The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-26 00:00:00

The administration of our naval affairs has long
been a public grievance. An immense outlay, a
cumbersome Government machinery and un-
limited authority produce results that are by no
means satisfactory. Vast sums of money are
annually required and given, but when a question
is raised as to how they have been expended, it is
impossible to obtain a clear account. An imposing
array of officials, some temporary and some per-
manent, do not contrive to do much work among
them ; every inquiry is referred to some one else
until the result amusingly described by Sir H.
WILLOUGHBY is arrived at, that with an expendi-
ture of £4,000,000 no person can be found to account
for its management. It is no great wonder that
between a First Lord, an Accountant-General, a
naval lord, a Controller-General, and a host of other
dignitaries all ready to pass the responsibility from
one to the other, a sum of money should have dis-
appeared on its account. A spell seems to be cast
over all connected with the establishment. No
sooner are they enrolled among its members than
their eyes are soddenly opened to its merits and
capabilities. Ali is perfection, and interference,
either with the system or the executive, neither
necessary nor tolerable. There is, however, an un-
comfortable suspicion in the mind of the public
that neither economy nor efficiency are duly con-
sidered—that a system of favouritism and prejudice
prevails, which refuses to acknowledge independent
merit and turns a deaf ear to every suggestion of
improvement or reform. It is in vain for Mr. BER-
KELEY to tell us that the constitution of the Admi-
ralty has been found to work well of old in times
of danger, and must therefore serve our purpose
now. The English crossbow decided many a hard.-
fought field, but that is no reason we should not use
firearms. Our nation, under all the disadvantages
of incapable or tyrannical Kings, interested
Ministers, and supine or corrupt Parliaments, has
risen to her present greatness, but would that
justify us in continuing the old abuses ? Neither
are we convinced by Sir F. BARING'S argument that
it is better to leave the Government to manage
affairs their own way, and to hold them respon-
sible for any misconduct. Why, that is precisely
what we are doing now with moat unsatisfactory
results. With an enormous expenditure, we have
comparatively little to show for it. Ships are
built, pulled to pieces again, and rebuilt, to suit the
whim of the moment, while the scanty pay and little
consideration bestowed on our sailors have disgusted
some of our best men with the service. The public
will not be satisfied without a radical reform, and
the old excuses and remonstrances will not avail
much longer. There are no doubt serious errors in
the construction of our Admiralty system. In the
first place, it is a great mistake, and one which leads
to much mischief, to make the office of the head of
the Admiralty a political post, changing with every
change of Ministry. The appointment thus be-
comes one of the political prizes of the day, and is
likely to fall to the share of any RUSSELL, GREY,
or ELLIOT, whom it may be necessary to conciliate
at the moment: It is true that the Duke of SOMER-
SET is an able and energetic man, but have we
not had Sir CHARLES WOOD in the same seat ?
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON did good service in his time,
it is true ; but that is no proof that every country
gentleman would be an efficient controller of the
greateat navy in the world. Why should we not
have an able, unprejudiced, and energetic naval
man as the permanent head of an establishment
whose welfare is so vital to the nation ? Surely the
wide ranks of our naval service can furnish such men
-without difficulty, and they would bring to the post
that thorough comprehension of the business without
which no head of an establishment can command
the respect and attention of his subordinates. It
makes very little difference whether the First Lord
of the Admiralty be Whig or Tory, Radical or
Liberal-Conservative, if he knows his business. A
difference
of opinion on Free Trade will not affect
the construction of ships, apposite views as to the
duties of Churchmen will not alter the requisite
qualifications of sailors and shipwrights. The
whole system wants remodelling and reforming-
the
must be reduced and clearly the expenses ga:
responsibility attaching to each
counted for
o some one especial per-
department
sbrsee lotPni:gli!
see that his subordinates
dsoont'hwehwoosrek'b, and to account to Parliament and the
public if it be not properly done. ThereissomeL
thing radically wrong in an establishment which is
always needing commissions and committees
inquiry, and which is not averse to sending gen-
tlemen, whose evidence might be inconvenient, on
trips to Africa and elsewhere at special junctures.
Tee first sicp towards referrns is r ow i ot•tponrd till
another session, but, although delayed, the Admi-
ralty may rest assured that the matter will not be
suffered to drop until the managemeu: of our ships

and sailors is conducted in a fashion more satisfac-
tory to the public and more worthy of the mistress
of the seas.

The case of MARY ANNE WALKLEY was again
considered yesterday at a vestry meeting in the
parish of St. James's, Westminster. Dr,. LANKES-
TER read the report in reference to the sanitary
state of the West-end workhouses. He did not
make any special remarks on the case of the young
woman who died, but confined himself principally
to the general system adopted in reference to the
crowded establishments. He said that St. James's,
Westminster, ought to be especially interested in
this question, for there was a greater number of
persons working in shops and workrooms than in
any other parish of the kingdom in proportion to
its population. He added, that in establishments
like that of Madame ELISE it almost was impos-
sible without professional oversight to prevent over-
crowding. Neither the heads of houses nor their
employes possess sufficient intelligence to be able to
provide for the proper ventilation of the apartments
employed as warerooms and workshops. He stated
that there could be no doubt that the employment
of young persons for 10, 12, 14, or 16 hours a day
in close workrooms was most detrimental to the
health, and no amount of sleeping space could com-
pensate for such injurious toil. When, he added, in
winter it is considered that some of these rooms are
lighted with gas, and each gas burner destroys as
much air as five persons, it is not to be wondered that
sometimes a young person dies, but that the human
system resists so often such destructive influences
as it is subjected to. The Chairman inquired
whether Dr. LANKESTER possessed at present suffi-
cient power to enter workrooms, or if he desired
additional powers to inspect such places. Dr.
LANKESTER said that they had no power at all to
enter private houses, except they had grounds for
supposing that there was anything in any way
injurious to health or life. If a young person came
and complained that he or she was occupying a
badly-ventilated apartment, he thought that he
should have the right to enter, but they all knew
how difficult it was for a young person to inform
against an employer's premises. A vestryman said
he was glad that Dr. LANKESTER had pronounced
upon the bad effects of mailing young persons work
for such tremendously long hours. The Chairman
trusted that some practical good would be the
result of this melancholy affair. It was not the
first time that such an event had occurred in their
own parish. He also observed that he should like
to know if a proper time was given for the meals
of these young people, or if they had to swellow
their food hastily and return to work immediately
afterwards. He regretted to say that in many
West-end houses neglect and overcrowding took
place to a lamentable extent, but some were better
arranged in every respect. Dr. LANKESTER made
an excellent suggestion, which was that there should
be a system of registration for houses in which
more than a certain number of persons were em-
ployed, or in which more than a certain number
slept, he thought something of the kind might be
done without rudely interfering with the rights
of proprietors." The Chairman suggested that the
subject should be referred to the sanitary com-
mittee to consider and take what steps they
thought proper to carry it into effect. A resolu-
tion to that effect was then moved, seconded,
and eventually agreed to. It is the
more satisfactory that some such decided plan
should have been agreed upon, for it is evident that
the Government are most supine in this matter,
which affects so much the health and comfort of so
many of the population. Indirectly this question
concerns many others besides those who are imme-
diately concerned or actively engaged in the
unwholesome atmosphere of the crowded workroom
for the health, and sometimes the lives of all in the
neighbourhood are in constant jeopardy, through the
risk of infectious fevers breaking out in such locali-
ties. Before this malady could be checked in its
progress it might make fearful ravages in a crowded
locality. It seems as if few were inclined to do
anything until some such calamity has forced them
to do so. Sir G. GREY, in the House last night
was most indifferent concerning the whole affair.
He seemed to say that it was next to impossible
for interference to take place in private houses.
He would not even promise that the Government
would support a bill introduced for such a purpose;
all he promised was that they would not oppose its
introduction. This is not what is expected from
those who are vested with so much power, and the
public have a right to demand that the Government
should come forward in this matter and seek to
alter the law if it is not sufficiently stringent to
prevent such abuses from taking place instead of
availing themselves of its supposed inefficiency to
shun inquiry, and thus satisfy their own inertness
of action and unwillingness to suggest a remedy.

Sudden Death of Sir Joshua Jebb, K C 33.,
at Charing-cross,

Great consternation has been created this morning in the
neighbourhood of Charing-cross, by the sudden death of
Sir Joshua Jebb, unaer peculiarly melancholy circum-
stances. It appears that Sir Joshua was proceeding with
a friend from his residence, The Elms, Parson's-green,
Fulham, towards his offices in Parliament-street. They
were both seated on the outside of one of the Fulham omni-
buses, and when, at about 11 o'clock, the vehicle had
reached the Haymarket, Sir Joshua complained of being
unwell. It was considez ed advisable to continue the journey
to Charing-cross, and, indeed, he expressed a desire to do
so ; but on approaching Charing-cross Sir Joshua fell back-
wards and became insensible. He was immediately raised
by the outside passengers, lifted down, and conducted to
Mr. Starkie's, the chemist's, at the corner of Northumber-
land-street, where, in a very few minutes, he ceased to,
breathe. Summonses was immediately sent to the afflicted
relatives of Sir Joshua, whose body still lies at Mr.
Starkie's, until steps can be taken to remove it to some suit-
able place, with a view to the coroner's inquest, which will
necessarily be held upon Sir Joshua's remains.
Sir Joshua Jebb was born in 1793, and is therefore 70
years of age, and his widow, Lady Amelia, is the daughter
of the second Earl of Chichester.

AN ECCENTRIC EXHIBITION is now being per-
formed at the Hippodrome. A German named
Tolmaque, presents himself to the public, apparently like
any ordinary man ; he sits down on a chair, to which he
permits himself to be attached by cords or ropes in every
possible manner, round the arms, legs, body, and even
round his neck, to an extent by which an other person would
be suffocated. Any one may tie them that has the strength
to do it, and any amount of nntieable knots may be made.
A sheet is then thrown over his head, and at the expiration
of three minutes the sheet is removed, the man getting up
free. All the ropes are loosened, but none of them cut.
PETROLEUM EXPLOSION.—A great petroleum
explosion and conflagration took place a few weeks since at
Oil Creek, Penn., by the petroleum in some boats catching
fire. Oil Creek Town was shaken by the explosion, as by
an earthquake. The noise was heard 20 miles distant, and
the conflagration was seen as far. Great damage was done
to property by the fire. No other substance, it appears,
gives out such dense smoke as burning petroleum.
LISBURN ELECTION. LISBURN, Thursday.--
Mr. Barbour has retired. Mr. T, T. Richardson has come
forward in his place. The state of the poll at noon was—
Verner (Conservative), 146 ; Richardson (Liberal), 85.
There are now about 30,000 coloured troops in
the Federal army, and 5,000 coloured men in the Federal
navy.
LORD WILLIAM LENNOX'S FIFTY YEARS'
BIOGRAPHICAL RrstrNiscENcss. 2 vols.—Among other
celebrated and remarkable persons of whom anecdotes are
Rerltelineogutoe,nis•
given in these amusing volumes, will be found the Em-
perors Alexander of Russia, Francis of Austria, and Na-
poleon 111 ; Kings George IV., William IV., Louis
!tote, Reword, '
XVIII., Frederic Willi.zz of Prussia, William of Holland;
the pukes of York Kent Cambridge, Richmond, Beaufort,
Lords Castlereagh,tii FiFtz.clarenc.e, Worcetenrl
ii ,sts. Pitt, Fox, D Durham,
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11,0 k, Barham
Matthews and 63unetritiO
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K. Israel], :1 homa4 Moore. Theodore
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Rut-
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y ; the Duchesses of Glou-
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