The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-23 00:00:00

Lord Clarence Paget on Naval Affairs.

A pr /bile dinner was held in the Guildhall, at
Deal, cm Friday, to celebrate the election of Mr. W.
M. Crlvell to the office of Mayor. The new chief
ma gistrate presided, and among his guests were
Lord Clarence Paget and Mr Knatchbull Hugessen,
the members for the borough,
"The health of Her Majesty and the rest of the
Royal Family," having been given with the usual
marks of loyalty,
The MAYOR next proposed " The Health of her
Majesty's Ministers," which was received with =eh
cordiality.

Lord CLARENCE PAGET, in acknowledging the
toast, said,—Mr. Mayor and gentlemen—l feel some
diffidence in having to respond to the toast which
has been so eloquently given by your worthy mayor
in honour of her Majesty's Ministers, because, being
dignified with that title, it may be expected that I
should give you a short programme of the measures
to be brought forward in the coming session, and
scme idea of the policy and proceedings which are
likely to be adopted in future. Unfortunately,

gentlemen, if I were to assumo any such

function, I should be committing an act
of gross deception, inasmuch as I am but a
subordinate member of the Government, and really
know nothing of their intentions with regard to the
future. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, 1 think it would
b© extremely unwise in me to enter on this harmoni-
ous occasion upon any subjects which would be likely
to excite any difference of opinion. There are, how-
ever, some rew matters on which I believe I may,
without raising any elements of discord, congratu-
late th,e country. One of these things is the fact that
in thr midst of the turmoil which now prevails all
around us we are still enjoying the blessings of peace.
(C'iieers.) I believe it is generally admitted that we
b.ave pursued a very wise policy in avoiding all in-
terference in the dreadful war which is now raging
on the other side of the Atlantic. I think also that
I am not stepping beyond the bounds cf discretion if
I say that I believe we owe a great portion of our
present prosperity, under Providence, to the fact of
having so largely increased our commercial inter-
course with our neighbours the French. It will be
conceded, I suppose, on all hands that the severe dis.
tress which has been felt in the manufacturing dis-
tricts, and which has been so nobly borne by our suf-
fering artisans, has been greatly lightened through
the operation of the commercial treaty with France.
(Hear, hear.) But turning to subjects not strictly con-
nected with party polities, I think I can speak to you
with more freedom upon the administration of the
navy. Happily, all of us, whether in Parliament or
out of it, are of one mind in reference to the mainten-
ance of that magnificent force which has the safety
and honour of the country in its keeping. As a humble
member of the Administration, who has to conduct
the affairs of the navy in the House of Commons, I
may be permitted to congratulate you on the fact
that the vast sums which by the generosity of the
Country are devoted to that noble service have not
been, spent in vain. I may say, and say with con-
fitlimce, that our navy was never in a more satis-
factory or a more efficient state than at the present
moment. IV e have—and it is astonishing in how
short a. time it has been created—a great standing
navy, which is now in such a permanent and fixed
position that we no longer hear alarm expressed
lest we should be unable to man our ships in case of

emergency. The men composing our immense
:forces are almost ail of them permanently attached
to the navy. We have commenced a new system,
very expensive, no doubt, but most efficient, by
which we introduce very largely into the service
boys who from their earliest years are brought up to
regard it as their home and their profession. Indeed,
in the course of a very short time the vast body of
your sailors will be all educated men. (Hear, hear.)
A..t this moment not a single youth enters the