The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-24 00:00:00

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ME GUNBOAT QUESTION.

The following letters have been addressed to the
Editor of the in; es : _ _

Sir,—Messrs: Greer, through the Times of this
morning, d-'ny that they had two vessels under
construction for the Brazilian Government at the
time they were building the gunboats.
One or two is immaterial. I maintain they ne-
glected the contract entered into with the British
Government to expedite a- contract entered into
with the Brazilian Government. To prevent further
quibble or doubt I shall ask a member of Parliament
to move for copies of the correspondence and reports
that took place on this subject in January, 1853.
Yours obliged, M. F. F. BERKELEY.
32, Lowndcs-square, S.W., May 22.

Sir,—The attention of hon. members of both

ouses of Parliament has been occupied for some

time in listening to speeches relatil7e to decayed
gunboats. It is to be regretted that so much valu-
able time should have been lost in making unquali-

fled aspeisions and casting unjust censure upon a
body of honourable men, who came forward during
the late war and put their shoulders to the wheel
in order to assist Government in their efforts to
bring together as speedily as possible that powerful
arm of the service now under censure.
During the period above alluded to the then ex-
isting Board of Admiralty did their best; the sur-
veyor of the navy and his department did their best ;
the contractors, by exerting themselves to the ut-
most in order to carry out the Admiralty instruc-
tions (regardless of the consequences to their trade
interests through neglecting other work in hand),
did their best ; and " they do say" that the gallant
Sir Charles, who so frequently and impatiently
called for the Mosquito fleet, " did his best."
Now, it would be far better if hon. members, in-
stead of uttering such unmerited censure, were to
pass a vote of thanks to those who, in the hour of
need, so promptly ar.d ably came forward and
acted for the good of their country, especially
when it is remembered that by doing so several
were `ruined. In reading the speeches of some mem-
bers upon the work performed by the contractors, it
is to be regretted that theopinions enunciated should
have been based upon foregone conclusions rather
than upon a knowledge of the facts, and it is really
amusing to notice some of the observations made by
those who are evidently at sea on dry land. Those
who understand the question, and can speak un-
biassed upon it, well know that the gunboats were
admirably adapted to the purposes for ;;hick they
were built; and when an hon. member so anoma-
lously says in one breath that his ship leaked like a
sieve, and yet, at the same time, stunk so from the
retention of bilge water, the public should be
guarded in receiving such statements.
It should not be forgotten that the vessels on
leaving the contractors' hands underwent a strict
overhaul by the proper Government officers prior to
being received. If the sage and veteran Admiral
so energetically deplored the risk his gallant blue-
jackets ran when sailing in contract-built vessels,
how much more must his kind heart and good feel-
ings have been aroused when that celebrated ship
the Sidon bore them during her unsteady evolu-
tions ! It is to be hoped that some member of the
house will call for the returns of building and alter-
ing that renowned craft, when, I apprehend, he will
find that not even Admirals who talk of economy
and cleverness in naval construction can always
bring those desiderata to bear in carrying out their
own designs. Those who most loudly asperse con-
tract-built vessels should remember that during the

Lord Lovaine followed, complaining against a
railway company. for having conveyed 2,000 spec-
tators to see a prize-fight. Lord Palmerston again
took up the gauntlet. With what compunction did
he not own that certainly two men who, without
any ill-feeling between them or wish to kill each
other, had a regular set-to were committing a breach
of the peace, but amateurs who chose to look on
without creating disturbance or damage were no
more culpable than if they were looking at a balloon
, assent ! " They go to see a sight ; they sit upon the
grass ; when it is over they go quietly home, with-
out having given annoyance to any one." What
have you got to say against them ?
We have a crow to pluck with Lord Palmerston;
he need not have mixed us up in the matter, and
appealed, as he did, to our testimony to justify the
mill between Tom Sayers and Heenan. We had al-
ready enough to bear of the scandal we provoked.
As an example, and as a type of the love of English-
men for all manly exercises, we ought to have se-
lected Lord Palmerston himself ; for, as a member
of the House of Commons observed on the same day,
what endears the noble lord to his countrymen so
much is, that he is a real Englishman, and loves all
English national sports; and truly when we read
the tribute of admiration paid by Col. Dickson to
the Champion of England, we" were pnzzled is to
whether it was meant for Tom Sayers or Lord Pal-
merston. Some surprise has been evinced that we
recently drew a comparison between a prize-fight
and politicalconsiderations. One of the most bigoted
journals, L' A ide la Religion, has published a cor-
respondence from London, of which the following
is an extract :
"What astonishes some men is the extreme faci-
lity with which England at the present moment
recedes and becomes the England of other days,
without regard to all the trouble taken to reform
her. Despite Disraeli and his paladins of Young
England, despite Cobden and his bales of cotton,
despite Bright and his peace theories, despite Glad-
stone and his vague, evangelical, humanitary ideas,
the present generation backs, rears, will not advance
with the age, but starts back to the days of yore.
We have a striking proof of it in the recent prize-
fight which so scandalised the French public the
other day. It is nothing more than the awakening of
' the beast' which it was attempted to smother with
money-bags, but which, at a given moment, rises,
stretches itself, and with a terrific roar sends the
vile coin right and left, for the sole pleasure of
being at ease and feeling that it is alive. What-
ever this disgust may cause you, I beg of you,
nevertheless, to take it for what it is—a sign! the
sign of how this nation is bored to death by all the
ultra-civilising notions shouted into its ears for the
last 15 years. Observe that Lord Lovane, in assum-
ing as regards the recent prize-fight the views of
every well-bred man on the Continent, ran foul of
the Englishman of the old school, represented by
Lord Palmerston, Now, the latter, whatever faults
he may have, has always shown himself a perfect
gentleman in word and deed—but he is a thorough-
bred Englishman, an Englishman to the backbone,
and by no means inclined to relinquish the popu-
larity he enjoys at the present moment on that
very account."
We aresurpricd that the journal which published
this correspondence did not add comments of its own.
In what condition, in fact, can a country be when
one of the first claims upon it of a Prime Minister
is his love of horses, as is the case with Lord Derby
and Lord Palmerston ; and what can we think of
a nation which on Wednesday left in the lurch
Garibaldi, the Reform Bill, the Eastern Question,
the Grand Turk, and everything else for Epsom
Downs to ace the Derby ?

long revolutionary war our great battles were fought
by the brave and gallant Nelson, Duncan, St. Vin-
cent, and others, Mostly with contract-built ships ;
constructed by men who then, as now, were always
ready to co-operate with the Government when
justly treated, and who built some 100 sail of the
line between 1793 and 1813.
The false system pursued at Hasler in hauling
up the gunboats to preserve them after they had
been afloat—most of them having been built in
the depth of winter, and having had fires lighted to
get up steam almost immediately after being
launched—has long caused practical man to smile at
the " experiments" of the present day. This
hauling up was done, possibly, with the best inlen-
tion, and with no desire ultimately to reflect dis-
credit on the builders; but who ever heard of such
a scheme bjore, and carried out on such a marshy
spot ? And then boxing the boats up, and fre-
quently lighting fires in them to awe the machinery
from becoming defective ! Why, sir, the course
pursued must have made the place a perfect hotbed
for unseasoned timber to vegetate and for seasoned
to decay. Now, any washerwoman who through
misfortune or illness is unable to wash, and who

puts her tubs high and dry upon the shelf, well
knows she would find them perfectly useless after
a short lapse of time. Gunboats which have been
in commission, and properly taken care of while
afloat, no doubt would require ordinary repairs
after a period of nearly seven years has expired ;
but I question whether, with all the hubbub about
expense, the entire cost of the necessary repairs
would amount to so much as half the sum expended
upon the hauling-up slip and preserving-sheds at
Haslar (for which, by the way, a floating basin
could have been constructed) ; or, at any rate, the
cost would not exceed that of repairing vessels
built in Government yards under similar limita-
tions as to time and timber. _ _ _

STATE OF TRADE.

May I ask, sir, where all the splendid ships which
constitute our mercantile marine were built, whose
arrivals and departures in carrying on the corn-
merce of this country we daily read of in your
columns, and which crowd our rivers and ports—
such noble ships as those belonging to Messrs.
Green, Wigram, Somes, Dunbar, Lindsay, Smiths,
our great shipping companies, and a multitude of
others ? Do we hear of those ships vegetating ?
Are their crews running risks in going to sea in
these contract-built vessels ? Do these ships usually
return disabled after being only a few weeks at
sea ? Arc they hauled up on hotbeds until wanted?
Assuredly not ; their owners know better how to
protect their property. Can the noble lords, gal-
lant admirals, and honourable members who speak
so unguardedly of fraud having been committed
imagine for one moment that the contractors
who built the much-maligned gunboats, and
who so anxiously pushed forward the work to
serve, if not to save, their country, would risk such
impeachment for the sake of a few paltry pounds ?
Thieves and rogues are no doubt to be found in the
public as well as the private yards, or why are
policemen stationed to " stroke down" suspected
men when leaving the former ? Should any such
be detected in driving short bolts and trenails, or
should unseasoned materials be used in time of
scanty supply, are the master builders of our Go-
vernment yards held responsible and accused of
fraud ? Would the members of both houses speak
of them as they have done so unceremoniously arid
unjustly of those who did their best when called
upon in the hour of their country's need ?
Lot full and fair investigation be made of the
charges brought forward in so wholesale a manner,
and I doubt not public opinion will soon crush out
the malicious stigma engendered through political
rather than patriotic motives.—l am, sir, yours
obediently, ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS.
London, May 23.

NE.; :Ft r,
--\\
)._
(From the Journal des Den. v
nothing to be hope
~,r fan S
Lord . tiierston ; young Premier will
die in-,#al impenitence. Has he not found the ;
means-ink single sitting of the House of Commons •
of committing three serious pieces of folly ? He
proposed that the House should- adjourn to attend
the 'Derby, he defended the system of living models,
and, finally, took up the cudgels for the fight for
the Championship.
The adjournment of the House on the Derby-day
is such a recognised fact, that Lord Palmerston
might well call it one of the unwritten rules of
Parliament. Usually some individual member
moves the question ; this year Lord Palmerston
himself, doubtless with a new lease of youth, took
it upon himself. Decidedly children are out of
date.
Behold, on the other hand, Lord Haddo, a serious
Scot, complaining that women are made to sit stark
naked before the pupils of the Royal Academy, and
a discussion ensues on petticoats and crinoline long
enough to make us fancy we are hearing a sermon
in Lent. Lord Palmerston, remembering, doubt-
less, that in France a bill was passed to lengthen
the japes of the ballet girls, and at Naples another
that the " tights" should be green instead of flesh
colour, called upon his hon. colleague to bring for-
ward a motion on the subject to fix the state of
nudity that ought to be allowed, for there is a. •
minimum as well as a maximum in deshabille. The
motion fell to the ground amid roars of laughter, to .
the great scandal of Mr. Spooner, who hid his face
in his hands.

BARNSLEY.—Most lauds of strong fabrics are in
good demand for the home market. The drill,
damask, diaper, and sheeting departments are all
tolerably active, and a good number of hands are
employed on some orders recently received for
window blinds. Altogether, the condition and
prospects of the trade here arc satisfactory.
LEEDS, MAY 22.—The cloth-halls have been
rather thinly attended by buyers this morning.
Prices were firm, but only a small amount of busi-
ness was transacted. Small parcels to fill up stocks
and job lots comprised the chief kinds of purchases.
There is a good deal of care manifested on the part
of Eaerchants; the aspect of public affairs being in
many respects of an uncertain character. Wools
rule steady in price, and have an upward rather than
a downward tendency.
MANCILESTER, May. 22.—Our market continues
much affected in prices, and there is exceedingly
little business doing. The effect of the alterations
in the Indian tariff and of the anomalies in the
valuations of goods, of which advices were received
last week from Calcutta, has been of a very serious
and depressing character, and for the present there
is almost a panic, os far as prices are concerned. This
of course may pass away before long, as business
men gradually accommodate themselves to the new
state of things. It is probable, however, that the
change will lead to a reduction of prices of a more
permanent character, and this iesult is rapidly
taking place already. Last week prices were a good
deal supported by the contracts in hand; but these
are being considerably reduced by merchants taking
advantage of every opportunity to cancel orders
where :delay of a single day occurs in delivery,
from whatever accident or cause. Manufacturers
not engaged are more anxious sellers under these
circumstances, at a heavy reduction on the rates
current three weeks ago. The advices from Cal-
cutta to the Ist May give the reduction there at Id.
to id. per lb. on yarn and Gd. to 74d. per piece on
shirtings, and this, of course, has had a bad effect
here. On business for other markets the effect has
been less felt ; but there is a general disposition
among buyers to withhold orders which are not of
the most pressing description, and prices are weaker
in nearly all classes of goods. The yarn market has
been very flat, and India and China qualities are
id. to id. lower, other kinds being more or less un-
favourably affected. Messrs. John Slagg and Co.
report :—" Since our last report the determination
on the part of buyers to keep out of the market
has become more marked. Later advices from India
and China are considered very unfavourable, and
there is, consequently, little or nothing doing in
goods for those markets. We have made a slight
reduction in our quotations, but they must be con-
sidered entirely nominal, as the few offers making
are not sufficient to test them. There is still a
moderate business doing, for the home trade,
and prices are comparatively steady. Messrs.
G. Fraser, Son, and Co. say The
market te-day
has been very dull through-
out, and prices are unsteady for India
goods and yarns of all kinds (excepting extra hard
twist for the Levant), and also for 9-Bths printers
and shirtings. Domestics remain without change,
owing to the heavy orders beforehand in the hands
of manufacturers."

RocnnALE, May 21.—The market to-day has
been a good deal more animated than last week.
Wools are even higher than they were then, and
are very firmly held, so that manufacturers are
demanding some advance 'for flannels and other
woollen goods. If Lao prices had been acceded
to by manufacturers many orders would have been
given to-day, but manufacturers hung off, and most
of the orders accepted were on slightly advanced
terms.

THE PRICE OF GOI.D.—The quotation of gold at
Paris is about at par, and the short exchange on London is
25.12 l per .£1 sternlb,. On comparing these rates with the
English Mint price of £3 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard
gold, it appears that gold is about 2-10ths per cent. dearer
in Paris than in London. By advices from Hamburg
the price of gold is 422% per mark, and the short
exchange on London is 13.4 per £1 sterling. Standard
gold at the English Mint price is therefore nearly
at about the same price in London as in Hamburg.
The course of exchange at New York on London for
bills at 60 days' sight is about 1091 per cent., which, when
compared with the Mint par between ;the two countries,
shows that the exchange is slightly in favour of England ;
and, after making allowance for charges of transport and
difference of interest, the present rate leaves a small profit
on the importation of gold from the United States,