The palmetto herald. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1864-1864, 1864-07-21

Oh Capt. SeiIiincS, 10 eza1 he =
800 honorable, whatever the cost, to seek
exemption by an act 50 dishouorable, and
which would forever exclude all clemen-
cy. Now, Sir, l have not the same
opinion of Capt. Semmes' honor. We
shall see.-I am, &C.,
E. N. SToDDARD, Master.
Us. 8. Kearsarge, Cherbourg, France,
June 90.
PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES THE FIGHT.
In the House of Commons, June 90,
Sir J. Hay asked the Secretary to the
Admiralty whether the attention OF Hel
Majesty's Government had been drawn
to the report of an action which took
place last Sunday between the United
States frigate Kearsarge and the Confed-
crate ship Alabama; and whether they
had considered the report OF the Com
inander-in- Chief at Devonport on the
preparation for battle of Her Maiesty's
kAip Research; !; whether, as the last.
hamed report showed that this class ol
ship would not fight her guns with ad-
vantage, and the first-named report
showed that she would easily be destroy
ed in action, Her Majesty's Government
would continue to build ships which
could not be expected either to fight OF
swim; and further asked, as the advan-
tsge ofguns of large calibre had been SO
clearly shown in the aboye-Hamed ac-
lion, whether Her Majesty's Government
would at once obtain proper suppiy,S
large riflea guns for the service OF the
navy.
Lord c. PAGEr said, in answer to the
question of the honorable and gallant
member, he had to state that the Ad-
miralty had considered, what he supposed
eyery one else had, the action between
he Kearsarge and the Alabama, which
took place last Sunday, and which had
no reference whatever to the question as
to the Research. Hear hear. They
hat. likewise considered the report of the
Commander-in- Chief at Devonport. That
report went to show the fact that there was
not room enough in the Research to work
the guns, in consequence of the funnel
and wheels being within the battery.
They were taking steps to remove these,
which were mere matters of detail
[hear, hear, and he had no reason to
believe that there was any dissatisfaction
with the Research. He was on board
her o few days ago, when he asked the
Captain, young, active, intelligent Off
Ger, if he was perfectly satisfied. Hear,
hear With regard to the comparison
drawn by the honorable and gallant
member between that vessel and heAla-
2bama, perhaps the honorable and gallant
nrficer was not aware that the Alabama
was wooden ship and the Research was
armor- plated, and that therefore there
could be no comparison between them.
With regard to the further question as to
whether the Admiralty would continue
to build ships which could neither fight
nor swim, the Admiralty had no such in
tention. Laughter.] What he could
state was that the vessels were undergo
ing fair trial, and he asked for them
fair play. CCheers.] He asked fair play
for another experimental ship that was
going out in a few days for trial, namely,
the Royal Sovereign, which had been de-
signed by that talented officer Captain
Coles. Hear, hear. He should be
happy to give the house at later date the
practical results of these trials. AS 10
the question respecting guns the honor
able and gallant member must be aware
that the Admiralty were taking steps to
obtain heavy guns. The honorable and
gallant officer was himself present the
other day at Shoeburyness, where the
average weight of shot used was 167
pounds, and the average charge of pow