The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

The Institute of Cf:

it Engines; s, high and noble position she has hitherto enjoyed.
Allow me to repeat my acknowledgments of the
high honour you have done the army and myself in
drinking this toast. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. CORRY, in responding for the Navy, was glad
to see around him so many well-known scientific
gentlemen whose exertions had done so much for the
improvement of the naval power of this country. In
adverting to the compliment which had been paid
him by the chairman in connecting his name with
the introduction into the navy of the screw propeller
and of iron as a material for shipbuilding he ob-
served that when be first became a Lord of the
Admiralty, in 1841, there was not a single screw
propeller in the navy, and, in fact, at that time there
was only one in the world, the Archimedes. In the
year 1842 the Rattler, the first vessel of war pro-
pelled by a screw, was built, and the result of that
experiment had convinced him that the day was not
far distant when every vessel in the navy would be
propelled by screw instead of by paddles. In 1845
he had the satisfaction of obtaining the assent of
Parliament to the building of the 23 screw vessels
of war, to be propelled by 10,000-horse power. The
Board of Admiralty which came into office in 1846
did not, however, share his opinion as to the advan-
tages of the screw propeller, and wrote to the manu-
facturers to know whether it was too late to convert
the engines for these vessels into paddlewheel en-
gines. The reply was that the engines were already
completed, and thus the British navy was saved
from one of the greatest misfortunes that had ever
threatened it. A great prejudice had also existed
against the employment of iron as a material for
ships of war, and the iron vessels which had been
built under his superintendence had been turned
by the succeeding Board of Admiralty into trans-
port vessels, on the ground that it was absurd and
ridiculous to use ships built of that material
for fighting purposes. It was therefore with
some little feeling of triumph that when he was
appointed to his present office some two months
since he found that there was then building in Pem-
broke dockyard an ironclad and iron built frigate of
4,000 tons, to be propelled by screw engines of 1000
horse power, and which was to carry 600 men and
guns of the heaviest calibre. The navy of this coun-
try was much indebted to the civil engineers for the
efforts they had made to induce the authorities to
use iron as a material in shipbuilding, although he
was not quite sure that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer would thank them for having increased the
cost of building a ship fourfold. But if the cost of a
vessel was increased to that extent it must not be
forgotten that her power had been increased in a
still greater proportion. In conclusion,' he begged
again to thank them for the honour they had done
the navy in drinking the toast.
Col. HAWKSHAW, in responding for the Volun-
teers, said that the volunteer corps of which he was
a member, and of which Sir John Burgoyne was the
hon. colonel, was endeavouring to solve the difficult
problem of providing for the conveyance of large
bodies of troops and volunteers from one part of the
kingdom to another. He thought they had succeeded
pretty well already, and he trusted that in time
they should be able to do still better.
The CHAIRMAN—YourRoyaI Highness, my lords,
and gentlemen, the next toast on my list is " The
Houses of Lords and Commons." The people of
England are naturally, and with reason, proud of
their country and of its constitution, and they are
especially proud of their Houses of Legislature which
are the subject of my present toast; and although
occasional differences of opinion may be observed as
to the means which may be best to employ, I believe
that no real difference ever exists as to the great
objecs to be attained—safety and honour to our
country, and freedom and happiness to its people.
During the present year the usual opportunities of
communication between engineers and members has
been somewhat diminished, but I trust that this
circumstance will not lessen the friendly feeling
which has long been maintained between them ;
indeed, I have almost suspected in my own
individual case that my greeting from members
had been somewhat warmer and more cordial than
usual, and I suppose it is because I have not this
..-tertained them so awn in committee-rooms
with long lectures iin-tTi6-siiehm-nieiT2--of my
proposals as compared with the crude suggestions

The annual dinner of this association took place
last evening at Willis's Rooms, St. James's, when
Mr. John Fowler, the president of the institution,
occupied the chair.
About 250 sat down to dinner, among whom were
—his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the
Prince of Teck, the Earl of Caithness, Lord William
Paulet, Lord A. Paget, Lord R. Grosvenor,
M.P., the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Se-
cretary of State for India, the First Lord of
the Admiralty, Lord Chief Justice Bovill,
Lord Chief Baron Kelly, the Lord Mayor, Sir John
Burgoyne, the Quartermaster-General, the Rev.
Canon Moseley, Sir Daniel Gooch, Sir T. Watson,
Sir E. Lundseer, Sir W. Fergusson, Mr. Beardmore,
Mr. Harrison, Mr. Hawksley, Mr. Gregory, Mr.
Cubitt, Mr. Hemans, Mr. Barlow, Mr. llawkshaw,
Mr. M'Clean, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Sainuda, M.P.,
Mr. Penn, Mr. Rawlinson, C. 8., Mr. Capper, M.P.,
Mr. E. Woods, Mr. C. Lucas, Mr. Brassey, Mr.
Brunlees, Mr. Bramwell, Mr. Aird, Colonel Hyde,
R.E., Mr. E. Wilson, Capt. Galton, Mr. Vignoles,
Mr: Clutton, Mr. Wythes, Mr. Cowper, Mr. John-
son, Mr. Forster, Mr. E. P. Smith, Mr. Bruce, Mr.
Waring, M.P., Mr. Braithwaite, Mr. Siemens, Mr.
Galbraith, Mr. Coode, Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Baker,
Mr. Brydone, Mr. Baldry, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Hood,
Mr. Longridge, Mr. Elliot, Mr.
.Bazalgette, Mr.
Brereton, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Crampton, Mr. Mitchell,
Mr. Bateman, Sir Charles Bright, M.P., Mr. Turn-
bull, Mr. Donkin, Mr. Conybeare, Mr. Rennie,
Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Mallet, &c., with Mr. Charles
Manbey, the honorary secretary, and Mr. James
Forrest, the secretary.
After the cloth was drawn,
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Health of her
Most Gracious Majesty. the Queen," which was
drunk with the usual honours_
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " The Health of
their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of
Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," ex-
pressed the sympathy which all persons in these
kingdoms felt fur her Royal Highness the Princess
of Wales in her trying and painful illness, and their
hope that she might be speedily restored to perfect
health.
The toast was warmly responded to.
The CHAIRMAN—Your Royal Highness, my Lords,
and gentlemen, I have now to propose the toast of
"The Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers."
At our last meeting •in this room I ventured
at some length to explain the intimate relations of
the civil and the military engineer, and although I
will not again travel over the same ground, it is im-
possible not to feel that, with advancing mechanical
knowledge in every pert of the world, the opera-
tions and the munitions of war are becoming every
year more and more dependent on scientific calcu-
lations, and on a sound knowledge of engineering.
In the matter of breech-loading rifles alone the
elaborate ingenuity displayed and the variety of
weapons produced are a remarkable proof of this,
and must already be positively bewildering to the
committees, commissions, or commanders who have
the responsibility of choice and decision. I cannot
refrain from one word of reference—and I do so
with pride—to the collections of munitions of war
and specimens of marine engineering which are now
displayed in the English department of the French
Exhibition. I confess that the conclusion which I
drew -from my examination was this (and I hope all
other examiners will draw the same conclusion)
that it would be a wise and prudent thing to be at
peace with that country and the people who can
supply such munitions of war. I am proud to say
that we have present with us to-night his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Commander-
in-Chief; who possesses in the highest degree the
confidence of his Sovereign, of soldiers, civilians,
and, I may say, of both Houses of Parliament.
(Loud cheers.) We have also present the Right
Hon. Mr. Corry, the First Lord of the Admiralty,
who has delighted all his friends by his recent ex-
pression of a sanguine hope that our present hideous
ironclads may shortly be made as graceful as they
are terrible ; and Mr. Corry is well entitled to have
b;is or;.n;o„3--cni-wero6-.....ui-e-0±,ziec rin respect. I
Upwards of a quarter of a century ago he was the
strenuius advocate of the introluction of the screw

of my opponents. I infer, therefore, that we need
propeller into. the Royal Navy, and also for the
adoption of iron as a material for the building of
not fear that we shall suffer in the respect and re-
ships of war. I have great pleasure in proposing card which is felt for us if, for a year or two, we
" The Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers," are conspicuous by our absence from committee-
coupling the names of the Duke of Cambridge with rooms. Among other distinguished statesmen and
the Army, the First Lord of the Admiralty with the orators present to-night we have the Earl of Caith-
Navy, and Col. John Hawkshaw with the Volun- ness, who is so good an engineer that if he were not
teers. (Loud cheers.)
an earl be would be a formidable professional com-
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, who in rising to re-
petitor ; and I am happy to say we have also the
- spond to the toast on behalf of the army was loudly Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, one
cheered, said—Mr. President, my lords, and gentle-
of the most distinguished statesmen and orators of
men, I feel extremely flattered by the manner in
the age. (Loud cheers.) I propose "The Houses of
L
which your President has proposed this toast, and I ords and Commons," coupling the House of Lords
also feel highly flattered at the compliment which with the name of the Earl of Caithness, and the
has been paid to the army and to myself in permit-
House of Commons with the name of the Chan-
ting me, as the head of that force, to be present on cellor of the Exchequer.
this occasion, when you have had the kindness The Earl of CAITEINESS, in responding on behalf
through me to do honour to the profession to which of the House of Lords, said that that House held
I belong. Gentlemen, I know that there is a strong the body of civil engineers in high esteem. Owing
fellow feeling on the part of the army towards the to the exertions of that body these islands were
civil engineers, and I believe that that feeling is re-
covered with a network of railways by which the
ciprocated on the part of the civil engineers towards wealth, industry, and commerce of the country have
the army. The Chairman has alluded to the fact been enormously increased.
that the army of late years has been greatly indebted The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, whose
to the civil engineers for the improvements which rising was greeted with loud and prolonged applause,
have been effected in the means of offence and de- said—Your Royal Highness, Mr. President, my
fence, and of transport ; and I think that the effect Lords, and gentlemen, it was only a few nights ago
of those improvements was well exemplified in the that I had the honour, on the part of the House of
course of last year when, had it not been for the Commons, to return thanks for the honour that had
facilities afforded by the railways for moving troops, been done them in the galleries of art, and now I
for the immense improvements that have been have to repeat that duty in what I may describe,
effected in guns and munitions of war, the results with the licence, perhaps, but I hope without the
which have astonished, surprised, and I had almost licentiousness of metaphor, as the halls of science.
said, in a scientific point of view, delighted, the (Hear.) Mr. President, relations of considerable in-
world would not have been arrived at. The pro- terest have long subsisted between the House of
fession of arms, which was formerly a rude one, Commons and the body of civil engineers, and in my
bas come to depend almost entirely upon science, own experience the latter have contributed seve-
and it is to your body that we owe the science that ral highly honoured and distinguished members to
has been applied to the service of the army. It the House of Commons. Alluding only to those
must not, however, be supposed that I look down who have left us it is with satisfaction that I recol-
upon the military engineers. The profession of lect that I enjoyed the kind feelings, and I hope
military engineers is quite apart from that of the civil possessed the favourable opinions, of Locke and
engineers—each body has its own peculiar interest Stephenson. They sat on different side's of the
and its own peculiar objects. The chief avocation of House, but they were men whom all regarded with
the civil engineer is to do good to his country and esteem and looked up to with the greatest respect.
to raise his own position by meaniof his scientific ac- Indeed, it cannot be denied that the House of Corn-
quirements, of his invention, and by carrying out mons and the civil engineers are exceedingly well
great works. The task of military engineer, on acquainted with each other. (Hear, hear, and a
the other hand, is to apply science to military objects. I laugh.) I hardly know any public body of men
'We have among us the distinguished officer who is who havp had so much Parliamentary experience
as they have had. Indeed, I rather expect that on
at the head of our military engineers, Sir John Bur-
points, such as on the question of the coin-
goyne—(hear)—than whom I am satisfied there is
with standing orders for '
no better soldier in the service, while, at the same pliance instance, they
would know much more, perhaps, than '
time, no person's mind could be more accurate and
leader of the House of Commons. even the
(" and
apt for scientific pursuits than that of that most dis-
laughter.) Looking around the hear,"
tingnished officer. (Hear.) lam glad to hear the
countenances of many men who,
room, I see the
chairman say that, judging from the specimens of without being
members of Parliament, have had 2,
munitions of war we exhibit in the Paris Exhibition, I more experience
no other country would care to go to war with us, and
of Parliamentary coinmittees than I have had e
in the course of 30 years' experience in that House.
I may add that those specimens were obtained from
The President, with plaintive dignity, has lse.
the War-office, a department over which I have uo
to the circumstance that our relations at alludedpresent are
control. It has often been said that we are not I
I pursuing the right path with regard to our improve-
not so frequent as"heretofore. (Laughter.) What
meats iu munitions of war ; sometimes we are ac-
foundation there may be for that remark I do not
cused of being too fast, and other times of being too venture to inquire, but I should say, judging
from
slow ; but it must be recollected that, as soon as one what I observe as I walk down to the House of
busyn a
invention has been approved and adopted, those Commons daily, the civil engineers are very
its neighbourhood. (A laugh.) What may be the
whose peculiar inventions have not been selected
immediately cry out that the military authorities are , precise result and what the exact object of the works
I see going on there I don't presume to decide, but
in the wrong again. (Hear, and laughter.) It must
i ,till I hope is that our future proceedings are not to
eleo be 'membered that one invention begets an-
! partake of a subterranean character, and that at
other invention, and therefore it is difficult for time
authorities to determine whether they should pro- ; least the House of Commons may be suffered to
(teed to Carry out an improvement which may be
, perform its duties under existing circumstances.
I should have sat down now, having fulfilled
stipergeded by the discovery of to-morrow. But, at i Sir,
my agreeable duty of thanking you on behalf of
all events, we may rest satisfied, from what we have :
heard from the chairman, that if we have not the the House of Commons for the honour you have
best munitions of war that can be invented, those done them in the toast you have just so kindly re-
which we do possess are better than those of the rest ceived, had I not been informed that it is expected
of the world. (Hear.) I think
that the knowledge that I should touch upon another institution. Hav-
of this fact should content us, and that we should ing dealt with one great institution of the county,
give ,the military authorities some
credit for having perhaps it is natural that I should be requested to
achieved such a result, and for trying to do that refer to the position of the Institution of Civil. En_
which they believe, and often rightly believe, to •
be gineers. (Hear, hear.) I think that this is a subject
the best for the interests of the country. The
mi 1- which would have met with much more competent'
authorities are not tau influenced by itup.uise, I treatment at the hands of the noble earl, who hes a
'favour, or affection in the course they adopt, but practical knowledge of the science Of engineering,
solely-b 7 aldeeire-to zaiataia this country in the winch Ido not possess. The tout I have to pro.