The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-19 00:00:00

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Immediately, in 3 Vols. Bvo.
MISS EMILY FINCH'S NFW NOVEL OF
THE LAST DAYS OF MARY
STUART.
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Edinbur4..,h ; 3-. Cumming, Dublin.

Now ready, price ss. bound cloth.
ELIGION and her NAME. A Metrical
Trait, with Notes.
by JOHN SEARCH,
Author of " Considerations on the Law of Libel, as relating to
Publications on the Subject of Religion."
" Who John Search' is, we know not ; but the above
pamphlet, published under that name, is well deserving of at-
tention, as an exceedingly acute and cogent piece of reason
on an important branch of the law of libel."---Edinburgh Ress
view, No. 118, Art. G.
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MARRIAGE—Its Intent, Obligations, and
Physical and Constitutional Disqualifications Medically
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phic, narrative, and remedial : an original, comprehensive, and
important Work, addressed chiefly to Young Men, and called
ritOFESSIONAL RECORDS.
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SULTATIONS. Price 2s. 6d.

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Just published, price 2s. 6d.
APRACTICAL ESSAY on the DEBILI-
TIES of the GENERATIVE SYSTEM, their Va-
rieties, Causes, Treatment, and Cure.
By aMEAIBER of the ROYAL COLLEGE of SURGEONS,
_ _

- London, and Surgeon to a Metropolitan Infirmary.
" I am impotent, and no' fit ti live."--Last's Records of
Suicide.

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NEW WORK ON STRICTURES OF THE URETHRA.
Just published, price 55.,
APRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE
CAUSES, NATURE, and TREATMENT of
STRICTURES of the URETHRA, and their Consequences;
with a Review of the different Modes of Cure, and an account
of the Method of Treatment the Author has found the most
efficacious. The whole illustrated by cases, some of them the
records of thirty-five years' extensive and successful practice.
By FRANCIS BURDETT COURTENAY,
42, Great Marlborough-street.
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Lonclen; and late
Surgeon to the Aletropolitan Infirmary for the Cure of St, ic-
tures of the Urethra.

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Of whom may also be had, by the same Author, price 65.,
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS on the CHRONIC
ENL kRGEMENT of the PROSTATE GLAND in OLD
AGE; with Suggestions for an Improved Mode of Treatment.
T e which is prefixed, Remarks on the various other Diseases
to which the Prostate is liable at all periods of life.

Just published, in royal 18mo., cloth, price 3s. ; and sent in
Town or Country free, by post, 3s. 6d.,
ATANHOOD: the CAUSES of its PRE-
al'. MATURE DECLINE, with Plain Directions for
ITS PERFECT RESTORATION; addressed to those suf-
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Solitary Habits, or Infection ; followed by Observations on the
TREATMENT of SYPHILIS, GONORRHEA, GLEET,
&c. Illustrated with Cases, &c.
By J. L. CURTIS and COMPANY,
Consulting Surgeons, London.
published by the Authors, and sold by Balliere, Medical
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The Work which is now presented to the public is the result
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tions, which far some unaccountable reason have laeen either
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INFIRMARY for the CURE of STRIC-
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TIVE and URINARY ORGANS. •

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FOR STOPPING DECAYED TEETH.—.Price 23. 9d.
R. THOMAS'S MINERAL SUCCE-
DANEUM for filling decayed teeth, however large
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ments hardens into enamel, and will remain' fixed in the tooth
for many years, rendering the painful operatiob of extracting
unnecessary. It stops all further decay, and the tooth is again
useful in mastication. Prepared only by the inventor, Mr.
Thomas, Surgeon-Dentist, Margaret-street; Cas;endish-square,
London. Sold by Butler, St. Paul's Church-yard ; Johnstone
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THE COURTS OF EUROPE. 77,, We--,are re-
quested to state that the new work, a.tititled " The Courts
of Europe at the Close of the LasCCentury," by the late
Henry Swinburne, Esq., agt.hor of " Travels in Spain,
Italy," &c., in 2 vols. 8v6., with portrait, is published
this day by Mr. Colbutit, of Great Marlborough-street,
and may now be hart of all Booksellers. Mr. Colburn has
also this day published " Society in India," by an Indian
Officer, in 2'vols. small Bvo., and " The Moneyed Man,
or the Lesson of a L'fe," a novel, by Horace Smith,
Esq., author of " Brambletye House," &c., 3 vols. post Bvo.
COURT OF CHANCERY.—It is believed that
in order to prevent the entire stoppage of the public busi-
ness, the Great Seal will be immedtat, ly put into commis-
sion daring the illness of the .14,3 Cinlncellor, and that
three of the Judges will be appointed commisionera,—
Evening Paper.

wC

OUSE OF COMMONS, Feu. 18.
The SPEAKER t Kok the Chair at the usual hour.
Colonel CLEMENTS was introduced and proceeded to
the table for the purpose of taking the oaths and his
scat for the county of Cavan, but in consequence of
not being able to produce his qualification, the adminis-
tration of the oaths to the Hon. and Galva Gentleman
were postponed t 11 to-morrow.
Colonel RAWDON presented a petit on from the
county Down against Lord Stanley's Bill, and in favour
of Lord Morpeth's, for the Registration of Voters in
Ireland.
Mr. TOWNELY PARKER presented a petition
from Preston, 40 yards long, against the New Poor-
law Amendment Bill.
Mr. REDINUTON presented a petition from Dun-
dalk against Lord Stanley's 811 for the Registration
of Voters in Ireland.
Mr. GREENE presented a pct:tion from the Lancas-
ter and Preston Junction Railway, complaining of the
exorbitant tax on railway passengers, and praying tlat
the House would adopt some means to reduce the duty
on seeond and third class passengers.
Mr. LITTON presented petitions from Borris-o-
kane, Cahcr, Cashel, and other places in Ireland,
against Lord Morpeth's Irish Registration 8.11, and in
favour of Lord Stanley's.
Lord ASHLEY brought up the Report of the Se-
lect Committee on the Factories Bill.
Mr. O'CONNELL presented petitions from the
inhabitants of the Province of Munster, from KiNear),
in the county of Meath, and from other plates in Ire-
land, in favour of the B 11 brought in by Lord Morpeth
for the aliendment of the laws relating to registrat on
of voters in Ireland, and praying the House utterly to
reject the Bill brought in by Lord Stailey.
The HON. and LEARNED MEMBER alio presented a
petition from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, as Chairman
of the West India Association of that city, against the
removal of the.protecticio at present extended to West
India produce. The lion. arid Learned Member pre-
sented the petition on account of the respectabil ty of
the gentlemen who corn,osed the Association, but he
had the misfortune to differ altogether from the peti-
tioner.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HAWES presented a pi.ftion from the parish
of St. Ma-y's, Lamb,co, praying t' at that borough
should pa!ticipate in the lßract for metropolitan im-
provements.
Sir B. HALL presented a petition horn Mary lebone
against the window-tat.
Sir G. SINCLAIR presented a petition from a place
in Caithness against lay patronage in the Church of
Scotland.
Colonel PERCEVAL presented a pcftion signed by
several of the gentry, clergy, and magistrates of the
county of Mayo in favour of Lord Stanley's Bill.
Mr. HUME presented a petition agreed to at a public
meeting in the town of Linton on the Ctth February last,
praying for an inquiry into the administration of the
Poor-law in Scotland.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from an individual
in Montrose, stating that he, in common with many,
others, was suffering great distress, being unable
maintain themselves, though they were willing to .ac-
cept any employment. The petition attributed -the pre-
sent distressed state of the manufacturing And labouring
population to the defective state of the representation in
that House, by which lavA were nittle not at all sym-
pathizing with the mass of the community, and prayer,
the House to reconsider that subject.—Ordered to be
laid upon the table.
r MONUMENT TO SIR SIDNEY SMITH.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said he rose for the
purpose of withdrawing the motion of which be had
given notice for that day ; but lea it should be sup-
posed that his opinion was in any way changed, he
begged to say that he left the matter in the best pos-
sible hands.—(Hear, hear.)
POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL.

Mr. TOWNELY PARKER gave notice that on
the motion for committing the Puor•liw Amendment
Bill he should move that it be postponed for six months.

TREATY OF TEXAS.

Mr. O'CONNELL moved for the production of
any Treaty between her Majesty and the persons
called the State of Texas ; and to call the attention of
tl e House to the state of the relations between this
country and those persons.
Lord PALMERSION said that the Treaty had
been signed three months ago, and sent to Texas.
As it was hoped that it would be ratified in January he
trusted that be should soon be able to lay before the
House some further information on the subject.
Mr. O'CONNELL said that under these circum-
stances he should postpone his motion with respect to
Texas until that day fortnight. He would also alter
the form of his motion, and would moye for, information
with respect tD the relations of this country with Mexico
and Texas. The Hon. Gentleman also gave notice
that on the same day he would move for returns of the
number of stamps issued to newspapers, with a view
of showing the frauds that had been committed.

On the motion of Mr. HUME, certain returns rela-
tive to the General Post-office were ordered.
CANADA.
Mr. PAKINGTON, before the regular business
of the House proceeded, wished to put a question to
the Secretary of State, for the Colonies. It would be
in the recollection of that Noble Lord that on the
29th of January in the last Session certain ordinances
passed by the Governor and Council of Lower Canada
were laid on the table of the House ; now, what he
wished to know was, whether among those ordinances
was the one for the incorporation of the Seminary of
St. Sulpice. He also wished to know whether the
ordinances laid on the table had been printed.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that among the
ordinances laid on the table on the 29th of January in
the last Session, was the ordinance with respect to the
Seminary of St. Sulpice. As to the printing of the
ordinances, he believed it was not only unusual, but con-
trary to Act of Parliament.
Sir R. PEEL wished to know from the Noble Lord
whether he had received any despatches from Canada
of a later date than those laid on the table last Session ?
Lord J. RUSSELL—Yes,
Sir R. PEEL, such being the case, wished to
know whether any had been received relative to the
union of the two Caoadas ? With respect to printing
the ordinances, he believed it could not be objected to.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL thought nothing could be
expected more than the production of the ordinances
as they arrived. With respect to the Right Hon.
Gentleman's question, he had only to say that he had
received within the last two days a despatch from
the Governor-General of Canada, informing him that
some difficulty had occurred in the consummation of
the Udon. But it was hoped that the measure would
be completed by the Bth or 9th of February. There
was no objection to lay that despatch upon the table.
There were also some despatches relating to emigra-
tion, which it was his intention to lay before Parliament.
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (IRE-
LAND).
Mr. SHAW begged to ask the Noble Lord the Se-
crefary for Ireland, whether it was intended to intro-
duce into the Bill for the better administration of the
law in Ireland, an assimilation of the salaries and
superanuation allowances of officers of the superior
Courts in that country to those in England ?
Lord MORPETH replied that it was his wish to
assimilate the Courts in the two countries as much as
possible ; but some inquiry was necessary before he
could be prepared to assimilate the salaries and super-
annuations of the officers of the Courts.—(Hear.)
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.

In answer toe question from Lord MAHON,
Lord PALMERSTON stated that he would to-
morrow be prepared to give information respecting the
present state of the negotiations on the subject of inter-
national copyright.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
The Members of the General Committee of the
House on Election Petitions, came to the table and
were sworn.
CLAIMS OF CAPTAIN SNOW HARRIS.
Lord ELIOT trusted he would receive the in-
dulgence of the House while he called its attention to a
subject in which much interest was generally
felt. It might be recollected that a Commission
had sat in April, 1839, to inquire into the
merits of the plan of Captain Snow Harris for the pro-
tection of ships from the effects of lightning. That
Commission was appointed at the suggestion of the
Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth, and
many scientific gentlemen were examined before it. The
Report of that Commission concluded in the following
tenms:--

Having now completed our remarks on the several
points to which their Lordships' Instructions directed our
attention, we trust we have shown from the evidence of
facts, derived from the experience of many years, as well
as by the opinions, not only of scientific but of professionalmen, the efficacy of Mr. Harti,'s Lightning Conductors;
and considering the number of lives which have been lost
by lightning; the immense amount of property which bas
been destroyed, as shown by Mr. H ari is, and is still ex-
posed without adequate protection ; the inconvenience
which has arisen, and is still liable to arise, from the
loss of the services of ships at moments of great and
c itical importance; the difficulty of procuring new spars
in times of war on foreign stations (not to mention
the great expense of wages and victuals for the crews
of ships while rendered useless till repaired); we again
beg leave to att., our unanimous opinion of the
great ru?vatiOges possessed by Mr. Harti-s's plan above
tJeTy other plan, diFordiag permat.e,.t ~cerrity e.t ell times,
and under all circumstances, against the injurious effects
of lightning, effecting this protection without any !untied

Inconvenience or scientific objection whatever ; and we,
therefire, most earnestly recommend their general adop-
tion in the Royal Navy."
Having brought the subject last year before the House,
he felt it to be his duty to inquire from the Admiralty
wbat steps have been taken in consequence of that re-
commendation. If be bad been rightly informed, the
Admiralty did net consider the experiments which
bai lately been mae'e, with uniform success, in
the opinion of all naval and scent'fic man,
were suffic:e,t, but they were prepared to enter
upon a new course of experiments, they having, as he
be;:eved, adapted Mr. Harris's conductors to some
ships, but they had withdrawn the plan altoget'afr from
the superintendence of the inventor. A considerably
larger expense had the-efore been occasioned than
if Mr. Harris had had the superintendence
of it, besides the injustice inflicted on that individual
by depriving him of the advantage which was given to
every inventor of superintending his own invention.
They had likewise provided a large number of her
Majesty's ships with Mr. Edge's plan, which
had been pilfered from Mr. Harris's. If the
Admiralty herd teat the experiment had not
been fully tried, he should have a strong case against
them. Something had been said on the ground of the
expense ; that subject, however, had been ful y dealt
with by the Commissioners. He would not advert to
it further at present, re crying to himself the right to go
into the que,tiou in his reply, if that argument should
be made use of in opposition to this motion. The
Commissioners had stated it as their opinion that no solid
objection had been urged on that head. Undoubteely
the expense of the improved conductors would be
somewhat greater than by the present inefficient
conductors now in use ; but when they considered
the cost of a line-of battle ship, which amounted
to upwards of 100,0001.,, and the possible loss
of life which might happen in consequence
of her being struck with lightning, be thought they
would be of opinion that 3001eyea not ara
_cneemereee
!urn-.to be -firadaii -ii"--ettc eat conductor.--(Cheers.)
That was the extreme sum which it would cost, and
for that cost the conductor would be appl cable for an
unlimited period, and might afterwards be sold for old
copper, so that the actual expense would net amount
to that sum.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Report had as-
signed to a Gallant Admiral, whom he did not
then see in his place, and whose absence he regretted,
as he had hoped to have seen.him on that occasion, the
future command of her Majesty's fleet in the MeditT-
ranean, and if that should be the case what woul4 be
that gallant officer's felling when the thunder should
be roaring around him, when his ships should be ex-
posed to the raging of the elements, while his gallant
sa lors trembled for their safety—what would be his
feelings of regret that prejudices and jealousy
should have prevented his enjoying that safety which
might have been afforded him. He (Mr. S. Harris)
was not unknown in the scientific world. It am
one of his papers that had led to the formation of the
new compass nsw in use in her Majesty's service.—
(Hear, bear.) 'He (Lord Eliot) held in his hand papers
which t t gentleman had contributed to philosophical
w . He had devoted a large portion of his time and
commouabihties to the prosecution of these researches,
and in doing so he had brought to light a means of
securing to the Navy of England one of the most for-
midable engines of warfare. He had been subjected
to an examination before the Committee of the Royal
Society, consisting of such men as Wollestop, Davy,
Young, and many others, whose names he could men-
tion, and after the full and satisfactory experi-
meats which had been made it was rather
hard that when he came to the Admiralty and
asked, not for large grants of money, but for a rea-
sonable and fair compensation for his labour and ex-
pense, the Admiralty should turn upon him and say
" We admit that you have the merit of drawing atten-
tion to the subject, but we do not admit that you
have any other merit whatever." It appeared to
him (Lord Eliot) tl at this was not only a cruel but an
unjust thing. It was but a few nights since that a pen-
sion was proposed to be granted to a distinguished
officer in her Majesty's service—a pension of no incon-
siderable amount. That night they had a notice on
the paper of a proposition for erecting a monument
at the public expense for Sir Sidney Smith. God for-
bid that he (Lord Eliot) should grudge any re-
ward to the living; or any honour to the dead, if,
they had deserved well of their country ; but he did not
think that the facts of science or the triumph of philo-
sophy were to be held as of no account. Nor did he think

.
that Hon. Gentleman opposite would entertain that
seatiment.—(Hesr, hear.) Many liberal rewards had
been dealt out to literary and scientific individuals. He
had a list in his hand of gentlemen who had been thus
selected for reward by her Majesty's Government ;
and though he would not mention any individual on
that I.st, or make any invidious comparison, he
believed that on that fiat there was no man
who was more richly entitled to such a re-
ward than the gentleman whose claims he was en-
deavouring to advocate. He would not detain the
House any longer at present. He had endeavoured
very succinctly, and as shortly as the case would admit,
to lay before the House the exact state of the ques-
tion. The motion which be had made was not one
he believed that would meet with any opposition on
the part of her Majesty's Government.. It was simply
for information as to whether any and what means
had been taken for giving effect to that recommendation.
He continued fervently to hope that Hon. Gentlemen
on both side, however they might differ in other
respect,, would take this opportunity of expressing to
the Government, and of making known to the country,
their decided opinion that the navy of this country
ought no longer to be deprived of this means of protec-
tion. If the statement of the Hon. Gentleman opposite
should render it necessary for him to advert more in det
to the papers with which he was provided, he trusted
that the House would be good enough to listen to him.
The Noble Lord concluded by moving " That an
humble Address be presented to her Majesty, praying
that she will be graciously pleased to direct that this
House be informed whether any and what measures
have been taken for giving effect to this 'recommenda-
tion."

On the question being put,
Mr. MORE O'FERRALL rose and said that no
forcible objection existed against the motion of the
Noble Lord, nor would there have been much occasion
for his (Mr. O'F.'s) rising, if the Noble Lord did not
seem to imply in his speech that considerable blame at-
tached to the Admiralty in this matter. There was
great merit due to Mr. Snow Harris for the exertions
which he had made, during the last 15 or 16 years,
to draw the attention of her Majesty's Government to
the danger to which ships were exposed by lightning ;
and not only for calling the attention of Government to
that subject, but for his writings and his lectures to sea-
men who bad particularly strong prejudices against
having lightning conductors attached to ships. It was
owing also to the exertions of Mr. Harris, that the
Commission was appointed to inquire into that im-
portant subject. The House should bear in recol-
lection that ships having the most imperfect conduc-
tors escaped. When the Report was referred to the
Admiralty, it became matter of consideration there
whether a cheaper plan—and one equally good as
recommended—might not be provided. It there-
fore became the duty of the Admiralty to sup-
ply the deficiency of the Commission, and that was
whether a system might not be adopted avoiding all
the evils of the old conductors ; and, by reference to
the Report of the Commissioners on their assembling,
Mr. Snow Harris laid a system before them of the amount
of the costs of the different lightning conductors, and
he bad stated that a conductor for a first-
rate would cost 3501. Now scientific gentlemen had
ascertained that the size of the conductors could
be reduced, and by which the expense would be lessened
to about 2461. ; since then other discoveries had been
made, by which it was found they might be further re-
duced to 2191. The Board of Admira'ty, before decid-
ing upon Mr. Snow Harris's conductors, wished to see
if they could not adopt some mode by which they might
avoid the evils of the old conductors, and they adopted
part of the French plan, part of Mr. Snow Harris's, and
Mr. Edge's. It bad since been discovered teat it was
not necessary to introduce any of Mr. Snow Harris's
plan ; and the plan which was now adopted by the
Admiralty would cost only 621., and be far more
effective. He was willing to admit, that the Admi-
ralty would be to blame, if, after the Report of the
Commission, they bad adopted any system which en-
dangered her Majesty's ships. In the course, however,
which they had pursued, they had taken care to pursue
such a plan as would not have that effect. With regard
to the reward Mr. Snow Harris was entitled to, he con-
fessed that he met that subject with much difficulty.
If every successful inventor were to be rewarded, there
would be no end to the claims that would be pressed
upon that House. The amount allowed to the Ad-
miralty for the purpose of rewards was limited to
2,000/. ; and if they ultimately adopted a part of Mr.
Harris's plan, he would be entitled to a portion of
that sum.—(Hear, hear.) But, according to his own
estimate of his claims, if they gave him the whole sum
it would be only one-seventh or one-eighth of what lie
considered himself entitled to.—(Hear, hear.) If that
gentleman's plan were found to be the best, it would
be the duty of the person holding his (Mr. O'F.'s.)
office to come down to the House and move for an
adequate reward.—(Hear, hear.) But whilst the
experiment vas still proceeding, for the purpose of
determining whether the expenditure should be 262/.
per ship, or 62/., it would be premature on hit part to
say tout Mrt Harris was entitled teethe ve-y large re •
ward which was claimed for him.—(Hear, bear.)

Lord INGRESTRE said that after the clear, dis-
tinct, and unanimous Report of the Commissioners, he
did not understand why there was any hesitation on
the part of the Admiralty, in giving a fair trial
to this scientific inventioo.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
(The Noble Lord then read an extract from the Re-
port, in which the Commissioners- pronounced their
unanimous opinion in faroor of the invention, and affirm-
ing its superiority over every other in ell circumstances,
and recommending its adoption in the Royal Navy.]
He would tonture to say that the conductors generally
used in the Ro'yal Navy were comparatively useless, and
the lives of the men Were consequently endangered by
them. Then with regard id the expenae of Mr. Harris's
Our, he did not think that a feat hundred pounds, more
of hss; wits to be put in cOMpetition with the
loss of the Vessels and the Eves of her Majesty's seamen.
Why it did not amount to 6d. per cent. upon the pro-
perty in the way of an insurance. He did not think
the objection of the Hon. Secretary rvf the Admiralty at
all Alit!, and he could not help thinking that there was
some under current working against Mr. Snow Harris,
which could not bear exposure to the light of day. He
had a letter which had been nddressed by Mr. Harris to
the Lords of the Admiralty on the subject, and
ti,e reply was rather a caustic one. it was t)
the eff(!ei that the Lords of the Admiralty,
dthough trilling to admit that he had the
merit of directing publie attention to the subject,
of pretesting injury to ship tr 7 lightning, yet did
not think him entitled to cornpenraiiou. Now,
instead of Mr. Harris having directed attention
to the .stihjects he hid shown that he had brought
the invention to a state of perfection, and he
must say that it was a bad cta7 to treat men who had
devoted their time, their energieg: aed their talents to
any new and important discov,:ry. ne thought it was
easy to see that there were persons who bad more
powerful friends and greater political influence at the
Board of Admiralty, and that would account for their i
• plus beinoia the- coursed adoptions, Unfortunately for
Mr. Harris, he thought it his duty, in exercising his fran-
chise, not tq support the views of her Majesty's present
Government, and thus an invention of considerable im-
portance to the country was marred by political dislike.
He was glad the Hon. Gentleman had no intention of
opposing the motion of his Noble Friend, and he
trusted the result would be the placing the merits of
Mr. Harris's invention in its proper light before the
public.

- Mr. WARBURTON said, that there were two
questions raised by the motion. The first was, why
after so very decis;ve a Report. on the merits of Mr.
Harris's invention, as appeared on the face of the docu-
ment, tl.e invention had not been generally adopted
fur ships of the Navy ; and the second was, why,
after such a Report es that, Mr. Harris had not
received any compensation. When the question
had been last bgore the House, there had not been a
doubt rased as to the expediency of using metallic
conductors in order to avert the danger to vessels
from lightning. The only question was, as to the
particular merits of the contrivance of Mr. Harris at
all times and under all circumstances ; and that was the
only matter referred to the consideration of the Commis-
sion. It appeared, however, that the Commission had also
examined other contrivances having the same object in
view, and that Mr. Harris's invention was ascertaired
to be superior to every other. The Secretary to the
Admiralty had told them that there were cthcr plans

which had been subsequently taken into consideration
by the Admiralty, and some of those had been thought
capable of supplying the place of Mr. Harris's inven-
tion. The Hon. Member the Secretary to the Admiralty
went further, for he throw doubts upon the value of
metallic conductors, for he said there had been a parti-
cular ship, with a metallic conductor, struck uy light-
ning, and that conductor: was melted, while another
ship, not defended by a metal conductor, was struck and
escaped.—(No, no.)
Mr. MORE O'FERRALL had said that light-
ning having struck a vessel defended by an iron con-
ductor no damage had ensued.
Mr. WARBURTON said, that such a circumstance
could prove nothing in the case. Many ships without
metallic conductors had escaped, but that did not mi-
litate against the value of the invention. Much, no
doubt depeneed on the magnitude of the current of
lightning ; and that should be taken into consideration
in any experiment by the Admiralty. It was now as-
certained that Mr. Harris's was a succe'sful plan—that
both in point of experience and scient;fic adaptation, it
deserved to be generally introduced into the Navy ; no
further delay was required, and Mr. Harris ought to
be reasonably compensat,ad for his invention.—(Hear,
hear, hear.) He should like to know whether the
other new experiments alluded to by the Hon. Secre-

tary had been referred to the same Commission, for
that would be the proper way of treating Mr. Harris.
—(Hear, Lear.) He thought the Noble Lord had
quite made out his ease, and some reasonable compen-
sation ought to be made. The adaptation of metallic
conductors ought to be introduced into the Navy, at
any rate for the present.
Sir It. PEEL wished to say a few words, as the
Commission, he believed, had certainly originated at his
suggestion, for he thought that a Commission of scier.-

tifieand naval men would form the best tribunal to

judge of the comparative advantages or disadvantages o
the plan. No doubt it was quite open to the Govern.
went at the time to have objected to the Commission

but when they had undertaken to appoint a Commis-
sion, and they themselves had the exclusive nomination
of the persons appointed, he would not say they were

conclusively bound to act upon the recommendation' of
the Committee, but they were bound to show a very
strong case why the recommendation of that Committee

should not be adopted. It did appear to him that that
department was taking upon itself a very great respon-
sibility, by refusing to adopt the conclusions of the

Com Mission. Nothirg could be more conclusive than

the Report presented by an officer, whose scientific skill
and nautical experience were known and appreciated by
all, he meant Captain Fitzroy.—(Cheers.) That gal-
lant officer had reported the result of his experiments
on board the Beagle ; she was a small vessel, which during
five years had been cruising on every variety of coast,
exposed to all varieties of climate and to every variety
of weather. That gallant officer in his report to the Lords
of the Admiralty st ited that the Beagle had sailed on
her last voyage in 1831, that she had been at sea for
five years exposed to every variety of climate—that she
had been fitted up with Mr. Snow Harris's lightning
conductors—that she had been frequently exposed to
lightning, but had never received any damage, although
it had been supposed that she had been struck on two
occasions—that on each occasion a hissing sound had
been heard proceeding down the masts, and a tremu-

lous motion.of the ship had been experienced, indi7

eating that something extraordinary had occurred, and
that if allowed a choice he would always prefer haring

a ship fitted up with Mr. Snow Harris's Conductors to

one without—(Hear, bear)—and that even in such
small spars as the royal masts of the Beagle the plates

of copper had been found to increase their strength
rather than otherwise.—(Loud cheering.) The Ad-
miralty had been withheld from adopting this plan by

motives of economy solely ; these motives were, he

would admit, on ordinary occasions, very laudable, but un-

der the circumstance of the present case he thought the
Lords of the Admiralty were taking upon themselves
a very heavy responsibility. The Hon. Gentleman
had stated that the sole object of the Lords of the Ad-
miralty bad been to endeavour to find a conductor, if
possible, at a less expense ; but the Commissioners had
stated that they had examined all the other conductors,
and that Mr. Snow Harris's possessed a decided supe-
riority over them all. The Hon. Gentleman had not

.
referred to that part of the Report. They stated not
only their entire approval of the plan of Mr. Harris,
but they stated that the result of their experiments had
been to prove decidedly the great advantage of Mr.
Harris's plan above every other plan that had been pro-
posed. Such was the expression used, and it did,
therefore, appear to him that the Admiralty, unless
they could show some conclusive evidence to the con-
trary, were bound to adopt the recommendation
of the Commission. Upon the subject of compensation
he should reFervc his opinion, but looking at the secu•
rity of the navy, he thought the expenses suggested
ought to be incurred.
Sir THOMAS COCHRANE observed that none
were so much aware of the importance of the measure
as those who had been at sea, and had witnessed the
effects of the absence of efficient conductors. From the
want of those valuable instruments one single flash of
lightning might send hundreds to an untimely grave.
Tue Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of the ACirriralty
had mentioned the case of a New York packet, which
had encountered a thunder-storm, she placed her conduc-
tor, and she was struck with lightning ; the conductor
was fused by the lightning, and the vessel escaped. lie
(Sir Thomas Cochrane) had no doubt that that con-
ductor was one of those suited to a man-of-war ; now,
he would ask what would be the condition of that
packet if it unfortunately met with another thunder-
storm ; anti such was frequently the case ? Vessels of
war were often left in stations where thunder-storms
were not once, twice, or three times in succession to be
met with, but much more more frequently. In the
case to which allusion had been made, that vessel
might have been exposed to a second thunder-storm,
and if it unfortunately had been, it would have been in
all probability destroyed ; whereas, the conductor re-
commended by Mr. Snow Harris was calculated to
guard azainst the danger of lightning, without injury
being possibly sustained by itself. The Noble Lord
stated, that, in placing the conductors according to the
system now in use, accidents of a serious nature fre-
quently occurred. The Noble Lord bad stated so

M,
lightning At:g
stor
was, on bringing;it pT
tuopboraingdec_,
nearly killed. It often happened thus that life was
lost, and sot only that, but also the ship was liablsa to
be destroyed. The Hon. Baronet here proceeded to
show that the plan recommended by scientific MCLI3,
who had taken every means to prove the superiority oil
Mr. Harris's conductor ever that of any other, ought;
to be adopted in preference to that recommended in a.
report coming from ships which were in a distant part
of the world, and which might not be placed in circum-
stances of the most imminent danger.
Sir R. INGLIS said, that as this was a question
wholly unconnected with party polities, he was glad
that all persons on that side of ,the House, except the
Secretary to the Admiralty, concurred in the claims of
Mr. Harris, to which he hoped the House woulli accede.
Slr C. LEMON said that the Secretaries of the .Ad-
miralty were at variance, one of them having stataid to
Mr. Harris that he need not expect compensation. .1t
was in vain to deny to Mr. Harris the merits of tire
invention ; he need only refer to the number of papers:
published by him, and to the rewards conferred on him.
by the Royal Society, to establish that fact. The
Hon. Secretary informed him that the reward was
withheld, because the experiments had not yet been
deemed satisfactory; but be would beg the House to
consider what was the state of the case. About. 20"
years 'ago Mr. Harris published his plan, and no ins-
provement or alteration had been effected in it, which
was adopted by the Admiralty 10 years ago ; and it
was only when Mr. Harris called upog them for com-
pensation that these new improvements were suggested
and brought to light, the only object of which could be
to dispute his claim to the reward to which he was en-
titled. A t the time Mr. Harris laid his plans before
the Government, he was told that they might or might
not succeed,—that he must wait, till it was ascertained
by experiment whether they would succeed or not. Tha
experiment had lasted upwards of 10 years. Mr. Harris had
teen out of pocket 3,0001. and 2,000/. on account of
the Government. The Hon. Secretary now turned
round upon Mr. Harris, and said he must wait until a
series of experiment., carried on perhaps for ten years
more, would enable them to judge of the efficiency of
the Oar:. Now he should like to ask the House how
the case would stand supposing Mr. Harris had takers
out (as he had an undoubted right to do) a pateLt tO,
protect his invention i Would not all the recent im-
speossements he considered (and justly so) an infrivge-
ment open his invention Mr. Harris might have pre-
vented the gentlemen from adopting the present plan
without giving him compensation.—(Hear.) He (Sir
C. Lemon) had felt pride and pleasure in supporting
the Government in the encouragement of science ;
bnt he regretted that their treatment of Mr. Harris was
calculated to act as a discouragement to ingenious men.
—(Hear.) He sincerely hoped the Admiralty would
let the House know at once whether they intended or
not to acknowledge that gentleman's claims for ten
years' assiduous services.
Captain A'COURT was astonished that the Admi-
ralty hesitated one moment in adopting a plan which
had been recommended by such high authority,—
(Hear, hear.) They would incur a heavy responsibility
if they did not immediately introduce it into every ship
in the navy.—(Hear.)
Admiral ADAM said that his Gallant Friend oppo-
site went further than Mr. Harris himself; the latter
gentleman requiring no more than the gradual introduc-
tion of his plan into her Majesty's ships.—(Hear, hear.)
For his part he had no objection to see full justice done
to Mr. Harris ; for though economy was a good thing,
he admitted that it ought not to be put in opposition to
any reasonable claim. Mr. Harris, however, required
a :sum of 7,000/. as a compensation for the loss of his
time and his labour. The answer of the Admiralty
was, that though the invention was a valuable one, they
did not think it worth 7,000/. They stated at the
same time, that Mr. Harris had done considerable good
by directing attention to the subject ; but every one
must still have known that after the researches of
Franklin, the plan could not be considered
altogether an invention. The Noble Lord, the
Member for Staffordshire, had said that there was some
under-current—that there were some print, rnctives—
for the conduct of the Government in legdrd to Mr.
Harris. Now he (Admiral Adam) could assure the
House that he never knew how Mr. Harris voted at
elections either at Plymouth or at Devonport ; and
more than that, he had letters from his friends at De-
vonport, recommending Mr. Harris's plan for adoption.
Mr. COLLYER said that the motion had his entire
coneurreece.

Lord SANDON protested against the principle
adopted by the Admiralty of waiting for multiplied ex-
periments before they decided on the claims- of an indi-
vidual.

Mr. M. O'FERRALL said that the Admiralty ha&
only followed the usual practice on such subjects. He
would tike the opportunity of saying that the plan of
Mr. Harris, and that of wire ropes now in use. were
both equally efficient ; and the only question that re-
mained to be decided was whether they could be applied
with equal facility.
Lord ELIOT replied, the Hon. and Gallant Admi-
ral had stated that he thought 7,000/. would be an ex-
orbitant remuneration. He (Lord Eliot) was not pre-
pared to say what amount of compensation ought to be-
given, but he thought it would be but fair if the Hon.
and Gallant Admiral would say what be considered
would be a fair and proper remuneration.—(Hear.)
The Noble Lord, in conclusion, expressed the great sa-
tisfaction it had afforded him to witness the unanimity
of the House upon this subject, and he trusted that
unanimity would compel the Admiralty to turn their
attention to it —(Hear, hear.)
The motion was then agreed to.
POOR-LAWS.
Colonel SIBTHORP postponed his motion for the
evidence taken before the Coroner for the county of
Middlesex, relative to certain cases connected with the
administration of the Poor-law.
COUNTY CORONERS.
Mr. PAKINGTON, in moving for leave to bring
in a Bill to alter the mode of electing county coroners,
expressed his regret that her Majesty's Government had
not thought it right to take up the subject. Nobody
could deny that the mode of taking elections under the
Reform Bill was very advantageous, and he proposed
that the elections for county coroners should be taken
in the same manner. He proposed, by his Bill, that
the counties should be divided into a number of
districts in proportion to the number of coroners
in those counties—that the election should be
held for each coroner only in the district in which he
waa to act, and that the election should be taken in one
day. These were the alterations he proposed with re-
gard to the mode of taking the election. But he also
thought it was desirable that some alteration should
take place in the constituencies by which coroners were
now elected. Every gentleman who had given the least
attention to the subject, must know that very great
abuses, and very great frauds were practised under the
existing system. Every freeholder was now entitled to
vote, but he believed it was merely by custom, for there
had been no distinct law or statute defining the consti-'
tuency. In a late election of coroner for the county of
Shropshire, between 30,000 and 40,000 persons
voted, when it was well known that there was nothing
like that number of freeholders in the county.—(Hear,
bear.) He proposed that the registry of Parliamentary
electors should be the registry of electors for county
coroners. It was his desire to limit the Bill as
nearly as he could to those objects. At the
same time, there were other evils which it
would be desirable to have remedied. One was the
inability of county coroners to hold inquests in detached
parts of other counties, near their own localities. In
some cases great expense was incurred, in others the
important object of holding inquests on dead bodies was
defeated altogether. He, therefore, proposed that
county coroners should have the right to hold inquests
in detached parts of counties, adjacent to the counties
in which they acted. It would also be desirable that
some rule should be laid down with regard to the right
of allowance established in certain cases. Thesewere
the principal alterations proposed by his Bill, and
which
he begged to move for leave to bring in.the
motion.
election of coroner,
Mr. Sergeant JACKSON seconded
some
Mr. HUME did not doubt but that regula-
tionsnami naming the
wictooneosntnitotuatenenfier lmee ctißo ni footingt, of coroner
aochsoi ohohnve emrcowune
deprivedtr
county
all
with regard to theesfaomer
ne-
cessary, but he could not rr"tehneeasure for
any such limitation. The
and placing it
con-
stituency under the
freeholders, under the value of 405., of the right of
all i
ofn
thet h
at-
tempts
fvroetviinlogider to the smallest possible amount had now the
right of voting for coroner, and the life of the poorest
mail, or the vote of the smallest freeholder, was of equal
uc r ee s t t stage, mangei n,
Be
rvoai umeMrb..wu
sait with
teHhhr
narrowing
wrsaerhnoootulwui
jl life or
goocpnrt
oppose,
otevss
ooecotp,
oepinNnosost
eieft
constituency.
tehruhnyeaechfyutr.
bringingti
the public were
under great obligations to his Hon. Friend for having
brought forward the subject. The same evils were felt
in Ireland in the eleef ons for coroner. An enormoes
expense was entailed on the candidates in consequence
of the enormous extent of the constituency, and as there
was no registry there was no check whatever upon
fraud. He hoped his Hon. Friend would extend his
measure to Ireland.—(Mr.Pakington here expressed his
dissent.) He bad hoped that such would have been the
case, and in that hope had seconded the motion. The
giving the franchise to the 40s. freeholders was surely
going low enough, and if the constituency was narrowed
on the one hand by the exclusion of freeholders under
40 it would be enlarged on the ether by the admis-
sion of the leaseholders, who possessed the franchise
under the Reform Bill, and who were a better class of
constituents. It would be a great advantage to have
the voters registered, as candidates could then tell ex-
actly who would have to be brought up to the poll—
there would be an effectual check offered against fraud.
He trusted the Bill would meet with no opposition.
Mr. WARBURTON would not oppose the bring-
ing in of the Bill ; as far as it afforded great facilities

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