The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-15 00:00:00

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NOTICI.
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LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 15.

RE-CONSTRUCTION OF THE AD.IfILILTI.

MERE seems to be really a chance at last of
something like a reconstruction of the Board of
Admiralty, which ever since sailing line-of-
battle ships and paddle-wheel steamers went
out of fashion, has been perpetually reconstruct-
ing everything but itself. The hour is now come;
and the man, in the person of Mr. thimnitas, who
to all appearances is precisely what a First Lord
should be : not a sailor (we never heard of any-
one except the late Sir NAPIAR
who wished to put a sailor at the head
of the Admiralty), but sailor-like in all the
best qualities of that noble profession--in prac-
tical good sense, business-like energy, strict regard
for discipline, frank and genial manners. An
Admiral for First Lord would be more "at sea"
than he ever was in his life, and he would
probably insist on building only such ships as
he sailed in in his youngster days. The First
Lord of the late Administration had many excel-
lent qualifications for the post; a genuine love of
the sea and of the sea life, a close and familiar ac-
quaintance with naval affairs and with the details
of the service, a charming manner. But ho wanted
health and strength, perhaps, or at any rate the
needful energy to initiate reforms ; perhaps he
was a little too sentimentally attachedto the ancient
ways, and owned too fond a reverence for the old
traditions of the service. His successor, Mr.
comogas, who, long before he had reached the
prime of his years bad acquired habits of business
and large practical experience in colonial life,
and who knows t',e rough as well as the smooth
side of public affair;, had acquired in the laid
Parliament so considerable a reputation for ad-

winistrative aptitude that ho was variously desig-
nated, by general report, to the Ministry of War,
to the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, and
to the post to which ho has bean actually ap-
pointed. As an independent member, and as a
Junior Lord, ho has paid great attention to the
details of our naval administration, first as an
unofficial reformer, subsequently as a candid
official representative of a Board whose short-
comings be was more prepared to mouse than to
justify. In the working department of the

Treasury ho showed a prompt mastery of
all the points upon which be was called upon to
give explanations in committee, and a perfect
clearness in statement. And in Oppo*ion he
qualified himself for future reeponsibilllg by a
constant attendmiee on Estimate nights and
a certain subdued enthusiasm for retrenskiont.
A FIRST LORD is not expected to have " ems
" legs," but Mr. Cnn.nzaa, who has bean roaad
the world, will probably be quite at home on the
quarter-deck. What is more important, ho has
studied patiently and accurately all those ques-
tions on the solution of which true naval eoo-
nomy depends—such as the relative ad-
vantages and cost of work done in Govern-
ment establishments and in private yards; the
organisation of dockyard labour and the supply
of stores; the relative proportions of the com-
batant and the noncombatant, the executive and
the administrative personnel of the service; the
proper elassitietition of ships, and distribution of
squadrons. le has shown himself not afraid of
cutting down what may be called the " top
" hamper" of the service without diminishing
efficiency. What the common sense of the public
has long sought for in our naval administration is
a concentration of responsibility, so that we may
know " whom to hang." and a division of labour,
so that each " Lord" may have his special work to
do, and do it. It appears to be decided that there
must be some sort of Board, and Mr. CHILDERS'
plan for making it more handy has the merit of
simplicity. The First Sea Lord will, in some sort,
be the double of the First Lord, and follow his
political fortunes; he will have the officers and
ships' companies of the fleet under his eye. The
Controller of the Navy will be the second Senior
Lord, and chief permanent officer of the Board,
and under his care will be placed the dockyards
and all the maiEriel. To each of these Senior
Lords will be attached • Junior ; to the first Sea
Lords Junior Sea Lord, who will be &poet captain,
and to the second t3ea Lord and Controller a Junior
civilian administrator. Each of tho Juniors

will be to the First Lord in parliament and for his
senior at the board like NELSON'S frigates, " theeyes
"of the fleet." Such is tho proposed reconstruc-
tion of tho Admiralty Board, according to the
Times. Our contemporary, in wishing well to
Mr. Cnn.nEss, warns him that the Navy is an
eminently conservative profession. It scorns to us
that there is nothing in a departmental recon-
struction which has for its objects oe.l-
- and efficiency combined that can possibly
affect injuriously the interests of the really effec-
tive portion of the service. Some gallant veterans
on the retired list may shake their beads and
growl over it at the club, but their sucurossors on
the active list will not be the losers if jobbery,
favoritism, irresponsibility, and obstinate prejtt-
di. e, arc consigned to the limbo of the past.