The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-29 00:00:00

RIES, METAL MILLS, ROPERIES, &C

My Lords have alreaiy sanctioned and circulated in-
structions for the factories at Woolwich and Portsmouth,
which will place them, in all essential particulars, as re•
gards book-keeping, accounts, and the periodical taking
of stock, upon the same footing as the best conducted
private establishments.
The same principles wore also applied by their Lord-
ships' minute of the 20th of October last, to the metal
mill at Chatham, where the whole of the copper used in
her Majesty's navy is now " received," refined, and rolled
into sheets; and were ordered to be extended, on the Ist
of January, 1849, to the ' other manufacturing establish-
ments in that yard, which comprise a ropery, a lead mill,
a paint mill, a metal and iron foundry, and a sheathing-
nail shop. At Deptford Victualling-yard, where raw
materials to the amount of 87,0004 a year are worked
up, the accounts are kept with an accuracy that admits of
no improvement, with the single exception of the
cooperage, which is now to be brought under the same
system; and my Lords are pleased to direct that the
books and forms used at Chatham and Deptford be
adopted, on the Ist of April next, in all the other dock-
yards and victualling yards where any manufactures are
carried on, stock being taken, and books kept, after the
custom of private establishments, so as to show a per•
fact debtor and creditor account at the close of the finan-
cial year.
With this view, all raw materials issued by the store-
keeper are to be charged by him at the contract price,
which is to be stated in writing, to the establishments to
which they are supplied, and the heads of those esta-
blishments are to debit themselves with that amount, and
to add to it the whole cost of manufacture, with ten per
cent. for the wear and tear of machinery, and with in-
terest upon the plant and buildings, when these have been
constructed within the last ten years.
The manufactured articles are to be received back by
the store-keeper at the increased value, and so charged
by him when re-issued fefttie.

-My Lords desire to impress upon the minds of all
connected with these great national establishments the
necessity of the most scrupulous economy in their ma-
nagement. Public attention has baen fixed upon them
by the inquiries of last year, and the country is keenly
alive to the disadvantages under which all manufacturing
establishments must labour which are not conducted
under the eye of a master, and checked in their expendi-
ture by the necessity of drawing upon funds at his sole
disposal.
My Lords are aware that it is difficult to combine a
rigid economy with that unlimited command of capital
which Government establishments are supposed to pos-
sess, or to impress those who administer them, by any
written rules, with the same frugal ideas which feelings
of self.interest naturally and necessarily inculcate. But
they have selected as the chief engineers of the three
principal dockyards men favourably distinguished in
private trade; and, having placed at their disposal the
means of commanding success, and secured to the
country, by the publicity of their annual accounts, the
fullest knowledge of the issue, my Lords must leave it
to time and their exertions to show that an adequate re-
turn is made in new work and repairs, for the vast
outlay which Parliament has already sanctioned in
connexion with the steam navy. 11. G. WARD.