HC Deb 20 May 1842 vol 63 c560
Major Vivian

wished to put a question to the right hon. Baronet respecting the invention of Mr. Warner, who professed to have discovered a method of destroying the largest fleets and the strongest fortifications. His noble relative had instituted some inquiries upon the subject, and, on a former occasion, the right hon. Baronet had taken much interest in the question, and what be wished now to ascertain was, whether any new experiments had been made to test the value of the discovery.

Sir R. Peel

replied that he had witnessed an experiment upon a small piece of water which had certainly been successful, and it had appeared to him that the experiment was so deserving encouragement that conditions had been proposed to Mr. Warner, under which he was to make a further trial. Two officers had been appointed to conduct any fresh experiments; but Mr. Warner not having accepted the conditions, none had been made.