HL Deb 11 May 1849 vol 105 cc257-8
The EARL of WILTON

had moved for a return last Session of the number of ships struck by lightning, and the amount of damage which they had sustained, as also the ships fitted with the apparatus of Sir W. Snow Harris, and the other apparatus which had been invented for the same object. He wished to know if there was any objection to grant such returns?

The EARL of MINTO

said, there never had been or could be the slightest doubt of the value of the invention of Sir W. Snow Harris. It was desirable to obtain the relative merits of the two inventions.

The EARL of ST. GERMANS

had moved for a Committee in the House of Commons, but on the suggestion of Sir R. Peel he had consented to a commission instead of a Committee. Since the report of that commission of scientific men, he believed no ships had been fitted with the other apparatus—the chain apparatus.