The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-29 00:00:00

ATTENDANCE.

The number of members present at the division- on
Saturday morning was larger than at the divisions is
1846, or upon any occasion subsequently. The follow
ing particulars, showing the largest attendance in 184
and downwards, are not without interest :
Majority. Total presen
1846. Second reading of Corn Bill
(in favour) 88
Third reading do. (do.) 98
1847-8. Sugar Duties : Sir John Pak-
ington's amendment (against) 15
Property Tax : Mr. Hume's
amendment to limit (against) 225
1849. Local Taxation : Mr. Disraeli's
motion (against) 91
Navigation Bill : third reading
(in favour) 61
State of the Nation : Mr.
Disraeli's motion (against) 140
1850. Foreign Policy : Mr. Roe-
buck's motion (in favour) 46
Agricultural Distress : Sir J.
Trollope's amendment (agst.) 129
Poor's Rates : Mr. Disraeli's
motion (against) 21
1851. Agricultural Distress : Mr.
Disraeli's motion (against) 14
Ecclesiastical Titles ; second
reading (in favour) 343
1852. Militia Bill : second reading (do.) 150
1852-3. Free-trade Declaration : Mr.
Villiers' motion (against) 80
Free-trade Declaration : Lord
Pahnerston's motion (in fay.) 415

. 516
. 556

501

469

... 489

. 543

AUGMENTATION OP THE NAVY.

The public will learn with great satisfaction that the
Government has resolved to call upon Parliament to
vote the necessary supplies for a considerable addition
to the naval forces of the country. It is not, as we
have frequently had occasion to remark, in the number
of her Majesty's ships of war that our chief deficiency
is to be traced, and probably there never was a time of
peace at which a more powerful naval armament could
be equipped for sea. But the most 'essential condition
of our maritime strength is a body of well-trained sea-
men to man those vessels, and to contribute to the de-
fence of our coasts. The Commission which has been
sitting for some time past to consider the best means of
manning the navy, has adopted several valuable sug-
gestions from officers whose judgment and experience
may be relied cn ; and we presume that it is in conse-
quence of these recommendations that the Government
and the Admiralty have resolved to add about 5,000
seamen to the fleet, with a proportionate addition to
the Marines.

The necessity of such an augmentation at the present
time is a subject which we hold it to be unnecessary to dis-
cuss or to demonstrate, for it is universally felt ; and al-
though Lord Derby has omitted no occasion to testify
his reliance on the good understanding which happily ex-
ists between this country and foreign nations, in so
much that we cannot be accused of increasing our arma-
ments with hostile purposes against any foreign power,
yet the general defence of the kingdom undoubtedly re-
quires these sacrifices and exertions to enable us to meet
any contingency that may arise in the present uncertain
condition of Europe. A large and efficient body of seamen
is the most essential of all the conditions of maritime
power, though it is that which it is most difficult to
maintain in time of peace against the competition of the
merchant service, and even of some foreign navies. The
service of the British navy may be -made, and ought to
be made, the most secure provision to which a seafaring
nen has to look. The practice of discharging the well-
trained crews of ships recently paid off ought at once to
be put an end to ; and if other conditions are
required to command the service of this important class
of the community, they should be adopted. We cannot
question that the Government, in taking this step, is
prepared to sanction the measures necessary to give effect
to it, for we apprehend that, in the present state of our
trade, 5,000 seamen will not be raised for the fleet without
some extra exertions.

It would be an error to attribute to this measure a
greater degree of political importance than it deserves,
and although it happens to correspond in point of time
with the proclamation of the French Empire, there is
probably no direct connexion between the two incidents.
But we cannot be ignorant that an extraordinary degree
of activity has prevailed for some time past in the dock-
yards of our most powerful neighbour, and that while
some show has been made of a reduction in the French
army, the navy of that country has been augmented to
an unprecedented extent. To place our own protective
forces on at least an equal footing is therefore the first
duty of the Ministers of this country, and we are satisfied
that the nation will gladly respond to a call which does
not exceed what our pacific policy and our territorial
security absolutely require.—Times.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

On Saturday evening the comedy of Much, Ado about
Nothing was presented, for the first time this season, in
as efficient a style, though with some changes in the
cast, as when, on the occasion of Mr. Harley's benefit
in last July, the highly agreeable manner in which it
was performed elicited considerable eulogiums. The
admirable Benedick of Mr. Kean, in which his sterling
vein of high comic power is strongly displayed, and the
sparkling, arch, and delicate Beatrice of Mrs. Kean,
commanded repeated applause. The renowned Dog-
berry was delightfully
.represented, in all his dunder-
headed pomposity, by Mr. Bartley, ably supported by
Meadows' senile Verges ; and Don Pedro, Antonio, and
Leonato, were in the good hands of Messrs. J. Vining,
Addison, and Ryder. Miss Heath, an excellent acqui-
sition to Mr. Kean's unexceptionable staff, looked and
played to very great advantage as the gentle Hero.
Altogether the comedy went off with eminent eclat.
The petite comedy of Charles the Second followed.
Nothing could be better, more natural, and hearty, than
Bartley's Captain Copp. He is thoroughly at home in
the blunt, bluff, kind-hearted, and tolerably wide-awake
ex-seaman, no reluctant victim to the combined in-
fluence of punch and sensibility. It was a most enjoyable
specimen of thoroughly good comic acting. The part of
Mary Copp was rendered by Miss Carlotta Le Clercq,
with an exquisite simplicity and gentle expressiveness
claiming special mention. Exceeding personal attrac-
tions, talent of no ordinary stamp, good taste, judgment,
and careful attention, have already secured to this
rapidly rising favorite a position that only requires
opportunity and perseverance to become one of per-
manent and prominent brilliancy ; and, if we may judge
from Miss Le Clercq's progressive performances in the
present season, a bright future awaits her on the stage.
Mr. Walter Lacy, as the Merry Monarch, bore a
princely mien at Whitehall, and swaggered in approved
nautical fashion " down east" at Wapping. Mr. Vining -
was the Rochester, Miss Murray Lady Clara, and Mr.
Cathcart did the page very well indeed.
There was a general recall at the termination of the
afterpiece, as there had been at the conclusion of the
comedy.

PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO EDWARD RORSMAN,
ESQ.—On Thursday night the inhabitants of Cocker.
mouth presented Mr. Horsman, their late excellent
member, with a substantial token of the esteem in which
they hold his character, and of the gratitude they enter-
tain towards him for the faithful, energetic, and con-
sistent course he pursued as their representative in Par.
liament for a long course of sixteen years.
NEW BRIDGE AT PUTNEY.—Application is to be made
during the present session of Parliament for powers to
form a new bridge over the Thames at Putney, in lieu
of the present one, which it is averred is unsuited to the
growing traffic of the present day.
GENERAL POST-OFFICE, Nov. 1852.—0 n and from
the Ist of December. next, the postage chargeable upon
all letters transmitted between the United Kingdom and
Peru, either by packet direct, or vif Panama, will be-
2s. when not exceeding half-an-ounce in weight, 4s.
when exceeding half-an-ounce and not exceeding one
ounce, and so on, according to the scale in operation for
charging inland letters. This postage must be paid in
advance. Newspapers for Peru will be conveyed free
of charge, as heretofore.
ANOTHER ARRIVAL FROM THE DIGGINGS.—The An-
dromache has arrived from Port Philip, whence she
sailed the 14th of July, with 42,051 ounces of gold,
valued at 168,0001. The Cornelia, from Sydney,
whence she sailed the Bth of July, is also reported, with
5,078 ounces, valued at 20,3001.
STATE OF THE WEATHER IN SCOTLAND.—After about
a fortnight's continuation of cold
.wet weather, varied
occasionally by a snow shower, sharp frosty weather
has set in, and has prevailed for several days past.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWtAIre LII3RARY
AND LITERARY ASSOCIATION.—A plan for h
establish-
ment of a library and reading room, for the use of the
officers and clerks in the employ of the London and
North-Western Railway Company, has just been put in
operation. The objects of the association are the forma-
tion of a permanent library, at the Euston-station, for
reference and circulation ; and a reading room for the use
of the officers and clerks of the London and North-
Western Railway Company. The rules and regulations
of the society appear to be framed on principles of eco-
nomy and justice ; and the subscriptions are sufficiently
low to admit all classes of the railway officials to partici-
pate in the benefits of the institution,