The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-14 00:00:00

support of his amendment. When he had done, Mr. Wroo
seconded the amendment.
Mr. DOUGLAS would recommend that a Committee be
appointed to select Members.

-blr. O'BatENT had no objection.
Mr. FEARGUS O'CONNOR said—lf Mr. O'Brien should
withdraw the original resolution, he would be bound to
press its adoption.
Mr. SALT in support of Mr. O'Brien's motion said he
was an " anti-physical-force man." He commended his
virtuous propensities for being so! as the feelings of his
heart and all the tendencies of his nature were at vari-
ance with his conduct in this respect; for he thought he
ought to be a s' physical-force man." Conscience is a
steady sleeper, but she will sometimes be awakened.
The thunder that will proceed from this assembly to-
wards will awaken the consciences of those persona who
have the power of redressing the wrongs of the many,
whose miseries are beyond calculation—miseries that have
.brought about this demonstration ; a demonstration which
if not answered in the way which will meet the people's
wishes, will produce on the country an effect that is not
to be contemplated without fear, as the wrath of the Most
'High will, eventually, fall on the head of those who will not
do their utmost to prevent the many miseries of the people.
Dr. WADE r.commended the adoption of Mr. O'Brien's
motion.

Mr. FEattous O'CoNNou then addressed the meeting
in support of the original motion. He contended that it
was by discussion that their objects and their principles
could be made known to the public. It was by discussion
that the public would be disabused of the wrong impression
they had taken with regard to torch-light meetings—and
that it was to him the terms moral and.*sical force,
and torchlight meetings, owed their origin. He saw
how necessary they were to enable the people to make a
demonstration of their strength.—( Hear, hear.) He it
was that lighted the torch that gave them their bright ex-
istence. Ho it was that extended over them the
extinguisher
tetlht q
iahinus demonstrationsnc . quenched
aosft
ihtt
he ienr we-spread o
t peopleofi d
theos t u flame.gen
unnecessary?t
necessity that the people should be kept from being
thrown into the bands of Whigs or Tories ? It was to
show these pccple that we are determined in our course,
if this our last petition is not successful. If we were to
go among the people and preach to them the doctrine of
these moral philosophers we should not gain that popu-
larity that we now have—( Luud cries of No, no). I con-
tend that if we did not show the people the substance be-
hind the shadow, they never would assist us in the way
they do. How necessary it is that our principles
should be known can there be better evidence than
we have in the case of the Catholics of Ireland—( Hear,
hear)—as long as they remained in a state of quietude—
as long as they remained i.ile, and kept their grit vances
from the view of the Protestant public, so long did they
remain as they were ; but when they bestirred themselves
and published to the world their grievances, then were they
assisted, and, in consequence of that assistance, soon ob-
tain their emancipation. What do we want, but this dis-
cussion of our principles, to ensure their success ? Unless
this conference is opened, or at least attempted to be
opened ? we will still be subject to the misrepresentation
of our enemies. Has the Press omitted any opportunity of
foisting on us principles which we do not profess ?—( Hear.)
Why, not later than yesterday had not one of the Journals
of this city misrepresented what I said at the meeting
the night before last at the White Conduit House?—( Hear
hear. )—I was made to say " That I would recommend to
the people that they should fight unconditionally"--( Hear,
hear.)—The Sun newspaper gave it other'vise ; it
gave it, impartially—( Hear, hear. )—Does not this make
it necessary that our principles should be known to the
world? Does it not prove the necessity for their being
known through some recognised document, to the Times
to Lord John Russell, to Daniel O'Connell, and to all
who are disposed to give them a colour which they do not
deserve ? It is indispensably necessary that all should know
these principles in order that we may not be misrepresented.
—( Hear.) After some other observations to the same pur-
port, Mr. O'Connor sat down, asserting his determination
of supporting the original resolution.
After some ten or fifteen other Members of the Conven-
tion had delivered themselves of similar addresses, the
Chairman put the amendment of Mr. Whittle which only
stated " That the original motion was not expedient or ne-
cessary just now," when it was lost by a great majority,
and the original carried with only two dissentients.
A Delegate gave in a notice of motion, " that Mr. Frost
be requested to place before the Convention, the corres-
pondence between himself and the Home Secretary," and
Mr. Fcargus O'Connor. another motion that he would
bring the state of Ireland into consideration, on Monday
week, for the purpose of framing an address to the people
of that country,
The meeting then dissolved.

THE NAVY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six,—Public attention having recently been drawn to
the Navy, over which a cloud has hung too long, I trust
that it will not be deemed presumptuous or intrusive in
me, a civilian, to express my views on a subject with
which I am in some degree familiar, having studied it
many years, and had an opportunity of inspecting ships
of war, in commission, of the principal maritime powers.
The gangrene, which appears to me to be destroying
the vitals of the Navy, springs from the cruel inequality,
in the first admission and subsequent promotion of the
officers, and from the deficiency of stimulus among the
seamen. I shall, in consequence confine my remarks
chiefly to these points, touching lightly on others of minor
consideration.

As late back as 1825, I transmitted. to Lord Mel-
ville a few propositions for a considerable reduction in
the number of Mates, Midshipmen, and Ist class Volun-
teers, to be replaced by a corresponding number of
Second Lieutenants and Coxswains, and I shall briefly
recapitulate the arguments then urged by me in their
favour.

I stated that there were thirty-eight Mates, &c., in a
first-rate, to eight Lieutenants, and' supposing the
fornier to serve the required period of. six years only,
and the latter to be renewed every nine years by pro-
motion, permanent retirement, or death, the p7oportion
of candidates for the vacancies was as 57 to 8, or up-
wards of seven to one.

In advocating the new appointment of Second Lieu-
tenant, I observed that junior officers could thereby be
be promoted with comparative economy, while it would
be far less mortifying to them to serve even for many
years in this rank, than as Mates, with the pain-
ful uncertainty of advancement ; that the transition
from a Mate to a Lieutenant was too rapid, and that
had there been such an intermediate appointment at the
peace of 1814-15, the many hundred midshipmen who
were then promoted might have been provided for, with
an immense saving, on half-pay.

In suggesting an augmentation in the number of
Coxswains, or of more petty officers under any other name,
I stated that they might perform part of the duty of
Midshipmen, and that the prospect of the appointment
would induce many seamen, perfectly qualified to fill it,
to enter the Navy.