The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-14 00:00:00

31st day of December, 1851; distinguishing the amount col-
lected at each gate or avenue; together with a specification
of the tolls.
The House adjourned at Eight o'clock.

ON REFORM WITHOUT THE BALLOT IN
THE SMALL BOROUGHS OF DEVON-
SHIRE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—As I conceive it to be the duty of every person,
who may be desirous of seeing the ballot appended to
the Government measure of reform, to bring to light any
circumstances calculated to promote the accomplishment
of so desirable an end as giving protection to honest
voters, I take the liberty, as an elector of Totnes (one of
the small class of boroughs), to make a few remarks on
some of our past elections, and to show what would be
the probable effect of the new Reform Bill, without the
ballot, in towns of this class.
It will be recollected that Totnes has been the scene of
several very severely contested elections, and no one can
deny that they have been attended with the moat dis-
astrous consequences to the trade and commerce of the
town. In the year 1839, Mr. Parrott, one of the then
Members for the borough, resigned his seat, and we
were plunged into a contest of the most severe
description resulting in a double return. The
candidates at that time were Mr Blldwin (one of the
present representatives), and Mr. Blount, a son-In-law
of the Duke of Somerset. Party spirit ran dreadfully
high, and interest of every description was brought to
bear on both sides of the question. The numbers polled
by each candidate being equal, there was to have been a
scrutiny betore a Committee of the House of Commons,
who, however, delared the election to be null and void
in consequence of some informality in the proceedings
(the nature of which I need not explain); a new elec-
ti .n was the result, when the candidates were Mr. Bald-
win and Mr. Thomas Gay Giaborne (the eldest son of
the veteran reformer). Another close contest ensued, and
party contention ran as high as before. Mr. Bald win,
however, succeeded in being returned by a majority of
seven (a considerable time having elapsed and a fresh
registration take place between the two elections, by
which a number of fictitious VuteS were added to the
Conservative aide).
Now, Sir, the circumstance to which I am about to
call your attention is this:—On each of the occasions to
which I have referred, " Lists of the Poll" were printed
and circulated amongst the adherents of one of the po-
litical parties, by which it could be seen at a single
glance how every tradesman had voted. lam not going
to state what effect such an act may have caused in this
town; I do not profess to attach myself particularly to
either the Radical or Tory side; but Ido not think it
would be possible to calculate the extent of injury capable
of being inflicted by resorting to such a practice as this.
some of these lists are still in existence, and may, like
so many embers, be easily re-kindled into a flame at the
first outbreak of a political agitation. True it is that
each party may adopt the same course; but I totally ob-
ject that any party whatever should have the power of
publishing to the world how every tradesman and work-
man has voted, and thus set man against man, and have
the effect of intimidating a tradesman particularly from
giving a conscientious and independent vote.
Fancy the effect of such a practice as the one I have
described being resorted to in a neigbouring town (Tor-
quay), where the tradesmen are mainly dependent for
support era the aristocracy who flock to that fashionable
watering-place, and where, during the winter months,
there is frequently an influx of from 2,000 to 3,000 of
the higher classes of society, incluoing a pretty good
sprinkling of toe clergy! A tradesman could scarcely
dare to give a conscientious vote, for fear of his name
being published with a view to obtain patronage for the
serfs of party only.
I happen to know, from frequent communications with
several of the Torquay tradesmen, that hundreds there
have been heard to express that they had no desire what
ever to have a share iu the election of borough Members
for tear of consequences that might ensue. I say, God
forbid they should, for their own sakes, unless shielded
by the ballot.
I could say a great deal more on this subject, but fear
I have' already taken up more space than you will allow
me. I venture to assert, however, that without the
ballot, the new measure of Reform will be productive of
evil rather than good in small boroughs; but accompa-
nied with the ballot, it would give general satisfaction.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN ELECTOR OF TOTNES.

-- -----
A STANDING NAVY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Six,—The paying off the Ganges and Southampton at
this critical period has at length demonstrated the imbeci-
lity of putting together a complicated and beautiful piece
of machinery at an enormous expense, and as soon as it has
attained perfect working order, the whole of the elements of
which it was composed was scattered to the winds. It is,
therefore, a source of the very greatest possible pleasure to
me to see that you have taken up a subject of such vital
importance to the British empire as the manning our ships
of war; and would to God your influential journal had thirty
years ago been equally zealous in advocating the con-
centration of our naval forces to fiti4 of the maximum
rates, which I have incessantly advocated in oraer to
prevent a recurrence of the disgrace which was inflicted on
our country by the defeats we sustained frem the American.
in the last war, when the Board of Admiralty at thAL period
were obliged to issue an order to the captains of our frigates
not to risk an action with the American frigates! forsooth,
because they were so much inferior to them in size, calibre
of guns, and number of men. Yet, notwithstanding this
self-convicted blindness on their part in not keeping pace
with the times in building ships of equal magnitude with
other maritime powers, will it be believe.i, in defiance of the
constant warnings they had, they continued buil ing donkey
frigates of 26 guns, line-of-battle ships of 70 guns, 10-gun
brigs, and nondescript corvettes, until within the last three
or four years.
The millions that have been squandered in this way
have been of that enormous amount that it has always been
to me a subject of amazement that it was tolerated for
such a protracted period.
Sir, the only remedies for these evils are those which I
have advocated in vain for many years. The first is, to
have a standing navy, like a standing army, by which
means we can keep all our educated gunners, which cost us
such large sums in training, and when turned adrift after
three years' service generally go to America, where the
exodus of the Irish, English, and Scotch population are
bending their steps.
_ .

With a stauding navy we have the power of selecting
and retaining none hut the best men in the service, which
on an emergency form the nucleus of ships' crews for
increasing our fleets; wheras, by the present privateer
system, we are allowed to take what men we can get,
good, bad, and indifferent, to man our ships of war ; and even
this process is generally extended over some months before a
ship can be got ready for sea! With a standing navy, when
a ship comes home from a foreign station, if on examination
she is found to require considerable repair, the crew would in
that case be turned over to a ship of the same class in ordi-
nary, and fitted out immediately, a portion of them receiving
that leave of absence to see their friends to which they are
undoubtedly entitled.
Again, with respect to the concentration of our ships of
war to,five of the maximum sizes, the materiel of one rate
would be applicable to every one of the same rate. The eco-
n,my that would by this means ensue in the materiel would
he enormous ; in addition to which the maximum size of
each rate would be not only a match for every enemy's ship
of the same rate, but would be sure to annihilate all others
of inferior sizes, though nominally of the same rate.
If you will steadily advocate these effective remedies for
the crying evils which exist in the government of the navy,
you will render an important service to our common
country, which is now labouring under the apprehension of
invasion—a subject that never would have entered into any
man's mind had the timely warning been taken which I
gave twenty years ago, and been therefore prepared f T all
eventualities. Of those who have not had the capacity to
do that which they ought to have done, it may with truth be
said—" Amabilis insania, et mentis gratis,irnus error I"
I am, Sir, Ice.,
J. RYDER BURTON.

15, Park-square, Fob. 12.

NAVAL IN'IIbLLIGENCE.

- - - -
The members of the new Board of Admiralty, including
Rear Admiral Sir James Stirling were gazetted last night.
Rear-Admiral the Hon. M. F. Berkeley, C. 8., M.P.,
and Rear-Admiral Houston Stewart, M.P., have announced
their intention of receiving officers on Tuesdays, at two
o'clock in the afternoon.
Rear-Admiral Deans Dundee, C. 8., in his flagship
Britannia, 120, Captain Goldsmith, is said to have tcleit
The Wind seen by the Pilot on Wednesday off Ply r
after-
down Channel under a fine topsail breeze. w
wards shifted.
aster attend-
Argus, steam sloop, in charge of the second Devon
the .advanced
of port on
ant Mr. Davy, sailed from Portsmouth
Thursday afternoon. She will form one
steamers at that port.
Cormorant, 6, steam-sloep, Commandermorning
fromnio,
from
Chamberlain,
arrived at Spithead yesterday She has sailed nearly
whence she sailed on etirigtrnas-eve.
all the way home, and had but one ton of coals on board
s come into harbour to get fuel,
and she anchored. S
and will proceed to Wohnoel 1 ich to pay off. Her boilers are'
dwltaavr ed been np . s o
Commanderb a d t hat sh e
Cormorantfever.
ttie. the e
oft?.
gairre,phsyes
:n a deplorable state, a
Rio nearly six months as a gClahyama.t
berlain has completely recovered.
.frhtoihrn_e,
steamer, the. Ctreswceernet
atreßcinivwinhaens p and
slavers, t
American friga e
'menniatPiotYn—the otherswo
Cormorant has taken about eight prizes
of which she sent to St. Helena for conde
were destroyed. She ham experieuced bad weather for the
last ten days.
Pilot, 12, Commander I-lickley, was mustered, inspected,
and exercised in Plymouth Sound, on Thursday morning,
i by Captain Lowe; after which she was towed into harbour
by the Confiance, and placed alongside the dockyard to pre-
pare for paying efe,
Simoom iron screw steam troop-ship, Captain Kingcome,
was to have gone out to try her
got up her steam, but, in after _
__
machinery
repair. She
way, and d moving, something again gave
she was towed over to the mooring off Gosport,
where she remains ; and it is uncertain when she will be tried.
Mr. Durrien is (we understand) expected at Portsmouth to
examine the machinery.
Sprightly, Master Commander Allen, succeeded, after
much trouble, in getting the Agnus, barque, off shore on
Wednesday. On Thursday the Sprightly took down
aCrolo-
nel Sir Frederick Smith, of the Engineers, and a bod of
officers. They landed at Sconce Point, in the Isle of Wight,
at Hurst Castle, and at Caishot Castle, and minutely exa-
mined the state of the defences at those points. Captain
Hall, R.N., also went down in the Sprightly.
~
~ A CHANNEL SQUADRON .
Under this head we find the following in the Chronicle
of yesterday :
mouth, and
"It is resolved to organize a powerful Channel squadron,
which will he crnizing between Spithead, ply
Queenstown during. thesumnfiir. A...gallant vice-admiral,
who distinguished himself. in China, will most probably have
of this evolutionary force, which will con-
and steam ships the command
gth:Lßritish navy,
prise the -finest sailing
will include all ogr most of the folowiinn
and
}{. M. S. Waterloo ..... 12011. M. S. Superb BO
Queen
~ t, Boscawen
Neptune l2O
St. George l2O Blenheim
ft „ Edinburgh
2, Impregnable... 101 „ Hogue
St. Vincent ... 100 Ajax
ft
Prince"
~ Regent 92 " 56
Arethusa
91 Rodney . ........ 92 '' Phaeton 5O
,
London ....... .. 921 „ Indefatigable b 0
~ Ganges
~ The whole of the above ships, with the exception of the
Ganges and Edinburgh, are already in commission. The
Queen will have some time to serve on her arrival from the
Alediternaltu station, which it i 4 444144E1 6124 1114 9744 s