Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Steamships, War, Commerce, Government

    Opens by attacking 'private ship-builders' of Britain, who 'have the power, by an evasion of the law', to supply 'vessels of war to the enemies of people' with whom Britain is currently at peace, but points out that 'it is intolerable that any foreign nation should be empowered to limit the business of any British ship-builder' (this is a reference to the controversy over John Laird's attempted sale of ironclads to the Confederate government). Advises the Prime Minister, Henry J Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston), to force through legislation that compels the 'sale of any vessel of war' which the government thinks 'proper to buy at a fair valuation'. Supports its argument by noting that the power thus conferred on the government is that enjoyed by 'money-grabbing' railway companies, and the greater efficiency that the Royal Navy would gain through additions from private dockyards.