§ MR. BIGGARmoved—
That, in the opinion of this House, no further sums of money should be voted for the Navy until the case and claims of Mr. John Clare, the inventor, patentee, designer, promoter, and upholder of metal shipbuilding on life-preserving principles for the State Navy, and plaintiff in ' Clare v. the Queen,' are rigidly investigated by a Select Committee of this honourable House, and, if found correct as per records of the Admiralty since 1853, to be liquidated.As Mr. Clare was a very persevering gentleman, he (Mr. Biggar) suggested to the Admiralty that a Committee be appointed to investigate his claims, and if they were found to be just to pay them and get rid of the case altogether.
§
Amendment proposed,
To leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words " in the opinion of this House, no further sums of money should be voted for the Navy until the case and claims of Mr. John Clare, the inventor, patentee, designer, promoter, and upholder of metal shipbuilding on life-preserving principles for the State Navy, and plaintiff in ' Clare v. 'the Queen,' are rigidly investigated by a Select Committee of this honourable House, and, if found correct as per records of the Admiralty since 1853, to be liquidated," —(Mr. Biggar,)
§ —instead thereof.
§ MR. E. J. REEDsaid, he had no doubt that the hon. Member for Cavan was actuated by a generous sentiment in urging the claims of Mr. Clare upon the House; but as he (Mr. Reed) had known of the matter for several years, he might be permitted to state his impressions of the case. Mr. Clare was without the smallest particle of a claim to have originated any inventions for the Royal Navy, and he had persuaded himself into a state of mind which was entirely inconsistent with the facts. In other words, Mr. Clare being, in his opinion, unacquainted with almost every principle which regulated the construction of ships, had persuaded himself into the belief that he had done something, and had sent in claims for what were really the inventions of men who were competent masters of their profession. Mr. Clare had gone to the length almost of claiming the whole construction of the Warrior, yet he (Mr. Reed) believed he never had had a correct idea of how the Warrior was framed. In point of fact, Mr. Clare's claims were without the slightest foundation, and if Committees of Inquiry were to be granted in such cases they would be always sitting as long as the House lasted. When he (Mr. Reed) first went to the Admiralty they received inventions there at the rate of 90 per week, and no doubt one half of the inventors persuaded themselves in course of time that they had contributed something valuable to Her Majesty's Navy. If Committees were to be granted to satisfy such individuals they would be entering upon an endless task. Mr. Clare's claims had been gone into over and over again, and had received the greatest personal attention on the part of the Board of Admiralty, but without the slightest foundation for them being discovered.
§ MR. A. F. EGERTONsaid, it was quite out of the question to submit questions of this kind to the consideration of Select Committees of the House. Similar questions had been so referred on several occasions, and the decisions arrived at invariably showed that there was no ground for the claims which were made.
COLONEL BERESFORDsaid, he had seconded the Motion because on examining the Papers he entertained some doubt whether the claim had been fairly settled.
§ MR. BIGGARsaid, that, under the circumstances, he should be willing to withdraw his Motion. ["No, no! "]
§ Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question," put, and agreed to.