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 in the PROFESSIONAL LIFE
ASSURANCE COMPANY, 76, Cheapside. London, upon the whole
Term of Life Scale, without payment of extra premium for voyage
to or residence there.
Loans granted on Personal security.
El) WARD BAYLIS, Resident Manager and Actuary.

ROYAL HIGHLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY.
PATnos—lier MAJESTY the QUEEN.

Vicz PAT/tots—His Royal Highness the PRINCE ALBERT.
The ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL of this Charily, which affords
daily education to more than 12,000 children in the Highlands and
Isles of Scotland, wilt be celebrated in FREEMASONS' HALL,
Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, on SATURDAY, May 14,
Sir ARC PIIBALD ALILON, Bart., LL.D , F.R.S.E., in the Chair.
Dinner on the table at Six o'clock. It is particularly requested that
(if convenient) officers will anear in uniform, and Scottish gentle-
men in the "Highland garb." Tickets (215.) to be had of Mr. Kirk,
/01, Flest•street ; Mr. Brooks, stationer, 72, Farringdon-street;
Messrs. Maclure, Macdonald, and MacGregor, Walbrook, Mansion
iLeuse ; at the Freemasons' Tavern ; and of
CHARLES MACKIE, Secretary.
Sidmouth-street, Regent-square.

CONTRACT FOR BARRACK STORES FOR TILE ROYAL
MARINES.

Department of the Comptroller for Victualling and
Transport' Services,
Somerset-place, 38th 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 THURSDAY, 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 be received after One o'clock on the day of Treaty,
nor any noticed, unless 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
B•irrack Stores," and must also be delivered at Somerset-place,
accompanied by a letter signed by a responsible person, engaging to
tecome 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 tile *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
cr edit.
Loans granted on approved Personal Security.
Assur,“ rot restricted in their limits of tavel, as in most other
Clomeanies, but may proceed from one part of Europe to another in
dttcked vessels, without License, and to British North America, and
m any parts of the United States, wit'oout extra premium, by merely
giving the ordinary notice to the Office in London of the intended
vi sit.
Whole-world Policies granted at slightly increased rates of
Premium, thus rendering a Policy in money transactions a real
se cut ity.
Prospectuses, and every information, may be obtained upon appli-
es tion 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.
MAY be consulted, personally, or by letter, on
the various disorders of the nervous and generative system,
resulting from juvenile trregu'arities and excesses, which have pro-
duced more misery In youth, degradation itt 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 minutes crud disappointed hopes in
existence, traceable to certain pernicious habits, to which Nervous
Debility, various forms of Insanity, Unhappy and Unfruitful Marri-
ages, Impotency, Local and Constitution's) Weakness, and their
endless modifications owe their almost ertire origin.

It is absolutely necessary that all men should know that there are
principles of personal management which cannot be vlolated without
Incurring grievous penalties, and when wisdom and regret succeed
the heyday of inconsiderate self-indulgence, how these penalties
may be mitigated, how the s' ing of their bitterness may be removed,
and how the evil and its consequences may be avoided, and above all,
that there is scarcely any degree of physical infirmity or functional
derangement to which the timely aid of act( ace cannot apply a cure.
DOCTOR LA'MERT has for a long serif is of years been engaged
in an extensive practice in the treatmen t of these delicate com-
plaints, and s the only legally qualified r bysician who, regardless
of the taunts and envy of the hypocritical a nd mock-modest, has had
the confidence, through the medium of t he public press, to direct
attention to these enormous evils, from which no grad* 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 tit/ es, and pretended virtues
of their patent nostrums, have indicted seri oas injury on those who
have been induced to place faith in their pretensions.
At home for consultation daily from E leven till Two, and from
Six till Eight. All letters mast contain th 4 r fee of U., and advice and
medicines can be forwarded to any initials >r address.
It is desirable that patients wishing b s consult Dr. LkIiERT
should lint obtain a copy of his work on

SELF-PRESERVAT lON.
A Medical Treatise on the Philosophy of N arriage, and Nervous and
Generative Debility, illustrated by fifty colo erred engravings, and des-
cribing in detail the various disorders result lug from secret habits and
excesses. The perusal of this treatise will assist in the correct
description of their cases, and may be hac t, price 2s 6d, in English,
French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, or G, Erman, of Messrs. Piper
Brothers and Co., 23, Paternoster-row; H ennay, 63, Oxford-street ;
Mann, 39, Cornhill ; Storie, Titchborne-sty !est, Haymarket ; or free
by post for forty-two stamps, to any addre. is from the Author's red-
dens. 37, BEDFORD-SQUAWS. LoicaoN.

DR. CIILVERWELL'S NEW WORKS.
To be bad of Sherwood, 23, Pa temp/der-row, Caryallio,
47, Flect-street ; Mann, 39, Cornhill. Price One Shilling each; by
1a 61.

ENJOYMENT OF L' rFE.
"Health, Recreation, and Ration: 4 Use of Time."
CONTENTS:—EarIy Rising—Spring and Summer Mornings—Ex-
cursions about the Environs of London— The Parks, Lanes, Hills
Forests, Fields, High-roads, and other p leasant places—Country
Trips and Rambles—The Sea —London at N light—Evenings at Home
Music—The Drama—On Eating, Drinking,. Sleeping, Bathing, Air,
Rest, Ease, Occupation, &c., kc.

FRAGMENTS FROM THE FOUNVAINS. Two Vols.
Vol. I.
VISIT TO THEELAKES; SKETCH OF EDINBURGH, Itc.
Vol.

22E:LAKES OF KILLARNEY ; RE KINISCENCES OF
DUBLIN, ice.

WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, AND AVOID,
"That three score years and ten our course may run."

APpopular review of almost every form (cause and cure) of ner-
vously-debilitated health and enfeebled constitution that harasses
the young, besets the man of pleasure, bustiess or study, and em-
bitters old age ; with tables.and rulesfor the diet and physical regu-
lation of every-day life.

IV.
THE PASSIONS.
" What passions hurt the body—What improve,
Trutks as refined as Athens mu- heard."
SUBJECT :—Life's pilgrimage, from infan Cy to old age. The ad-
vent of the passions. Chastity and its infringement. The casualties
eflicentiousness and dissipation, with illustrations, graphic, narra-
tive, and remediative. Advocacy of early marriages.
THE MARRIAGE STATE.
Te be or not to be, that is the question."
ritOGNANBIX:—Laws and obligations of nature, society, and reli-
gio
ho ice, on n rerdigang marriage, to be observed by either sex. Time and
c both sides, as to age temperament, complexion, and
figure, to secure healthy offspring, with the art of rearing them.
Physical defectiveness and its removal. Sterility and its conversion.
Cases, &cc.
By lt. J. CCTLVERWELL, M.D. (1841), 31.R.C.5. (1827), L.S.A.
24), Twenty-five years Medical and Forensic Referee in there
matters.

Price Is. each; by post, Is. 6d.
To be had of Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-row ; Carvalho, 147,
Fleet-street; Mann, 39, Cornhill; or of M. R. Culverwell, M.D..
Ten till Fir: and 5111141 till Nita, •
10, Argyll-place, Regent-street,
wilo maY A* cusultEl dallYfrom

ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, TRAFALGAR SQUARE.
THE EXHIBITION of the ROYAL ACA-
DEMY is now OFEN. Admission (from eight o'clock till
seven) One Shilling. Catalogue One Shilling.
JOHN PRESCOTT KNIGHT, R.A., Sec.

On Saturday, the 7th inst., wid appear No. 1., price 6d., of
THE PRESS."—Being a Weekly Paper,
intended to All rn obvious void in Journalism. and to com-
bine, on an entirely new plan, Political, Literary, and Artistic Re-
sources. To be published every Saturday.—Oillee for Advehise-
ments, 110, Strand, London, where all communications should be
sent, addressed to the Editor. To be kad of r" News .krents.
Money Orders for Subscriptions to be made payable to Mr. Alfred

SALE OF OLD: STORES AT CHATHAM.
otiraity, Somerset-place, 2d May, 103.
Tke Cormaissioaers for executing the 0111ce of Lord Higit Admiral
of the lllkited Kingdom 0 Great Britain and Ireland, do hereby give
Notice, that ea WEDNESDAT, the 25th instant, at Ten o'clock in tee
Foreaoms. the Captain Superintendent will pat up to Sale, PI her
Majesty's Dockyard at Chatham, several Lots of

OLD STORES;
consisting of Old Rope, Cablelaid cud Hawser!red, Shakings, Tyers,
Rakings, Canvas, Lead Ashes, &c., &c , &c., all lying in the said
Yard.
Persons wishing, to view tiro Lots must apply to the Superintendent
for Notes of Admission for that purpose.
Catalogues aid Conditions of Salo may he had hero and at tho Yard

PATRON—H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT.
ROYALPOLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
—A MUSICAL LECTURE •by GEORGE BUCKLA ND,
Esq., entitled SONGS and SONG-WRITERS, every Evening (except
Saturday) at Eight.
Lec•ures.—By - • u
epPer, Esq ; on the Chemistry of Gun-
powder and Rocket Composition ; by Dr. Bachhoffner, on Pneumatics,
in which the Principle of the Fly's Foot and Walking on the Ceiling
will be explained ; by Mr. Crisp*, on Heat, illustrated by tw gigan-
tic Reflectors, by which Cookiag is effected at a distance of 100 feet
from the fire.

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

LAURENT'S CASINO, ARGYLL ROOMS.-
Lessee, CHARLES E. LAURENT, Onslow-house, Fulham-
road. Open Every Evening. The Orchestra will perform, during
the week, "The Thistle," " Shamrock.," " Rose," "A,mina" "Gran-
ville" "Loch Vogel," and "Windsor Castle" Waltzes; be "Napo-
leon" Galep; "Le Cirqae" Quadrillg; 0 The Gold Hawk" and
"Juno" Polkas.-" Admission, Is, Dab open at Half-past Eight;
Dancing to commence at Nino o'clock, and terminate at Half-put
Eleven.

FXCISE-OFFICE, in Old Broad-street.
J 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-
°Mee.

Particulars may be obtained at the offices of the Secretary and
Solicitor of Inland Revenue, Somerset-house ; and of William 11er.•
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-
uuctd an entirely NEW DESCRIPTION of ARTIFICAL
fixed without springs, mires, or ligatures. They io perfectly resem-
ble the natural teeth es not t) be distinwished from the srizinal by
the c'osest otr>erver; they wig never change colour or decay, and will
be found very superior to any tee' h ever before used. Th!s method
does not require the extraction of roe q, or any painful operation,
and will give support and preserve teeth that are loose, and are
guarante:d to restore atticulation and mastication ; and that Mr.
Howard's improvement may be within reach of the most econornicel,
he has fixed his charges at the lowest scale possible. Decayed teeth
rendered sound and usetul in mastication.-52, Fleet-street. At
home from :en till five.

" Divido about the broad bride cake,
Round about the bride's stake."—BEN joxsox.

ViTEDDING BREAKFAST, BALL SUP-
PERS, and DINNERS, provided entire, in Town or Coun-
try, by Messrs. PURSSELL, 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 ;
Carriage, 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. PUBASELL have no other Business Frei:ll;Bes except
those in CornhiU, near the Royal Exchange.

DUBLIN GREAT INDUSTRIAL
EXHIBITION.
" Iwinnusiorrots OP THE LORD-LIEDTVIANT OP IRELAND,"
on Thursday, 12th May, the Orchestra for the Musical 'Performance
consisting 0(1.000 Performers,
TOURS IN IRELAND. IN 1852.
IRISH. TOVRIST TICKETS (available for •.a
month) will. be
Issued at the following stations, oh and after 10th F4:—
• lit , 2d Class.
London (Easton Station)• • ... ...... £6 10, ,p £5 5 0
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Bristol, Carliele, ••
5 5 ty
Worcester. Cheltenham, Gloucester .• 15 0 • '4 15 0
Birmingham, Rugby, Leamington, Coventry,
550 4 5 0
Wolverhampton, Amide:field, Leeds, Shef-
field, Derby.......... •••• • • ~ .... • 5 0 0 4 5 •
Manchester,Warrington, Stoke, Macclesfield 4 4 0 II 10 0
Liverpool, Chester 4 4 0 2 ti 6
They enable the holders t 3 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, Westiand•row, Dublin, at very reduced
rates, tickets for a tour in the county Wicklow, in Kenmore and
Glengariff, up the river Shannon—for the journey from Dublin to
Belfast, for the excursion to the Gian L's Causeway, and from Dublin
to Galway for the tour through Couneousra.
Every purchaser of a ticket is presented. gratis, with a copy of the
Illustrated Irish Tourists' hand-Book,"complleg solely for these
Tenn.
The fullest and Inset accurate information afforded at the Chester
and Holyhead Company'a Office, ON, Westland -row. biotin. seo
also 4. Bradshaw 'e Guide," page l 21.

THE INDISPUTABLE LIFE POLICY
COMPANY.
Na. 72, Lombard-street and 24, Connaught-terratt.
1.111.70. YES.
Richard Spooner, Esq.. M.P.
Z. Campbell Renton, Eso., M.P. I James Fu"er Madox, Esq.
Richard Menne, Eeq., Q.C., M.P. William Wilberforce, Esq.
The POLICIES are INDISPUTABLE, In terms of the Deed of
Settlement of the Company, enly registered, and are thus rendered
CERTAIN FAMILY PROVISIONS) and NEGOTIABLE DOCU-
MENT'S OF SECURITY.
_ _

Ibis Compery has irt,•oeuced, as more peculiarly applicable to the
Middle and Industrious Classes, a plan of SELF-PROTECT) NG IN-
SURANCE, whereby in one Policy for one rate of Premium, are
combined en Instrance o a Sum payable either at death or on at-
taining a speclfed r7e,, and a pebsion or annuity e "ter that age; and
giving the lul benefit o: ell P emiums thet h?ve been paid, although
the payments shorld at any time be e'scon 'reed.
ALEXINDEP ROBERTSON, Manager.

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

Established in 1696.
DIRECTORS.
John Gurcey lliare, Esq.
E. Fryer Maitland, Esq.
Wil"rrn Scott, Esq.
John Sperling, Esq.
Henry Wllson, Esq.
W. Esdaile Winter, Esq.

The Hon. William Ashley.
The Hon. Sir Edward Cost.
ihnr Eden, Esq.
J. Lettaom Elliot, Esq.
James Esdaile, Esq.
Harvie M. Farquhar, Esq.

- -
LIFE DEPARTMENT.
This Office offers a low scale of premiums to Non-members, with•
an annual particlpt 'Jon in the wnole or the P
out perVcipatlon pTotlts ;or a Member's scale of premiums, will
annual payments.
In the years 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852. the n:em'ums of ell Mem-
bers' Po"cies were abated 5254 per cent.; that is to say, a premium
of 1001. was reduced to 471. 10s.
Insurances effected betore the 24th June next wal participate one
tont, after five full
year earlier than if effected after that date.

DR. KING'S SARSAPARILLA COCOA.

TO those under a course
of Sarsaparilla or
Medical treatment this COCOA w:il be found an excellent be-
benefit from this pure Cocoa than en P
verage, instead of tea or coffee (which decidedly exce the ne. row,
system, and prevent medicine, particularly Sarsapc". from Lavin;
the desired effect). Invclids with weak stomachs * •11 receive more
, 37 pre
true cocoa nibs, combined ith pure sarsaparilla, rnd rendered more
palatable. oration, being' made with

'ln packets at le. 6d. per lb., or 3 lbs. for 4s.
. TARA XACUM, or DANDELION LIVER PILLS, posters proper-
are the. best aperient family pills, being wild in effect,
ties of an al: erative and aperient nature, and, as an adjunct IN ih Dr.
and never en-
King's Sarsaparilla P Ils have erred thousands of obsinrate liver com-
plaints. The great advantage is, that they contain no mercury, act
aeon the live'', stimulate the system, and give rert•esting sleep, and
dangerng the system like mercurial preparations.
In Boxes. at is. lid. 2s. 4d., and 4s. 6d.
To prevent fraud, limy Bides' hrs caused bis name to be put
upon the Government S' amp—without, vene are genuine, and to
imitate which is felony. Sole Propietor of
DR. KING'S SARSAPARILLA PILLS,
an invalaable remedy for ail skin eruptions, cooling and purifying the
blood, lo's of appetite,
s low slate of system, palp'tailons of the
heart, indigesi.ion, drowsiness. liver complain,s , and general debrity.
Sold by all respectable Medicine Vendors in the United Kingdom,
and by the Proprietor, in boxes at Is lid, 2s 94, 4s 6d, lls, and 225.
A great saving is effected by taitlig
the larger boxes. Be sure to
ask for Dr. King's Sarsaparilla Pli's•
LABORATORY, 10, BIINGERFORD-STREET, STRAND.

MUSEUM OF INVENTIONS.—The movement in favour
of the establishment of a museum of inventions that has
been commenced in many of the chief seats of manufac-
turing industry in this country is constantly extending
itself; further memorials on the subject having just been
addressed to the Government and tho Royal Commis-
sioners by Glasgow and Sheffield, signed in both cases
by all the leading inhabitants of those towns. The
Sheffield memorial was presented to his Royal Highness
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.
MRS. H. BEECHER STOWE.--The Duchess of Suther-
land has invited a large number of ladies and gentlemen
to meet Mrs. Harriett Beecher Stowe at Stafford House
on Saturday afte moon. We understand that it is the
intention of this talented authoress to make a short
sojourn in London, and then to visit the Continent,
where it is hoped her delicate state of health will be im-
proved. From all parts of Britain letters and invita-
tions are continually sent to Mrs. Stowe ; but it is be-
lieved that she will return to Scotland in September,
and afterwards be the guest of Major-General Sir pun-
can M‘Gregor, in Dublin.—.3lolliirg Advertiser.

THE LATE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY.

Yesterday the committee who have undertaken this inquiry
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 he had
been two years first foreman at Devouport, and before then
twenty-three at Portsmouth, where he had served his appren-
ticeship. He took only a humble part at the last election at
Chatham, having attended some convivial meetings 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 lie had taken
an opportunity of talking to him in the smithery about his
removal to Portsmouth. Witness reminded him of the appli-
cations which ho 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 prornissd him positively,
but he might have expressed his belief that he would succeed.
Having bseen the appointment of a person named Wells in the
newspapers, and heard 'of it also by letter from Portsmouth,
ho 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 telling you how it occurred. When I saw
the appointment in the paper 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 he 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' in 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 east aside ; and I confess to a sense of humiliation.
"J. B. SEYMOUR."
The second letter is from Captain Richards, Superintendent
of Chatham-yard, and is dated " April 9, 1852." It runs
thus :

"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 Capnlets. 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 lie is a second-class leadinn. man,
I 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 in the yard for some
weeks that he would get it.

" My letter of the Ist of March recommended an entry
from private trade, as neither of the inferior leading men are
competent for the position.', 'Ridgeway is ione of these in-
.ferior or second class-leading meni and if he tarries his point
he will be, raised to a
,station. for which his officers tieclare
' • to- be incompetent, 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 Baring's
orders, narrowly escaping dismissal. Under these 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 firmly. 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 passed, and which is publicly known in
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 he had with my
private secretary, Mr. Grant. I shall content myself w-:th
stating that I did not send Mr. Grant there on the errand
Sir B. Walker describes, and shall leave Mr. Grant to speak
for himselffl rfirst circumstance
r caus
mt
tlvnhcaet actuallyreferred to which did occuri
ch
baetaiV a d
the iantt s
e si
iwy.
The
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 invariably hostile to the
existing Government. I desire to call attention to the last
paragraph. To that letter I received in reply what I 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 Lord-
ships' circular of the 27th of November, 1847, by which you
will perceive that, unless these regulations are withdrawn 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 alone 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 was 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 10,000/. ; but if it is, of course the surveyor will
be deprived of that controljwhich 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,

" " Augustus Stafford, Esq., M.P. BALDWIN WALK&x.
, &c."
The committee will observe that in that letter Sir Baldwin
Walker himself states that if the regulations of 1847 remain
unaltered, advancement on political grounds is totally im-
possible if the superintendents of dockyardsperform 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 in. tery iw
with me on April 6. He states that at that interviewe
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 satisfa,c-
tory,,termina.tion 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 Seitemlier, 1849. The
first was a code making advancement depeld' 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 MAO Mr. Grant to.r B. Walker?
Mr. Stafford—Mr. Grant, went to Somerset-hOuse to see his
father, who holds an appointment there, audit is very likely
I might have told him to ask Sir Baldwin for papers, bui, 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 24 of April to Sir B.
Walker you referred to an impression that appointments and
promotions were given to political opponents;--did. you beforethe
you wrote that letter consult any of that authorities of
Admiralty I
Mr. Stafford—l did not consult any Of Llie Lords of the
Admiralty. I acted on the result of inqUiries in other quar-
ters, and from numbers of letters which' had received.
Many of these were sent to me in confidence; and
somefrom
members of Parliament belonging to my party.
Lord Seymour—Did you inquire into the PortlooloA 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 from the
Ist of March to the 2d of April.