The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-16 00:00:00

THE BRITISH NAVY.

This morning a return was published of the num-
ber of steamers and sailing vessels sold by the Admiralty
since July, 1859, stating severally the ages of the ships and
of their engine', the number and weight of spare
screw propellers, the tonnage, horse power, and
the amount of money obtained for each vessel.
Particulars are also given se to the nature of the sale, the
purchaser, and the sum repaid by the Admiralty for the
re-purchau of stone bearing the mark of the broad
arrow. To thesedetaila isadded a copy of the official reports
relating to the sale and valuation of these vessels. It is,
perhaps, to be regretted that the original cost is not stated,
but it is obvious that many of those onoe-famous men of
war whose glory has departed, have been sold at what
may be said to be "a tremendous sacrifice." We find, for
instance, the Orion, a screw line-of-battle ship of
3,281 tons burtheo, and fitted at the same time
with engines of 600-horse power, sold as she stood
for 8,6501., and realising scarcely more than half that sum
after the repurchase of stores bearing the government
mark. Then there are the Cressy and the Majestic, ships
of the same class but of less tonnage and horse.power,
only 134 years old, and considered to be effective
vessels when England was called upon to "try' fall" with
Russia—they were sold, the former realising a net
sum of 991/, Ifs. 9d., and the latter 2,4101. 7a. 9d.
The Brunswick, also a screw two-deeker, of 2,492
tons burthen and 400 horse-power, eleven years and three-
quarters old, could not, it seams, obtain a purchaser
for more than 1,9961. 18.. 6d., while the Colossus, two-
decker, of 2,590 tons burthen and 400 hone power, sank
to a lower indignity still, and fetched no more than
881/. 19s. 6d. ! Frigates of the Euryalus, Imperieue,
Arrogant, and Termagant classes, although sold also for
breaking up, seem to have been more fortunate in
the prices they obtained ; the former, a fine ship of
2,371 tons, which had the honour a few years ago of
bearing Prince Alfred on hie trial cruise, realising a net
sum of 5,353 E. 13e. Bd., and the latter, the smallest of the
four,sold for 4,324/. 188.9 - The most startling fen for the
British taxpayer is that the prior tendered for the pur-
chase of 32 steam-ships, including many that were the
pride and glory of the country during the war of 1854-5,
and one magnificent three-decker (the Marlborough) which
four years before was serving her first commission as flag-
ship in the Mediterranean—the sum offered for all thus
was not nearly equal to the cost of a single first-rate
ironclad of the British fleet at the present time. For
these 32 vessels Mesas. Castle and SOW and W. P.
Beech offered only 230,110/., the vessels to be sold as they
stood, including all stores on board, end without any
I restriction' as to returning old copper and other metal.
In making his report to the Admiralty upon this
offer, the Controller of the Navy expressed an opinion
that it was worthy of consideration, but said that
it required amending in several particulars. The controller
thought that the highest price obtainable had not been
offend by Meows. Castle and Beech, and other terms were
proposed by that official, and other contractors were in-
vited to send in tenders.

From the report of the storekeeper-general of the navy
we learn that the approximate cod of five out of 13 ships
proposed to be sold immediately was (including machinery),
513,474/., and the total amount offered for them was only
31,5051., or about one-fifteenth of their original cost. The
same authority tells us that the approximate cast of
seven ships of the line and six frigates, including
machinery, was no INS than 1,313,2231., whereas the
actual sum realised on the sale of these vessels did not
exceed 50,0001.