The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-07 00:00:00

TILE ADMIRALTY BOARD AND THE
BALTIC OPEI?ATIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN.

SlR,—Any person who reads the Russian account of
the bombardment of Sweaborg will see with half an eye
that bad Admiral Dundee been, furnished with a suffi-
cient number of mortar-vessels Sveatiorg must have been
destroyed. The Time talks of sParenvirtars—Nonsense !
Who would think of changing mortars in action t It
was not the mortars that were wanted ; it was a sufficient
number of mortar-vessels, to enable Admiral Dundas to
keep up a steady fire as long as was necessary, without
destroying his mortars, mortar beds, and shaking hie
vessels to pieces.
The Times has begun to attack Admiral Dundee
as they did me. Let them put the saddle on the
right horse. I understand all the mortars except six,
were hors de combat, that was the reason the bom-
bardment was not continued ; and I dare say, if the
truth was known the shells became short also. If the
Admiralty had read my letters they would have seen
that I never foresaw that Sweaborg was to be destroyed
in a couple of days. I stated it might take all the
summer, and summer in the Baltic begins in the middle
of June and ends in the middle of August. Why did
not the Admiralty take care that the mortar vessels
were in the Baltic by that time, and enough of them ?
It appears by Admiral Dundee's despatch he had no
men either killed or wounded. It is then clear had he
had 100 or 150 mortars, he could have kept up a con-
stant fire till the works, island and all, were nearly
destroyed, and the ships would have completed the
work. And why was he not furnished with mortars
for al the islands ? Will the nation believe that
after the millions of money speat in the Navy since
the year 1815 that we did not possess one mortar vessel
at the beginning of the war? The Scourge steamer was
fitted with a swinging 13-inch mortar by Lieutenant
Roberts, which answered perfectly well ; but it was re-
moved. Wny, I don't know. Who is responsible ?
Nobody. The First Lords and .the Boards have been
so often changed that it is impossible to get at the delin-
quents ; and as long as the navy is ruled by a civilian,
who knows nothing about it, and who has the power of
turning out the naval colleagues, ii they do not do what
he bids them, things will never mend.
It is clear that a great opportunity of destroying
Sweaborg has been lost by the imbecility of the Ad-
miralty ; the work will have to be begun again next year
under disadvantages, and the sooner a couple of hundred
mortar-vessels are built the better. The Russians are
more active than we are, and will cover the Baltic next
year with gunboats. They already have thirty steam
gun-boats at Cronstadt, besides a great number of other
gun-boats.
If we do not begin at once we shall be driven out of
the Baltic with disgrace, There are many other things
necessary for success. ,If steam has given us a great ad-
vantage for attack, we.must not forget that large shell
guns and red-hot shot have given great advantages for
defence. Last year I recommended that every ship
should be fitted with hose to lead water fore and aft and
down below, worked by the engine, to extinguish fire ;
it has not been done. Have the Admiralty ever inquired
frain the of at the attack of Sebastopol the effects
of shells below ? If they lave ittqUired, why have they
not provided against it ? It the large engines cannot be
adapted for the purpose, fit small ones.
If they go on as usual, it will require half a-dozen
years for consideration. I tell the country, the Board
of Admiralty, constituted as it is, is not fit to carry on
the war. The Minister for the War Department has.
been changed. Let the Admiralty be changed also. I
have shown before, and now, that they are not fit for
their work,
Sir George Cockburn, who had been at the Admiralty,
I believe, sixteen years, left a legacy to the country
showing how the Admiralty was conducted, and how it
ought to be conducted.
Lord Palmerston is a decided man—he does not like
Boards. I believe it does not even require an act of
Parliament to reform it—Reform ! did I say ? It is not
reformable. Abolish it altogether, and put an active
intelligent officer at the lead of the Surveyor Depart-
ment, with the title of Vice-Admiral of Great Britain ;
put another at the head of the Victualling Department,
with the title of Rear-Admiral of Great Britain (abolish
the sinecures of that name, and give those who hold them
compensation), and let each be responsible for his own
department, and make the Accountant-General respon-
sible for his ; put over the whole an Admiral as Corn-
reander-in-Chief, with a Captain of the fleet to assist
him, and as many secretaries and clerks as aro neces•
sary ; and if you must have a civilian to control the ex-
penses, make him Minister of Marine, but let him have
nothing to do with the promotions or the management
of the navy, and change him with the Ministry, it neces-
sary. Let this he done, and the navy will be well-con-
ducted and millions saved. Take care the right men
are in the right places, and if they do not do their duty
turn them out and get others.
CHARLES NAPIER.
Merchistoun, Sept, 4, 1855.

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.)

CORN EXCHANGE.

Since Monday we have had a slight increase in the ar-
rivals of English wheat coastwise—the supply being 1,390
quarters, but the quantity received put up to-day was li-
mited. The show of samples was, therefore, trifling. For
all kinds the demand was steady, and, in some instances,
fine old wheats produced a tride more money than on
Monday.
The supply of foreign wheat was but moderate. Holders
held most kinds above the views of bqyers, consequently
only a limited business was done.
We were well supplied with foreign barley, but the
show of English was limited. The trade was steady at
full quotations.
Malt moved off steadily at full prices.
Although the imports of oats have been large, the oat
trade was steady at Monday's currency.
Beans, peas, and flour supported former terms.

Wheat.
1,390

♦RRIVALS THIS RISK.
Barley. ( Malt. Oats. Flour.
460 2 3,941 390 1,660

English ..

rich

I -

Foreign I i 12,720 i 11,440 r

4,5005 ck
47,910 '
I 1 —brs

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.

The show of beasts here to-day was moderat‘as to num-
ber, and very deficient in quality. For moat kinds the
demand ruled inactive at Monday's quotations. Although
the supply of sheep was by no means extensive, the
mutton trade was heavy' at a decline in prices of 2.1. per
Blba. We had a very slow s tie for lamb, the value of
which was with difficulty supported. Calves were in
moderate supply, and steady request at the late advances.
Pigs were tolerably firm.
Milch cows sold slowly at from 141. to 201. each, includ
ing their small calf.
Per Sibs to sink the offitis.
s. d. s. d.'
Inferior &eds.-3 10 to 4 0
Second quality.... 4 2 4 61
Prime large
,oxen 4 8 410
Prime Scots, dm 5 0 5 41
Inferior Sheep ...3 4 3 61
Secimd quality ...3 8 4 0,
Prime orse.-wlled.4 2 4 61
Lamb
TOTAL SIIPPLT.

U. d. s d.
Prime Southdown 4 8 5 0
Large tree. calves 4 4 4le
Prime small do 5 0 5 4
Large hogs
Small porkers
Suckling calves 23 0 30 0
Quarter old pigs 22 0 27 0
4s 6d to 5s 84

Beads • • 1,030
Sheep ....•• •• ..•• •• 12,560
Calves .••••••••••• •••••• 300
.•••••••••••••••••••• 600

FOREIGN SUPPLY.
Beasts... ..... . . 300
Sheep ...• ...... .• •• 1,600
Calves..•• •• •• •• •• •• •• 240
Pigs..•• •• •• •• •• •... •...

NEWGATE AND
The trade ruled inactive a
Per 81ba by

LEADENHALL.
is follows :
the carcase.

e. d. 8. d.
Beef, inferior 3 2 3 8
Do., middling 310 4 0
Do., prime large 4 2 4 4
Do , do. small 4 6 4 8
Pork, large 3 8 4 2 ;
Lamb

e. d. s. d.
Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 6
Do., middling 3 8 4 4
Do., prime 4 6 4 8
Veal... ............ 3 10 4 10
Pork, small 4 0 6
44 2d to 5s 2d.

BOROUGH HOP.
About 76 pockets of new hops have come to hand, and
found buyers, at from 71 to El'per owt. Picking will be
general in a few days. The value of yearling and old hops
is difficult to quote. The plantation accounts are favour•
able, and the duty is called 300,0001.
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