The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-19 00:00:00

DEATH OF SIR THOMAS GRANT.

We have to record to-day the death of Sir Thos.
Tnssell Grant, K.C.B. and F.R.S., late Controller
of the Victualling and Transport Service in the
Admiralty.. The subject of this notice entered the
public service at the Admiralty 47 years ago, and
after passing through several grades, was, in 1828,
appointed storekeeper at the Clarence Victualling-
yard, Gosport. It was while here that be applied
his active mind to several mechanical improvements
in connection with the naval service. In 1829 he
devised the well-known steam machinery for the
manufacture of biscuit, which has been generally
adopted in the several Government establishments,
and which has conferred so great a benefit on the
navy, while it effects a saving to the country
amounting annually to £30,000. In recognition
of the value of this invention the sum of £2,000
was conferred by Parliament, and medals presented
to him by the King of the French and the Society
of Arts. Afterwards he constructed a new life-
buoy, a feathering paddlewheel, so contrived as to
get rid of the action of the back water on the floats,
and about the year 1839 the patent fuel whieb bore
his name, and which is largely wed in the steam
marine. Lastly, he applied his mind to achieving
the long-desired object of distilling fresh water from
the sea. As far back as 1834 he originally proposed
the means to effect this end ; but it was only 10 or
12 years ago that the authorities became alive to
the importance of adopting his proposition, which
he had by that time matured and perfected. The
apparatus for effecting this purpose is either con-
nected with the ordinary ship's galley, or (in the
case of a steamvessel) with the boilers of the ship.
By this invention the sanitary and moral condition
of the navy has been greatly advanced, and it has
been truly described as the greatest benefit that
,
has ever been conferred on the sailor. In the year
ofi Crimean war,
cethe which he held
1850 lie was advanced to the Controllership of the
arduousand Transport
st
rh g g
Isee ry
when the value of his inventions was severely tested.
Victualling
g
The difficulty of supplying our troops with provi-
sions
at that trying period is in the memory of all,
and had it not been for the supply of biscuits manu-
factured day and night at our victualling-yards by
the baking machinery for the army as well as the
navy, the necessities of the crisis could hardly have
been met. The papers laid before Parliament on
the subject of the distilling apparatus contain a
report from the Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic
Fleet, stating that "in three months 11 ships dis-
tilled upwards of 4,700 tons of water, and that it
was impossible to speak too highly of so useful an
invention ;" and the Wye was expressly fitted up
with the distilling apparatus, and sent to the Cri-
mea to assist in supplying fresh water to our trans-
torts and troops. This vessel alone was capable of
producing upwards of 10,000 gallons of fresh water
daily. It was under the unexampled pressure then
cast upon his department that his health gave way,
and early lest year he was obliged to relinquish his
post, on which occasion her Majesty was pleased to
mark her sense of his distinguished services by con-
ferring on Mr. Grant the distinction of K.C.B. He
survived but a short time to enjoy his honours and the
fruit of so much zeal for the public service, but he
will be long remembered with respect and grati-
tude by the naval service and his country, for which
he toiled with so much success. He expired at
Chester-terrace, Regent's-park, at the comparatively
early age of 64.

LLANIDLOES AND MILFORD HAVEN RAILWAY.--•th
A survey is in progress of a railway 51 miles in length, with
a view of completing a link of direct communication be
tween Manchester and Milford Haven,via Llanidloes
Lampeter, and Carmarthen. Local meetings have been
held in support of the measure, and Lord Lisburne,
Co
Colonel
Powell, M. P., Mr. Wm. Chambers, Mr. John Propd othert (ter
benevolent founder of Epsom Medical College), an
large landowners, have undertaken to give the land at an
agri and take their compensation in shares of
theicultural prce,
company, besides subscribing as shareholders. Th
cost of the line has been estimated by Mr. Fulton, the en-
gineer, at £.500,000.