The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-24 00:00:00

teripration of the Navy. The fact was, the Right Hon.
Baronet knew nothing about the matter. He did not
know what a seaman was, and he was very certain be
did not know how to produce him.—(A laugh.) They
all knew exceedingly well the value of the patronage of
the Navy, but they did not know the value of the sea-
men, and how to keep the officers and crew contented.
Officers did not like to do duty on board ships not
having efficient companies ; they had them once—they
had them not now, and will find great difficulty in having
) them again ; and the only manlier by which this result
could be brought about was, by the adoption of this
resolution. He had no-pleasure in coming forward to
oppose the Board of Admiralty, but he spoke the
expressions of all pradtical men, whose opinions were va-
luable, when he said that prime seamen in this country
were not easily acquired, and when they had got hold of
them they should do everything to keep them. He
would rather have the worst ships in the navy properly
manned than good ships manned according to the eco-
nomical system of the Admiralty. Suppose on a recent
occasion Commodore Douglas had not received an
apology from Admiral Baudin, but, on the contrary, the
insult had been renewed, what could he have done with
his miserable peace establishment against the war estab-
lishment of Admiral Baudin ? And what would the
country think if they had been exposed to danger in
consequence ? Gentlemen who brought forward party
questions that lasted three or four days,—{Hear, hear)
—might think that such only were of importance, but
he thought the inefficiency of the British Navy was of
more importance than any party question. He cared
not who was Minister if he would but do his duty to
his country, and that could not be done if the
Navy was neglec'e l.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Reforms
were more wanted in the Navy than in any
other department—a great deal had been said of
Justice to Ireland—he wanted justice to the Navy,
of which it had experienced but very little—every otli'r
department of the public service being doubly rewarded
is proportion to the Navy. In the last war two Cap-
tains had been rewarded for distinguishing themselves
in action with America frigates, and they had been thus
rewarded notwithstanding they were captured. Why
was this ? because the Americans were doubly manned,
and our ships not half manned. No able seamen would
enter any of the large ships because they were ineffi-
ciently manned. Many gentlemen were not aware that
there was as much occupation below deck as there was
on deck, and when ull were en duty on deck, who could
attend to the other duties? He had asked for a return
of the desertions that had taken place in Sir C. Pagot's
expe imental squadron, and that had been refused ; b. t;
he believed that that squadron was afraid to go into
'port because all the good seamen would run away.
If proper regulations were adopted, the service on board
men-of-war might be made most attractive ; but men
cow preferred entering jackass frigates to large ships—
one wet night's watch had knocked up the men onboard
the Caledonia. Under circumstances of danger, men
who took a pride in their ship used to go through any
thing to do their duty ; but now, in consequence of this
"constant call on the exertions of the men, they came up
unwillingly, the Officers had to drive them, and this
system, which not ,only affected the efficiency of the crew
but their health also, was called economy. He would
rather have no fleet at all, than one not able to do its
duty -as it ought to be done. The Admiralty ought to
attend to this, to render it unnecessary to bring the sub-
ject before the House of Commons ; but what would be
said, when they were told that the whole of the naval
members of that Board had given it as their opinion
that the war complement should be reduced by
one-eighth as the peace complement ?—(Hear,
hear.) The first Lord or landsman, who could
know nothing at all about it, had on his own authority
altered it to one fifth. Either no Navy-men should be
at the Board, or the First Lord should not be per-
mitted to retain that situation. No doubt plenty of
bipeds, in want of food, would enter the Navy, but not
able seamen. Captain Napier's officers had positively
been obliged to go on the yards to show the men how to
furl the sails, and these were called able seamen. If the
ship went to sea with such a crew, she would, in all
probability, be lost. The Pique had been obliged to
accept men who had been refused by inferior ships, in
consequence of her being distasteful to all real seamen,
from being inefficiently manned. It had been said that
Captain Boxer had received more men than he had
asked for, but that Captain Boxer would not ask for
ore, because he knew he should not get them. Some
of these ships were only 50 tons less than a seventy-
four, their' esta and yards were nearly as heavy,
and they masts and yards were nearly as heavy, I
and they had
only ninetv-si eight,n in a watch
•nstead of one hundred and thirt. y-which was their' proper proportion. The Macedonia,Guerrier, and other
frigates, Commanded b brave officers, had been
captured in the Americany
war, in consequence of the