A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator.' 20 April 1867—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 lmperieuse, Euryalus, Termagant, Arrogant, Chesapeake, and Leander, frigatei. 24,305 tons of shipping built in Govern- ment dockyards for 68,090/. We are- not learned in shipping, but surely this is a most extravagant bargain. Have Messrs:-. Castle and Beech _bought the ships-a& they stand—copper bolls: and all. or. only the wood? Mr. Corry will hear more of this business than he will like, that is quite certain, and_we recommend 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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