New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-13
NOTES FROM LONDON.
THE AIERT-THE BELT CASE-PoLlIlOS
AND PHILOSOPHY.

l'N'' I'M nv" W LONDON, March 20.
m, a.. . ,,,,, into commission on Monday and
MIR. Lowell made this formallty the occasion ior q
crooof,l acknowledgement of the friendly good VIII
So, Ia. the British Government in the gift oil the
chin 70 America He asked 4 party OF some hltv
pcore TO witness the ceremony ami to lnhch wiz"
him on board Among his guests were Lord North
brook FIRST Lord of the Admiralty Admiral Hlr
Cooper Kew the First Sea Lord; Admiral Acester'
of whom We used to hear IN the harbor oil AleAah-
dria rs Sir Bcauchamp Seymour; Admiral Bran
drcth Controller OF the Navy. and other ohicials OF
the Admiralty. Then came all the naval attaches OF
The different Embassies and Legations i'll London
Arctic celebrities were in force-Admiral Sir Leo
mold NcClntock; Sir George Mares, the former com
mander of the Alert; Sir Allen Young ana MI
Leigh smith. The secretaries of the United states
Legation Mr. IIoppn and Mr. Henry White were
present to support thcirchiefand Captain ChadWi'N'
of the American Navy, now attached to our Lest-
ton. General Merritt, American Consui-GcheIai'
and Mr.. Mofatt. Deputy Consul, competed INC HS'
of American officials present.
The Alert lay IN the dyyd0ck at Green's Shipyard'
popar where the last touch of the many alterations
and repairs she required has been given Lleuten-
ant Commander Goodrich, who is to take her across
the Atlautic tells me that not only the British
authorities but all the Arctic commanders have
been indefatjgable in help of every kind; Sil Leo
,old McClntock and Sir George Mares and Sir Alien
Voung taking as much interest in the shin as II 'hey
we're 10 20 in her themselves. We all walked ro'nlu
her before going on board and the of authority
in naval matters agreed that she looked as III ls
shin could be made for the sTduOus and dangerous
work she has 10 do You know her history and de-
scriution and 1 need not repeat it. She was thor
oughly rebuilt in 1875 for Sir George Mares eX-
pedition and if anything remained to he done 10
her il has been done now. The stout iron plates she
carried in 1870 for strengthening purposes nave
been replaced by stouter ones she has new rigging
and spars and looks. if anything, heavily Sparreu
for 4 bark OF her size. A new rudder was beng
fitted for shipping and unshpping Captain Chad-
wick and Captain Goodrich have personally super
vised everything. The Alert really sailing YES
sci capabe of taking care of herself under canvas
with auxiliary steam power by which 1t Is hoped TO
get six knots ont of her under steam alone. but
speed IS of course, not the thing wanted IN the
Arctic regions 1t is gather, the opinion OF all the
experts that no vessel better adapted IN all essential
respects for Arctic exploration has ever left port
Captain Goodrich expects to he from twenty -hNc
DAYS 10 a month in crossing the Atlantic.
Once on board the ceremony of putting the Alert
m commission was soon accomplished. Mr.. Lowell
as American Minister he is senior naval officer IN
British waters and pOrts-gave the word ana the
Stars and Stripes went lutcrne mp to the peak and
10 the fore and mZZen mastheadS, while some
variety of British ensign on a white ground was
hoisted at the mainmasthead Everybody VINO
liked was shown the ship, and then came
luncheon. which was laid in the house on deck and
in the cabin below, with as much elegance as II on
shore The Alert not being intended to receive
parties ~ this size, the company divided. Mr..
Lowell after luncheon had been discussed and duly
diluted, proposed the health OF the Queen with a
few words of gratitude to Queen and people ana
Government for their gift of the Alert Lord North
brook proposed the President of the United states,
adding TO the cordial sentences of the toast brief
account of the interest the Queen herself had taken
in the matter. OF this think all heard for the
first time The offer of the Alert came officially, OF
course, from the Government, but the sanction OF
the Queen had 10 be obtained. and the Queen, SAID
Lord NorthbrOOk had given it with an expression
of her personal pleasure in the gift and IN the evil
dence il Afforded of friendship TO the United States
Finally Admiral Sir Cooper Kew, sailor-ike, pro-
posed Success to the Ship, with the health OF her
present commander.
Mr.. Belt. plaintiff in the eternal case of Belt
versus Lawes, is finding out that the penalty
of the too Jealous friendship bestowed on him Is
likely TO be heavy. Mr. Lawes has become bank
rpt or in strictly legal phrase, has filed his petit
ton in bankruptcy. and upon that the usual re-
ceivIng order has been granted Thereupon MI
Belt rlshes into print, publishes letter from MS
solicitor ana ms own reply, anu pi''luiS NoLolAOA9
HIMSELF a very -used person. The Master OF the
Rolls. Sir Ballot Brett, is the person of whom Mr.
Belt ought to complain. That eminent judge in dis
missing the defendants appeal Lords Justices
Bagallay and Lindley cOncurrlpG refused, with
much heat, to stay execution pending further APP
peal TO the House of Lords. Not for single
hour" cried lie in his passionate way.
The defendant none the less appealed. Where
upon Mr. Belt not very wisely advised by his
solicitors Messrs. c. o. Humphrey N Sons, people
who are much concerned in police court and other
criminal business-put an execution III Mr.. LaWcSs
house They did not wait for the costs TO be taxed
but issued execution for the damages, amounting to
$1,000 If they had meant and desired to drive Mr..
Lawes into bankruptcy they could not have done
more. Mr.. Lawcs however, made one further ehort
al compromise. Through his solicitor Mr. George
Lewis. hc offered 10 pay $4,000 within folty-cight
hours to settle this and Rankin's action and all
costs CONNECTED Herewith. Mr.. Belt refused. IN a
letter to Messrs. Humphreys, the ground that
the sum offered is little more than sufficient to
cover the balance of the expenses recently repre-
sented to me by you as having been incurred on
ny behalf His own means adds Mr.. Belt, are
wholly exhausted, nothing would be left to repay
the friends who have supplied him with money TO
continue this litigation, and he thinks II wrong that
one set of claims against him should be paid and
not others. This seems TO imply belief on Mr..
Belts part that if the $4,000 were once paid II
would all or nearly all 90 in satisfaction Of Messrs.
Humphreys bill leaving his other creditors little
or nothing The result in any case, of this remark
able suit seems TO be the pecuniary ruin OF both
plaintiff and defendant
But how is it that Mr. Lawes ono day IS able 10
offer TO pay Go 900 in forty-eight hours, and the
next day becomes bankrupt The explanation Is
simple. Mr.. Iawcs himself has not a shilling. He
has had to defend the action brought by Mr.. Belt
with the help of his father, who is known TO DC rich
and said 10 have something like 10000 year. Sir