The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-03 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 3, 1853.

AUSTRALIA.-Parties about to :proceed to
Australia can be assured M the. PROFEEIIaIONAL LIFE
ASSURANCE COMPANY, 76, Clieapside, London; upon the whble
Term of Life Scale, without payment of extra prenfitun for *age
to or residence there.
Loans granted on personal security.
E I) WARD BAYLIS, Resident Manager and Actuary.

ROYAL HIGHLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY.
PATRON—Rer MAJESTY the QUEEN.
. Vics PATRON—His Royal Highness the PETSCE ALBERT.
The ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL of this Charity, which affords
daily education to more than 12,000 children in the Highlands and
Isles of Scotland, will be celebrated in FREEMASONS' HALL,
Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, on SATURDAY, May 14,
Sir ARCHIBALD ALILON, Batt., LL.D., F.R.S.E., in the Chair.
Dinner on the table at Siieo'clock. It is particularly requested that
(if convenient) officers will ap:lear in uniform, and,fleettish gentle-
men in the "Highland garb." Tickets (215.) to be had of Mr. Kirk,
101, Fleet•street ; Mr. Brooks, stationer, 72, Farringden-street ;
Messrs. Maclure, Macdonald,- and MacGregor, Walbrook, Mansion
blouse ; at the rreemasons' Tavern ; and of
- CHARLES MACKIE, Secretary.
,34, 81(1month-street, Regent-square. .
Ladies' tickets to be had of the Stewards and Secretary only.

Jnst published, CHARLES MACKIE'S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
of the ISLANDS and ISLES of SpOTLAND. the Progress of Na-
tional Education, and a Chart of Virtudety' Schools. Price, to
Na-
non 6d. Arthur Hall, , and Co.

CONTRACT FOR BARRACKMARINES STORES FOR THE ROYAL

' Department of the Comptroller for Victualling and
Transport' Services,
Somerset-place, 36th April, 1853.
THE Commissioners for Executing the Office of
Lord High Admiral of the'United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, do Hereby Give Notice, that on TEWRSDAY. the 12th
May next, at One o'clock, they will be ready to treat with such
persons as may be willing to Contract for supplying and delivering
into her Majesty's Victualling Stores at Deptford sundry articles of

BARRACK STORES,
for the use of the Royal Marines, consisting of Brooms, Brushes,
Mops, Coal Baskets, &c., under a Contract for twelve months certain,
and afterwards until the expiration of three months' notice.
Patterns of the articles and the conditions of the Contracts may, be
seen at the said Office, between .the hours of Eleven or Two.
No Tender will bexeceived after ,One o'clock. on the takrof-Treaty,
nor any noticed, sinless the party' attends, or an agent for him, duly
authorised in writing.
Every Tender must be addressed to the Secretary of the Admi-
ralty. and bear in the left-hand corner the words, " Tender for
Barrack StOres," and must also be delivered at Somerset-place,
accompanied by a letter signed by a responsible person, engaging to
become bound, with the person tendering, in the sum of 3001. for
the due performance of the Contract.

UNITED KINGDOM LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY,

Established by Act of Parliament in 1834.
No. 8, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, London.
The distinctive features of the Company embrace, amongst
others :
Tables of Premiums formed on the lowest scale compatible with
security, and constructed to meet the various wants of assurers,
and every risk to which protection by assurance can be extended.
One-half the Life Premium for the first Five years may remain on
credit.
Loans granted on approved Personal Security.
Assured not restricted in their limits of travel, as in most other
Companies, but may proceed from one part of Europe to another in
decked vessels, without License, and to British North America, and
many parts of the United States, without extra premium, by merely
giving the ordinary notice to the Office in London of the intended

visit.
IVhole-world Policies granted at slightly increased rates of
Premium, thus rendering a Policy in money transactions a real
security.
Prospectuses, and every information, may be obtained upon appli-
cation to the Resident Director.

MEDICAL ADVICE ON THE SECRET INFIRMITIES OF
YOUTH AND MATURITY.
DR. SAMUEL LA'MERT, 37, BEDFORD-SQUARE, LONDON,
Doctor of Medicine, and Matriculated Member of the University of
Edinburgh, Honorary Member .of the London Hospital Medic
Society, Licentiate of Apothecaries' Hall, London, &c., &c.
AY be consulted, personally, or by letter, on
I IL the various disorders of the nervous and generative system,
resulting from juvenile irregularities and excesses, which have pro-
duced more misery in youth, degradation in manhood, and prema-
ture decay at all stages of life, than perhaps any other class of dis-
eases known to modern pathologists. Long and practical experience
in the treatment of these diseases has proved that there are in exist-
ence secret causes of self-acquired miseries and disappointed hopes in
existence, traceable to certain pernicious habits, to which Nervous
Debility, various forms of Insanity, Unhappy and Unfruitfhl Marri-
ages, Impotency, Local and Constitutional Weakness, and their
endless modifications owe their almost entire origin.
It is absolutely necessary that all men should know that there are
principles of personal management which cannot be violated without
incurring grievous penalties, and when wisdom and regret succeed
the heyday of inconsiderate self-indulgence, how these penalties
may be mitigated, how the sting of their bitterness may be removed,
and bow the evil and its consequences may be avoided, and above all,
that there is seemly any degree of physical infirmity or functional
derangement to which the timely aid of science cannot apply a cure.
DOCTOR LA'MERT has for a long series of years been engaged
in an extensive practice in the treatment of these delicate com-
plaints, and s the only legally qualified Physician who, regardless
of the taunts and envy of the hypocritical and mock-modest, has had
the confidence, through the medium of the public press, to direct
attention to these enormous evils, from which no grade of society is
tree. In selecting this department of practice, he has been amply
rewarded by the great success that has attended his efforts in the
treatment of these cases, which are too generally confided to the
care of unqualified and Ignorant empirics, who, with their pirated
publications, assumed foreign names and titles, and pretended virtues
of their patent nostrums, have inflicted serious injury on those who
have been induced to place faith in their pretensions.
At home for consultation daily from Eleven till Two, and !tom
Six till Eight. All letters must contain the fee of If., and advice and
medicines can be forwarded to any initials or address.
It is desirable that patients wishing to consult,Dr. LA'MERT
Should first obtain a copy of his work on
SELF-PRESERVATION.
A Medical Treatise on the Philosophy of Marriage, and Nervous and
Generative Debility, illustrated by fifty coloured engravings, and des-
cribing in detail the various disorders resulting from secret habits and
excesses. The perusal of this treatise will assist in the correct
description of their cases, and may be had, price 2s 6d, in English,
French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, or German, of Messrs. Piper
Brothers and Co. 23, Paternoster-row; Hannay, 63, Oxford-street ;
Mann, 39, Cornhill ; Storie, Titchborne-street, Haymarket ; or free
by post for forty-two stamps, to any address from the Author's resi-
dence. 37, BEDFORD-SQUARE. LONDON.

ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS. TRAFALGAR SQUARE*
THE EXHIBITION of the ROYAL ACA-
DEMY is pow OPEN. Admission (from .eight o'clock till
seven) One Shilling. Catalogue One Shilling.
• JOHN PRESCOTT KNIGHT, BA*, Sec.

On Saturday, the 7th !net., Will appear No. 1., price 6d., of
" THE PRESS."—Being a weekly Paper,
intended to fill an obvious void in Journalism, sad to coni-
bine, on an entirely new plan, Political, Literary, and Artistic Re-
sources. To be publiiihed every Saturday.-0111ce for Advertise-
ments, 110, Strand, London, where all COMmUnications should be
sent, addressed to the Editor. To be kid of all Wows-agents.
Money Orders for Subscriptions to be made payable to Mr. Alfred
Ive.

SALE OF OLD STORES AT CHATHAM.
Admiralty, Simerset.plaos, 2d May, 1853.
Tke Cemnaissieuers for executing the Office of Lard High Admiral
of the United Kingdera of Great Britain and Ireland,ie hereby give
Notice, that on WEnsizsDAr, the 25th Instant, at Teti o'clock in the
Forensoa, the Captain Superintendent will pat up to Sale, in her
Majesty's Dockyard at Chatham, several Lob of

OLD STORES;
consisting of Old Rope, Cablelaid and Hawserlaid, Shakings, Tyers,
Rakings, Canvas, Lead Ashes, &c., $c Jac., all lying in the said
Yard. k
to view tits Lots must apply to the Superintendent
forPNeirtesag of Admission fir that purpose.
Catalogees aid Coaditioits of Sale nay ho had here ail at the Tard

PATRON—H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT.
ROYALPOLYTECIENIC INSTITUTION.
—A MUSICAL LECTURE by GEORGE BUCKLAND,
Esq., entitled SONGS and SONG-WRITERS, every Evening (except
Saturday) at Eight.

Lectures.—ByJ. H. Pepper, Esq., on the chemistry of Gun-
powder and Rocket Composition ; by Dr, Bachhoffher, on Pneumatics,
in which the Principle of the Fly's Foot and Walking on the Ceiling
will be explained ; by Mr. Crisp., on Ilea, illustrated by twa gigan-
tic Reflectors, by which Cooking is effected at a distance of 100 feet
from the fire.

Admission, le. ; Schools, and Children Under Ten years of. age,
Half-price.

LAUR_ENT'S CASINO, AUGYLL ROOMS.
Lessee, CHARLES E. LAIIREXT, Onsl.lW-house, Fulham-
road. Open Every Evening. The Orchestra will perform, during
the week, "The Thistle," "Shamrock," "Rose," "Amine" "Gran-
ville," " Loch Vogel," and " Windsor Castle" 'Waltzes; ihe " Napo-
leon" Galep; "Le Cirque" Quadrille; "The Gold Hawk" and
" Juno" Polkas.— Admission, Is. Doors open at Half-past Right ;
Dancing to consmeice at Nine o'clock, and terminate at Half-past
Eleven.

FFXCISE-OFFICE, in Old Broad-street.
To be SOLD, by AUCTION (in one Lot), by Mr. Gadson,
at the AUCTION MART, on FRIDAY, the 13th of May, 1853, at 12
o'clock, by order of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, the
PREMISES in Old Broad-street, in the city of London, known for-
merly as the EXCISE-OFFICE, and lately as the Inland Revenue-
office.

Particulars may be obtained at the offices of the Secretary and
Solicitor of Inland Revenue, Somerset-house; and of William Rer-
bert, Esq., the Board's Surveyor of Buildings, at his office on the
premises, in Old Broad-street (where a plan of the property may be
seen), and of the Auctioneer, at his offices, No. 18 in the same street.

52, Fleet-street.
ANEW DISCOVERY IN TEETH.-
Mr. HOWARD, Surgeon-Dentist, 52, Fleet-street, has intro-
duced an entirely NEW DESCRIPTION of ARTIFICAL TEETH,
fixed without springs, wires, or ligatures. They in perfectly resem-
ble the natural teeth as not to be distinguished from the original by
the closest observer; they will never change colour or decay, and will
be found very superior to any teeth ever before used. This method
does not require the extraction of roots, or any painful operation,
anal will give support and preserve teeth that are loose, and are
guaranteed to restore articulation and mastication ; and that Mr.
Howard's improvement may be within reach of the most economical,
he has fixed his charges at the lowest scale possible. Decayed teeth
rendered sound and useful in mastication.-52, Fleet-street. At
home from ten till five.

" Divide about the broad bride cake,
Round about the bride's stake."—BEN Jonaorr.

WEDDING BREAKFAST, BALL SUP-
PERS, and DINNERS, provided entire, in Town or Coun-
try, by Messrs. PIIRSSELL, Cornhill, including Wines of the most
recherche description, and use of Plate, Linen, China, Glass, and
Attendance ; Seats, Tables, Lights, Dancing Hollands, and Instru-
mental Music ; Wedding and Invitation Stationary, as in Paris ;
Carriages, Post or otherwise ; an elegant assortment of Bride Cakes
for selection ; Dessert and Evening Ices. A competent person sent
to receive Orders and give Instuctions as to the Management of
Entertainments.
Note.—Messrs. rums= have no other Business Promises except
those in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange.

DUBLIN GREAT INDUSTRIAL
EXHIBITION.
" INAUGURATION OF TILE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND,"
on Thursday, 12th May, the Orchestra for the Musical Performance
consisting of 1,000 Performers.
TOURS IN IRELAND IN 1853.
IRISH TOURIST TICKETS (available for a month) pill be
issued at the following stations, on and after 10th MAT :
let ClaSe. 2d Class.
London (Easton Station) £6 10 0 5..4 s 0
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Bristol, Carlisle,
5 5 0
Worcester, Cheltenham, Gloucester 5 15 0 4 15 0
Birmingham, Rugby, Leamington, Coventry,
4 5 0
Wolverhampton, Huddersfield, Leeds, Shef-
field, Derby.............• ••.. • • 5 0 0 4 5 0
Manchester, Warrington, Stoke, Macclesfield 4 4 0 3 10 0
Liverpool, Chester 4 4 0 3 5 0
They enable the holders to proceed to Chester, Bangor, Dublin
Cork, and the Lakes of Killarney, and back again to the station at
which the ticket was taken.
The holder of each Irish Tourist Ticket Is entitled to have issued
to him, at the office, 52, Westland•row, Dublin, at very reduced
rates, tickets for a tour in the county Wicklow, in Kenmare and
Glengariff, up the river Shannon—for the Journey from Dublin to
Belfast. for the excursion to the Giant's Causeway, and from Dublin
to Galway for the, tour throngk Connemara.
Every purchaser of a ticket is presented, gratis, with a copy of the
" Illustrated Irish Tourist.' Rand-Book,” compiled solely for these
Tours.
The fullest and most accurate information afforded at the Chester
and Holyhead Company's Office, 52. Westland-row, Dublin. Bee
also " Bradshaw's Guide," page 123.

THE INDISPUTABLE LIFE POLICY
COMPANY,
No. 72, Lombard-street and 24, Connaught-terrace.
TRIISTEES.
Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P.
_ _

J. Campbell Renton, Esq., M.P. I Jame; Fuller Madox, Esq.
Richard Mallns, Esq., Q.C., M.P. William Wilberforce, Esq.
The POLICIES are INDISPUTABLE, in terms of the Deed of
Settlement of the Company, duly registered, and are thus rendered
CERTAIN FAMILY PROVISIONS, and NEGOTIABLE DOCU-
NUTS OF SECURITY.
TIN Company has introduced, as more peculiarly applicable to the
Middle and Industrious Classes, a plan of SELF-PROTECTING IN-
SURANCE, whereby in one Policy for one rate of Premium, are
combined an Insurance of a Sum payable either at death or on at-
taining a specified age, and a pension or annuity after that age ; and
giving the full benefit of all Premiums that have been paid, although
the payments should at any time be discontinued.
ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, Manager.

HAND-IN-HAND INSURANCE OFFICE,
No. 1, New Bridge-street, Blackfrlars, London.

Established in 1696.
DIRECTORS.

The Hon. William Ashley. John Gurney 11 'are' Esq.
The lion. Sir Edward Cost. E. Fuller Maitland, Esq.
Arthur Eden, Esq. William Scott, Esq.
J. Lettsom Elliot, Esq. John Sperling, Esq.
James Esdaile, Esq. Henry Wilson, Esq.
Harrie M. Farquhar, Esq. W. Esdaile Winter, Esq.
LIFE DEPARTMENT.

This Office offers a low scale of premiums to Non-members, with-
out participation in profits ; or a Member's scale of premiums, with
an annual participation in the whole of the profits after Ave full
annual payments.
In the years 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852, the premiums of all Mem-
bers' Policies were abated 52,4 per cent.; that is to say,
a premium
of 100/, was reduced to 47/. 10s.
Insurances effected before the 24th June next will participate one
year earlier than if effected after that date.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Ivan ncei are effected on every description of propertY at the
usual tee.

RICHARD SAY, Secretary.

DI:. KING'S SARSAPARILLA COCOA.

WO those under a course of Sarsaparilla or
Medical treatment this COCOA will be found an excellent be-
verage, instead of tea or coffee (which decidedly excite the nervous
system, and prevent medicine, particularly Sarsaparilla,
the desired effect). Invalids with weak stomachs will receive more
benefit from this pare Cocoa than any preparation, being made with
true cocoa nibs, combined with pure sarsaparilla, and rendered more
palatable. from having

In packets at Is. 6d. per lb., er 3 lbs. for 4s.
TARAXACUM, or DANDELION•LIVER PILLS, possess proper-
ties of an alterative and aperient nature, and, as an adjunct with Dr.
King's Sarsaparilla Pills, have cured thousands of obstinate liver com-
plaints. The great advantage is, that they contain no mercury, act
upon the liver, stimulate the system, and give refreshing sleep, and
are the best aperient family pills, being mild in effect, and never en-
dangering the system like mercurial preparations.
To prevent fraud, Henry Hides has caused
In Boxes, at ls. lid., 2s. 4d., and 4s. 6d.
his name to be put
upon-the Government Stamp—without, nene are genuine, an"
imitate which is felony. Sole Proprietor of
DR. KING'S SARSAPARILLA PILLS,
an invaluable remedy for all skin eruptions, cooling and Puritring the
blood, loss of appetite, low state of system. palpitations of the
heart, indigestion, drowsiness, liver complaints, and general debility.
Sold by all respectable Medicine Vendors in the United Kingdom,
and by the Proprietor, in boxes at ls lid, eta4s 6d, 1 ls, and 225.
A great saving is effected by taking the larger boxes. Be sure to
ask for Dr. King's Sarsaparilla Pills.
LABORATORY, 10, HIINGERFORD-STREET, STRAND.

MUSEUM OF INVENTIONS.—The movement in favour
;t the
commenced establishment
in manyo f a museumof the
chief
:;.1f74: lat oonf sl
n athatnu
Highnesst has.
botfee
uring industry in this country is constantly extending
itself, further memorials on the subject having just been
addressed to the Government and the Royal Commis-
sioners by Glasow and Sheffield, signed in both cases
ffia all 1
dt the e
m leadingorial
wasinhparbeist
presented
of o
his those
Royal towns.
bSYhe
Prince Albert, the president of the commission, on
Thursday last, by the Mayor, and that from Glasgow
on .
,Saturday by the Lord Provost and a deputation.
They express the opinion of the memorialists that such
an institution has long been needed, and that it will
command the zealous support of all who take an interest
in the industrial development of this country. It is un-
derstood that the Commissioners of Patents, with whom
the Board of Trade has entered into communication on
the subject, are fully alive to its importance, and that
Professor Woodcroft is under their directions making,
every exertion, and with great success, towards collect-
ing such models of inventions and works having refer-
ence to them as may form a nucleus for the contemplated
National Museum and Library of Inventions at Kensing-
ton. Temporary accommodation will be provided by
the Patent Commissioners and by the Royal Commis-
sion, until the question of the erection of an appropriate
building for the due display of the collection is decided.
l a nd MRS.
has Hin.vißteEdEacnlaErngeSnTuomwEb.e—r
oTfhleadDieusehanesds
goefnStuletmheern-
voifsihteatlhth Conti
bneeiimit,_
to meet Mrs. Harriett Beecher Stowe at Stafford House
on Saturday afternoon. We understand that it is the
intention of this talented authoress to make a short
statote
tions are continually sent to Mrs. Stowe ; but it is be-
Isvohj oeurernit in
s hLopeenddohne,r adnedlicathteen
proved. , From all parts of Britain letters and invita-
lieved that she will return to Scotland in September,
and afterwards be the guest of Major-General Sir Dun-
can M`Gregor, in Dublin.--3102.7iing Advertiser.

THE LATE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY.

Yesterday the committee who have undertaken this inquiry I
met again at eleven o'clock, and resumed the examination of
witnesses. The attendance of strangers and of members of
the house was quite as great as at the'previous sittings.
Mr. George Cotsell, muter smith at Chatham, said that he
had held that post for seven years ;. that previously lie had
been two years first foreman at Devonport, and before then
twenty-three at Portsmouth, where he had served his appren-
ticeship. He tea only a humble part at the last election at
Chatham, having attended some conviviaLmeetings and pro-
posed Sir Frederick Smith's health, but never having can-
vassed any electors. He denied having canvassed a voter
named Bowring, and did not even know where he resided.
When Mr. Stafford was down at the dockyard he had taken
an opportunity of talking to him in the smithery about- his
removal to Portsmouth. Witness reminded him of the appli-
cations which he had made to that effect, and hoped that his
30 years' standing in the service would entitle him to the
favourable consideration of the Admiralty. Mr. Stafford pro-
mised him that his claims should have due consideration. He-
had never said that Mr. Stafford had promised him positively,
but he might have expressed his belief that he would succeed.
Having,seen the appointment of a person named Wells in the
newspapers, and heard of it also by letter from Portsmouth,
he went to town and called on the Admiral* about it. He,
however, saw no one on that occasion. Subsequently he
received a letter from Mr. Pierce, who was in the Admiralty,
informing him that the appointment of Wells had been sus-
pended, and that till the return of Mr. Stafford, who was then
out of town, nothing could be done. He then went and saw
Mr. Pierce at the Admiralty, but Mr. Pierce did not show him
Wells' warrant of appointment, nor did he infOrm him that he
(witness) was to be appointed instead. At Devonport and
Portsmouth he had never taken part in election proceedings,
nor had ever until the last occasion recorded his vote. He
had known Sir F. Smith for six years in connection with
Chatham Dockyard, and he promised him his support with-
out being asked for it.
Mr. Thomas Scott, relieving officer of :the Chatham Union,
spoke to a conversation which the last witness had with him
about his transfer to Portsmouth, in the course of which he
said, " I don't mind belling on 'hew ft:occurred: when Ditty
the appointment in the piper I went to the Admiralty, and
saw a friend of mine there, who said to me, There is the ap-
pointment of Mr. Wells unsigned. You are just in time.
You will hear no more of that,' and put it in his pocket, say-
ing, ' You will be all right, old boy." Witness believed that
the hope of reward in some instances, and the fear of losing
promotion in others, induced people in the dockyard to vote
sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other.
Mr. Pierce, clerk in the Admiralty, said that he wrote to
Cotsell on his own responsibility when he found that Wells
had been suspended. To the best of his recollection lie saw
Cotsell before he was himself appointed, but after writing
him, in Mr. Grant's .room, and when he (witness) was officiat-
ing for him, the unsigned warrant of Wells' appointment was
lying on the table, but he did not show it to Cotsell, though
he might have said it was there.
Mr. Cotsell was here recalled, and amused the committee
by a rather pompous account of the reasons which induced
him to seek a transfer to Portsmouth, where it appears his
salary stood the same as at Chatham. It was, he said, a'
point of honourable ambition for a man to seek to be master
where he had served his apprenticeship, and it was a curious
circumstance that when he was apprentice at Portsmouth,
the then master smith made him sit down in his chair, and
told him never to rest satisfied until he had attained that
position. For five years previous to his interview with Mr.
Stafford he had been an applicant for the situation, to which
he believed his long and faithful services entitled him.
Sir Baldwin Walker handed in two letters to be added to
his former evidence by the permission of the writers, since
obtained. They are as follow :
" Dockyard, Devonport, April 27, 1852.
"My dear Walker,—We have a foreshadowing' iu this yard
of a return to the corrupt and dishonest practices of the past.
The policy of our late excellent and most respected chief, that
so largely sustained and encouraged officers in my situation
is cast aside ; and I confess to a sense of humiliation.
" J. B. Sayntoua."
The second letter is from Captain Richards, Superintendent
of Chatham-yard, and is dated " April 9, 1852." It runs
thus :

-776-My fears point in the same direction as yours. In the
Ridgeway case there can be no mistake, and, if it be persisted
in, the order of the 27th of February, 1847, must be con-
signed to the tomb of all the Capulets. The order for the
promotion runs, Joseph Ridgeway, second-class man in the
metal mills, is to be appointed acting first-class man in the
existing vacancy.' Now, as he is a second-class leading man,.
I x
can only understand it as to be acting first class leading
man, for which there is a vacancy, which the said Ridgeway
wants ; and reports have been current iu the yard for some
weeks that he would get it.
" My letter of the Ist of March recommended an entry
eis
from private trade, ' as neither of the inferior leading men are
competent for the position.' Ridgeway is one of these in-
ferior or second class-leading men, and if he carries his point
he will be raised to a station for which his officers declare
him to be inc•mpetent, and even more—that he is not the
best of the men we have.
" In 1849 he tried his hand at a political rise through Ports-
mouth influence, and was put to rights by Sir Francis Bariug's
orders, narrowly escaping dismissal. Under those circum-
stances I have put the order in my desk, and written to Mr.
Stafford privately and confidentially stating the whole affair
quietly, but I hope finely. There is an immense stake on
the issue, for if we are beaten we shall be overrun by a swarm
around us, who are promising everything in the yard to their
friends. I have no difficulty in saying that it would be far
better to pension Ridgeway on 1001. a-year than to promote
him after all that has pasied, and which is publicly known
the yard."
Mr. Stafford was then called. He gave his evidence with
great self-possession, and said—l was appointed Secretary to
the Admiralty on the 3d of March, 1852, having never pre-
viously held any official appointment. Sir B. Walker's first
statement has reference to a conversation ho hs.d with my
private secretary, Mr. Grant. I shall content myself with
stating that I did not send Mr. Grant there on the errand
Sir B. Walker describes, and shall leave, Mr. Grant to speak
for himself as to what actually did occur at the interview.
The first circumstance referred to which bears a date is my
letter of the 2d of April, 1852. I was induced to write that
letter,
I have no hesitation in saying, in consequence of the
receipt of repeated communications that the appointments
and promotions took a direction invaviably hostile to the
existing Government. I desire to call attention to the last
paragraph. To that letter I received in reply what 1 hold in
my hand, and which, with the permission of Sir B. Walker, I
will read :

" Somerset House, April 3, 1852.
" My dear Sir,—ln reply to Your letter respecting the
great dissatisfaction which exists among your political friends,
as to the present arrangement of appointments and promo-
tions in the dockyards, I can only refer you to their LOP!,
ships' circular of the 27th of November, 1847, by which. you
will perceive that, unless these regulations are withdravVn and
fresh ones substituted, advancement on political grounds is
totally impossible, if the superintendents of the dockyards
perform their duty: It is needless for me to disclaim having
favoured any political party, for you will clearly perceive, on
reading the existing regulations, that merit alon.e'can obtain
advancement. With reference to that part of your letter in
which you state that there seems no alternative but to re-
sume the system which existed previous to September, 1849,
I have to observe that it was only resuming a system which
had always been in force prior to 1845, and IVas then discon-
tinued, I have reason to believe, on personal grounds. It is
for their Lordships to decide whether they will rescind the
order of September, 1849, which has been the means of caus-
ing an amount of reduction in the wages of the dockyards of
upwards of 10,0001. ; but if it is, of.. course the surveyor will
be deprived of that controliwhicll'is so highly necessary, and
can no longer be held responsible for keeping the establish-
ment under the estimates. I have now stated the case
frankly, and I beg you to believe me, my dear sir, very faith-
fully yours,

" BALDWIN WALKER.

" Augustus Stafford, Esq., M.P., &c."
The committee will ibserve that in that letter Sir Baldwin
Walker himself s tates that if the regulations of 1847 remain
unaltered, advancement on political grounds is totally im-
possible if the superintendents of dockyards perform their
duty.. I may mention that the officers to whom Sir Bald-
Win Walker referred as controlling, in conjunction with the
1847 regulations, the advancement of merit alone, had all
been appointed by our political opponents. Sir B. Walker
is, I believe, correct in stating that he had an- interview
with me on April 5. He states that at that interview
I. said, " There is no use in blinking the question ; I
am so pressed by the Government that I cannot help
myself." Also at Q. 127 he adds, qualifying the word Go-
vernment, that I mentioned the names of Lord Derby and
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Upon that statement I
have to observe—and the observation holds good with regard
to all my evidence—that, as I never kept any note or memo-
randum of any conversation on the subjects now under consi-
deration of this committee, it is very difficult to pledge my=
self to the precise accuracy, either affirmatively or negatively,
of any particular word. I believed, and still believe, that it
is usual in official life to speak confidentially, and, because
confidentially, without reserve. If the matters debated at
the Admiralty were not arranged satisfactorily to all parties,
the board was the proper place, so to speak, of appeal. This
view, and, as you will see hereafter, the apparently satisfac-
toryitermination of the matter, leave me unable to speak with
certainty as to expressions, but I have of course a thorough
recollection of the state of things at the time. There was no
pressure put upon me either by Lord Derby or the Chancellor
of the Exchequer ; but what I believe I did state was, that
the pressure upon me from members of my own party was
very severe, and that the Government of Lord Derby and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer would not, any more than any
• other Government, permit all patronage to be in the hands of
their political opponents. I should desire, before Igo further,
to explain exactly to the committee the dockyard code of
1847, and the circular of the 26th September, 1849. The
first was a code making advancement depend on merit alone.
That has never been interfered with by any subsequent cir-
cular, and remained in operation during the whole of the time
I was in office. The second, of September, 1849, applied to
the transfer of control to the surveyor, and it was to' that
alone that the circular of 1852 referred. The Auckland code
was left unaltered. I believe that documents exist in
the Admiralty which show how that transfer of control
took place.
Lord Seymour—Did you send Mr. Grant to Sir B. Walker?
Mr. Stafford—Mr. Grant went to Somerset-house to see his
father, who holds an appointment there, and it is very likely
I might have told him to ask Sir Baldwin for papers, but I
have no remembrance of it.
Lord Seymour—Did you not send him with a request not
to submit names for promotion ?
Mr. Stafford—l never sent him with any such request.
Lord Seymour—ln your letter of the 2d of April to Sir
B.
Walker you referred to an impression that appointments mi(
promotions were given to political opponents,--did you before
you wrote that letter consult auy of the authorities of the
Admiralty ?
Mr. Stafford—l did not consult any of the Lords of the
Admiralty. I acted on the result of inquiries in other quar-
ters, and from numbers of letters which I had received.
Many of these were sent to me in confidence, and some from
members of Parliament belonging to my party.
Lord Seymour—Did you inquire into the particulars of
them ?
Mr. Stafford—One of them was the case of Ridgeway, which
I consider a strong one.
Lord Seymour—But your letter is dated the 2d, and Ridge-
way's promotion took place on the sth.
Mr. Stafford—lt was rather the cases of promotions that
were withheld than those that were made that were com-
plained of. I made a great number of promotions front the
let of March to the 2d of April.