The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-06 00:00:00

THE LATE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY.

The committee resumed its inquiry yesterday, and,
judging by the attendance within and behind the bar,

the-inieroit which the proceediags. has excited under-
goes no diminution.
Lord Seymour read a 'letter which he had received
from the Duke of Northumberland, intimating that his
Grace would be happy to attend at any time, and afford
the committee any information in his power.
Captain Richards was then called, and his examina-
tion 'from Tuesday was, resumed. He stated he wrote
a letter to Sir B. Walker' with regard to Ridgway's
case on the 9th of April; 1852, complaining of the
course that had been pursued by the. Admiralty, and
stating that if it was persisted in, the order of the 10th of
February, 1847, might as well be consigned to the tomb
of " all the Capulets." Afterwards, Captain Pelham pro-
cured him an interview with the Duke of Northumber-

land, and his Grace assured him that he had never heard,
and did not believe, that he (Captain Richards) had ex-
ercised any political influence, and that he was satisfied
he devoted himself to the good of the service. His
Grace further desired him to come to him or Captain
Pelham whenever he wished to do so. He saw Admiral
Hyde Parker afterwards, 'and was then informed by him
that it was the first time he also had heard of the accu-
satic*, and that he did not believe a word of it.
The statement that he was a political partisan would
be heard with astonishment at Chatham, and . he
challenged Mr. Stafford to the proof of what
he had asserted. He was on intimate terms with
Sir Frederick Smith, and both he and Sir J. Stirling
dined together at his (Captain Richards') table
during their canvass. Ridgway had been several
times before him, and in fact he had little difficulty in
describing him as the worst leading .man in the yard.
He (Captain Richards) was astonished to find that Ridg-
way was on the. Conservative side at Chatham, having
previously tried to make interest with Sir Francis Baring
through the Whig party at Portsmouth. His promotion
was an entire departure from the circular of 1847, which
equired that promotion should not take place without a
recommendation from the superintendent, and should
not be prompted by political influences. Sir Frederick
Smith's canvass of Chatham lasted for several months,
and he-(Capt. •Richards), on being told leSir Frederick
that he was going to stand, said to him, " I wish you
luck, but I can't give you the least help." He had never
sought his appointment to Chatham, and never,was more
surprised than when he received it ; and in order that
there might be no misconception as to the manner and
terms in which that appointment was made he put in
evidence the portion of Sir F. Baring's letter which he
had not read on his previous examination, as it might be
considered self-laudatory to do so :
" (Private.)
" Admiralty., April 26, 1849.
"My dear Sir,—l have this day received the account of
Sir T. Bourchier's death with much regret.
" This leaves Chatham-yard vacant, and it is an impor-
tant yard.
" From what I have heard and seen of you, it will give
me much pleasure if it should suit you.
" I shall feel satisfied that I have placed an important
duty in the hands of one who will perform it to the advan-
tage of the public service.
" There must be one understanding—that you will not
meddle with politics. I make this understanding with op-
ponent and friend, and I do not think you are likely to
object to a condition which will oblige you to look to the
public service alone.—Yours truly, "F. BARING."
He had never in his life applied for a political favour,
and had never received any, and his appointment to
Pembroke Dockyard had been obtained from Lord Auck-
land's applying to Sir W. Parker, whose flag captain he
then was.
The witness then read some further correspondence
that had taken place between him and the Admiralty
with regard to the appointments, and in answer to Lord
Seymour, in explanation of certain words in one of his
letters, said there was always a swarm of persons out-
side a dockyard who looked upon a dockyard as a
species of property in which they bad a right, and ex-
pected nominations to appointments. He (Captain
Richards) had complained about the promotion of
Ridgway, as he had been reported as inefficient from
irregular conduct. If it had been stated that Ridgway
had been reported because he was a Tory or a Conser-
vative, it was not so, and he would distinctly say, in
answer to what Mr. Stafford had said, no political in-
fluence was used against him in the yard.
Sir B. Hall—How did Cotsell perform his duties ?
Captain Richards thought him a very good master
smith—as good as was to be found in the dockyards.
Sir B. Hall—Do you remember Mr. Stafford being in
the yard with Sir Frederick Smith
Captain Richards explained that he was absent when
Mr. Stafford came, and met him immediately after he
left. He expressed his regret at not being there to re-
ceive him, to which Mr. Stafford replied that he had been
so much engaged with Lord Derby he could not give
him notice.
Sir B. Hall—Did you hear if Mr. Stafford had gone
round the yard with Sir Frederick ?
Captain Richards had asked no questions, for he did
not think it proper to inquire of the officers what the
Secretary of the Board of Admiralty had been about.
Sir B. Hall—When dockyards are within the limits of
a borough, do you think, looking to the efficiency of the
service, that the men should have no vote ?
Captain Richards thought the service would be mate-
rially advantaged thereby, but still the influence of rela-
tions who had votes would be brought to bear on the pa-
tronage of the yards. They would be placed in the same
position as the Excise and Customs. 'Thb-best way`,--how-
ever, would be to carry out stringently the views of Sir F.
Baring, and not to listen to any applications that were
not made on public grounds. If people at head-quarters
could be depended on for this the object sought for
would be accomplished. During the last election Sir
James Stirling came to ask him if any of the officers of
the yard were entitled to intimidate voters under them.
He immediately asked for the name of the officer who
had been doing so, and he said he would report him in-
stantly to the board. Sir James Stirling refused to give
it up, and he told him that as he was not prepared to do
so he should not have come to him at all about the mat-
ter. In consequence of that communication he sent for
the master shipwright, and cautioned him to tell the
officers privately that if he caught any of them influenc-
ing the workmen under them he would bring their con-
duct before the board. The master shipwright subse-
quently told him that one officer acknowledged having
done so, but expressed his sorrow, and promised to
desist forthwith. He (Captain Richards) took so little
interest in the election that he did not know the result
till the following morning.
Admiral Fanshawe, superintendent of Portsmouth
Dockyard, was called to show that he had received
from the Duke of Northumberland, through his private
secretary, Captain Pelham, similar instructions to avoid
meddling with politics to those given to Captain
Richards by Sir Francis Baring.
Benjamin Cross, a sergeant of Marines, and tailor to
the force at Devonport, said that he was a voter of East
Stonehouse. Before the last election he had a conver-
sation with Colonel Coryton, who sent for him, and to
whom he was taken by Sergeant Mortimer. He was
shown into the colonel's drawing-room, and saw there
with the colonel, who was in undress military uniform,
General Berkeley, and another gentleman. The general
solicited his vote in the presence of the colonel. He
told him it was too late, as he had pledged for Sir J.
Romilly. Colonel Coryton said, "I am sorry for it."
Sir B. Hall—Do you know of any other Marines so
sent for ?
Witness—Corporal Atkins was canvassed in a similar
way. A man named Marsh was also sent for, and it
was said had been promised promotion to corporal.
General Berkeley gained the election by
a majority of
10 votes.
Sergeant Ching, master shoemaker to the Marines at
Devonport, had a communication made him from Colonel
Coryton through Sergeant Mortimer, of the same kind
as that to the previous witness. He split his vote be-
tween Sir John Romilly and General Berkeley, which he
would not have done had he not been fearful that sup-
porting the Whig party alone, as he bad previously been
in the habit of doing, would have injured him.
Sergeant Mortimer said that he went for Ching, Cross,
and Atkinson, by Colonel Coryton's
command, but was
not told why the colodel wanted to see them.
Colonel Coryton acknowledged that he had sent Mor-
timer, as described, on the request of General Berkeley,
who had called and asked to be allowed to do so. He
left the room when the men were canvassed, and had
t o
Commodore what
„intendant of the Devon-
portnot interfered in any way. He had given his consent
any impropriety in it.
wasdosneyemwoiuthroustu considering that there was
Dockyard, stated drat he received his appointment
there in September, 1851, in a letter from Sir F. Bar-
ing, of which the following is a cop,' :
" (Secret and confidential.)
Ad., August 26, 1851.
" My dear Sir,—The accounts which we have received
depends on the su-
of Lord John Hay may leave no hope of his_ yecovery ; led
remain anxiousth eret
some
oomedeed I expect by to-morrow's post to learn his death. It
permakesi‘,nTthe
dockyard necessarynietdweanht
tosl
whole
n the Devonport. f
so
er me to make arrangements for the
ap-
point to Devonport workinganyeoroffialfeoeyula'r‘r Vydhos ou system
mayn
pdb
erlli 0
ee
vc
(.10 the
time, and who will be efficient.
been there, but I have heard from sevepnl quarters on " I have myself not visited Sheerness since ylonuohfiabvre.
which I can rely an account of
ing you the dockyard at Devonport I
best for the public service er orm the duty
of an officer who has shown that he can p
in a satisfactory manner.
hall
" I need not say that the same condition o non Intel
in securing the superintendence
it at Davenport than
sible I attach more importance to
a
I shall be ohligedy,
faenr,e,nlcchaemrine
aelseocua.lt potoligtoicsabartotacadhefsortO e
fortnight, er y Y and ifh:008:
-jar
ogv daiid by your not therefore been advised to writelto you_bwete ittovsaelltilecymat
lan
Devonport has actually t?lenEp a 1
an .
t e
"until' hearing further, I am,
men-
tioning this communicatni
arrangements
" F. BARING."
my dear Sir, yours very y,
appointment to Sheerness in Novem-
ber,Previously to his
with Sir F •
Francis Baring.
1850, he had acquaintance Lord
therefore,
before leaving
lar manner On
dockyards took place in a regu d
the
the 26th of April, 185:„ 12 7 labourers were advance
nd tion from him, and in violation
While Sir Francis was First all appointments in
without any recommendation