Star.
London, England, 1821-04-04 00:00:00

JOHN kNOT e LES, Esz ATA kV OFFICE:

Commercial-Road, March 31, 1821:
Stn—in your Answer bf the 23d (publish?d in
The Public Ledger of the 29th Instant) to cur Letter
of the 2t/th instant (published in the same Paper on
the 21st, and subsequently its The Star and times)
there are some statements liable to *a construction
which it would be illiberal in us to ascribe to design
when coming from a Gentleman, whose " principle"
is " to render to every one what appears to be his
due." Our questions were very simple, and you have
given answers, but not direct answers to any of them..
Where you have admitted our statements, you have
(we will not suppose with any evil intention) loaded
your answers with irrelevant matter, which some (but
of course none pOssessed of so sound a perception as
yourself) may• conceive as militating against your
own admissions.

The basis of the ambiguity of which we complain
rests on this point—Captain Brown's Chain Cable
was composed of twisted Links, with sharp-pointed
Pins, put in as Stays, to prevent their sides from co-
lapsing: Our Chain Cables are composed of Links
not twisted, but having their substance in the same
plane, and their sides prevented from colapsing, not
by sharp-pointed Pins, but by broad-ended Stays, in-
troduced between, and embracing a considerable por-
tion of the opposite sides of the Links; and these we
call ours, because our invention, whoever they may
be made by, should even Captain Brown be ,the
maker! Now, on this point we have to complain,
that there is a want of precision in your Letter, as
well as in your very learned Work, on the means
which have been taken to preserve the British Navy.
Before we proceed to notice other matters, we• shall
advert to two or three points introduced in your An-
swer, which, being quite irrelevant, should be first
disposed of'. As any inquiry into your motives for
introducing them would be equally irrelevant, and, if
known, would not affect the case, we shall make none.

Your statement, respecting the first introduction
of Iron Cables, is in some respects calculated to mis-
lead. It is true that, in 1808, Captain Mowlt did
bring the subject of Iron Rigging and Chain Cables
before the Naval Boards; and it is true that, shortly
after, the Penelope was fitted with them, made a
voyage to the West Indies, and returned in 1810;
and that, in consequence of the result, Government
ordered some ships to be fitted with Iron Cables; and
also, that those supplied to the Crescent were com-
posed of short Links, having their sides parallel; but
we remark in passing, and for a reason that will be
sufficiently apparent, before we conclude, these pa-
t aliel-sided Links had no Stays—that is, they were
the common pudding Chain. It is also true that,
after some interruptions, Captain Brown, in 1812,
succeeded in introducing his twisted Chain, with
sharp-pointed Stays in the Links. But it is not true,
that Chain Cables were then brought to great per-
fection," for the whole system, then followed, has
since been abandoned, and the efficient system, in-
troduced by us, haslbeen substituted in its stead.—
But it seems we derived great advantages from the
previous practice and experiments which the two Mr.
Bruntons witnessed in Captain Brown's Manufactory.
We should have been very stupid indeed if we had
not attended to what was passing before our eyes ;
but it you mean to insinuate (and you know whether
that was your intention) that we acted in any way
dishonourably to Captain Brown, you are ignorant
of the real facts; for we would rather believe this of
you, than that you have wilfully concealed them.
Mr. Brunton took great interest in the first intro.'
duction of Iron Cables; he was the first who em-
ployed Captain Brown to procure an Iron Cable for
the purpose of trying its efficacy (on board a ship of
his own, the Active); and Mr. Brunton also (in con-
junction with some other friends of Captain Brown)
purchased the vessel of which you speak, viz. the
Penelope, and fitted her out for her West India voyage;
and the result was what you have stated: (the next
ship fitted with an Iron Cable was also Mr. Brun-
ton's). But you have, omitted to state, though the
fact is most important, that in all the exertions that
were made to introduce Iron Cables, Mr. Brunton
acted under the clearest understanding that he was
to have a proportionate and adequate share of the
advantages expected therefrom.
As to your statement respecting our very able
foreman, Mr. Fuller, we refer you to his own answer,
subjoined to this letter; and to your other question
we answer—Our principal knowledge, and every
thing respecting the best form of Links for Chain
Cables, was derived from expel iments made by our-
selves, on our own premises, with our own proving
machine. The Iron, we need hardly add (but you
ask the question) was procured from the Iron Masters,
and the workmen were in our own employment.
In another part of your letter, you speak of Cap-
tain Brown having reduced the price of Chain Cables
from 635. per cwt. to 425. Who fixed the price of
Chain Cables at first? Captain Brown f What price
did he then charge? When did he reduce the price?
and why ? When you shall have answered these
short questions, the Public will understand perfectly
to whose interference the reduction is to be ascribed ;
and also the Totive for it ors his part who first fixed
the price. But, in passing, we beg to state, that there
is a possibility of carrying this so far as to render it
impossible to do justice to the article, either in mate-
rials or workmanship ; and should this day ever ar-
rive, the benefits resulting from the use of Chain
Cables will again be lost to the Public.
Now, Sir, having answered your questions, let u
return to our first letter of the 20th instant, and your
answer of the 23d. We asked you, whether you had
not, at our manufactory, witnessed experiments which
were instituted for the express purpose of proving the
comparative strength of Captain Brown's Cables (Ca-
, bles composed of twisted Links) and the Cables of our
invention (Cables having the substance of the Links
in the same plane, with broad-ended stays). And to
this you have answered—" I have seen as many or
more Experiments on Chain Cables at Capt. Brow n'sil
as at your manufactory." Is this au answer? Our
question had reference to a particular fact; but your
answer embraces no one fact, except that you have
seen what you call " Experiments," at Capt. Brown's.
You have not stated what they were; and, if you
had, we might possibly have denied that, in our
sense of the term, they were experiments at all; for
we do not give that name to the mere process et as-
certaining by the proving machine, the soundness of
,a Chain Cable—a prwss with which we, and pro-
bably Captain Brown, arc occupied every day; but

on the other lurid, these el Experiments" *ere o f
the kind to which our question applied, we now ask
yon to state, in one word, what was the result? But
this is, perhaps, not now necessary, for—.
. We also asked you whether our Cables did ate,
When tried against Captain Brown's, tear them in
pieces? And you have given such an answer as
might have been expected from a Gentleman of ve.;
racity" The triangular (we shall not quarrel about
terms so long as we can understand each other) the
triangular Link which you manufactured in March,
1816, did then tear the twisted Chains to pieces!"
To this answer you have, however, attached a rider,
Which may call for another question from us. You

add, " But you then objected to try the parallel•sided
Chain, as first made by Captain Brown (hut xvith the
subsequent addition of Stay Pins), observing that they
were equally as strong as your's, and it would be
only trying the relative finalities of the iron and work-
manship.' Now, Sir, we beg you to state whether,
by " the parallel-sided Chain," you do not mean a
Chain composed of Links having their substance in
the same plane, in contradistinction to twined Ly.ks?

and secondly, whether, by the " subsequent addition
of Stay Pins, ' you mean the same sharp-pointed Stays
which he had been in the habit of using in his twisted
Chains, er broad-ended Stays? Of course we do not
put this question for the sake of gaining information
ourselves, for we cannot be supposed ignorant of what
kind of Chain Captain Brown then proposed to try ;
but it is necessary that your statement should be ex-
' hibited free from ambiguity, and you yourself cleared
from any imputation of meaning to hide truth where
you have, perhaps, only been inadvertent. •
The Public ought to receive your answer to this
question ; and when you give it, we have no reason
to expect it will be less explicit than your acknow•
ledgment, that in the Expei iments made in March, •
1816, at our manufactory, our Chain Cables did then
tear Captain Brown's in pieces ; and when you give
your answer, the Public will see why we said, that to
try the Chain be then offered against one of ours,
would be only trying the relative qualities of iron and
workmanship. For whoever employs our broad-
ended Stay in a Link having its substance in the same
plane, unless the form of the Link, in other respects,
be very bad indeed, may produce a good Chain—
because constructed on our principle—because, in
fact, our Chain! And such was the Chain then of-
fered by Captain Brown. It was his Chain in no
other sense than that it was his property, he having
paid for the iron and workmanship. Nor will we
suffer to pass uncontradicted your assertion that we
have, since 1816, altered the form of our Links, and
nearly come to the form then proposed by Cap-
tain Brown.

Whatever be the form of our Link in any Cable, it
is, and always has been, made as straight as the na-
ture of the manufacture will admit, in the parts which
intervene between the ends of the Links and their
middle part ; that which is supported by the Stay, as
described in Mr. Brunton's specification; but it is
possible, notwithstanding your many and great at-
tainments, that you may not know, or may not-have
considered, that the longer the Link is made propor-
tioned to its substance (and they are frequently made
so to lessen the weight of the Chain) the nearer will
its side approach to a parallel. This part of your
letter might have been pasied over, but for the wrong
inference that may be drawn from yotir words. The
parallel-sided form " was first proposed by Captain
Brown," you -say; but though you know the fact,
you have omitted to state (for we wish not to impute
to you wilful concealment)—you have omitted to
state, that in the parallel-sided Links then proposed
by Captain Brown, he had introduced our broad-
ended Stay, and not his own sharp Pins.—So much
for the efficient part of the Chain Offered by Captain
Brown in 1816 !

You have put to us this question—" If the broad-
ended Stay be of such importance, how is that, in many
of the Cables you have supplied, those Stay Pins have
worked out ?'— Allow us to say, that this question
is as foreign to the real subject of discussion between
us, as it would be in us to ask you this question—
" Since printing is an art of so much importance,
how is it that so many stupid books are printed?"—
That the broad-ended Stay is of no importance, can-
not be your meaning; and we should be great dolts
indeed if we did not understand the true aim of
your irrelevant question. It may be sufficient to an-
swer, that the cause was then explained to the Navy
Board, and that it did not rest on any deficiency in
the Chains, but was owing to ether circumstances,
connected with the manner of using them.
As, except in the case of the Cables furnished to a
few of the Revenue cruizers, these to which you have
alluded, this circumstance has in no instance occurred,
a cause over which we had then no controul, could
alone have operated to produce the effect stated in
these instances, hut which is now in a course of being
obviated, in consequence of our repeated representa-
tions. You speak of Captain Brown's twisted Chain,
with pointed Stay Pins in the same vessel, being re-
turned perfect. It would have been a wonder had it
been otherwise ; his Cable, to all appearance, hav-
ing never been used ! Indeed it would have been a
little singular if it had, when it was twice as heavy
as ours, and consequently much more troublesome
to manage : for this is one of the great advantages
which resulted from our improvements, as you well
know, that the strength was found so superior to
Captain Brown's, as to render a Cable of half the
weight efacient for all the purposes of the heavier-

. .
twisted Chain Cables before in use—and thereby pro-
ducing an immense. saving in the first cost, which
is a point of much higher importance than any small
difference in the price tier cwt. of the Cable actuaily
brought into service.
We have yet another point to submit tp your own
candour. In your answer to our letter, though you
state that you "always objected to the twisted Links,
for their comparative want of strength ;" and, more-
over, that Captain Brown adrnitt..td, nearly twelve
months previous to the trial (meaning the trial of
strength at our Manufactory), that the twisted Links
were not so strong as the plain sided," you at the
same time add, that " the supply of Cables, manu-
factured by Captain Brown, has never been discon-
tinued," but without anywhere stating that the Cables
supplied by Captain Brown have, ever since that
trial, had the broad-ended Stays, invented by Mr.
B. union, inserted iu their Links, and these Stays
oily! Is this the fact, or is it not? and if it be the
fact, as assuredly it is, had we not reason to corn.
plain of the statement in your valuable Publication,

expressed in such vague terms as to induce a belief,
in those ignorant of the real state of the case, that the
merit of introducing the present efficient Chain Ca-
bles; having the substance of their Links in the same
plane, and their sides supported by broad-ended Stays,
was to be ascribed to Captain Brown—when there is
not one word of truth in your statement, thus under-
stood? And, if not intended to convey this sense, it'
is one without any meaning whatever as to the real
fact, for no other kind of Chain Cables is ever now
ordered for the British Navy—whatever use may be
made of the Cables bought previous to Mr. Bi unton's
invention.
Should your own sense of justice not induce you
to retract your mistatements, we can do no better
thin use your own words—" There are facts in this
letter not to be put aside by sophistry," hoWever
willingly or dexterously managed.
With all respect to your great candour and liberality,
We art, Sir, your most obedient servants,
BRUNTON, MIDDLETON, and BRUNTON.

" I declare that the statement in Mr. Knuwlees Letter, ad.
dressed to Messrs. Brunton' Middleton, and Brunton, charging
the former Gentleman with having induced me to leave the em-
ployment of Captain Brown, in June 1813, is wholly untrue. I
left Captain Brown, unsolicited by Mr. Brunton, in March that
year (Signed) " THOMAS JOHN FULLER."
_ _

THE EUNING STAR.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1821.

THE FUNDS.

The price this morning is 7254 %, and the market
looks brisk. The Dividends will be paid to the Mer-
Lhants and Bankers on Saturday, and to the Public
on Monday next. Settling day is on the 12th, and,
from the great fluctuations in this Account, several
failures are expected. The mote prudent speculators
have already made up their accounts, being satisfied
with the present profit.—Prices at One &Clock
3 per Cent. Cons. 725/s
5 per Cent. Navy 106%8 107 106 Ng
India Bonds.46s. 48s. pr.
Exch. Bills, 4.5. 2s. 4s. pr.
Bank for Acct. 225
Cons. for Acct. 72%

The Malt Duty Repeal Bill was lost latst hizlit by
:klajority of 21:: to 141._

The Bill for the Relief of the Roman Catholics
was read a first time in the llouse of Peers last night.
and ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday
text. Both the Earl of Livenrool. and the Lotto
CHANCELLOR have given notice, that they mean to
oppose the Bill.

The attempt to regenerate the Government of Na-

pies may be considered as frustrated for the present
by the Despots of the Continent. What a prospect
- for mankind! What a call upon the people every
where to cultivate, by every mean which may be
within their reach, those sentiments of patriotism
which may ultimately enable them to break the
' chains of their oppressors, in spite of every opposi-
tion. Was the world made only for a few despots,
and the bulk of mankind_ only to minister to their
desires? It would appear so were we to judge by
what passes before our eyes on the Continent. But
'when we look at home, and see the operation of our
own Constitutipn—reared not by the will of former
Sovereigns but by the courage and energies of our
forefathers—we see how erroneous such an inference
would be.

Italy is doomed by the Holy Allies still to be the
prey of despctism; but the firmest resolves are some-
times based by events little contemplated by those
who think they have only to sit down and divide the
spoil. Even at this moment, oppressed as the South
of Italy is by the presence of an army of foreigners,
the breath of freedom is not extinct. In Piedmont
they still assert their right to independence. The
defection of their Regent—who had sworn to main- ,
tain the new Constitution—has, of course, deranged
their measures, but still they proclaim their determi-
nation to persevere. If they shall continue firm to
this resolve, appalling as the number of the hosts
which threaten them may be, still it is possible they
may be able to stand their ground agaimt the in-
vaders. In one word, the issue depends on the will
of the SOVEREIGN RI:LER of the UNIVERSE—Lot on
the will of impious men, who call their leagues for
oppression /v.)9!
A letter from Turin, cf the 24:th March, published
by a contemporary, :tees, that the Revolution was
'nought about with the knowledge and concurrence
of Prince CARIGNANO; that the young Prince either
repented or got frightened, and, at the moment when
the military movements which had been agreed on
were to take place, by a signal, on the 9th, he sent
off an order to shut up the military in their quarters
at Turin ! However, in spite of this, the Revolution
was effected, the Prince was appointed Regent—and
matters, as far as he was allowed to have any con-
cern, were botched to the utmost. Then followed
the Proclamation of the new King, CitAnor-s FELtx,
written under the ditection of the Austrians.s The
Regent slipt out of Turin for Novara in the night
of the !;./d, but had hardly -got ten miles on his
journey when the soldiers he had taken with him
quitted the Prince and joined the Constitutionalists,
who were already encamped in the face of the Aus-
trians, on the Ticino. " In the meantime the Minis-
ter of War recalled the soldiers who were absent on
leave ; the Minister of the Interior continued to
labour for the Constitution; and the Junta elected

itself into the only legitimate authority." With the
foregoing letter agrees one from Paris, of the 31st
March, in which the writer says—
A Courier, who has arrived this day from Italy, states that
the affairs of Piedmont are not in that situation which has been
reported, that the Provisionary Junta have declared the Prince
of Callow°, and all the other Members of the Royal Family,
Incapable of reigning. It Is added, that they are making great
preparations for marching on Milan, where they have been in-
vited. The Public are in the greatest anxiety to hear the news
of this intended movement."

As we have already intimated, fearful as are the
odds against the Italians, it is not beyond the reach
of possibility that they may, by some unforeseen turn
of PROVIDENCE, yet triumph over the hosts of their
invaders ; and it they should, what then ? aye, what
then ?—Let the Tyrants 'of the Earth answer the
question.

BULLETIN OF TILE AUSTRIAN ARMY.
(From the Florence GagUe of March 24.)
" HIAD-QUASTEAS, SAN G 71151.010, Matto: 19.

Our advanced guard is at Calvi, near Capua.
" According to concurring and certain accounts, the Neapoli-
tan divisions stationed in that fortress under the orders of Gene-
rals Carascosa, Ambrosio, and Filangieri, may be considered en-
tirely disbanded, as the Royal Guards, and, after their example,
other military corps, have declared that they will not fight con-
trary to the orders of the King.

" The fort of Monte Cassino was occupied by the troops of
the Royal Guard, under the command of a Neapolitan Colonel.
The General-in-Chief summoned the said Colonel, in the name
of his Majesty, to surrender the place. While the negociation
was going on. the soldiers within the castle revolted, and pro-
fiting by this circumstance, the enemy's entrenchments were sur-
prised and occupied partly by force and partly without resistance.
" The Militia are disarmed and treated as prisoners of war
The Guards, who had already been disarmed, have had their
arms and decorations restored. As a testimony of their fidelity.
they will be, iu the meantime, joined to the Grenadier Brigade
of the Austrian array.

" General Count Fiquelmont has this day gone to Capua to
intimate to the Commandant of that fortress, that he must sur-
render. In cue of refusal, the place will be attacked the day
after to-morrow, March 21.

(A true copy.) (Signed) " Count dl BOSIBELLES."

FLORENCE, MARCH 24.

Authentic accounts received from Rome, dated the
TOLL, state that Captain Fetzer, of the Staff of the,
Austrian Army, had entered Fondi, at the head of,
three companies of Hussars. All the positions of the
EpilAffio, Fondi, and Itri, considered impregnable,
vvcre voluntarily abandoned by the enemy.

Major Curtis, of the Neapolitan service, has arrived
here with the dispatches from the Hereditary Prince
to his august father.
A Deputation has also arrived from the Abruzzi,
to lad• at the feet of his Sicilian Majesty the homage
of the fidelity, and the expression of the attachment
of that Province towards its Sovereign.

General Fadella, the Duke of Calabria's Aide-de-
Camp, who arrived on the 19th, returned to Naples
on Monday.

TURIN. MARCH 28.

Tranquillity and order prevail in this capital. If
disorders and misfortunes have occurred in the Pro-
vinccs, as well as at Genoa, it is to the inconceivable
conduct of the Prince Regent alone they must be at-
tributed. The streets of Turin are filled with soldiers.
Numerous contingents are arriving from all the Pro-
vinces of the Kingdom. Count Santa Rosa, Minister
of War and Marine, has addressed an Order of the
Day to them, which I subjoin. The Russian Minis-
ter had taken his departure. It is to be hoped that
the great Powers will not consent to any, attempt of
Austria to occupy Piedmont as well as Naples, as
that would be to give up to her the whole of It iiy.
A Patriotic Club, composed of advocates, mer-
chants, professors, and students of the University, has
for these six days past held public sittings in the cof-
fee•house called Caffee Novo. The advocates and
the members of the University display the greatest
zeal for constitutional government.