 When he failed to persuade the Admiralty, in June 1877 he publicised his charges in "The Times".An editorial in the same edition, 18 June, said "it is said that the unarmoured ends are, in fact, the corks on which she floats, that she cannot swim without them, and it would appear that if she lost one she would capsize".Further exchanges followed until in July, construction was halted on "Inflexible" (and two other smaller ships, and ) whilst a hastily convened committee examined the design.