This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ... period he had presided at the Admiralty, as successor to Lord St. Vincent. The object of these attacks was chiefly for having built ships of the line in merchants' yards, and in which he quoted Lord St. Vincent as a sufficient authority. There was a very sharp controversy between the Admiralty and the Navy ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ... period he had presided at the Admiralty, as successor to Lord St. Vincent. The object of these attacks was chiefly for having built ships of the line in merchants' yards, and in which he quoted Lord St. Vincent as a sufficient authority. There was a very sharp controversy between the Admiralty and the Navy Board. It appears, that after Lord St. Vincent, at that time at the head of the Admiralty, had given orders to Sir Andrew Hammond, then comptroller of the navy, to build ships of the line in the merchants' yards, he suddenly gave counter-orders; and the following is the reason: --on making an annual survey of ship timber for building in store in the King's dock-yards, it was discovered that an alarming deficiency existed; it was therefore wisely determined, first to replenish the dock-yards with that indispensable article, and when that was completed, to renew the contracts. But here it would appear the Government had met with an obstacle; for after the merchants had supplied the King's yards with timber, the war was renewed; and the price of tonnage charged for building a ship of the line was raised from 26 to 36 per ton. Lord Melville's speech was long and luminous, and Lord St. Vincent replied to it with his usual brevity and clearness. He spoke to the following effect: " My lords, the noble lord having thought proper to step out of his way for the purpose of bringing charges against me, I trust I shall be justified in shortly trespassing on your lordships' attention. The inconsistency the noble lord has so much complained of, I can readily explain. Since the custom was of contracting for as many 74-gun ships, of the smaller class, as the Navy Board. could find fit merchant-builders to undertake; but when I was able to attend the...
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