The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-13 00:00:00

TELE

„..:obtained the fide of Captain, he was entitled to rank
;'_l' Ice Colonels of the other regiments. It was against
__bill' system that he (Mr. Williams) entered his protest
a Protest that was of double force in the present cir-
4,,agances.fthe country.
Present
PECHELL referred to the naval force at
Pre sent employed on the coast of Africa, for the sup-
pression of the slave trade, which was alleged to he
combined with the American and the French navies, for
_s°a t purpose, and thought that it was extraordinary, to
say the least of it, that no documents had been laid
before the House, to show how this object was carried
out, and whether an irregularities had .eiqen from joint
captures by the three countries. Consider the arduous
tintless and the fearful risk of life whiee o e officers
and men on that station had to undergo, he could nut
conceal
his indignation at the wholesale system of
pursued by the
plunder which was Admiralty Court. at
the Cape, when called upon to adjudicate upon the prize-
looney which was due to them—the produce of the
"tared slave vessels. He found that in a recent case
rthis kind, a slave ship, the Diana, captured by one of
sr Majesty's ships, sold for 559/. From this sum
't,3l- 17s. was deducted by the Admiralty Court, leaving
).,* captors only for their share 285/. 3s. The Hon. and
$e
Member instanced other cases of the same kind.
called on the Secretary of the Admiralty to see to
these things, and to put matters in such a train that
justice would be done to those men who risked their
Yes in their country's service, on this pestilential coast.
Mr. WARD said that with respect to the first obser-
vation of the Hon. and Gallant Member, no joint cap-
tures had yet been made by the ships of the three
cations employed on the coast of Africa, and as re-
garded the system pursued by the Vice-Admiralty Court
Lit the Cape, he could assure the Hon. and Gallant
Member, and his assertion would be borne out by his
had
and Gallant Friend beside him, that no complaints
cad reached this country of mismanagement in the busi-
Ilesa of these Courts. It was the desire of the Govern-
ment that every precaution should be adopted to preserve
the health of the officers and men employed on the coast
of Africa, and for that purpose steamers were employed
for the purpose of entering and exploring the rivers, and
such preventatives, against the influence of the climate as
experience dictated, had been adopted. He could assure
the lion. and Gallant Member that the circumstances
Which he had brought under the notice of the House
should have the utmost attention from the Government.
SUPPLY.
The House then went into Committee.
Mr. WARD said, that after the lengthened observa-
tions which had been made that night, and the discus-
sion which had already taken place on the naval estimates,
he did not intend to occupy their time, but would con-
tent himself by simply moving the remaining votes.
On the motion that 42,2701. he granted for the wages
of artificers and labourers employed in dockyards abroad,
Mr. WILLIAMS said it appeared to him that the
naval department of the public service required more
looking into than any other, and seeing the great increase
from year to year, he had looked into the estimates for
the last fourteen years, and found that in the course of
that time the sum of 22,800,000/. had been expended in
the dockyards, including the building and repairing ships,
and purchase of stores. The country ought to be satis-
fied as to what had become of these enormous sums.
The Hon. Member then referred to a letter which ap-
peared yesterday in the columns of a morning paper,
signed J. Ryder Burton—an officer of judgment and ex-
perience, pointing out that unless the Admiralty arrested
the progress of the ships now building, it would be found
that they would be totally unfit to maintain their position
as blockading ships, or fight their guns in bad weather,
with a heavy sea; and complained that the Government
persevered in building those ships, notwithstanding the
evidence they had received on the subject from naval and
scientific men. He had thought it necessary to make
these remarks; but he confessed he had no hope of being
able to procure a reduction in the estimate this year.
Lord INGESTRIE must also add a hope that here-
after these estimates would be as much as possible eco-
nomised consistent with the due maintenance of the effi-
ciency of the service. He was rejoiced to see that the
Admiralty had improved the sytem of promotion in the li
dock-yards, and he sincerely trusted the Admiralty would
Dot relax their efforts to encourage and advance the naval
architecture of the country. lie should be glad to hear
from some Member of the Admiralty what was doing
With that &ass of ship known as the Albion class?
A variety of experiments had recently been made with
respect to the merits of different ships, and he had never
Seen the report made by Admiral Sir H. Parker
c the first experimental squadron. He thought it of
the greatest importance that all the information that
couldu be obtained on these points should be laid before
house. His position was that there were scien-
tific men available at the present moment who were able
to build better ships than the present surveyors. It was
certain that the steam vessels built by the present sur-
leyors were very defective in their construction. A
Committee had been appointed in 1844 to investigate
tn_e, merits of the different ships in the navy
and he wished to know if that analysis, which
fe, believed had been a careful one, would be
'ail?, before the House. He hoped some tribu-
SI would be established by which real merit would be
encouraged. As the first maritime nation in the world, theyought to have the best navy in the world, and this
could only be done by calling into requisition the scien-
tific resources of the nation. Before he sat down, he
Wished to know if any ships had been sent to make a
surrey of the coast of New Zealand ?
Mr. WARD said it would be to no purpose to expect
anything like an unanimous opinion with respect
t° the ”
merits of the Albion class of vessels. There
""e as much cl. •
..es • diversity of opinion with regard to
authtp•bu Partisansi 1 dmg ,as there was with regard to religion ; and
of each system were quite es zealous in the
OPagationof their views, as the adherents of each re-
eoutlx
,et_mt. In reply to the lion. Member's question,
lie would say that he did not know
that there was any
intention of
He
felt Admiralty of establishing the screw
very. much obliged to the Hon.
Member for his scutusestions, many of which had proved
most valuable.—
Sir C. NAPIE r, hear.)
last opened its R was eery glad that the House had at
do so for the laNys' for he had been endeavouring to
a disgrace tot e eyears. lie did think that it was
used as the AlbionAdmiralty
and to permit such vessels to be
douslAboukir, which rolled tremen-
3, so that under a small weight of canvass they
could not fight
deckers their guns. Now, the three-
which were at present on the stocks, it
Was fair to presume, would roll equally if they were
isbt!ilt upon the plan of the surveyor's iepoit. For the last
fifty years, all the vessels in the navy had been
built uponplan of one or two persons,
whether that the
was right or wrong. The surveyor
ashould only report upon the timber and iron in the
o.7aPsdowanetdi the shipwrights in the different ports should
and the to construct vessels upon their own plans,
a Ywould have better vessels, as they would have
competition between
t them.—Hear, hear.) He did
not allude tos
part of the s !am•vessels, as be had gone over that
the House again—but service so often that he would not trouble
of the ex if they wanted the return,
fectly astounded. astepenses of the Queen's yacht they would be per-
of them they wouldit have to give
They were tremendous. Yet in spite
would votetfoolrneicas in her present one she had to get up
a new one, and he
on a chair out of the windows.
The vote was then agreed to.
a, The next vote was 1,556,498/. for the expenses con-
tingent upon maritime stores.
Mr. HUME said that a great amount of money had
been wasted upon the construction of vessels. He con-
sidered that an enquiry was absolutely necessary.
‘s Such an officer as Sir Wm. Symonds ought to
13 removed, as, since he came into office,
10,000,0001. had been expended upon vessels,
and not one good one had been turned out.
For fifteen years this system of misrule had been carried
on, and he wanted the Government to declare what they
meant to do in redressing these matters. If the Hon.
and Gallant Admiral (Sir C. Napier) would take the
sense of the House on the question, the would certainly
Vote with him on it. If he judged aright of the reports
which had been made to the Admiralty, they all con-
demned, in toto, the system pursued by Sir W. Symonds.
Now, what he wanted the Government to do, was to pro-
duce these reports to the House, and then it would be seen
what was really the truth. It was said that there had
not been a single ship turned out by Sir W. Symonds
but what had cost one-fourth of her original expense in
altering and impr.ving her, to make her fit for service.
Captain BERKELEY did not rise to defend the Ad-
miralty generally. but he rose to defend Sir William
Symonds from the attacks made up.m him. Lle would
call the attention of the House to th, :',et, that both
during the late, as well as the present Aainiralty, the
greatest compliment had been paid that gentleman for
the ships he had constructed. It had been said that he
had turned out no good ships, but, in answer to that, he
would point out the Vernon and Cleopatra, two of the
finest ever launched.
Lord INGESTRE thought there were many things
in the navy that required full inquiry into, and in order
to do so, a Committee ought to be appointed. But it
should be a full and searching inquiry, that all the facts
might be brought out.
Sir C. NAPIER, said he would move, in place of the
sum proposed by the Government, as an amendment,
that it be 1,500,0001. In doing so, he would remark
that in his observations he confined himself to Sir Wil-
liam Symond's line of battle ships alone, and not to his
small vessels or frigates, to which he had paid but little

attention.
Captain PEC HELL defended Sir Wro. Symonds from
the attacks made upon him. During the American war
they endured the greatest mortification, because their
ships did not equal in sailing qualities the ships of their
opponents. But now, thanks to Sir W. Symonds, their I
navy was wonderfully improved in this particular. Let
them compare them with the French navy. Why, Prince
de Joinville, in his report, declared that even a smart
breeze paralysed had' the guns of their three
deckers, and this could scarcely be alleged against
the British ships. lle did not know what was the ob-
ject of the Gallant Admiral in this amendment, but he
(Captain Peehell) for one, would not vote against the
ropes or the canvass, or any other of the naval stores,
merely because he wished to pass some censure on Sir
'William Symonds. While on this subject he would wish
to know what the Government intended to do with a
very valuable invention by a gentleman (:fir. Jet Tray) for
the caulking of ships ? It was a most useful discovery,
and one calculated to save a very great sum to Govern-
ment.
Mr. WARD said that the marine glue had given very
great satisfaction, and he hoped that it would receive
the favourable consideration of the Rouse at some future
period.
Sir C. NAPIER said that lion. Gentlemen seemed to
consider that his amendment was intended as a sort of
censure on Sir W. Sytnonds. He intended it for no-
thing of the kind. All he desired was, to express
bis disapprobation of the manner in which the public
stores had been wasted for years past. He had cer-
tainly expressed his opinion of Sir William Symonds
mode of building ships of the line, but he had done so
candidly and openly. He would not on this oocasion

put :1,., House to the trouble of dividing, if the Secre-
tary to the Admiralty would give the House soin-t hope
that a Committee would be afLerwards appointed to exa-
mine into this subject.
Mr: WARD could not give any hope of the kind.
If the evil existed to which the Gallant Admiral re-
ferred, the present Board of Admiralty would endea-
vour to remedy it, but he saw no necessity for a Com-
mittee. awl he could hold out no promise that such would
he „ppointed.
Tile vote was then agreed to.
A vote of 559,6001. for new works, improvements, and
rep4irs in naval stations was agreed to.
the sum of 22,839/. for medical stores, was also
agreed to.
The sum of 59,8471. for miscellaneous services was
agreed to.
On the vote of 725,7881. to defray the charge of the
half-pay of officers of the navy and maim s,
Mr. lIUME objected to the system of promotion.
He thought that no favour whatever should be ex-
hibited, but that merit alone should be the passport to
promotion.
Admiral DUNDAS defended the course the Govern-
ment adopted, and maintained that they had adhered to
former precedents.
Captain PECIIELL complained that the masters on
board of her Majesty's vessels were not properly con-
sidered. Although they ranked with a lieutenant, they
were subordinate to each of the lieutenants, and in case
of the death or accidental removal of one of the lieu-
tenants, a midshipman would be chosen to supply his
place in the room of any of the masters.
Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY said, that be acknow-
ledged the utility and the claims of the masters, but he
thought that the sphere which they then occupied, was
the best calculated for the display of their powers. The
highest ranks in the service ware still open to them.
After a few words from Captain GORDON and Admiral
DUNDAB,
Sir CHARLES NAPIER said that he could not
agree with his Gallant Friend the Member for Glou-
cester, for he thought that the masters were not
in their proper sphere. They were liable to be under
the command of a mere boy, whose knowledge in the
service could not be compared for a moment with theirs.
He could mention many instances, in which younger and
less experienced individuals had been promoted over the
heads of old officers of this description.
The vote was then agreed to.
A vote of 486,447/. to defray the charges of military
pensions, was then agreed to ; also, a vote of 153,4581.
for civil pensions.
The following votes were also agreed to:—
A vote of 243,2021., to defray the expense of tran-
sports and the conveyance of troops and stores.
A vote of 21,674/., to defray the expenses of main-
taining and conveying convicts.
A vote of 564,3771., for the packet service and Post-
office expenses.
The House then resumed, and Mr. GREENE reported
progress.

ARMY SERVICE BILL
The report of the Army Service Bill was brought up
and received, and ordered to be read a third time on
Thursday next.
HARBOURS, DOCKS, AND PIERS CLAUSES
BILL.
This Bill was read a third time, and passed.
REGISTERING BIRTHS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Captain GORDON trusted the Lord Advocate would
postpone the Registering Births, &c. (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill was postponed.
EXCHEQUER BILLS (18,310,7001.) BILL.
This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed to-morrow, (this day).
PORTLAND HARBOUR OF REFUGE, &c., BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
PAYMENTS OF RATES AND TAXES BY
ELECTORS.
Sir DE LACY EVANS moved for leave
rote bring
in a Bill for the regulation of the paymPnts of re.tes and
taxe4 by Parliamentary eketor,
The other orders of the day Nver, t hen disposed of,
and the House adjourned at a Quart,r vist One o'clock.

How EVIL SHOULD BE TURNED INTO BLESSINGS.
—We have already said that our towns ought to be
looked upon as so many gigantic farmsteads ; that
they should, in fact, bear the same relation to the
surrounding country which the farm-yard does to
the farm. Is it not strange that this obvious ana
logy should have so long escaped notice ? and that
when the proposition is announced, it should sound
stran se in our ears? But so it does, and will continue to
do, till we condescend to pay more attention than we have
hitherto done to the merely physical part of man's com-
pound nature. This body—what is it but a furnace
arts
of
flesh in which, as in other enimal bodies, the watery p
of our food are evaporated, the charcoal burned away,
and the ashes discharged ?—the products of combus-
tion going to reinforce the ocean of aerial manure, the
ashes to be used or wasted as man in his wisdom or foil)
shall decree. That which misses into the air cannot but
be put to its proper use. Nature, who wastes nothing
takes care of that; but man, foolish man! misunderstand-
ing the intent of providence is endowing those ashes with
offensive properties, treats them as mere waste, and is
but too happy if be can see them blackening the pure
stream in their way to the ocean. Or, content
with merely wasting that which ought to be most scru-
pulously saved, he adds to the sin of extravagance the
greater crime of so disposing of these ashes, that they
become the prolific source of disease. Thus, that which
should be the material of food for the support of man's
life, is converted into an active poison for its destruction.
—People's Journal.
THE DUKE'S STATUE AS THE COMMITTEE DESIRED
IT.—The consummation of the Committee's hopes (the
removal of the scaffolding, and a waste of a little more
money), seems likely, if anything in this world can
do a to open their eyes, so long wilfully blinded.
Every spar that is taken down makes the monstrous
disproportion of statue to arch, the former being
looked at as a part of the latter, more evident,
and the height and impropriety of the arch as a pedestal
merely, if it is to be so considered, more glaring. The
proceedings here have been so discreditable to us as a
nation, in an artistical point of view, that we blush when
reflecting on them. How much longer the farce is to be
played seems uncertain. It must be much more to the
amusement of neighbouring nations than ourselves.—
The Builder.
BARRA, SOUTH MST, AND BENBECULA.—We
learn from a private source, that a stringent but neces-
sary measure is to be adopted with respect to the poor
on the estates of Colonel Gordon, of Cluny, in the West
Highlands. The Board of Supervision for the poor, in
Edinburgh, are in course of appointing a commissioner
to proceed to the islands of Barra, South Uist, and Ben-
becula, for the purpose of taking cognisance of the state
of the inhabitants. His object will be to place upon the
poor's roll such persons as are entitled to temporary or
permanent relief, and along with the coremisioner will
be sent a supply of meal and provisions for distribution
among the paupers. The supplies judged necessary by
the commissioner and the additional burden imposed by
the operation of the poor-law will be laid upon the pro-
prietor. According to the statute the commissioner in
such cases must be a member of the Scottish bar, and
we have no doubt a gentleman will be selected who will
arbitrate fairly between the owner and the people of
those islands—between the duties and the rights of pro-
perty.—lnverness Courier.
APRIL iv.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH.—MANCHESTER,
—This morning, about six o'clock, a respectably dressed
man was found in the drain or sewer at the side of the
Liverpool and Manchester Railway, near the Weast-lane
station, quite dead. In his left hand was found a third-
class ticket, from which it appeared that the deceased
was booked at Liverpool for Manchester, and must have
left
.by the third•class train, which leaves Liverpool at
halt- past six P.M. The only way in which this aeciden.
Fan be accounted for is, that the deceased must have
jumped out of the carriage before the train stopped at,
the Wenst-lane station, or that ho was drunk and fell
out. The latter, however, is improbable, as some of hi.
fellow-passengers mu-t have noticed such an event, wh
eii
does not appear to have been the case.
ACCIDENT AT TWICKENHAM.—On Saturday after-
noon Mr. Wakley, M.P., coron..r, held an inquest at the
Prince Blucher Arms, Twickenham-common' on the.
body of Frederick Nicklewright, aged 50 years, bailiff
to Sir William Clay, Bart., MP. From the evidence it
appeared that the deceased hail been in the service of
Sir William Clay for the last twenty years. About four
years ago bir William Clay purchased the property
known as Fulwell Lodge, Twickenham, which consisted
of the mills and a farm. The mills were subscqsently
let, and Sir William Clay placed on the farm a thresh-
ing machine, which was worked by the water-wheel of
the mills. On the morning of Thursday last the de-
ceased went to the premises to set the machine in mo-
tion, and was drawn therein, and before assistance could
be rendered him he was almost literally torn into pieces.
The only person present at the time was a boy of the
name of Brenchley, who hastened for assistance, which
was promptly obtained, but not in time to save de-
ceased's life. When extricated the body presented a
most frightful appearance, the head being cowpletely
severed from the body, the heart, liver, and lungs liter-
ally torn out, and the legs and thighs broken. The evi-
dence clearly showing that no person was to blame but
the deceased himself, the jury returned a verdict of
" Accidental death."
INCREASE IN TUE PRICE OP PROYISIONS.—A con-
siderable advance has taken place within the last week in
the retail prices of butcher's meat, bacon, pork, &c.,
although no visible increase can be perceived in the prices
obtained in the wholesale markets. In Clare-market,
wport- market, Oxford-street, and the vicinities, New-
cut, and Lambeth-walk, the prices usually asked and
obtained are as follows:—Breasts and necks of mutton,
6d. to 60. per lb.; shoulders, 6id.; legs, 7d. to 70. per
lb., being an advance of a penny, and in some instances
0. in the lb. Beef has advanced a penny in the lb.,
and a similar increase has taken place iu dairy-fed and
Berwick pork; the rise in bacon is lid. per lb. American
provisions have also advanced in price, the only article
remaining stationary being cheese. The prices of
vegetables, particularly potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and
turnips, have so much increased, that it is an impossi-
bidty for the poorer classes to purchase; potatoes sell at
2. id. to 3d. per lb.; those at 2d are scarcely edible, and,
in consequence of the quantity obliged to be cut away,
the price is increased to nearly Sd. per lb.
ROYAL COLLEGE OP SURGEONS.—The following
gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations
for the diplomas of this College, were admitted members
at the last meeting of the Court of Examiners, viz.:—
Messrs. Ernest Powell Wilkins, Newport, Isle of
Wight ; Edward Lund, London ; Charles Jones Gihb,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Richard Jones, Brackley, Nor-
thamptonshire ; Claude Mackechnie, St. Kitts, Weil
Indies ; Wm. Edward Hayman, Judd-street, Brunswick-
square;
JGlhlLeominster,
ieaßncithno Richard
p dr
r,
osßuddser, , Painter, Broadway Westminster John ;
Herefordshire.Cl onmel,•
A
andttheWalter,at
ne
B a tt ers he
meetingl
Mr. John Gallagher, a member of the Edinburghsame
Col-
lege, passed his examination for naval surgeon.

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