The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-28 00:00:00

the report of " the select committee" on some ex.
periments made at Shoeburyness on the 30th No-
vember,lBss, reminding his lordship of the official
interdict he had placed on his patent, and re-
quested to be informed of his lordship's intentions
relative to the above. Mr. Macintosh also alluded
to a new but secret strategy of war, and requested
the favour of an interview.
It is a remarkable but incomprehensible fact that
his lordship omitted sending an explicit reply to
the above.
On the Bth April, 1856, Mr. Macintosh again re-
ferred Lord Panmure to his lordship's refusal to
grant him a copy of the report of the ordnance
select committee, on the plea that such reports are
always made to the Secretary of State in confi-
dence.
" Secondly, Reminding his lordship that ' the
people' have been obliged to pay upwards of eighty
millions sterling and sacrifice the lives of 40,000
men owing to my invention not having been used
by the Government against the enemy, the cost of
which trial would have been only £5,000, and that
I offered to furnish the same from my own private
resources.
" Thirdly, Informing his lordship that as he was
not in a position to render me that justice which
the case demands, it is most desirable, at as early
a period as possible, to pay before Parliament,
in a printed form, the entire correspondence that
has passed (since 1853), together with the copious
particulars, names, and facts appertaining thereto,
in order that I may obtain that compensation which
it appears to be the object of your lordships' de-
partment either to delay indefinitively, or, if pos-
sible, to withhold."
Fourthly, Mr. Macintosh stated to his lord-
ship that he had "invented several other combustible
compounds besides rendering shot red-hot without
the aid of furnaces, and asking his lordship to
witness some experiments, as it was highly impor-
tant that ' the country' should possess materials
producing the most useful effects in war."
On the 17th April, 1856, Lord Panmure informed
Mr. Macintosh that he did not consider any fur-
tiler experiments necessary. On the 29th April
he -was informed that Lord Panimire had ordered
his interdict to be withdrawn, and that " his
t lordship
b e
made into this agent of warfare with great
interest; They have satisfied his lordship that it
may deserve future attention, should this country
be again involved in war," and "that Lord Pan-
mure appreciates very highly the public spirit
which has induced you to place your invention so
entirely at the command of the Government, and
to devote so much time to the trials, and is prepared
to authorise the repayment of any actual expenses
which, you have incurred in attending the com-
mittee, or it/ the preparation of the experiments."
On the sth May, 1855, Mr. Macintosh pointed
out to Lord Panmure the great pecuniary injury he
had done to him by interdicting the sealing of his
patent, and prevOnting his taking out foreign pa-
tents—that his invention was approved of by the
Government long be-fore the termination of the war,
but was not used.
Mr. Macintosh subnlits
that lie should be paid
the sum of five thousand
pounds on account, and
that the amount of the remain fler of his remunera-
tion shall be forthwith referred ,!.o arbitration. His
lordship replies on 22d May that 4. he cannot en-
tertain the exorbitant demands which you have
' made and that his lordship has recom.raended to
the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Tfeasury,
the payment to you of a thousand pounds, in full
discharge of all further claim upon the Govei7l-
ment."
On the 2d June, 1858, Mr. Macintosh informs
Lord Panmure that his personal expenses has far
exceeded £l,ooo—pointing out to his lordship the
great injury caused him by staying his patents,
and then declining to take them, as peace had been
declared, and again urging the justness of his de-
mand, as contained in his letter of the sth May.
On the sth June, 1855, Lord Panmure in reply
states that he can take no cognisance of Mr. Mac-
intosh's personal expenses to and from the East,
and that, in recommending payment of a sum of
£l,OOO " for injury your interests may possibly
have suffered by the interdict placed on your patent,
Lord Panmure conceives that he has proceeded to
the utmost limit, consistent with his duty to the
public, in the recognition of your services in endea-
vouring to make this invention useful to the
country."
Mr. Macintosh here very justly remarks (in ad-
dressing the honourable the members of the House
of Commons)—" I think, gentlemen, the country
will agree with me that his lordship would have
acted more consistently with the duties of his high
and responsible office by submitting for the decision
of the Cabinet the refusal of the Lords of the Ad-
miralty to use my invention against the enemy's
fortifications."
Again, he says, "We must thank the Lords of
the Admiralty for adding about £80,000,000 ster-
ling to our national debt; the death of about
40,000 men, besides convincing all maritime nations
of the enormous value of sea-face fortifications, such
as Sebastopol, Cronstadt, and Cherbourg, and the
weakp.ess of oar navy when acting against strong
land fortifications."
Further : " If our navy was a hundred times
stronger, it would serve us nothing as an arm of
attack against sea-face batteries. The consequence
may be that all continental states will strengthen
and increase their sea-face batteries, so as to have
secure harbours of refuge for their ships of war."
Mr. Macintosh recommends that " an incendiary
steam brigade should be attached to our navy, and
supplying it with his powerful combustible suffo-
cating war agent," we can, when required,
destroy the strong sea-face batteries of any power,
causing a total destruction of all ships of war which
may have sought refuge under their walls.
"This, gentlemen, is the key-stone of our maritime
supremacy. We have no strong sea-face fortifica•
tions on our coasts to protect. Besides, if we had,
our floating batteries are a sufficient protection."
Again he says, " My: combustible agent can be ob-
tained in England in any quantities, and 50 per
cent. cheaper than in any other country. May not
these be urgent reasons for establishing ' An In-
cendiary Steam Brigade.' "
On the 10th June, 1856, Mr. Macintosh informed
Lord Panmure that "the proffered £l,OOO is greatly
inadequate to cover the injury I have sustained,
&c. ; although unwilling. to contest the question
with the authorities, as I hope your lordship will
make use of my patent, and then pay me liberally
for it, on terms to be hereafter arranged."
On the 12th June, 1856, Mr. Macintosh re-
ceived the £l,OOO from her Majesty's Treasury;
and on the 13th June Lord Panmure informs him
that the £l,OOO has been paid him for " alleged
injury to your interests by the restriction placed
upon the patent of your invention."
On the 14th August Mr. Macintosh received a
letter from Colonel Pickering, inquiring "if any
of the articles left at Shoeburyness, after the last
experiment with your invention, are your property,
or if they have been paid for by the Government ?"
To which Mr. Macintosh replied, on the 20th Aug.,
" that I have no compensation for them, nor for any
of my expenses."
The astuteness of Col. Pickering's question w'

be fully understood and appreciated When it wi
be remembered that in Lord Panmure's despatch o,
the 29th April, 1856, his lordship stated that he
" is prepared to authorise the repayment of any
actual expenses which you have incurred in attend-
ing the committee, or in the preparation of the
experiments."
Further, that on reference to Lord Panmure's letter
of the sth June, 1856, it will be clearly perceived
that his lordshiprecommended to the Lords Com-

missioners of he Majesty's Treasury the payment
of a sum of one thousand pounds to Mr. Macintosh

"in consideration of injury your interests may
possibly have suffered by the interdict placed on
your patent in November last." Nothing is therein
mentioned about payment of Mr. Macintosh's ex-
penses when attending the Ordnance Select Com-
mittee, or for the materials then used,
Mr. Macintosh in his letter to Lord Panmure of
the 10th June, 1856, accepts the proffered £l,OOO
(although such sum was greatly inadequate), such
acceptance being solely " to cover the injury I have
sustained by the stoppinc, of my patent," &c., and
not in compensation for his expenses and materiafs
used when making experiments before the Ordnance
Select Committee; consequently Lord Panmure's

promise of payment for Mr. Macintosh's " actua]
expenses" and " preparation of the experiments,'
as referred to in his lordship's letter of the 29th

pril, 1856, has not been Complied with, and stilt

remains due.

In compliance with the wishes of the War
Department, Mr. Macintosh deferred sealing his
patent till November, 1856; but on twice petition-
ing the Lord Chancellor to seal it, he was informed
that the proper time had expired. He therefore
informed Lord Panmure, who at once granted him
an official letter, stating that it was by his lord-
ship's orders, as Minister of War, that his patent
had been interdicted, and that " there is now no

reason why that step should not be taken as
far as the War Department is concerned, and that
when the letters patent have been obtained, you
will be at liberty to bring these inventions berbre
the Ordnance Committee in due course." On the
19th December, 1856, the Lord Chancellor sealed
Mr. Macintosh's patent.
On the 14th of February, 1857, Mr. Macintosh
requested Lord Panmurc to purchase his invention,
as the mere granting hint a patent, when peace
was established, was of no pecuniary value to him,
unless purchased by the Government.
Receiving no answer to the above letter Mr.
Macintosh made a 80000 application (March 19,
1857), offering his inventio4 to OW Government for