The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-31 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1852.

FRANCE.
THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.
The following is the opening speech delivered by
M. Billault :

" Messieurs and dear Colleagues,--Our presence in
this place marks a new era for us and for the country.
Saved from most terrible eventualities by a hand whose
calm energy is slow in thought (mediter lentcment) and
rapid in action, France looks upon her, chief with a con-
fidence which is unprecedented in history.
" By a vote whose astonishing (eclatant) numbers
stand unparalleled, she has asked at his hands strong and
protective institutions, which will restore her security
and her greatness.
"Placed under the invocation of the great principles
of 1789, fortified by that Governmental spirit which
marked the Consulate, these institutions have received
an evident consecration by the scrutin by which we are
eletred—ours is the duty to infuse into them practical
life. That is the commencement of our mission; and
that mission, whatever may be said of it, is certainly
not altogether without grandeur and authority.
" We shall not, indeed, see the Legislature surrounded
by parties, which incessantly hold the Ministry in check,
compelling it to concentrate all its forces upon its own
preservation and defence, and by so doing not un-
frequently enervating the power of the State. When-
ever, as Ministers or Deputies, we may employ these
Parliamentary tactics, it is to business now that
we shall be obliged to consecrate them—serious and
practical business. This is our part in the Constitution.
It consists in voting the taxes, the discussion of the
budget and of the laws. It implies not merely the right
of deliberating freely and publicly, of adopting or re-
jecting, but also that of amendment, no longer, un-
doubtedly, with the same facility of improvisation,
against which previous Assemblies vainly endeavoured
to defend themselves, but with a degree of maturity
which can only prove fatal to utopian projects.
" In such functions there is, believe me, a great and
real power, if we use it, as lam certain we shall, seri-
ously, without reservation, with loyal fidelity to the
electoral sentiments which have sent us here. This
power will constitute in our new Government one
of those active forces which are the most usefully effi-
cacious.

" It is in order to proceed with you on this patriotic
path that the Chief of the State has called me to the
honour of presiding over you. Grant me, my dear col-
leagues, as much good-will as I offer you devotion, and,
being all united in the holy love of our country, let us
give to the world no longer the spectacle of an assembly
of impassioned men, continually agitated, but of a veri-
table Assembly of Legislation, calmly and gravely as the
law itself enacting statutes upon the great interests which
are submitted to us."

At the conclusion of the sitting the President an-
nounced that there would be held a private sitting, to
decide whether the Members should be required to
wear the uniform on the occasion of public sittings.
The following is the collective letter addressed by
General Cavaignac, M. Carnot, and M. Henon, to the
President of the Legislative Corps :
" M. le President,—The electors of Paris and Lyons
sought us in our retreat, or in our exile. We thank
them for having thought that cur names would serve as
a protest against the destruction of public liberties and
the rigours of despotism.
" But: we do not admit that they meant to send us to
sit in a legislative body whose powers do not extend
to the point of repairing the violation of rights. We
repudiate the immoral doctrine of silence, or of mental
reservation ; and we refuse to take the oath required
on admission to the Legislative Corps. We pray you,
M. to President, to be so good as to communicate to the
Assembly this declaration.
(Signed)
" Paris, March 29, 1852."

" CAVAIGNAC.
" CARNOT.
" HENON.

CHANCERY.--(THIS DAY.)
(Before the LORD CHANCELLOR.)
His Lordship this morning proceeded with the part-
heard appeal of Cutts v. Salmon.
(Before the LORDS JUSTICES.)
NEWALL V. WILSON.
This case, which was an appeal from an order of the
Master of the Bolls refusing an injunction, asked by the
plaintiff, to restrain the defendant from infringing the right
of the plaintiff to manufacture rope of a certain construc-
tion, was resumed this morning.
Sir Alexander Cockburn was heard this morning for the
defendant; and Mr. Selwyn was following, en the same side,
when our report left.

VICE-CHANCERY-(THIS DAY.)
(Before Vice-Chancellor TURNER )
EVANS V. NORFOLK ESTUARY.
This case, which was commenced on Monday, as reported
n our columns of yesterday, was continued this morning.
( Before Vice-Chancellor PARKER )
His Honour was this morning occupied with short causes
and claims.
Vice-Chancellor Kindersley did not sit this morning.

present House of Commons, to persevere with any
measures of legislation except those which were
of instant urgency. Ho will not, I think, deny
that he also stated that which, of course, produced a
great effect, and rendered his explanation more satisfac-
tory—that he would not pledge himself to dissolve Par-
liament on any definite or particular day—that he
would not pledge himsslf to dissolve in April, May, or
June—
The Earl of DERBY —I never mentioned those
months.
Tho Duke of NEWCASTLE—I must then appeal to
the recollection of your Lordships—for my recollection
on the point is distinct. If the Noble Est.! says that
he made such a statement without intending it, I am
ready to admit it; but from my perfect reliance on my
own recollection I must say that the Noble Earl has for-
go:t4.ll his own statement; for I aver that ho distinctly
said that he did not pledge himself to the time of the dis-
solution, and that he would not say whether it was to
take place in the month of April, May, or June.
The Earl of DERBY—The Noble Duke has evi-
den!ly misunderstood what fell from me on a former oc-
casion. I slid that I would not pledge myself to specify
the day on which I would advise her Majesty to dissolve
Parliament, or the month in which a general election
should take place. I said that I thought that it was ex-
pedient for the public advantage that the autumn should
not pass over without a new Parliament having an op-
portunity of discussing certain questions of deep general
interest; and I added, almost in the same words which I
repeated to-day, that I thought it was expedient that
those questions should be disposed of before the ordi-
nary time of assembling Parliament for the session
of 1853. That statement I repeat again. Beyond that I
have not bound myself, nor will I be induced, to go.
Here the conversation dropped.
The Personal Estates of Intestates Bill passed through
Committee.
The Proclamation for Assembling Parliament Bill
was read a third time and passed.
ESTATES OF LUNATICS.
Lord LYNDHURST said the object he had in view, in
moving for the returns contained in the paper which he
had laid on the table, was to lay the foundation for ex-
tending the provisions of the Act of Parliament passed in
the year 1842, for administering the estates of lunatics
found lunatics by commission. In order that the subject
might be distinctly understood, he begged to call their Lord-
ships' attention in a few words to the state of that depart-
ment of the administration of justice in lunatic cases pre-
viously to the passing of the Act. The commission was
directed to three persons to hold the commission near the
place where the lunatic resided. As thesis places were often
remote andjobscure, it followed almost as:a matter of course
that the commission was authorised to make inquiries under
the authority of the great seal, wherein they were informed
of the nature of the duties they had to discharge. The con-
sequence was that the returns were frequently not made,
on account of irregularity, or from being defective. He had
seen a list of those defective returns, extending over a period
of ten years, and they amounted to no less than 60. He did
not mean to say that in all these returns the commission was
quashed, but a good deal of unnecessary expense was
incurred. In many instances, however, the decisions were
quashed, and the consequence was that a new inquiry was
carried on before a new jury, at the expense of the estate of
the lunatic. In addition to that the commissioners were
paid, not by salary, but by fees. Each commissioner received
51. per day during the discharge of his duties, besides other
incidental fees. When he mentioned Si. per clay, that ap-
plied to the country, but in London the commissioners re-
ceived double that sum. In the country the commissioners
received every day while discharging their duty a sum of
about 201., and in London about 401. per day. Their Lord-
ships would be surprised to hear that in Lord Portsmouth's
lunacy the fees amounted to 1,0701. In the case of Mr. De-
vonport the fees amounted to 500/, and it was by no means
unusual for the fees to amount to many hundred pounds.
Besides the circumstance of the commissioners being paid by
fees, the jurors also were paid at the rate of one guinua per
day; the solicitors were also remunerated in proportion to
their labours; and their Lordships might come to the con-
elusion that none of the parties were interested in shortening
the inquiry or bringing it to a speedy termination. At an
early period, when abuses were more prevalent, the parties
assembled at a tavern or inn, and partook each day of a din-
ner at the expense of the estate of the lunatic.
" sic to sapiens finire memento
Tristitiam vitwque labores
Molli, Planes, mero."
—(Laughter.) The quotation had a peculiar application, the
entertainment being at the expense of the lunatic.—(Hear,
hear, and laughter.) Before the verdict was returned the
whole of the proceedings were referred to the Master in
Chancery, where all the expense and delay incident to that
ancient, much-revered, but now worn-out and condemned
establishment was incurred. By the Act which, in 1842, he
(Lord Lyndhurst) had introduced, the whole business was
transferred to three commissioners, who were named in the
Act. They were gentlemen of great experience, and when
the commission was issued, one proceeded to the place
where the lunatic resided and summoned a jury. After the
verdict was found, the proceedings were of this nature—
the commissioner, being on the spot, and surrounded by
the relatives and friends of the lunatic, he examined them
viva core, and obtained all the materials necessary for the
administration of the affairs of the estate. When he in-
troduced his Bill, it was opposed by his Noble and Learned
Friend (Lord Cottenham) on one ground—that it was
impossible that all that load of busines could be con-
ducted by three commissioners. He (Lord Lyndhurst)
ventured to differ from him, and the result showed
that he had formed a correct estimate of the powers
of the commissioners to transact the business. Every
commission was executed a few days after it was issued, and
there never was any arrear. During the first year after the
appointment of the commission there was an arrear arising
out of the immense accumulation of business which had been
transferred to them from the Masters in Chancery; but at
the expiration of the first year the whole of that arrear was
got rid of, and since then there had been no arrear. He
would now state what alterations and extensions of the Act
he meant to propose. Ile had intended to have made these
alterations at an early period—as soon as he bad had suffi-
cient experience of the working of the Bill; but he had re-
signed the Great Seal before he could accomplish that, and
the matter had remained stationary since then. It was ne-
cessary that he should call their attention to that point. He
proposed that all applications should be made in the first in-
stance to the Lord Chancellor, and he mentioned the Lord
Chancellor, not in his capacity as such, but as having a war-
rant under the sign manual giving him jurisdiction in all these
matters. The commissioner made his report on the petition ;
after this the order was made. This was a course of proceed-
ing attended with great expense. In a recent case, where an
estate of 501. was in question, it cost from 60/. to 70/. to
make an application and obtain permission to grant a lease.
It was the same when repairs were in question ; nothing
could be done without the consent of the Lord Chancellor,
and permission to effect repairs of some 301. cost upwards of
601. for application. What he recommended was, that, as in
the Winding-up Acts and in the Irish Chancery Act lately
passed, this circuitous course should he put an end to; and
he proposed, accordingly, to make these applications, not to
the Lord Chancellor, but to the officer known as the master
of the lunatics, and that the order of this officer should be
binding, unless an appeal was made against it within seven
or ten days. This would cause an enormous saving ; and
he, therefore, hoped his .Noble and Learned Friend would
accede to the proposition. There was another point most
material as connected with the administration of the estates
of lunatics. He considered that the commission in many
instances was not necessary to be issued at all. In cases of
bankruptcy the commission was dispensed with, and the fiat
of the Lord Chancellor substituted in its stead. This prece-
dent, he proposed, should be adopted in these instances, for
the purpose of saving expense to the estate. But an expense
much more inconvenient was that of the grant for the cus-
tody of the personal estate of a lunatic. This passed under
the Great Seal, and usually cost 251. What he proposed
was, that the order under which the Great Seal was
affixed should be held the same as affixing the Great Seal
itself, and have the same effect. This would be a consider-
able saving of money. He came next to inquiries into sound.
ness or unsoundness of mind under a commission of lunacy.
These inquiries sometimes ran to very great lengths, aris-
ing from the conflict of evidence. The course of proceed-
ing on them was the most simple imaginable. The counsel
for the commission opened the case as fur the Crown, and
called witnesses in its support ; the counsel for the lunatic
answered that statement, and called witnesses also to rebut
the case. It was the same as a trial at the assizes. The
cost attending these inquiries arose from the number of wit-
nesses, especially the medical witnesses, on both sides. This
could not, however, be interfered with without producing
great injustice—he spoke of cases fairly conducted, of course.
But what might be interfered with was the circumstance by
which the inquiry was not confined to one particular day,
but extended backward over a very considerable period. It
always appeared to him that a very inadequate advantage
accrued from this extension of the inquiry; it was his
opinion, on the contrary, that little or no good resulted
from entering into long past transactions. It did not
compensate for the expense occasioned by prolonged inves-
tigation ; and he should submit to his Noble and Learned
Friend whether it would not be advisable to bring such in-
quiries within limits, either fixed by law, or lett to the dis-
cretion of the commissioner. There was another circum-
stance relating to the execution of the commission. It
sometimes happened that under colour of interest in the
cause, and ostensibly for the protection of the lunatic, per-
sons carried on a defence against the commission for their
own costs in the inquiry. He proposed, therefore, to give
the commissioner absolute and entire discretion in such
cases to award such sum in the shape of costs as in his
judgment he should think met the justice of the case. An
impression had gone abroad that the length of the in-
quiries was intolerable; he had, however, made some in-
quiries into the facts, and he found that for the last ten

years not more than nineteen out of the great mass of those
inquiries had occupied more than one day, and not more than
five had occupied two days. The cases which had been
complained of, therefore, should be looked upon as ex-
ceptions. Length of inquiry was not confined to lunacy
Not long
alone—it was caused by the conflict of evidence
since there was an inquiry before one of the Vice-chancel-
lorsmilar
which lasted fifteen days; another occupied a similar
period of time.
various
cases in
Lord LYNDHURST then referred to
erjets
Lord BROUGHAM—" Small and Attwood."
d returned
which commissions had been issued, and
• which verdicts were Amon Among of unsoundness of mind,
commission •
h had been set aside or confirmed by other
Sombre,
w--° •
t at he
them was that of the late Jr.A Dye 0,--
deluion was n
gee rwinaslityhdaet
examined by himself, and whose_, exposed to overtures
individualtodinoleinestdahthat where there was
aandc°cnoiluiledt
h rank. ge to the Arch-
would be very well if he was nu Awaohtiliteerchcaaar
from certain ladies of hig
_se_, a challenge vre subsequently
ibmillaCnkacharger. Ile made re-
ferencebi ni 8
hwelipi which
Canterbury the
show
of evidence in a ear
yi il respect to anotner point—n 1
ame y,
P ar
k,
h toe bt
eht
not be abri 'dged• ' it should be heard,through
r the jury, he should offer a suggestion• •Twenty-
fourthe expense 0- - now summoned thry was, •
„ were
mfacotusnttoe
in fact,
r jurYin'" ee a grand inquest or rand]g H
natureury. e pro-
in he less notice was iv
, that, unless notice . g en
.of the intention to
posed
ajury, no jury should be summoned as of
course,
requiro i 1
•
but that the maser of the lunatics should decide the ques-
tion sof himself. He also thought athat even where a jury
was required less than tweaty-four might be summoned.
He would not state any particular number, but that would
be an object of inquiry. It had been suggested that it would
be better to have no jury at all, but that the decision should
be left to the commission ; this, however, he had a strong
objection to. The lunatic hadpublic
a right to a investiga-
tion if it was required, and he (Lord Lyndhurst) should be
extremely sorry to see a jury dispensed with in those
cases. There was, however, another and a graver ob-
jection to dispense with a jury. On no subject was
there such a difference of opinion as on that
which constituted soundness or unsoundness of mind.
There was great danger, therefore, that the commis-
sioner might, when six medical men, for instance, were of
one opinion, and six of another, lean to either side—might
fancy this or that, and therefore it was far better in cases of
doubt and uncertainty to submit the evidence to the decision
of e jury, men commonly of plain, bat poictical iinclerstand-

inv. It had also been suggested that it would be better to
do away with inquiry by commission, and refer the question
of lunacy to the assizes in the country, or to analagous juris-
dictions in the metropolis; this, however, he not think
practicable; nay more, he thought it might be in-
jurious to the lunatic and expensive to his estate.
It was absolutely necessary, for instance, that the judge
and jury should see the lunatic, as in the present practice,
with the purpose of putting questions to him, which ques-
tions very often decided the issue. How could that be
done at assizes? Furthermore, the lunatic might get unduly
excited, and sustain irreparable injury by such open exami-
nation. At present, these inquiries were carried on very
often in the residence of the lunatic. Besides this, the wit-
nesses were usually examined on the spot where they carried
on their ordinary avocations. But if there was to be an in-
quiry at assizes, all these witnesses would have to be removed
to the place where the assize was held, and the expense to the
estate would be enormous. He saw no advantage, therefore,
in changing the tribunal; more especially as no limit could
be placed on the length of the proceedings where the case
might be one of contested evidence. With respect to another
point, that of a new traverse, when twelve or more jurymen
expressed their opinion that a person was of unsound mind,
he had a right to carry his case before another judge and
jury of the same nature. This right had no doubt been
called in question by Lord Hardwicke and Lord Thur-
low ; but Lord Loughborough and Lord Eldon had
admitted it; and the decision of Lord Cottenham
in its favour had been sanctioned by the Lords Justices.
Lord Cottenham decided that there was an absolute right
to traverse ; and within the last few days the Noble and
Learned Lord on the Woolsack had affirmed that right, in
a case now pending. But the reasons for allowing an abso-
lute traverse in all cases existed no longer ; and he (Lord
Lyndhurst), therefore, proposed to extinguish it as such,
and leave it to the discression of the occupant of the Wool-
sack for the time being to grant or refuse it. If he was
dissatisfied with the verdict he should have the power of
exercising that discretion, either by ordering a new trial or '
by such other form of proceeding as he might think best
for the ends of justice. He (Lord Lyndhurst) had made
these observations in reference to the Act of 1842 ; in refe-
rence to the Act of 1845 he would say one word more, with
the permission of their Lordships. Any person confined for
ascertain period in a licensed house for the reception of lu-
natics was deemed of unsound mind. The masters in lunacy
had a right to examine into the estates of those persons, and
to exercise a certain amount of authority over them. Their
powers, however, were defective, for they fell short of
those of the Commissioners in Lunacy. What he pro-
posed was that their powers should correspond with those
of the Commissioners in Lunacy. The Noble and Learned
Lord concluded by thanking their Lordships for the patient
hearing they had given him, and stating that, knowing as
he did the anxious desire of his Noble and Learned Friend
on the woolsack to introduce all possible degree of perfection
into the administration of justice, he confidently left the
case in his hands. The Noble and Learned Lord then moved
for the returnsoof which he had given notice.—(Hear.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR was not aware of the par-
ticular topics to be introduced by his Noble and Learned
Friend; he could not, therefore, be expected to pledge him-
self to the numerous measures which he proposed. At the
same time he was free to express his opinion that few of
them were open to any serious objections. As far as they
went they affected beneficially the great object of lunacy
legislation, which was to obtain sufficient support for the
lunatic, and to preserve his estate The House was in.
debted to the Noble and Learned Lord for the Act which
hal been passed in 1842, and for the new tribunal in
lunacy, which worked, he believed, remarkably well,
and which would ultimately enable their Lordships, he
hoped, to carry into effect many cf the proposals of his
Noble and Learned Friend. The speech of his Noble and
Learned Friend opened up very serious considerations. The
great thing was to discourage the vast expense which at-
tended commissions in lunacy, many of which were sought
and maintained for the benefit of every one but the lunatic;
in fact, the last thing thought of was generally the lunatic.
Most of the propositions of his Noble and Learned Friend
might be readily adopted ; some of them were of the greatest
importance. But to abolish trial by jury in the case of
lunatics —to take individual liberty and property without
such a means—he did not think possible; though, at the
same time, he was ready to admit that there had been cases
where a great waste of money had taken place without the
slightest beneficial effect. A certain time spent in an asylum
was a prima facie proof of a person being under the care of the
Great Seal; but that should not prevent cases being sent
before a jury. The great object, however, was to provide
for the proper maintenance of the lunatic, the due admi-
nistration of his property, and its exemption from unneces-
sary expense. The question of traverse was one of great
difficulty. The Noble and Learned Lord proposed that the
person holding the sign manual warrant should have a per-
fect discretion in this respect, and decide for or against a new
trial himself. This was a question to be considered. He
would take the case of Mrs. Cumming, which occopied six-
teen or seventeen days before a jury, and which the Lord
Chancellor in the exercise of his own discretion had again
sent for a new trial. In many cases he agreed with his Noble
and Learned Friend, that it was no reproach that an inquiry
should last long; but there was nothing which he (the Lord
Chancellor) deprecated more than the trial of lunacy cases at
nisi prius. The circumstance of the lunatic being examined
before a judge and jury would, in his opinion, have a most
injurious influence upon his disease. All these were nice
questions. His Noble and Learned Friend did him no more
than justice in stating his anxiety for the perfection of
justice; no man living was more desirous than he was to
serve lunatics both in person and in estate, and to see justice
done. When in another place he had visited most of the
asylums in Ireland, and he believed that the labour he had
had was not thrown away. In the inquiry into whieh he
should go when ha had disposed of the questions of the
Court of Chancery he should endeavour to meet the sugges-
tions of his Noble and Learned Friend.
Lord LYNDHURST observed that applications for new
trials were never entertained unless the judge who had
tried the case stated that in his opinion a new trial ought
to be granted.
Lord TRURO said that the Act of 1842, and the orders
made under it, had been attended with the greatest possible
beuefit. He thought, however, chat ttie per-centagc charged
upon the estates of lunatics might be so lowered as to relieve
the smaller estates considerably. With respect to the
right to traverse, the ground on which a party claimed
that right was that he had no trial at all. Out of 40
commissions, which was about the number issued an-
nually, only about five were executed, and not
all of these even proceeded to the extremity of
contest; and yet, was it not lamentable to find that in
each of the 35 uncontested commissions the preliminary
expenses up to the appointment of the commission was
2001., out of which about 55/. went to the Suitors' Fund ?
He saw no reason why this enormous expense should
be permitted, or why the masters in lunacy should, on
being applied to by the relatives of the alleged lunatic, not
proceed with the inquiry until somebody appeared to object
to it. By that means they would avoid the large expense
of 2001. in each of the uncontested commissions. The trial
upon traverse at nisi prius which had been described as so
imperfect, and at which neither the judge nor the jury saw
the lunatic, was nevertheless the only final binding act; for
the investigation before the commission which was so ex-
pensive, and the preliminary proceedings in which cost 200/.,
was finally binding upon no one. Let, then, the proceeding
on the trial upon traverse be improved, and where there had
been no previous inquiry before a jury, let it be a matter of
right to have the power to traverse.
The motion was agreed to.
FOREIGN REFUGEES.
Lord BEAUMONT said that certain papers relating to
foreign refugees had been laid on the table; and on next
Monday, if it suited the Noble Lord's convenience, he would
draw the attention of the House to the subject to which those
papers related.
The Earl of DERBY hoped the Noble Lord would give
notice of his motion in specific form.
Lord BEAUMONT said the question he intended to put
to the Noble Lord, was, whether he was prepared to lay on
the table of the House any further correspondence which
has taken place respecting the Rev. Mr. Wingrove who was
driven out of Pesth, and another clergyman (we did not
catch his name) who was expelled from another part of the
Austrian dominions; and also with regard to a certain
courier from Constantinople who had been arrested and
deprived of his dispatches.
The Earl of MALMESBURY said he could answer the
question respecting Mr. Wingrove at once. That gentleman
was arrested by mistake, but had since been libe,rated and
had received compensation (as we understood).
Lord BEAUSIONT said that the question he meant to
ask was, whether the Noble Lord was prepared to lay any
further correspondence on the table.
The Earl of DERBY suggested that the Noble Lord
should give notice in due form of the papers he meant to

move for.
Lord BEAUMONT would then move for the production
of all further correspondence which might have taken place

on the subject.
Then Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 30.
MERCANTILE MARINE AND NATIONAL
DEFENCE.

Mr. ANDERSON called the attention of the House
No the report of the Select Committee of session 1849,
appointed " to inquire into the practicability of providing,
by means of the commercial steam marine of the country,
a reserve steam navy, available for the national defence
when required," and intimated he would move the follow-
ing resolution :—" That it is the opinion of this Mouse,
that in order the better to provide for the public safety,
to economise the public resources, and to preserve peace,
it is desirable that measures should be adopted with a
view to render the commercial steam navy promptly
was -e
available for the national defence in case of emergency •,
In submitting this motion he should submit to the .110„ '
a few practical facts upon a subject which
scarcely
place h e
ovni°tlhaetcoPnotlicintoieucnaidtl
second in importance to any matter that they
had naturally excited
chhaavneguensdwerhiethhehiradcornescie.dnetrlaytitoanck.z
:specially in Fran
of Europe,
some solicitude with respect to our means of . ,
defence in case of a sudden invasion, the result was
nationai
the establishment of rifle corps, ,i and
enrol the militia. This, however,an a proposition to
wrong end. Preparations should be, made to prevent an
vras beginning at the
invasion, and to meet the enemy on that element whereon
we had always been
was. a prevalent opinion that the '
accustomed to conquer.intwrohtehttwoloi
formerly
fsteam
There
navigation had destroyed advantages
possessed in our insularposition.
We r •
were in a better position in that respect than we ever
That was fallacious.
had been in the history of the country. For every
steam-ship that_th e French possessed we had twenty.
The United Kingdom possessed 1,300 mercantile.
steam-vessels of all classes, amounting to about
300,000 tons, and 100,000 horse power, most of which
could be made available as a defensive force
shortest notice. Government should make anarroanngtheee
meet with a hundred or two of the larger class of
coast-
ing steamers, which might be simply and inexpensively
armed so as to furnish a force sufficient to repel any ~,
sib!e invasion. Steuniere of from 400 up to 1,000 tons
1-4-
might be made to carry two largo traversing guns, 32 or
t, b©.
68-pounders, at an expense of fromsoet/ . to 1501. Of
course he should not include the pack
cause they were already fitted up to carry eamerssheavy guns,
and Government had power to appropriate them to the
public service whenever it should bo deemed necessary.
The owners of these steamers would no doubt be wil-
lingr enough to make the alterationsp premium.
, the iecessaryout-
lay being returned by an annual
umto supply
.
surely sufficient guns a
ship having been stores
Admiralty and fitted with the sweeps for receiving the
guns, the ordnance should provideguns ande
the ee
car-
riages, and place them at the neerest ordnance depot, to
the port from which the vessel usually
manning of the vessels, thiff.= usual
,eJl:srtiwko'du.ld be ready
As to the
enough to volunteer, and,
s could be
i ti,...ary, crew
made up from the coast guard,
commercial marine. When
he
(fir,fl I-poy officers, and our
1645 for 4 Commitwe to inquize Anderson) moved iti
i1:49 this oubject, it was

stated that it was done with a view to promote some
personal o!sjeet. But he begged now distinctly to state
that be had no interest in any steam navigation whet-
ever, except one company, in which the ships were
already under the same regulation that he wished
apply to many more.—(Hear, hear.) There was a pre-
judice among many naval men that merchant ships
could not carry guns; but the evidence of the most Com-
petent naval authorities examined before the Committee
went to show that nearly all our sea-going steamers.
were capable of carrying arms. Ho held in his hand
the report of the Committee appointed on
the year 1849, to which he wished to call the attention ;el
eery minute y
the House. That Committee, after going
into the question, and examining a number of svitne°'!,"
his motion in
said, " The Committee are of opinion that mercantile;
steam-ships of all sines, and the strength nee, scary ,
the reception of such guns as are used in the re)
navy, would be most useful as an auxiliary force for
our national defence, and your Committee do not POl
eeive any difficulty in carrying out such duo not
_o
That a prompt development of the whole avail
maritime resources of the country, in the eventfo olf.
sudden hostilities, is most desirable as a means
the preservation of peace; that the steps necessary
t
rtnder such mercantile steamers available for the ir
pur-
pose, and the remuneration to be
taking them and holding them liable for
given by the public
le
service, must be a matter of arrangement between the
owners and the Government, on which the Commit"
do not think it desirable to offer any opinion.'
up to this
Not-
withstanding that report of the Committee,
time nothing had been done by the Government; but aisi
Lime
the subject of national defence was now exciting s°
interest, be considered it his dut, again to bring the,
the pub lc
question before the House.—(LlearYhegar.) The Gallant
Admiral near him (Admiral Berkeley) stated the other
evening that in the cone: a of twenty-four hours he
could line the Channel with steam-vessels. He (Mr.
Anderson) should be surprised if that could not be done,
seeing that thirty vessels would be sufficient merely,
signal each other, and the private company with which
he was connected could accomplish that object; butwhys
"-
was required was the collecting a large number of vessel;
within hail of each other, so as to operate on one poin,
at a very short notice. Such a force would not be Use°
for aggressive purposes, but simply to defend the country
against aggression, and the very knowledge of the of
nag
af
ionracte
anywould
tebme
attempt
one oft a theggr
shseisotn.
‘tm. -11
glatleanrdciengof
hear.) Fin considered the adoption of the pl;:naf %vilheificr'
he had submitted to the House would be very 5 °ill-
genus, and trusted the House would agree to he resoiv-
lion which he had already read.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. MACKINNON thought it right to say a few
words upon this subject, having had the honour of pre-
siding over the Committee to which the last speaker hod
referred.—(Hear, hear.) The report which the no;
nourable Member had read was unanimously agree'
to by the Committee, and there could b® 11°
doubt that in the event of a war or threatened
invasion our mercantile marine navy might be rendered
available for the national service.—(Hear, hear')
There were ample funds at the disposal of the
Government for rendering it so available and sill);
plying each mercantile steam-vessel with arras and
ammunition. There were no less than 1,230 stetica
vessels attached to the mercantile interest of this country,
and if a moiety of that number were rendered fit fortt.
service in case of war, an invasion from any point 0
tho compass would be perfectly impossible. Ida
therefore advocated this measure from motives of eco-
nomy, and he thought if the House would only gill
the subject a moment's consideration it wee
see at a glance the feasibility of tuts
scheme. The idea of blockading the enemiee, pond
had long been exploded, for in the event of agate of Tero
arising our ships might be forced to put to sea, and be o,ht
they could return again to their posts the enernY rect;s d
embark her troops, and our coast being left unprot et/
a landing would not bo so impossible as some pee
,1) c
imagined. Now if this scheme were adopted each El
danger would be avoided, and ho therefore hoped the
House would agree to the motion. had
Mr. STAFFORD must du the Hon. Member who
brought forward this important subject the justice too
say that, whatever decision the House might cori_2o t_
with regard to this question—whether favouradbl
otherwise—his course had been not only plain an
dera-
ness-like, but entirely removed from all party COll5l A
nee
tions.—(llear, hear.) The Hon. Member had turned
his attention to the subject, not as a partisan, but neo:_u
Englishman, and he must say that he had never kn
a Committee which had paid greater attention to a s_fltiai
jeer, or conducted an inquiry in a more fair and 113
before
.beusi
naauner.—(flear.) He would now proceed to laced ew,,,
the House the state of our naval force as comPn,
that of foreign powers. His Right Hon. Erie ail in
Secretary for the Home Department stated last pito
the
his speech on the Militia Bill the following to b ".
number of vessels of war on th© home station and rees,?:
to serve-9 sail of the line, frigates, 1 sloop,
steamers, and 8 paddle-steamers.. There were 15'''corth.er
vessels nearly completed. The whole of our naval de-
fence on the home station stood thus—
Vessels. Mon.
0
•• 9 53
..• •
7 ... 1,544
•• •••
••• 16 ••• 6,612
5 368
Total ... 48 11,906
__;
11 ... 2,822
To these arid Hecate (cruising), 160 men;
Antelope. 55; Vulcan, 152; making in all 52 I j_ore,
and 12,328 men, exclusive of 4,500 Marines on "
6 ito-
- coast guard and dockyard battalions; being II
the
gether 29,648 men. In addition he had to mentionable
Simoorn and Vulcan, large screw-steamers, each "PPlutoo,ssesl,
of moving a regiment, and several small steamers
be-
sides. The whole of her Majesty's ships in commission
were—
East Indies and China ••• *** 19
Cape of Good Hope ••• 262
L_
Coast of Africa ...
Lord 01
Subsequentl to the dismissal of thou. Noble
Member for Tiverton, a notion had arisen amongst
foreign powers that England was inclined to ahanw:
her efforts for the suppression of the slave trade.
Whether it might be wise or unwise to keep up the Afrl;
can squadron ho would not stop to inquire, but he Wulf
be allowed to say, that with regard to the number o
vessels on the coast of Africa, so long as they were al-
lowed to remain there the Admiralty would feel it their
duty to keep them in on efficient state.—(Hear, hear.)
He would now proceed to state the number of 'foreign,
ships in commission, and wished to call the attention of
the House to this curious document, which bad been.
prepared with great care arid attention. To begin with
Russia. The number of Russian line-of-battle ships
in
commission were—in the Baltic, 27; Black See, 18:
making together, 45. Of frigates and corvettes there
were—in the Baltic, 12; the Black Sea, 12; together,
24. Of brigs, sloops, and schooners there were—in the
Baltic, 15; the Black Sea, 19; together, 34; making a
total of 103. Then, with regard to steam-vessels,
Russia had in the Baltic 8, and in the Black Sea 6 fri-
gates; of small steamers there were in the Baltic 5, and
in the Black Sea 15; in all 34—the entire naval force
of Russia being 137. Ile would next take French ships
in commission. The French had—ot line•of-battle ships,
7; frigates, 11; corvettes, 10; brigs, 11; small vessels,
12; transports, 22; in all 73. Of steam-vessels of 800-
horse power and upwards they had 2; between
500 and GOO, 1; between 400 and 500, 8; be-
tween 300 and 400, 1; between 200 and 300, 15 ;
between 100 and 240, 31; under 100, 8; in all, 66' The
naval forces of the three great maritime powers of Eu-
rope were: Line-of-battle ships—Great Britain, 72;
France, 45; Russia, 45. Frigates—Great Britain, 83;
France, 45; Russia, 10. The total sailing
Coming
force was__
Great Britain, 236; France, 257; Russia, 174.
s,oniing
to largo steamers—Great Britain had 37; France, 61;
Russia, 8. Of steamers under 200-horse power, Great
Britain had 97; France, 57; Russia, 24.
that we hod
shownal msothe
d 3 and it was;
onsul at Marseilles, that one of these
ld
IbTaelui
rrt mb
steamers;uei mLboearre
a etter from Mr.
ilarßgeut
firt
rsaboostio
steamers, the Montezuma, carried in 1848 from Oran to
Port Honduras, from the 20th
_;,,
to the 24th of •57113'"
1,818 men of the 6th Light ent
195
officers Infantry
and 56th Regius.
men altogether. of the Line, and
making 2,013
into some details
•Is and crew of the ship::
„ether. (The Hon. Member, who
,_
went through theseentered. statistics with great rapidity, then
not possible on all occasions to be fully wing
that it is for the purpose of sh°
pre-,
pared to r •
eteanit
reporte thatsp o k
pe
rs
toiindistinctlyo f
hisobs
et
rhya
at
but he the
transport of troops by means .0f
quite
o
on
unable to'
tiYitfl
reference to the statistics above he said would be
given, I
seen from these
figures that one great foreign power, fret!'
equal
which most was to be feared, stood almost upon 01
footing with ourselves; and it should never be for-
gotten that the necessary preparations in order to com-
plete s.a)re
plete the work of invasion, which formerly would have
occupied a month, could now be accomplished in a night,
and it therefore became of essential importance, if the
House wished to render the coast secure from attack, to
see that our navy was placed upon an efficient footing.
Much had been done since the Duke of Wellington, in
1847, warned us of our defenceless state; but still more
remained to be done if the country desired to teach fo-
reign nations that not only an invasion but an attackupon our coast was impracticable and impossible; and be
had no hesitation in confessing that before many
.of our
ships of war could he rendered fit for sea, the services
of no less than three thousand additional men would bo
necessary. The Hon. Gentleman had come forward with
the opinions of several eminent men, showing the itn-
portance of mercantile steamers in cases of emergency.
Before the Committee which sat upon this subject,
Captaie Chads stated that he thought it highly fleece^
sary, as an auxiliary measure, that we should have mer-
cantile steamers to defend our coasts against the num;
ben of armed French steamers which would be sent Out
to annoy them in case of war, and he added that he
did not thiek that less than 150 or 200 of the most
powerful vessels would be sufficient for that purpose.
Captain Henderson also gave it as his opinion before the„
same Committee, that we ought to have a number t.)!
light fast steamers in the Channel, in case a war sboulia
break out, both to protect our own trade and to criq
tho enemy's vessels. He added, that in the event o'
war, the enemy would be sure to have numberless light
and fast steamers, with a small complement Of °Paul;
on board, cruising about the Channel and annoying 0-0
coasts. These oninione were all of them favourable
the views of the lion. Gentleman o and he (Mr. Staff
Vi
had no hesitation in saying that this Admiralty een_feno;
the Prineiele.—(Hear, hear.) The Admiralty bftell3
waited for the motion of the Hon. Gentleman, but 0-cifi-e:
of the first things that they did on coming into ,ins
was to put themselves in communication with Pl'
üb-
who could supply them with information upon the 5
jeer. The present Board of Admiralty acceded to 00
is
proposition of the Hon. Member; they acquiesced in„flct•
tuotiou, aid desired most sincerely to carry it WO ertbo
(Hear, bear.)
But he must he permitted to remi"" bich
Ltetouraitle Geulletneu of the difficulty in navy
the Admiralty found themselves, for as the tiQ p 0
estimates had Already passed,laeru was of QQ'

Woolwich ...
Shoernebs
Portsmouth
Devonport
Cork ~.