One hundred years ago
The House of Lords had a curious lit- tle discussion yesterday week on the utility of pouring oil on troubled waters, a discussion which had no reference to Lord Salisbury's troubling of the waters, or to any Episcopal attempt to pour oil on his breakers — but which simply referred to the experiments made off Peterhead, in Aberdeenshire, for the oil- ing of bars and breakers near a harbour's mouth, or round a ship in a heavy gale. Lord Carnarvon brought the subject up, referring to the remarks of Pliny and Plato on the subject, and ask- ing for information as to the results of the Peterhead experiments of Mr Shield. Lord Sudeley replied at length, in- timating that at present the experimenta- tion must be done by private persons, but, that the Board of Trade would carefully watch the results, and make use of the method, if it appeared to be trustworthy. It seems that, unques- tionably, oil diffused over a bar in time of storm may enable ships to pass it easi- ly which could not otherwise pass it at all; but the difficulty of the method is that when there is a high wind, the oil is apt to be swept out to sea, instead of discharging its soothing functions. By the way, where, does the phrase about 'pouring oil on the troubled waters' come from? Lord Sudeley spoke of it as if it were Scriptural, which we believe it is not — nor Shakespearian either.
Spectator, 5 August 1882
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