The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-31 00:00:00

JANUARY 31, 1852.

[PRICE SD.

Queen Isabella IL is a steamer, which was the first
built in the Clyde for the Cunard line, and sold on
the ground of that vessel being no longer of efficient
size or power to compete with the magnificent
steamers constructed at Sew York.

What the King of Naples may do when urged on
by the Pope is problematical, further than that he
will ally himself with that Government which is most
likely to assist him in the maintenance of absolutism
within his two kingdoms.
The recent confiscation, contrary to law, justice,
and honour, of the property of the Orleans family
will have disgusted and aroused the indignation of the
Court of M idrid, as well as that of most, if not all,
of the other crowned heads of Europe.
Portugal will assuredly form no alliance with
France ; nor can the terrible, and for some time pro-
bably successful, acts of a President of a Government,
which is still named The French Republic," meet
with admiration in the Anglo-Saxon commonwealth
of America.
I have said that the armed force of France is for-
midable. In June, 1851, the minimum or peace
establishment was fixed by the Minister of War at
no less than 365,463 men, and by conscription the
number may be increased to 500,000. There
can be no
doubt as to the high state of discipline or the axed-
lency of the accoutrement 3 of this force, either for the
purposes of offensive or defensive warfare. But in the
indignant, though sullen, state of the French people,
notwithstanding the earnest desire of the great ma-
jority to be allowed to pursue their occupations of
industry without molestation, we have good reason to
believe that the greater portion of that army will be
found necessary to maintain within France the abso-
lutism which has destroyed the Constitution, and
which has established an illegal, unscrupulous, and
arbitrary domination over the liberties as well as the
property of the Frencn people.
With regard to the French navy, we find that it
consists—ships old and new, great and small, and on
the stocks—of 328 vessels, including steamers. Of
this fleet 40 are ranked as ships of the line, 10 of
which are of the first class, 10 of the second, 15 of
the third, and five of the fourth class. There are 50
frigates—that is to say, 15 of the first class, or equal
to British frigates of 42 to 50 guns, 20 of the second
class, and 15 of the third class • 4 corvettes, or sloops
of war ; 50 brigs, 30 of the first class and 20 of the
second • 30 vessels, including gun brigs, schooners,
and tenders; and 16 transport ships, averaging from
300 to 600 tons. Besides which there are 102 steam-
ships afloat and building in the slips. These include
50 packets, the largest of which are of 200 horse
power, 30 of which are from 160 to 200 horse power,
and 20 of 120 horse power and under. There are 10
steam-frigates of from 450 to 600 horse power, 20
sloops or corvettes of from 320 to 400 horse power,
20 of from 220 to 300 horse power, and two floating
batteries, one of 400 and the other of 500 horse
power.

Several of the French line-of-battle ships and the
larger frigates are magnificent vessels, their sailing
lines of admirable draught, and their models beauti-
ful. Their cannon and arms are also admirable. Seve-
ral of the screw steam-ships are strongly and firmly
constructed, and efficiently fitted out; but, generally,
their machinery is far inferior to that of England,
and their speed slower than that of English steam-
ships. None of them are equal either in power or
speed to the fleet of the Cunard line, or to several of
the ships of the West India and Peninsular lines. In
rigging we may also consider the French navy infe-
rior to British ships. The ships of the line which were
last year displayed at Cherbourg were the prime ships
of the French navy, and notwithstanding the enthu-
siastic admiration of them by one British Admiral,
we heard their manoeuvring condemned as unskilful
by experienced naval officers. But still the navy of
France is by no means to be despised. The defici-
ency will be found chiefly in the scarcity of able and
skilful seamen to man them in case of war.
According to the last account of the Minister of
Marine, the fleet was in such condition as that 23
ships of the line, 31 frigates, 35 corvettes, and 37
brigs, were ready to be put into commission, together
with 14 steam frigates, 13 corvettes, and 31 small
steam packets. The number of officers consisted of
two admirals, 10 vice-admirals, 20 rear-admirals, 110
captains of ships of the line, 230 post-captains, 650
lieutenants, 550 ensigns or midshipmen, and 300
cadets. The number of seamen, including marines,
the greater number of whom have never been at sea,
was decreed to be 27,000 men. The French mer-
cantile navy is comparatively insignificant. As far
as I can learn there are not in it 15 ships above
500 tone. We have in the Thames one single
firm who possess 20 ships of from 1,000 to 1,400
tons, fit for frigates ; and other London firms and
• mcastle and Glasgow have fleets nearly as
magnificent.
LA us now take into account the actual naval force
of this country daring the present month within the
principal naval ports of England.
The British navy consists altogether (exclusive of
old ships for harbour service) of 545 vessels, great
and small, including steam-ships. Of these 87 are
ships of the line, viz.-24 of 102 to 120 guns ; 14 of
90 guns ; 26 of 80 to 84 ; and 23 from 72 to 78 guns.
The Royal Albert, of 120 guns ; the Sanspareil, of
81 ; the Saint Jean d'Acre, of 100 guns ; the Aga-
memnon, of 90 guns ; and the James Watt, of 90
guns; have powerful steam-engines as screw line of-
battle ships. 66 sailing triples, viz.-2 of 60 guns ;
30 of 50 guns ; 8 of 44 guns ; 18 of 42 guns ; .5 of
40 guns ; 2of 36, and 2of 38 guns. 21 corvettes of
from 22 to 28 guns, and 124 smaller vessels car-
rying 20 guns and under.
Of the steam ships of war there are 16 screw fri-
gates, carrying from 24 to 60 guns, according to ca-
libre, and trom 300 to 560 horse power, besides 12
screw steam-sloops, varying from 250 to 400 horse
power, and 12 screw steam-ships of 200 horse-power
and under; 12 steam-frigates with paddle-wheels, of
400 to 800 horse power, and 26 of 300 to 560 horse
power; 28 from 200 to 300 horse power, and 50
under 200 horse power.
Of the foregoing formidable naval force the follow-
ing are still on the stocks, but almost all of them so
near completion that they might be launched and put
into commission in a few weeks, viz. :—Royal Albert,
of 120 guns, with powerful screw machinery ; the.
Windsor Castle, of 120 guns ; the Royal Sovereign,
120 guns ; Prince of Wales, 120 guns ; Victoria, 116
guns ; Royal Frederick, 116 guns ; St. Jean d'Acre,
with powerful steam machinery, 100 guns ; James
Watt, 90 guns (with screw); Agamemnon, 90 guns,
with screw ; Caesar, 90 guns ; Exmouth, 90 guns ;
Hannibal, 90 guns; Cressy, 80; Hood, 80; Irresis-
tible, 80 ; Majestic, 80 ; Princess Royal, 80;
rx
mortalit6, 60 ; Melpomene, 60 ; Hornet, 60,e withso,
screw; Cruiser, 60; Emerald, 60; Impe:iesuosg,uns;
with screw, Euryalus, 50 guns; Narcissi'.
ut.e., ;
Phcebr, 50 guns ; Sovereign, 50 gutnsv;,rS
161 J-)
guns;
Tribune steam-frigate, 30 guns;
Harrier, of 60 horse power; Despatch,lol, 12 guns;
Kangaroo, 12 guns ; the Squirrel,. 12 gun..
The distribution of the British fleet, including the
ships on the stocks, is, as nearly as can be ascertained,
as follows:—
At Plymouth we possess a force of-,
23 line of battle sailing ships from )to 120 guns,
and 2 of 20 guns building.
22 frigates from 40 to 50 guns, and 2
of so
building. •
7 sailing ships from 22 to 36 guns.
24 under 20 guns.
1 line-of-battle screw•steamer of 81 guns, 350
horse power.
1 line-of-battle screw-steamer of 650 horse power,
and 100 guns,
2 screw frigates of 44 guns, and 350 horse power
each
1 screw frigate of 400 horse power.
1 paddle-frigate of 300 horse power, 1 sloop of
280, 1 of 160, 1 of 100, and 1 of 50 horse power.
Total line-of-battle ships, sailing vessels, and
steamers, 27 of the line, 26 large frigates, 8 lesser
frigates, and 28 smaller ships of war.
The naval force at Portsmouth consists of 21 line-
of-battle ships afloat, and 5 building, being 26 line-of-
battle ships of from 72 to 120 guns ; 12 sailing fri-
gates of 42 to 50 guns, and 15 steam-frigates of from
350 to 620 horse power ; 4 sailing ships of from 22 to
36 guns, 11 smaller ships under 20 guns, and 10
steamers from 100 to 300 horse power, and 2 under
100 horse.
With respect to the naval force commanding the
Thames, there are, first, at Sheerness and Chatham-
-20 line of. battle ship, of 72 to 120 guns, of which
5 are on the stocks.
30 large frigates, of 42 to 50 guns, of which one of
50 is yet on the stocks, and of which 7 are steam-
frigates, of 220 to 360 horse power, of which 1 on
the stocks to carry :30 large guns.
5 ships of 26 to 28 guns.
30 smaller sailing vessels of 22 guns and under,
two of which are on the stocks, and
9 steam-vessels of 10 to 200 horse power.
There are at Woolwich and Deptford-2 line -of-
battle ships on the stocks, nearly finished, 1 of 90 and
1 of 120 guns; 1 double-banked-frigate, to carry 60
guns, on the stocks; 1 frigate, of 42 guns, afloat; 1
screw line-a-battle ship, of 550 horse power, on the
2 team- frigatts, of 50 guns each, building;
swoc •8
1 screw-frigate, of 556 horse power afloat ; 4 small
armed sailing vessels and 21 steam-ships
60 to 400 horse power. float, from
) reinbroko-1
Thm orL otlot and on tho btQclifi !it