The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-07 00:00:00

THE LATE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY.

Commodore Seymour resumed his evidence yesterday,
and stated, with reference to his letter of the 27th of April
to Sir B. Walker, that the " corrupt practices of the past"
therein referred to by him conveyed the effect of what he
had heard rumoured as in existence at Devonport since it
was a borough. The establishment of the yard was abont
2,200, the extra list included, and the entries varied in the
different months. In April, 1852, a very large number,
25 altogether, came down by Admiralty order, without
any previous application on his part for thorn. He sup-
posed the Admiralty considered it necessary to send thorn.
After the circular of the 19th of April, 1852, the monthly
return of vacancies was not sent as previously to the
Surveyor of the Navy. The return of promotions and
appointments for Devonport Dockyard, included in the
general return called for by the chairman, and em-
bracing the appointments and promotions between the
Ist of March and the 31st of December, 1852, was
here handed to the witness, who stated that it con-
tained 17 cases of labourers promoted to sawyers in
contravention of the circular of 1847. There was no-
thing in that circular which definitely pointed at the
case of labourers, but he considered the spirit of it to
be infringed, as, for instance, when it declared that
once in the yard men must look to themselves alone
for promotion, and that superintendents should be
consulted in all cases where advancement took
place. He had heard it rumoured that the pro-
motions in April, 1852, were the result of political
influence, but of himself he did not know that it was
so. Commodore Seymour then proceeded to read a cor-
respondence which he had had with the Admiralty in
reference to the conduct of Mr. Edy, master-shipwright in
the yard, who, it was alleged or suggested, had violated his
duty in interfering with the politics of the borough. The
charges made against him were, in substance, that he had
admitted Mr. Tuffnoll, one of the Whig candidates, to his
pew, at chapel, in the dockyard, during the canvass, and
that he had improperly, and for party purposes, got a
joiner, named Orem, sent to Portsmouth, to learn the
management of the planing machinery there, with a view
to his promotion subsequently at Devonport, where similar
machinery was about to be established. Tho first of these
accusations Mr. Edy admitted to be true, and Commodore
Seymour pointed out to him the imprudence of the act,
stating that he had refused a gallant officer, a candidate
for the borough, a similar privilege. The second accusa-
tion was brought to his knowledge when the election was
over, and upon inquiry he had no reason to believe that
Mr. Edy had been unduly influenced by political consi-
derations in the selection of Oram, who was the best man
for the purpose, though a voter in the Liberal interest.
Commodore Seymour further stated that Mr. Edy was well
qualified for the position which he occupied, and that he
had risen to the position of master-shipwright at Plymouth
(having, however, previously occupied the same position at
Pembroke Dockyard), notwithstanding the understood
rule of the service that it was not desirable to give
officers superior positions in yards where they had pre-
viously occupied a subordinate situation. No letter had
been addressed to him, complaining that any officer under
his command had improperly exercised political influence
in favour of the Government. There existed, he believed, at
Devonport, as at Chatham, a Patronage Committee, or
rather two committees, one on each side, who claimed to
dispose of vacancies in the yard as they fell in. Only the
other day ho heard that they were engaged in forwarding
the interests of two gentlemen, candidates for a vacant
clerkship. The commodore then read a correspondence
which had passed between him and the Admiralty relating
to his secretary, Mr. Dyer, who, it seems, had been con-
founded with a Lieut. Dyer, an active partisan of the Whig
candidates at the last election.
Sir B. Hall wished to know the particulars of Mr. Staf-
ford's visits to the dockyard during his tenure of office.
Commodore Seymour stated that Mr. Stafford's first visit
was paid on the 12th of April, when he called on him at
Moreshead's Hotel. On the 13th Mr. Stafford, Colonel
Green, and Mr. Grant came to the yard, over which, ex-
cept the victualling department, he accompanied them.
Mr. Stafford left on the 15th and returned on the 22d of
June, in the Black Eagle. Next day he came to the yard
with Sir G. Berkeley and Sir John Maxwell, and on that
occasion Mr. Stafford, having expressed a wish to the effect,
was present while the men passed through the ticket-office
on their way to dinner. He saw no political influence ex-
ercised by Mr. Stafford, whom he attended officially as
Secretary to the Admiralty.
Lord Seymour asked if it frequently occurred that the
Secretary came down to Devonport without the Lords of
the Admiralty.
Commodore Seymour said it was the only instance of the
kind within his recollection. He stated that in 1852 therehad
been a departure from the ordinary practice of the yard with
reference to shipwrights' apprentices—five or six of the ap-
pointments made being isolated cases wherein the usual
selection by competition had been dispensed with. In his
opinion that was a breach of the circular of 1847. With
reference to the management of the dockyard the Commo-
dore stated that the three Nasmyth's hammers, worked
there, yielded an amount of work which might fairly be
compared with the results obtained at any of the other
yards. The present master smith, Ainslie, had been taken
from the private trade, and before his appointment an
engineer, also from the private trade, had charge of the
smitheries. While at Sheerness, he was quite satisfied
with the course of promotion, and so likewise at Devon-
port, till April 1852. He considered it desirable in certain
cases for the Admiralty to avail itself of the talent and
skill of the private trade. The vacancies filled up in April
did not appear to him necessary.
Lord Seymour—lf you received a letter directing you to
admit Ainslie as master smith, would you consider that
sufficient to admit him ?
Commodore Seymour would not, unless he brought an
order or warrant. Two or three of the sawyers appointed
were, he believed, voters, and the rest were relations of
voters outside.
Mr. Triscott, storekeeper in the victualling yard at
Stonehouse, and previously at Bermuda, said he did not
go into Devonport during the election, but he was at Ply-
mouth.
Sir B. Hall—Were you on the hustings ?
Witness—Yes. I took a place there for a short time to
avoid the crowd on the nomination day. On the polling
day I did not go near the booths, for I had no vote. I have
never canvassed any voter. When they spoke to me, I
replied. I have no recollection of speaking to a person
named Edgecombe. A voter named Brown did speak to me,
and asked for an apprenticeship for his son. I replied,
desiring him to make a formal application, and state his
services and claims. Captain Rich spoke to me about tak-
ing part in elections, and I denied that I had. I remem-
ber Mr. Stafford's arrival at Devonport, and the dinner
which took place at Moreshead's Hotel next day. I could
not say who was there, but I believe Sir J. Maxwell was
one. Mr. Bear, former agent, and Mr. Smith, present
agent of the Conservative party, Dr. Butler, chairman of
Mr. Mare's committee, the Admiral, the Commodore, Ad-
miral Morris, Captain Walker, and Mr. Baker were also
present. I was at Sheerness, Woolwich, and Deptford
dockyards, on leave, previous to the general elections.
Sir B. Hall—Were you not frequently in the lobby of
the House of Commons also ?
Witness—Yes, I was.
Sir B. Hall—Had you not conversations there with
members of the house ?
Witness—l answered questions.
Sir B. Hall—Had you not conversations with Mr. Staf-
ford ? _ _ .

Witness—No, not with him.
Sir B. Hall—lad you not with Mr. Forbes Mackenzie ?
Witness—l had.
Sir B. Hall—And with Major Beresford ?
Witness—l had conversations with him about elections.
Sir B. Hall—About Plymouth ?
Witness—Yes.
Sir B. Hall—About Woolwich ?

Witness—l dare say I had. (Laughter.) I did not
speak to him about Mr. Rolt's election. I spoke to Mr.
Forbes M`Kenzie, to whom I was introduced casually by
Lord Arthur Lennox. I have seen Mr. Forbes Mackenzie
and Major Beresford at the Carlton Club, and I have had
conversations with Major Beresford there.
Sir B. Hall—What conversation had you with Mr.
Forbes Mackenzie ?
Witness—He asked me if Mr. Rolt would stand for
Greenwich. I said " I did not know whether he would,"
and I went to Mr. Rolt about it, with whom I am con-
nected by marriage, and advised him to stand. I was stay-
ing with him at the time, and afterwards I was there
during the canvassing, but I did not canvass myself. I
once walked a hundred yards with him while he was can-
vassing, wishing to talk to him on business. I never had
conversations with any of the officers of Woolwich Dock-
yard about their votes.
Sir B. Hall—Having advised Mr. Rolt to come forward
did you give him no assistance ?
Witness—None, except when he lost his son.
Sir B. Hall—Have you not, within the last few days,
said Mr. Rolt would have retired but for you ?
Witness—l am not aware. I certainly advised him to
go on with the contest.
Sir B. Hall—Have you not spoken of being instrumental
in the return of members to Parliament?
Witness (hesitatingly)— Yes, I have.
Sir B. Hall—What members did you refer to ?
Witness—To Mr. Rolt more particularly ; also to Mr.
Mare, who is a connexion of mine likewise, and whom I
advised to stand.
Sir B. Hall—Did you not speak of others?
Witness—l shall not deny ; I believe I did. I spoke of
Sir G. Berkeley, but I did not allude to the possibility of
the return of Sir J. Maxwell, for I did not think he would
succeed against Mr. Tufnell.
Sir B. Hall—What conversations had you at the Carlton
with Major Beresford ?
Witness--I had very little conversation. He asked me
what were the chances of the Conservative candidates at
DOvonport, and I told him. I have known him for 18
months. Lord Arthur was then talked of as a candidate,
and introduced both to Mr. Forbes Mackenzie and Major
Beresford.

Sir B. Hall—Did Major Beresford consult you frequently
about the election ?
Witness—He asked me what chances the Government
candidates had of success, and I told him that if Mr.
Tufnell come forward they would have no chance of suc-
cess, and very little against Sir J. Readily. I have been
at Bermuda, and have expressed a desire to go back there.
Sir B. Hall—To whom?
Witness—To Lord Lyndhurst. He questioned me
closely as to the state of the island, and said it would be a
good thing to Bead me as Governor there. (Laughter.) I
have made no secret of my desire to have that appointment,
and have spoken to Mr. Rolt, and Mr. Beatson, a Lord of
the Treasury, on the subject, and to Colonel Forester also.
Sir B. Hall—Colonel Forester was a member of the
Government ?
Witness—He held a position under Government.
(Laughter.)
Sir B. Hall—Have you not been in frequent communi-
cation with Mr. Forbes Mackenzie, Major Beresford, and
Colonel Forester about election matters ?
Witness—Colonel Forester asked me questions, and I
answered him ; but I don't see what this has to do with
the matters upon which I am summoned here to be ex-
amined, and which I believe relate to dockyard appoint-
ments. I therefore appeal to the Chairman for protection.
(Laughter.)
The Chairman intimated to the witness (among some
demonstrations of applause, which were, however, mutually
chocked) that he must answer the questions put to
him.

Sir B. intend to follow up my inquiries. Did
you report to these gentlemen the probable success of Rolt
for Greenwich?
Witness—I told them I thought Mr. Rolt would suc-
ceed there. I had no communication except with Colonel
Forester about Devonport, and with him not more than
three letters altogether. I know a man named Pope, a
miller, and Tibbitt, a Cornish policeman, and Charles
Brown. They spoke to me first with reference to their
votes, and asked me to make interest in their favour, but
my answer was that I would do what I could to represent
their claims as far as these rested on public grounds, and
that they should vote freely according to their consciences.
After my appointment to the victualling yard by Sir F.
Baring I received a letter cautioning me not to interfere
in " local politics." My desire to obtain the governorship
of Burmuda I had made known voluntarily to people with