§ MR. BIGGARcalled attention to the case of Mr. John Clare, the inventor, patentee, designer, promoter, and upholder of Metal Shipbuilding on life-preserving principles, and to his claims upon the Admiralty adopting his inventions, plans, models, and designs as furnished by him to that Department of the State upon its Order, dated the 22nd day of June, 1855. The hon. Member admitted that the case had already been decided by a Court of Law; but thought that if it was competent for the Home Secretary tore-hear criminal cases, it was not too much to ask Parliament to rehear a case in which the only question involved was the propriety of awarding compensation to a man whose brains, 1336 inventions, and studies had been utilized by the Board of Admiralty without acknowledgment.
§ MR. A. F. EGERTONsaid, he was aware that he could only reply to the hon. Member by the indulgence of the House; but he did not think it would be respectful to the hon. Member if some Member of the Admiralty did not reply to him. The grounds upon which the Admiralty were forced to refuse the Committee asked for by the hon. Member were that Mr. John Clare, having already taken every step open to him to enforce his claims, the Admiralty, after giving them the fullest investigation, had felt themselves compelled to reject them, and their decision had been supported by the Courts of law.
COLONEL BERESFORDsaid, it would be great relief to get quit of these constant references to the case of Mr. Clare, and suggested that if there were supposed to be a real grievance, it should be referred to one of the Lords of the Admiralty to report.