2183. It was the impression, you believe, of the parties who signed the petition?--Yes. 2184. Is that, in point of fact, one of the allegations of the petition?--I do not know. 2185. Are not the allegations of the petition totally of a different effect; are they not against contracts in general?--Certainly not against contracts in general; they are against contracts being given without fair competition; they are not against contracts generally, for contracts must be had somehow, but they should be fair and open. 2186. The prayer of the petition is “that public money granted for the purposes of steam navigation shall be applied, not for the exclusive advantage of any companies or individuals, but so that all engaged in shipping may fairly participate therein, or equally compete; therefore affording to your petitioners the opportunity of showing to your Honourable House the truth (if doubted) as to facts and principles of all the statements of this their humble petition.” If you were under the impression that the Admiralty were actuated by so corrupt a spirit that it was not of any use for solvent parties to send in tenders, will you explain to the Committee why it was that you left that out, as one of the allegations of the petition which you drew up at the time?--I do not understand the question. 2187. Your grievance was, that you were shut out from fair competition by a corrupt predetermination at the Admiralty to exclude you, and to give the contract, at all hazards, to the other Company?--In answer to that, I state the fact that I was not allowed to compete with them in any way. 2188. You have told me that you did not send in a tender to the Admiralty, and that you prepared a petition which you presented to Parliament; that petition contains no allegation of such a corrupt predetermination on the part of the Admiralty; having, therefore, such a feeling in your mind at the time, you neither put it to the test by sending in a tender to the Admiralty, nor did you venture to state that in the petition to the House of Commons?--The petition will speak for itself; it is there. 2189. There is no such allegation in the petition. What information has come to your knowledge, since you petitioned Parliament, which justifies you now in making such an improbable statement here, viz., that there was that corrupt predetermination at the Board of Admiralty?--I did not use the word “corrupt.”