The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,--I have read in the Times of this morning with
considerable surprise your Parliamentary report of a
discussion on this very important subject between the
hon. member for Louth and the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, in which I find my name mentioned in a manner
which is both unexpected and incorrect.
From the report of that discussion it would naturally
be inferred that I had made some tender to the Admi-
ralty regarding iron steam-gunboats - that that tender
had been rejected by the Admiralty—and that I, as a
disappointed projector, had had recourse to the not un-
common expedient of getting a friend in the House to put
an inconvenient question to the First Lord with the
view of furthering my supposed interests. Allow me to
add that any such interference, however naturally it
might be drawn from the course of the debate, would be
entirely without foundation. On the contrary, I have
never had any communication, directly or indirectly,
with the hon. member for Louth ; and I have made it a
rule where I have been in personal communication with
the Admiralty on subjects of this nature to regard these
communications as confidential until published by them-
selves.

Having stated thus much on the merely personal part
of the subject, I beg your permission to add a few words
in explanation of certain important facts regarding the
construction of these steam-gunboats.
I know as a fact that the navies of certain foreign
Governments are in possession of steam-gunboats of a
description and power for which no vessel in our own
navy is at all a match. These vessels have proved them-
selves in the open sea to be perfectly good sea boats.
They go under steam in their best trim 15 statute miles
an hour, and in their worst 13 statute miles an hour.
Their light draught of water, when fully armed and
equipped, is only 5 feet; and their load draught, with
coals for 2,000 miles, is less than 7 feet. They carry 4
long 68-pounders and 4 long 32-pounders. They can
fire two of the 8-inch guns parallel to the keel at either
end, and they can bring all the four 1-inch guns over to
either side for a broadside. These long 8-inch guns are
all mounted on traversing slides, and there is ample
room for the stowage of the guns when out of use
and for working them in action. I have seen these guns
worked with perfect ease and security in a heavy sea—in
so heavy a sea that the water was coming in over the
weather bow in such quantities that an experienced offi-
cer in the navy, now commanding one of her Majesty's
ships in the Baltic, assured me that it would have been
impossible to work the long guns of her Majesty's steam-
sloop of 1,200 tons, which be then commanded, in simi-
lar circumstances, without the water pouring down the
bore of the gun. Two experienced captains in the navy
were on board at the trials of these ships in the North
Sea three years ago, and I know they communicated
in high quarters their opinion that in case of a war it
would be most important that our Admiralty should be
prepared with a sufficient number of such vessels.
I may further be permitted to state that these vessels
were surveyed at the time by certain officers of the navy,
who reported favourably on their extraordinary arma-
ment, light draught of water, and unparalleled speed
Two of these vessels were entirely deigned, constructed
and equipped by my firm. They have now been about
three years in service, and have completely answered all
the purposes for which they were designed, and it is not
impossible, though I hope improbable, that they may yet
be among the vessels Sir Charles Napiee may have to
encounter in the Baltic.

I ought to add that the portion of these vessels which
is immersed in the water is entirely of iron, while the
portion above water is mainly of wood, and the bulwarks
behind which the crews are placed in time of action are
entirely of wood, and similar to those of any other men-
of-war.

I believe that certain experienced steam officers in the
navy, besides the two I have already mentioned, have
spoken strongly to some of the authorities in favour of
the immediate construction of this class of vessel for our
use in the Baltic and on the Danube, as a class of vessel
which has been tested and proved to have been success-
ful by experience, and which is, therefore, no longer
liable to the chance of failure of a mere experiment.
Among these I may take the liberty of mentioning my
friend Captain Claxton, of the Royal Navy, one of our
oldest steam promoters, and who has examined the ves-.
sels I have described.
These vessels having appeared peculiarly well suited
to the present exigencies of our steam marine, having
been much and openly discussed among many officers of
the navy and their friends, may, perhaps, have laid the
foundation of the discussion in the house last evening,
and have led to the mention of my name in a manner
which has forced upon me this explanation. —I have the
honour t
obe, sir, your very obedient servant,
l‘lay 10.
J. SCOTT RUSSELL.

EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA —ln consequence of the
excess of the male over the female population of Mel-
bourne, the Emigration Commissioners have for some
time past checked the emigration of sinzle young men
labourers to that colony, and the applicants have been
persuaded to take their passage to Western Australia.
The Commissioners have encouraged the emigration of
families where the majority of the children are of the
female sex, as there is a favourable opportunity for
young women to become settled in life. For some
weeks it is expected the same course will be pursued.

The bicentenary festival of the sons of the clergy was held
yesterday, in the Metropolitan Cathedral. The first festi-
val was held in St. Paul's Cathedral in 1665, when certain
zets!ous members of the Church, moved with compassion
for the helplessness and privations of the clergy, suffering
under the calamities of those times, formed themselves
into an association to alleviate their distresses. This private
association was followed by the establishment of a public
body, incorporated by royal charter from Charles 11., which,
from the circumstance that the first promoters of the festival
were all sons of clergymen, became commonly known as the
Corporation of the Sons of the clergy. The funds are im-
partially administered to claimants from all the dioceses of
England and Wales, and annually assist about 1,200 per-
sons, of whom 700 are widows and aged single daughters
of deceased clergymen, whose small pensions of 1.01. it
was one of the objects of the present festival to augment.
Another object is to extend the means of the corp()ration
for assisting sick and disabled clergy, and relieving them
and their families in urgent cases of distress. A third
object is to educate and place out in life the children of
poor clergymen, and thus to render assistance most highly
valued by the parents, and peculiarly calculated to effect
great and durable gold.
Divine service, with a full choral accompaniment, was
performed in the cathedral at three o'clock. . The members
of the choirs of her Majesty's Chapel Royal, St. Paul's,
Westminster Abbey, St. George's Chapel, Windsor, the
Cathedrals of Bristol, Canterbury, Chester, Ely, Hereford,
Lincoln, Norwich, Rochester, and Winchester, and of Ox-
ford, Cambridge, and the Temple, assisted, under the direc-
tion of Mr. Goss, organist of St. Paul's, who composed a
new anthem for the occasion. The total number of vocalists
exceeded 2io, and the service was performed in the most
effective and imposing manner. His Royal. Highness
Prince Albert, attended by the Marquis of Abercorn
(Groom of the Stole), Viscount Torrington (Lord in Wait-
ing), Col. Wylde, and Capt. Da Plat, occupied seats on the
south side. The Lord Mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and City
officers, had places allotted to them on the north side. The
centre and transept of the- cathedral were fitted up to
accommodate 6,000 persons, and at least that number were
present. An appropriate sermon was preached by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, who selected his text from the
10th chapter of St. Matthew, 41st verse—" He that re-
ceiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a
prophet's reward."
The members of the corporation afterwards dined at Mer-
chant Tailors' Hall, Threadneedle-street. The Right Hon.
the Lord Mayor (Mr. Alderman Sidney) occupied the chair,
supported on his right by his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
the Marquis of Abercorn, and the Bishop of London, and on
the left by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of
Winchelsea, and the Bishop of Winchester. The following
noblemen and gentlemen were also present :--Viscount
Torrington, Sir R. H. Inglis, Sir E. N. Buxton, the
Bishop of Rochel/2ter, the Bishop of Hereford, the Bishop
of St. Asaph, the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Bishop of
Worcester, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Bishop of Ripon,
the Bishop of Bangor, the Bishop of Chichester, the
Bishop of St. David's, Mr. Justice Coleridge, the Dean of
St. Paul's, and the Hon. H. Liddell, M P.
Covers were laid for 420. The cloth having been re-
moved,
The LORD MAYOR proposed the " Church and Queen."
The toast having been warmly responded to, the right
hon. gentleman proposed the health of his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, the Royal Steward of the year, Albert
Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family. The
Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy had, from the earliest
times, been favoured with the patronage of royalty, and
upon the present occasion his Royal Highness Prince
Albert had attended the anniversary festival for the third
time. (Applause.)
His Royal Highness PRINCE ALBERT returned thanks,
and said—My Lord Mayor, allow me to return you, in my
own behalf and on that of the royal family, my best thanks
for the manner in which you have proposed our healths ;
and to you, gentlemen, for the cordial response which
you have made to the toast. I am, indeed, highly grati-
fied to have been a witness to the 20,th anniversary of
this festival, notifying, as
.it does, that the people of this
country do not relax in efforts which they have once
undertaken, and do not forsake the spirit which ani-
mated their forefathers. (Cheers.) When our ancestors
purified the Christian faith and shook off the yoke of a
domineering priesthood—(cheers)—they felt that the key-
stone of that wonderful fabric, which had grown up in
the dark times of the middle ages, was the celibacy of
the clergy, and shrewdly foresaw that their reformed
faith and newly-won religious liberty would, on the
contrary, only be secure in the hands of a clergy united
with the people by every sympathy—national, personal,
and domestic. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, this nation has en-
joyed for 300 years the blessings of a Church Establishment
which rests upon this basis; and cannot be too grateful
for the advantages afforded, by the fact, that the Christian
ministers not only preach the doctrines of Christianity,
but live among their congregations, an example for the
discharge of every Christian duty as husbands, fathers,
and masters of families—(cheers)—themselves capable
of fathoming the whole depth of human feelings,
desires, anti difficulties. 'Whilst we must grate-
fully acknowledge that they have as a body worthily
fulfilled this high and difficult task, we must bear in
mind that we deny them an equal participation in one of
the actuating motives of life, the one which, amongst " the
children of this generation," exercises, perhaps of necessity,
the strongest influence—l mean the desire for the acquisi-
tion and accumulation of the goods of this world. Gentle-
men, the appellation of money-making parson" is not
only a reproach, but a condemnation for a clergyman, de-
priving him at once of all influence over his congregation.
Yet this man, who has to shun opportunities of acquiring
wealth open to most of us, and who has himself only an
often scanty life income allotted to him for his services,
has a wile and children like ourselves, and we wish him to
have the same solicitude for their welfare which we feel to
our own. (Cheers.) Are we not bound, then, to do what
we can to relieve his mind from anxiety, and to preserve
his children from destitution when it shall have pleased
the Almighty to remove him from the scene of his
labours ? (Applause.) You have given an answer
in the affirmative by your presence hero to-day ; and
although this institution can do materially but little,
morally it gives a public recognition of the claims
which the sons of the clergy have upon the sympathy and
liberality of the community at large, and, as such, is of the
greatest value. May it continue for further hundreds of
years as a bond of union between clergy and laity, and on
each recurring centenary may it find the nation ever ad-
vancing in prosperity, civilisation, and piety. (Cheers.)
His Royal Highness again rose and proposed the health
of his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the
Right Hon. Lord Denman, president and vice-president of
the Sons of the Clergy. Lord Denman was compelled to
be absent, but the Archbishop of Canterbury, he was glad
to see, was present, and in good health. Before sitting
down, he hoped the company would allow him to be their
spokesman in returning thanks to his Grace for the very
eloquent and feeling sermon which ho had delivered that
day.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY acknowledged the com-
pliment, and proposed the health of the Lord Mayor.
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks, and proposed " The
Stewards of the Festival, and thanks for their entertain-
ment."

The Earl of WINCHELSEA returned thanks.
Mr. C. J. BAKER, the treasurer and registrar of the Cor-
poration, announced the results of the festival to be as fol-
lows:—H.lL.H. Prince Albert, 1051.; subscriptions of 113
stewards of the day, 3,5001. ; collection at the cathedral,
690%; subscribed at the dinner, 3,1451. ; estimated collec-
tions at churches, 3,6001.; Lady Willoughby de Broke, 5001.
Total, 12,050/. (Loud cheers.)
The remaining toasts were :—" The Lord Bishop of
London and the other Prelates"—the Lord Bishop of
London returned thanks ; " The Peers and Members of
Parliament present"—the Marquis of Abercoru and the
Hon. Henry Liddell returned thAnks ; " The Dean and
Chapter of St. Paul's, and Thanks for the Use of the Ca-
thedral"—the Dean returned thanks ; " The Merchant
Tailors' Company, and Thanks for the Use of their Hall"
—the Master returned thanks ; " The Treasurers of the
Corporation of the Sons of the clergy, Sir R. H. Inglis,
Bart., Mr. Alderman Copeland, and Mr. Freshfield, M.P."
—Sir R. H. Inglis returned thanks.
The repast, which was an extremely handsome one, was
supplied by Mr. Bathe, of the London Tavern. Mr. Higgs
officiated as toastmaster.

MERCHANT SEAMEN'S ORPHAN ASYLUM.—The annual
dinner of this excellent society took place last evening
at the London Tavern ; Lord John Russell in the chair...
There were about 150 gentlemen present, many of whom
are largely interested in shipping. Among the company '
at the cross table were Lord Radstock, Sir James Duke,
Mr. Forster, M.P., Mr. Lindsay, M.P., Mr. her, M.P.,
Mr. Green, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Mulholland, &c. After
the usual loyal toasts, which were drunk with great. en-
thusiasm, the noble Chairman proposed " Prosperity to '
the Society." His lordship made an eloquent appeal in
behalf of the charity, reminding the company that, while
in time of peace the merchant seamen were the men by
whose exertions all the produce of the tropics was brought
to this country to increase the comforts of all classes, in
times of war, like the present, they formed a nursery
for the British navy, and by their indomitable courage
contributed to maintain the glory of the country.
With respect to any measures affecting the shipping in-
terest that might have occupied the attention of Parlia-
ment, all he could say was, that he believed the British
sailor was ready and able to compete with all the world,
and in that belief he had acted. He then alluded to the
value of the present society, observing that by the bene-
volence of the public it was enabled to support and edu-
cate 120 orphan children. The lease, however, of the
spacious premises now occupied by it would before long
' expire, and it was, therefore, highly desirable that their
means should be so increased as to provide for that
contingency. He trusted that with the increase of com-
merce and the growing prosperity of the nation their
liberality would also extend. The children were then
introduced, and his lordship delivered a few appropriate
words of advice to them. The amount of subscr.ptions
announced was 1,3151. 153. 7d. The band of the Ist
Grenadier Guards was in attendance. Mr. Harker
otlicetted as toaqinaster.

NEW BILL ON INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES.
—Yesterday a bill before the House of Commons was
printed to amend the Industrial and Provident Societies
Act, 1852. It is considered expedient to vary the exist-
ing law in relation to societies registered under the act
so far as concerns the manner in which legal proceed-
ings shall be carried on in any manner concerning such
societies. It is proposed to enact that suits are to be
carried on in thq name of one of the officers of any
society to be appointed for that purpose. Officers are
to be appointed to sue and to be sued, and returns of
the same to be made to the registrar of the Friendly
Societies Act. The returns are to be made and certifi-
cates to be given in evidence. The bankruptcy, in-
solvency, or stopping payment of any officer or member
of such society, in his individual capacity, shall not be
construed to be the bankruptcy, insolvency, or stopping
payment of such society, and the property and effects of
such society, shall, notwithstanding such bankruptcy,
&c., be liable to execution in the same manner as if such
' bankruptcy, &c., had not taken place.

-----.. ----
Last week the- births of 995 boys and 890 girls, in all
1,885 children were registered in London. In nine cor-
responding weeks of the years 1845-53, the average num-
ber was 1.465.
A t the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height
of the barometer in the week was 29.329 in. The highest
reading was 29.58 in. at the beginning of the week The
mean temperature of the week was 48.9 deg., which is
2 5 deg. below the average of the same week in 38 years.
It was below the average on every day of the week. The
highest temperature was 65.5 deg., and occurred on Fri-
(lay; the lowest was 35.6 deg.,' and occurred on Sunday.
The mean dew'point temperature was 44.8 deg. ; and
the difference between it and the mean temperature of
the air was 4.1 deg. The wind blew generally from the
south-west. Rain fell on every day but Thursday,
though the whole amount of the week did not exceed
o'4o in., and of this more than half fell on Monday.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED
IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, KAY 6.
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 5O
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of

Respiration 220
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs

of Digestion
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the 'Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones; and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations 5
Premature Birth and Debility 35
Atrophy 32
Old Age
Sudden l5
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 43
Causes not specified

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES
Population Deaths in corre- Deaths
Enumerated. eponding week in the
101. of 1853. Week.
West Districts
North Districts 490.396
Central Districts 393,256
East Districts 485,522 . 235
South Districts

Totals
Males
Females

1,089

1,263
637
626