Notes

Abstract

No more than justice has been done to Sir Joseph Whitworthby granting him a prolongation for five years for his process of manufacturing fluid-compressed steel. The powerful evidence brought before the Committee of the Privy Council as to the utility of this steel could not be resisted. Mr. James Wright, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy, stated that the invention “has met a want long felt for the principal parts of marine engines which have been subject to failures;” from his experience of it he has perfect trust in it. Mr. Hotchluss, the patentee of the revolving cannon used by the French Government, stated that he never had occasion to reject a single barrel of the steel. The evidence from Mr. J. Davidson, of Woolwich, Mr. Purdey, the-well-known gun-maker, and others, showed that by getting rid of. the air-cells the steel answered perfectly, and is a better metal than had ever been produced by any previous process. Their Lordships were satisfied that it would in all probability be highly useful “in carrying out the highest achievements of engineering skill.”