
fixed of thuepßenoartdhaotf
Admiralty would keep his attention
point ; for, sure he was, that whenever an officer was
found continually inflicting punishment on board his ship,
that officer was not fit for command
The vote was then agreed to.
On the vote of 51,7221. for the expenses of the scientific
branch,
Mr. BENTINCK called attention to the very long inter-
terval which elapsed between the completion of certain of
the coast surveys and the publication of the charts.
Sir J. GRAHAM acknowledged that the more speedy
publication of the result of the surveys was a matter of
great importance. He had given his attention to the re-
organisation of the hydrographical department, and an
officer well known for his scientific acquirements, Captain
Washington, had been appointed as assistant to Admiral
Beaufort. The attention of these officers had been di-
rected to the urgent necessity of a more speedy publication
of the surveys which had been made, as charts became
comparatively useless if their publication was long de-
layed, and he believed the result of their joint efforts
would be that the wishes of his hon. friend would before
long be accomplished.
Captain SCOBELL would suggest whether it would not
be desirable for the Government to offer some premium
for the best lifeboat or liferaft.
The vote was agreed to, together with the following
131,451/. for sabsriee of officers, &c., at her Majesty's
naval establishments at home.
22,2971. for her Majesty's establishments abroad.
On the vote of 833,6481. for wages to artificers, &c., em-
ployed in her Majesty's establishments at home,
Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE wished to express his gratifi.
cation at the exertions in our naval establishments, which
enabled England to put forth such a magnificent display of
strength at such short notice. (Hear, hear.) As he had
thought it his duty to express some disapprobation with
regard to the proceedings of the Government he was
glad to see there had been more vigour in execution than
there had been unity in council.
The vote was agreed to, together with a vote of
37,2591. as wages to artificers in our naval establishments
abroad.
On the vote of 1,142,7321. as naval stores for the build-
ing and repairs of ships,
Ur. W. WiriLlA ALS owned th4t, commix; the yotee

of this and the previous year with those taken for the last
25 or 30 years, and looking at the efficient navy which we
now possessed under the auspices of the right hon. gentle-
man, there was much food for congratulation as to the
small amount required to prepare such an efficient fleet as
contrasted with years when there was scarcely any fleet at
all for the defence of the country.
Mr. CORRY, acknowledging the admirable state of effi-
ciency into which the fleet had been brought, said there
was one arm in which he feared it was deficient ; he alluded
to ships fitted for carrying mortars. When he was at the
Admiralty a second class steam-sloop was fitted for that
purpose, and the experiment was looked upon as a success-
ful one.
Admiral BERKELEY said, that all our large ships at
present threw shells from their 68-pounders, almost in the
same way as mortars, and were capable of bursting their
shells at the same distance as mortars.
Mr. CORRY—But without the power of elevation.
Captain SCOBELL hoped the improvement of the small
arms would not be lost sight of. Some of the marines,
he apprehended, were now practised in the use of the Minie
rifle. He wished to ask whether the Board of Admiralty
had finally made up their minds as to the propriety of
employing iron as a material for ships of war ? He wished
also to put a question to the right hon. gentleman with
regard to the reward given to the inventor of a screw-pro-
peller. He understood there were parties who were said
to have a reasonable claim to be considered in the matter,
and who urged that the screw-propeller invented by them
was the very one which the Royal navy now used, and for
which the premium had been awarded.
Sir J. GRAHAM had great pleasure in informing the
hon. and gallant member that the muskets supplied on
board her Majesty's' ships were of the most improved de-
scription. With regard to the second question which had
been put to him, he had to state that the result of the
inquiries which had been made afforded proof that iron
was not a material well adapted for the construction of
ships of war. With regard to the item referred to by the
hon. and gallant gentleman, the circumstances of the case
were, that a sumof 10,0001. had been paid to persons claimed
to be the inventors of the screw-propeller in use in her Ma-
jesty's ships, but at the same time a bond of indemnity
had been required, in the event of any person hereafter
coming forward and proving himself to have been the ori-
ginal inventor, and if Captain Carpenter were, in fact,
the original inventor, he could institute a legal claim.
Sir F. BARING stated that he had paid, when he had
the honour of holding office, a sum of 10,0001. to persons
claiming to be the inventors of the screw-propeller now
employed in the navy. The invention was not a simple
invention, but rather a combination of inventions, and, in
his opinion, the persons who had conducted the business
had Blown a very liberal spirit, and, indeed, he was con-
vinced that if each invention bad been paid for separately,
the ea:pense to the country would have been considerably
greater than it had actually been.
Mr. FRENCH felt bound to state that, in his opinion
the credit of the application of the screw-propeller to nau-
tical affairs was due to Captain Evans. That officer had
been sent to inspect the Archimedes, which, he believed,
was one of the first ships which was fitted with a screw-
propeller, and he had been present at the trial which took
place, and the inventor was at that time utterly ignorant
of the power which the screw gave over the helm, and every
one of the statements which Captain Evans made on that
occasion had since been justified by the result. When cre-
dit was claimed by different persons for the application of
the screw-propeller, he thought that some credit was due
to an officer who had so materially facilitated its adapta-
tion.
Captain SCOBELL said that all that Captain Carpenter
desired was, that justice should be done him. He believed
that the money which had been paid had come to a Mr.
Low, and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council had
refused Mr. Low an extension of his patent. He himself
felt convinced that the screw on board that celebrated ship
the Agamemnon, and many other first-class ships, was
more similar in principle to Captain Carpenter's invention
than it was to any other.
Sir F. BARING said that the fact of the Judicial Com-
mittee of the Privy Council having refused Mr. Low an
extension of his patent was no proof that he was not the
original inventor.
Mr. STAFFORD considered that the right hon. gentle-
man was quite justified in having paid the sum of 10,0001.
as he did ; such had been the opinion of the late Board of
Admiralty and of that which preceded, and he thought
also of that which succeeded it.
The vote was then agreed to.
A vote of 374,6421. for new works, improvements, and
repairs in the yards, &c., was agreed to.
A vote of 32,000/. for medicine and medical stores was
also agreed to.
On the vote of 54,6531. for miscellaneous services, •
Mr. STAFFORD expressed his satisfaction that the
Board of Admiralty had continued the grant to the Sailors'
Home which had been proposed by the late board.
The vote was agreed to.
On the vote of 657,5751. for reserved pay and half-pay,
Admiral WALCOTT thought that, accustomed as we
had been to refer the high position which England held
among nations to the superiority of her naval power, he
could not do otherwise than concur in any measure which
should make a more adequate provision for manning the
navy. For, of what possible use or avail could it be to
boast of a splendid navy of ships, unless manned with the
sinews and nerves to render them efficient ? But it was
necessary plainly to tell the man-of-war's man to what he
might look forward—to satisfy him of the certainty of that
provision which was proposed for his welfare, present and
future. The officers should possess the perfect conviction
that no disposal of patronage, for ends private or political,
would mar their prospect of the reward due to merit. Then
this country would reap the full benefit of such a generous
and fostering care of a noble profession. He agreed wholly
in opinion with the hon. and gallant member for Bath that
nothing could be more unwise than to encumber a ship
with any large proportion of landsmen. Very few, in-
deed, but ordinary seamen ought to be taken on board.
Lads from 14 to 18 years of age were the material from
which blue jackets must be made. In the navy yearly
from 3,000 to 4,000 such ought to be entered, in order to
supply regular men-of-war's men. He was gratified by the
testimony borne by the right hon. baronet the First Lord.
of the Admiralty to the services of his predecessors at that
board. To the Duke of Northumberland the service was
indebted for the Committee on Manning the Navy, of
such vast importance in its results. He believed that no
man ever entered upon that office with more single-
minded purpose, or more earnest desire to conduce by
every possible exertion to its efficiency ; and, as regarded
its patronage, to make merit the sole criterion of advance-
ment. Allusion had been made to the crowded state of
the lists. It ought and must be remembered that during
the last war we had at one time no less than 1,003 pen-
dants flying, and to officer those ships was a matter of the
first necessity. The officers then employed served their
country with fidelity, and to its utmost advantage, and.
they ought not to be dealt with in speeches of disparage-
tuent. Many in peace-time earnestly and perseveringly
advanced their claims to continued service—many were
still rthet desirous of employment, and in a short time
hundreds or these men would no longer need the reward of
good and gallant service. But ho would remind the house
that the first evidence and sigu of a declining nation were
ingratitude displayed towards those who had,stood by their
country, giving her strength and life in that hour in which
she most needed them. The country was entering upon
another war ; and she would require able heads and youth-
ful spirit and vigour, and they ought to be cheered on-
wards by the bright hope that the country would not be
disregardful of their claims upon her consideration. Their
ardour should not be damped by indifference shown to
those who preceded them in a career no less noble or
momentous to the interests of their country.
Capt. SCOBELL hoped that the Admiralty would go upon
the principle of giving promotion according to merit.
The Admiralty had the power of checking any man's pro-
motion they pleased, and the few that were employed were
not selected solely on account of public merit. It was a
hard case that half the lieutenants never got beyond
that rank. Owing to their numbers they could not be pro-
moted, but the Admiralty could pick and choose where
they pleased.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS said, that as the hon. and gallan
admiral opposite had observed, that officers of merit in the
sea service had been neglected he could not help contrast-
ing the manner in which naval officers were treated with
the conduct pursued towards officers in the army, in refer-
ence to good service pensions. He perceived by the esti-
mates that one of the persons receiving a good service
pension in the navy was Commodore Michael Seymour.
This gentleman entered the service on the sth of Novem-
ber, 1813, and doubtless must then have been very young.
In March, 1814, only four months afterwards, he was pre-
sent, while serving in the Hannibal, at the capture of the
French frigate La Sultane, and that was the only service
he had rendered for this good service pension. It was
true that he had held the appointment of Commodore-
Superintendent of Davenport Dockyard since September,
1851, and had been actively employed afloat as a com-
missioned officer about 18 years ; but he had been very
fortunate in obtaining these two employments, and many
an officer would have been glad to have the appoint-
service he had mentioned, exhibited a liberality of
especially
meats. The grant of a good service pension for the single
the gallant admiral had no right to complain, servebutdWaterloo
not
edin;
h had b
f the country that in this case so mu eels.
he thouht that there was ground for p
comlacint on the
part o g
bestowed.
Sir J. GRAHAM said, the hon. gentleman was rather
unfortunate in the instance he had adduced of ill-bestowed.
reward. Commodore Seymour's service were set forth in
the paper before the house, and as he had had. an interview
that very day with the gallant commodore, he would tell the
house what the nacure of that interview was. Itbecame the
dutyof the Admiralty to select a captain of the fleet for
the force to be commanded by Sir C. Napier, and he ac-
cordingly consulted Sir C. Napier as to the officer who, on
the whole, would be most efficient for that post. After
conferring together and looking at the list of officers, they
both came to the conclusion that, if Commodore Seymour
could be induced to accept the appointment, he would be
the most efficient person, (Hear, hear.) That gallant
officer was at the moment Superintendent of the Devon-
port Dockyard, and was also, on account of personal and
professional services—not without regard to the character
of his gallant father, who had been one of the most dis-
tinguished officers in the navy—in the receipt of a good
service pension. The moment it was mentioned to the
gallant officer that for the good of the service he should
leave the dockyard and go on board the Wellington as
captain of the fleet, he replied that he was ready to start
at 48 hours' notice, and that he would resign his dockyard
appointment and throw his pension to the winds if he
could be of any service to the profession to which his heart
was attached. (Hear, hear.) He (Sir J. Graham) did not
think it right to take the gallant officer strictly at Id'
word ; but, telling him that it was important that p
should go on board the Wellington on the special service
desired, added that he would make arrangements, in cn
sideration of the gallant officer's generous offer to
resign
his appointment, to keep it open for him until the special
service was performed. (Hear, hear.)
I' t
the gallant officer but he thought that many
somieeuef the
Mr. W. WILLIAMS had meant to cast no reflectionenant
n
on
who had fought and had been wounded
themselves hardly
great battles of Nelson, and had nothing but their miserable
half-pay to depend on, might consider t
good service was
his _
treated when they compared the reward of of their services
with that given to a gentleman wiles
confined to the first four months after joining the,
navy.
'ous Red allowances.
votes :-476,6591. for military petals'
The vote was then agreed to,
navy estimates),
(conveyance of
asi wielroewaaluscoetsh. e following
and 145,7981. for civil pensions
and allowances.
the
forOnarthme
yvoatendof 20210351 (thdeeplaais.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS complained that in the conveyance
troops)
, tinents
of some troops to Dublin a small mercantile steamer had,
been employed with great inconvenience to the men, when
tof-war steamers, at the time lying idle, might
hwavo rabeenen put in requisition for the purpose.
dir J. GRAHAM was sorry to say that he should have
to call the attention of the house again to a vote of this
kind at a later period of the session. Within the last fort-
night measures had been taken for the conveyance of
10,000 troops to the liediterriaaoaz, awl in the covalo