The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-29 00:00:00

upon 3 urges the Federal Government to make no of the unwieldy =titers of the deep. Sir J.
further remonstrance, but to let the British rulers ELPHINSTONE observed that he had been very
take their course while America will bide her recently present at a trial of the Hebe, which was
time." Does that mean, by the way, that she will fitted with two engines and two screws working
simply watch for her opportunity ? Not so, how- entirely independent. With one screw she steamed
ever, as we have seen, thinks and decides its still at three-fourths of the force attained by the two,
more bellicose contemporary, the New York Even and with one screw going ahead and the other re-
Ing Post aforesaid. That warlike journal having versed, she was able to turn on her axis in twenty
become apparently quite prepared for a course of seconds. The advantage of this power of man saver-
action on the part of Mr. SEWARD a great deal more ing and turning quickly round will be incalculable
short, sharp, and decisive. The Federal Government for ships of war. A large ship is too often like a
is not to make any apology, much less is it to offer large army, unwieldy from its size, while an active
any sort of reparation. Mr. ADAMS is to receive no manageable vessel resembles a small body of well.
kind of reprimand from his own Government. trained men, who can often harrass, or even disable
Admiral WILKEs is seemingly still to go on his their cumbrous adversary. The knights of old were
way rejoicing—acting without let or hindrance, at well protected, it is true, by their heavy armour,
his own free will and pleasure, whether he chances but in battle it was often as great a drawback as a
at the moment to be in Amerie,an or in British protection—for woe betide him that fell. In like
waters. Mr. SEWARD, it is true, may consent at manner, in modern history, the Santissima Trini-
last to wink at the surrender cf the Peterhoff. dada but ill-fulfilled the expectations formed of
But—beyond that one just possible conces- her; and we apprehend that NELSON, were he now
side' the apologies, the reparations, the alive, would cite her as an example of size being
guarantees for better behaviour are to come outwitted by agility. Speed is power, the ability
from the British to the Federal Government. to avoid attack and to come to close quarters with
Under these amazing circumstances, breathless with the enemy is the sure road to victory. Let cur yes-
the resent perusal of these last refreshing telegrams, sell have speed, and iron-plated turrets, and
all we Englishers can possibly have left us to do.-- all new-fangled notions will give way to cutlasses
is just meekly to wait and see whether or not Mr. and boarding-pikes. At all events, the whole
SEWARD can, by the barest possibility, have written question of our naval improvements requires care-
any such insane communication. And if so Mr. ful consideration, and demands a fair and candid
COBDEN himself would be able, this time, to answer spirit on the part of the authorities. Unless they
his own inquiry as to What next, and next ? show this they will not give satisfaction to the pub-
lic, who are too deeply interested to tolerate official
prejudice in a matter of national importance.

We have to thank the American war for directing
public attention more strongly than usual to the
question of our naval efficiency—a question of vital
importance to the nation, which is but feebly repre-
sented by the administration of Admiralty affairs.
The construction of iron-plated vessels has entirely
revolutionised modern navies ; and in surprise and
gratification at the astonishing power of these ships,
men have been inclined to rush into the opposite
extreme, and to denounce our whole fleet as useless,
and to urge the authorities to construct an unlimited
number of ironclads. Our Admiralty, however
dilatory in some of its movements, and how-
ever unwilling to accept suggestions out
of the privileged clique, are always ready
enough to expend the public money in
changes and alterations. The notion of our old
wooden ships being rendered worthless by the in-
novation of iron-clads is therefore only too likely
to find favour in their sight, The system pursued
in our dockyards has long since excited the indig-
nation of those who know anything of naval matters.
In the words of Lord ROBERT MONTAGU last night,
"Money is completely frittered away in dockyards ;
ships are constantly altered while in course of con-
struction, and after they hive bean constructed at
vast expense they are never sent to sea, but are ul-
timately sold as old stores !" This is scarcely the
way to procure an efficient navy, to excite the emu-
lation of competent men, or to satisfy the public.
Of course there are occasions when modern improve-
ments may be adapted to old ships, thereby saving
expense and rendering the vessels doubly efficient,
but these are seldom taken advantage of by our
naval lords. For instance, why should not the Ad-
miralty turn to account some of the wooden vessels
now lying idle in its dockyards by armour-plating
them ? The conversion of a three decker into a
two-decker would neutralise the additional weight
of the iron, and we should thus have iron-plated
ships ready for service in a short space of time,
while public money would be saved and good old
vessels turned to account. That our wooden
vessels are worth using is sufficiently proved
by the case of the Sanspareil, mentioned
in the House last night. This vessel received

Last night General LINDSAY moved that an
address be presented to Her .MAJESTY, praying
that she will appoint a Royal Commission " to in-
quire into the claims of 21 officers of the army who
were promoted to the rank of colonel in 1866 and
1856 as aides-de-camp to the QUEEN and for dis-
tinguished services in the Crimea, who, by a re-
commendation of the Royal Commission of 1858,
which had reference to another class of officers, had
been deprived to an undue extent of the position they
attained by the promotion conferred upon them, and
to report to her MAJESTY whether they were entitled
to any redress, and if so to rocommend in what
form should redress be accarded them. General
LINDSAY explained that he did not want to take
the opinion of the house on the question, but he
wished that the subject should be thoroughly in-
vestigated by proper authorities. The late Lord
HERBERT had admitted the justice of the claims of
these officers, and the late Sir G. LEWIS had re-
commended the payment of £ll,OOO for meeting the
exigences of the case. Both these Secretaries for War
had coincided in opinion that these officers had
just ground for complaint, and were entitled to a
remedial measure, Sir G. LEWIS stating that they
ought to be promoted to the first vacancies. He
(General LINDSAY) could not see how the position
of these of 3ers ought to have been effected by a
commission of 1868. He would take this opportu-
nity of telling the House what a distinguished man
had said of their case. Sir WILLIAM NAPIER, one
of the veterans of the Peninsular War, showed them
what a noble soldier thought of their position.
In writing to one of the officers referred
to, he said " that he had never heard
of such flagrant injustice or shameful treat-
ment, and he recommended his correspondent
to address an earnest and respectful memorial to
the authorities, stating all the particulars of the
case." General LINDSAY concluded his simple but
impressive address by trusting that he had then
adduced sufficient reasons for the inquiry, and he
hoped the House would sanction his request. The
Marquis of HARTINGTON said that it was impos-
sible to assent to this proposition, and be did not
see what grounds for complaint could exist. These
are generally the arguments adopted by officials when
the rights or wrongs of any individuals are called in
question, and therefore there was no great weight
attached to the speech of the noble marquis. Sir
J. PAKTNGTON said that as General PEEL was not
present he would briefly state some facts. His
right hon. friend the Secretary for War would tell
them that he was quite unconscious of the effect of
the report on these officers. One of the officers
referred to was Sir THOMAS TROWBRIDGE, who was
wheeled past her MAJESTY at the distribution of
honours, both his feet having been shot from under
him. The fact was that three successive Secre-
taries of State had borne testimony to the claims
of these officers. General PEEL had said that he
would never have submitted the warrant to the
QUEEN had he known its effect,:the late Lord HER-
BERT, and the late Sir G. C, LEWIS. But now the
Under-Secretary for War informed them that it was
not suitable to disturb the Army List. He did not
think that there were a dozen men in the army who
would not much rather have the Army List dis-
turbed than that injustice should be done to a
body of distinguished officers. Lord PALMERSTON
was rather ambiguous in his statement, he said that
he did not wish the House to interfere with the
detailed management of the army, and also he pro-
mised that if the honouable and gallant
member withdrew his motion he would
engage, on the part of the Government, that
the commission should be appointed. It was no
wonder that this announcement was received with
laughter. The fact was that the noble lord saw with
his usual perspicuity that the decision of the Under-
Secretary could not be adhered to, and, not willing
to contradict his subordinate, he adopted a medium
course, which, if carried out, would be virtually the
same. Mr. DISRAELI commented on the inconsist-
encies of the speech of the noble lord, and
said that he had forgotten that there was
a mode of interfering with the army which was not
unconstitutional, and that was the form proposed
by his hen. and gallant friend, namely, to petition
her MAJESTY to exercise her prerogative and take
those steps which might bring about the results that
the house desired. The right hon. gentleman truly
declared that it was unconstitutional to adopt the
course that Lord PALMERSTON had done, for the
house to agree that there was a wrong, and yet
that they must be silent, and let the Govern-
rmnrienyt take some secret step to accomplish its
redress.
whatevers
ns s
eR
nAT Eoh
Lue
isr e
s,
hpwearnamosdpago ysriet have
Lord
oaitnf.orce in this argument of
PALMERSTON lost in
strategydig-
gaoinfedeoiunrseGn
e e General
his l
LINDsAY agreed to withdraw his motion, and leave
the case to the honour of the Government. This
does not affect the real issue however, that is how
long it is to be permitted for Ministers to play at
power, If these officers were not wronged, why do the
Government promise to attend to their request. If
they are, why d d they not sce to it earlier, and not
suffer opprobrium to fall on their reputation by
leaving gallant defenders of their country unpro-
tected. The fact is that no reformation is so much
needed as that which is required in the official
departments where merit is unnoticed and worth
passed over unless they are accompanied by patro •
nage or introduced by the agency of favouritsm.

24 shells and nine round shot in the action
at Fort Constantine, yet continued the action for
several hours, was repaired, returned to England,
and is now in the service. It is idle to depend
entirely on theory in matters of this kind. Scientific
men may lay do vn the law very ably and unan-
swerably, but it often proves that practical service
puts their infallibility to a very severe test. The
Northern States of America relied on the invul-

nerability of their Monitors, but experience has

proved that the turret ships are easily disordered in
a severe action. The perfect fit of a turret in its
groove is indispensable to its proper working, and
it is manifest that a Whitworth shot can disable
the best appointed " Monitor." In the late
deadly engagement at Charleston, for instance,
a shot struck the turret of the Passaic and fractured
some portions of the interior casing which fell into
the groove upon which the turret revolved, so that
it could not be turned in consequence of the obstruc-
tion. Again, the Nantucket received shots which

Indented her turret so deeply as to prevent the
pendulum which closes the ports from working, her
guns became unserviceable, and the turret itself was
twice stopped by shot. Lord C. PAGET, in oppos-

ing the motion for a commission on the best mode
of constructing iron ships last evening, referred to
the Charleston affair as a proof of the inexpedience
of granting a commission. The fact is, the commis-
sion was asked for as much from the general want
of confidence in the administration of our naval
affairs as from any great faith in its utility.
If the public could see a really able man
placed at the head of the Admiralty, the
Board constructed without reference to party
favour, or " taking care of Doevei ;" if the offices
wore independent of Government changes, and if
men of experience and proved ability out of official
circles were consulted on special occasions, they
would have some confidence in entrusting the ex-
penditure of their money and the protection of their
naval interests to the hands of the appointed
authorities. At present they have no such grounds
for satisfaction... Every scheme, suggestion, or re-
form not of their own originating is condemned by
the Board. The construction, destruction, and
alteration of ships is carried on very much after
the fashion of children's toys, which are said " to
be made to be broken"—so our Admiralty seems to
think that a ship is put together in order to be
pulled to pieces. sirs.
ELPHINSTONE's suggestion
of assembling a council of the ablest engineers and
men of practical experience to consider the best form i
of construction for iron and iron plated ships appears
to us to be just and sensible. Why not avail our-
selves of the experience of men whose interest it
hastli e obr ieset mataoybuild good and efficient ships. A
be very eager for the enceess of his
theory ; but if a large shipbuilder does not turn out
good ships he will soon forfeit his reputation and
his property. A council of inquiry should include
both classes—men of scientific knowledge and men
who have acquired their Wisdom from testing it
afloat. Sir J. ELPHINSTONE reminded the [louse
that when Sir J. PABINGTON remodelled the navy
and did good service to the country by his exer-
tions, he_ held a council of the ablest engineers,
who determined on the form of the 'Warrior and
the Black Prince, two of the finest ships in our
navy. Even these vessels, however, are capable of
improvement. In the anxiety to secure strength
and size, other advantages are frequently lest sight
of, and it is not an uncommon thing to find ships of
such great size somewhat unmanageable. The in-
vention of the double screw, which extorted the
reluctant approval of Sir C. PAGET, however,
comes in to assist in the management

SOMETIIING.—There is a man down East, a rather
facetious fellow, whose name is New. He named his first
child Something—it was Something New. The next child
was Nothing--it being Nothing New. And on being asked
" Why is the rudder of a steamboat like a public hang-
man ?" he answered the question thus, " Because it has a
stern duty to perform,"—Ainerican .Paper,