The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

NAVY ESTIMATES.

Sir C. Woon, in moving the estimates for the
naval service, prefaced his general statement by
an explanation of his improvements in the official
arrangements at the Aimiralty, and its co-ordinate
departments, especially as regarded book-keeping,
the payment of wages, and other matters of business.
Coming to the estimates of the year itself, the right
hon. baronet observed :

When I come to propose the votes, the house will see
that I do not ask for estimates for the whole year, but I
hope the house will sanction a war estimate for such a
time as will cover the greatest possible delay in determin-
ing whether we are to have peace or war. (Hear, hear.)
The best security for peace is to be ready for war. (Hear,
hear.) If we show any hesitation, or any unwillingness to
carry on the war, depend upon it our enemy will avail him-
self of it ; but show that you are firm, that you are ready, if
negotiations for peace should fail, to carry on the war as it
has not vet been carried on, and I believe our chance of
obtaining peace will be much improved. I appeal, there-
fore, with confidence to every member of this house—not
only to those who have so nobly supported the Government
throughout this war in their endeavours to bring it to a
successful end, but also to those most anxious or peace,
to support us in these votes; because by so doing they
will be promoting that end at which they are so earnestly
aiming.

The first sum to be granted was 204,000/.,for an excess
of expenditure in the last year. For the active force of
the navy it was intended to ask a vote of 00,000
seamen and marines—being 6,000 more than last
year—and 10,000 boys. The estimate for the wages
of this force was 3,237,8931., showing an increase of
352,3561. beyond the amount granted last year; but
of this gross total he should require a present vote
of only 2,000,000/. Not that he believed that sum
would be all that, under the most favorable circum-
stances, would be required during the year, but he
woul I take it merely on account. Sir Charles Wood
then went through the various items of the estimates,
IP‘ing explanations on every point, and showing a
Sum total for the estimates amounting to 12,148,6411.,
being an increase of 291,135/. over the previous esti-
mate., besides the additional 204,0001. in excess,
Respecting the Black Sea establishment, Sir Charles
Wood trusted that important reductions would be
carried on before the close of the year. On bringing
forward the vote for " half pay;' the right hon.
baronet took occasion to vindicate the bestowal of
Rood-service pensions upon Captains Keppel and
L Clarence Paget. Considering the high charac-
ter of the services of those officers, he trusted the
committee would not consider the pensions either
1 nproperly or unfairly bestowed. With respect to
t ie Transport Service, Sir Charles Wood called the
.ntion of the committee to the great skill and
dil Bence of the commanders of these ships,
by which no less than 204,000 men had bren
Las year moved without a single disaster. Sir
Charles next proceeded to explain various
matters connected with retirements and promo.
tions in the navy, and with the pay and pensions
awarded to men and officers. In conclusion, the
right hon. baronet called attention to the high state

THE PRESS.

of efficiency of the navy and of its brilliant services
during the past yesx:—

I do not believe that at any period in the history of this
country our naval establishment has been in a state of
greater completeness and efficiency than at the present
moment. Look at the improvement and development of
steam power as applied to our fleet. 11 hy, last year not a
single sailing ship of war appeared in the Baltic,—all were
either paddlewheel or screw steamers. All the line-or,
battle ships which are not screw steamers have been with-
drawn from the Black Sea, with one exception—that of a
vessel left as a depot-ship ; and only three or four sailing
line-of-battle ships are left afloat in; our ports, except as
store-ships. This change has, of course, been attended
with considerable expense, but it has added enormously to
the efficiency of our naval force. Look, too, at our officers.
Have they not deserved well of their country wherever they
have been engaged in operations ? Have they not main-
tained, and even increased, the ancient reputation of our
navy ? The Russian Black Sea fleet, it has been truly said,
has been swept from the sea. 1t is true there may be two
or three steamers at Nicolaieff, or in the River Don ; but
every Russian ship of war in the Black Sea has been burst,
sunk, or destroyed by us or by the Russians themselves.
We have destroyed the vessels that were employed to convey
Russian stores, and from Odessa to the Straits of Kertch,
and throughout the Sea of Azoff, not a Russian ship of any
size remains. Along the entire coast the destruction of
stores by our fleet was enormous, ant there were performed
in various instances exploits worthy of the proudest days
of the British navy.

The bombardment of Sweaborg was a most brilliant
affair—everything inflammable was destroyed ; and
though it was impossible to tell how many of the
enemy were killed, yet he believed that not less than
1,000 men were blown up at one explosion:—
It is said, why was not Cronstadt attacked? On this
point 1 may state that we had not, with regard to small
vessels, the support on which we at first calculated. An
agreement had been made between the French and Eng-
lish Governments to send an equal number of floating
batteries to the Baltic. Afterwards the French Govern.
ment changed its views as to the best mode of carrying on
the war, and they sent their floating batteries to the Black
Sea; but, although we had the number intended, yet the
whole number originally agreed upon was not sent.

Should another campaign be necessary, so great
had been the energy of the Government and the
vigour of the Naval Executive, that no less than 350
British pennants would float in the waters of the
Baltic by spring, while 100 covered the Black Sea.

A discussion then ensued between Captain Scobell,
Admiral Berkeley, Sir Charles Napier, and Sir
Francis Baring, upon the successive votes,—the
questions of retirement and bounties, and the con-
stitution of the Board of Admiralty, being severely
handled by Sir CHARLES NAPIER. A vote of 76,000
men was taken for three months : several money
votes on account were also agreed to. Upon the vote
for home naval establishments, Mr. MAGUIRE called
the attention of the house to the neglect of Ireland,
which ha 4 a right to a fair share of patronage. The
natural resources and advantages of Cork pointed it
out as a harbour peculiarly suited for a naval
station.

Sir CHARLES WOOD could not agree with Mr.
Maguire. It was not intended to have large dock-
yards and naval establishments in Ireland until they
were wanted. Ships of war, after being fitted out or
repaired at the home ports, were duly distributed
over the different ports of the United Kingdom.
Mr. SPOONER objected to the sums included in the
estimates as allowances to Itoman Catholic chap.
lains : he thought them as unreasonable as the
Mavnooth grant, and at some future time would call
the attention of the house to the subject.
The vote, after some discussion, was agreed to,
and at eleven o'clock the house resumed.