It is quite right, we suppose, to sell our wooden
ships, if they are -useless, but it is quite right also to get a good price for them. The Admiralty have just sold to Messrs. Castle and Beech, the well known ship-breakers, whose wood everybody in London burns, the Colossus, Collingwood, Orion, and Cressy, ships of the line ; the Impirieuse, Euryalus, Termagant, Arrogant, Chesapeake, and Leander, frigates, 24,305 tons of shipping built in Govern- ment dockyards, for 68,0001. We are not learned in shipping, but surely this is a most extravagant bargain. Have Messrs. Castle and Beech bought the ships as they stand, copper bolts and all, or only the wood? Mr. Corry will hear more of this business than be will like, that is quite certain, and we recom- mend him, for his own sake, when he next sells ships to do it by auction, in London, and after considerable advertising. 2/. 15s. a ton for old ships so built that they are beds of oak and copper !
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