Mr. E. J. Reed, formerly Constructor of the Navy, and
now M.P. for the Pembroke Boroughs, has carried his point at last, after a bard struggle, as to the 'Inflexible.' He has always maintained that an independent scientific judgment should be obtained on the alleged stability of the turret of that ship, in case her unplated portions fore and aft of the turret should be riddled by shot, and so rendered worse than useless for any pur- pose of maintaining the stability of the vessel. The matter was sharply discussed in the House of Commons yes- terday week, when it became obvious from Sir Stafford North coin's tone that though lie intended to refuse a Committee of the House, he could not refuse to satisfy the doubts which had been raised, and on Monday night he stated, in answer to Sir J. Hay, that the dispute concerning the 'Inflexible' would be referred to an independent Commission, not connected with the Admiralty, but consisting of experts in naval matters ; and on Tuesday the Duke of Richmond and Gordon said, in answer to the Duke of Somerset in the House of Lords, that these experts would be furnished with all the data for making their estimate, and that he expected the result of their deliberations to be one perfectly satisfactory to the public mind. 'Whether that be so or not, it will certainly be most satisfactory to the public mind to have the dispute decided by competent umpires. The public estimate of the scientific judgment of the Board of Admiralty has not of late years improved. Indeed, public confidence in it went down to a considerable extent with the ' Vanguard ' under the blow of the 'Iron Duke.'
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