The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-21 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

It is a matter of much surprise and comment in
naval circles to find that no sum has been appor-
tioned in the Naval Estimates for 1862-3 for the
commencement of the long-talked of increase in the
dock and basin accommodation of Portsmouth dock-
yard. Under these Estimates immense sums will
be spent on works in the dockyard, which, when
completed, will be found useless. Of this class
will be the north inlet, or No. 11 dock, the total Esti-
mate for which is £77,160, but which, like No. 10,
now occupied by the Black Prince, will possibly
exceed the original Estimate by some £21,000, the
extension of No. 8 dock at a cost of £19,292, and
the deepening the present steam basin—a work
often begun and as often only partially completed
owing to the scarcity of dock and basin room in the
yard. The north inlet dock may be constructed,
No. 8 extended, and the bottom of the steam basin
this time excavated, but when all is done there will
be no depth of water at their entrances. In the
plans for the north inlet dock is shown an outline
of the Achilles midship section, butshould that ship
ever become a reality she will never get inside the
north inlet unless the latter has deeper water ap-
proaches given to it. The new dock (which has
been commenced by the contractor) is to be 426 feet
in length, 99 feet in width from coping to coping,
33 feet in depth from coping to entrance invert, and
with a depth of water at spring tides of 28 feet 6
inches. This depth of water might, however, be
found sufficient in the majority of cases if the dock
was in an accessible position, which, as already
stated, it is not. It is unfortunate that works should
be executed in such positions, as plan after plan has
been prepared and submitted to the Admiralty for
the creation of a new steam basin and docks at the
north part of the harbour, adjoining the dockyard,
where basins and docks of any extent could he
created at very little cost, and adjoining the present
steam basin and factory . Another provision in the
Estimates relating to Portsmouth is equally useless
and objectionable :—X12,000 is set down for dredg-
ing the harbour and its channel of entrance, in ad-
dition to the thousands that have been spent upon
the same object during the few past years. A series
of groynes, costing but little more than has been
paid for one year's dredging, would confine the ebb
tide to the channel proper, and more effectually
deepen the channel and remove the mud from.
the bed of the harbour by doing away with the
existing eddies than any process of dredging
that engineering skill may devise, and would
render Portsmouth harbour capable of receiving
or sending from within our largest men of war.
The patching up of old docks and the completion
of others in situations where they can never be of
service to our Warriors and Minotaurs, and the
dredging of a harbour, an operation often to be re-
peated, instead of at once applying effectual reme-
dies can never render Portsmouth harbour equal to
the service required from it for the accommodation
of our first-class ships. Twenty years ago Ports-
mouth supplied all that could be desired for the
building, outfit, repair, and reception when afloat of
our fleets, but now our ships have outgrown our
docks and harbours. If the intention of the au-
thorities be not to extend Portsmouth dockyard and
improve its harbour and entrance channel, why are
those endless lines of defence being constructed, the
outer circle of which is nine miles in diameter ? In
Portsmouth dockyard all is puny and insignificant
as compared with our present wants, and the occu-
pation of one dock stays the work
of the port. If
Portsmouth dockyard is to remain in its present
state, why all this costly expenditure to defend an
establishment, which, if continued in its present
state would, in the event of an action in the chan-
nel, be brought to a dead lock for want of the
common resources which would be required for the
quirk repair of an iron steam fleet. The deck
question has been discussed more than once:during
the past year, and cannot be much longer delayed.
There must be additional docks formed, whether
their site be Portsmouth, Hamble,Portland, or any
other part of our south coast. The existence of
iron ships is not a more imperative necessity.
The Emerald and Shannon, screw frigates, at
Spithead, have discharged their extra 32-pounders
(16 each), and have each received four 100-pounder
Armstrong guns, thus rendering them now, in fact,
40-gun frigates. The Emerald has also landed her
8-inch guns, which are being replaced by others of
the same calibre that have been re-vented.
The Jasper, screw gunboat, 80-horse power, fit-
ting for commission in the steam basin at Ports-
mouth, yesterday received her armament—one
100-pounder and one 40-pounder Armst!ongs.
The Warrior, 40, iron frigate, Captain Hon. A.
Cochrane, C. 8., is ordered to Portsmouth from Gib-
raltar. Her list of defects, sent home from Lisbon,
is somewhat formidable. It is asserted that the
statement of the ship's labouring heavily and refus-
ing to answer her helm on her outward voyage to
Lisbon was actually
less than
G.
the truth, although
partly contradicted hy:Lord . Paget in his answer
to the question recently ;n r put by Sir John Pakington
in the House of Commons.
3
The Arethusa, 51, screw frigate, x,141 tons, 600
hors©
power, had an experimental trial of her en-
gines yesterday in the basin at Sheerness dockyard.
The trial was most satisfactory.
The Defence, 18, 600 horse power, R. A. Powell,
C. 8,, finished the adjustment of her compasses on
Wednesday, and was inspected yesterday by Vice-
Admiral W. J. Hope Johnstone, Commander-in-
Chief at the Nore, and staff, after which she got up
steam, and proceeded to Portsmouth to wait further
orders.

The undernamed Lieutenants were yesterday pro-
moted to the rank of Commander :—Edwin A.
Porcher, Joseph Robinson, Alfred P. H. Helby, the
Hon. Henry W. Chetwynd, Henry M. Bingham',

hceeiiehldegyolunteering for the depot of the 51st Regi-
mentloeiofonincsap sat
tinoaafiiteti Kiies, ng's Own s
rf h
liOerll
discharges,nah
naiTd ande
dwte
eolantnrhdfreaserndotoctraelyue2,csiet the service
11:
us:yensrtvpe ierero
con-
siderably_es
arrived
Tebr eylowa satisfactorilytthcehira tproperha m
agmia,
orurnmigsboentri:iwenhdceoernpesotethqbeuaeSinit case:
depotoned
o Major
-Gen.
setdr,ondsuhroinmg, tthheelnaeswt fleywdays.
m
In-
spector-General of the Royal Marine forces, appointedaccom-
panied by Capt. Travers, his aide-de-camp, yester-
day made his first official visit of inspection to the
division at Woolwich. The battalion mustering
about 900 men of all ranks fell in at 9 a.m. in heavy
marching order, in command of Col. Campbell and
Col. Walsh, C. 8., first and second commandants ;
and Col. Hopkins, C. 8., aide-decamp to the Queen,
attended by the captains and subordinate officers
commanding the 28 compani,es, comprising thedi-
vision at Woolwich. An hour _having I;keen,„ con- •
sumed, in puttiwthel men through sundry
movements, tl' preliminiry parading of colirr4:,
marching past; changing face, the announce-
ment echoed throughout the parade that the In-
spector-General was about to appear on the ground,
when the battalion suddenly wheeled about and
again formed in line with the utmost accuracy and
precision. The Commandant then rode to the
front, and received the Inspector-General on
parade, when he commenced a most minute
and rigid inspection of the line. On the men
being dismissed the Inspector-General went over
the men's quarters and inspected their din-
ners, and proceeded through the clerks' depart-
ment, the libraries, and the wards and other depart-
ments of the new infirmary adjoining. He com-
pleted his visitation by witnessing a course of hem, y
gun drill by the men of the battery, under the in-
struction of Capt. Clavell, superintendent of gunnery
exercises, The department of the Inspector-General
of Royal Marines, as at present constituted, has itk
official quarters at thbßoyal Marine-office in Spring
Gardens. In the evening the Inspector-General
dined with the officers of the division, at their
general mess, where he was met by Major-Gen. Sir
It. Dacres, K.C.8., and the Staff of the garrison.-
The Inspector-General announced his intention of
visiting the other divisions of the force in succession.

NR. ROEBUCOS oN THE ROUSE
ONS.

At the annual dinner of the Associated Chamber
of Commerce, at the Westminster Palace Hotel, on
Wednesday,
Mr. ROEBUCK, in answering for the House of
Commons, said :—I cannot sit down, however,
without alluding to the peculiar position in which
I, as a legislator, stand towards you and my country.
We are told that the House of Commons represents
the people of England. So it does ; but there is
something else to be represented, as is well known
to any gentleman who has ever mingled in that vortex
and whirlpool of party politics; called the House of
Commons. The fact is, many honourable gentlemen
lose their heads when they get there; and that being
the case, although we represent England we are sur-
rounded by all the wiles and solicitations of parties
at.d partisans. In fact we want some more calm
and deliberate body to advise us ; and I believe a
body like the present, representing the mercantile
classes of the country, is a very proper body to be
gathered together for the purpose of aiding us with
their good counsels and advice. You are in a posi-
tion to collect a fund of knowledge that will be
useful not only to the House of Commons but to the
world, and more especially upon the subject of
cotton-spinning. I should like very much to know,
apart from all party ties and the injurious and con-
flicting currents which occurs in that house, some-
thing of that subject as it is viewed by the quiet and
comprehending minds of the great commercial
bodies of England. Well, when you are gathered
together, why do you not direct your energies to
that object ? If you do you will do not only us, but
the country generally, a great service. We have
the staff in our hands, and it is in human nature,
depend upon it, to use it. It is for you, and you
only, to instruct us to use the staff in the right way.
With regard to our neighbours, the world, I am
happy to say, has grown wiser of late, and we have
more intimate communication between nation and
nation ; but I think I may, without arrogance, say
that the Government are not sufficiently instructed
upon these matters. (Hear, hear.) You say, " hear,
hear," but what do you do to enlighten us ? Why do
you not apply yourselves to the task of saying what
is required for the interests of England and her menu-
facturing communities ? Look at the French treaty.
I cannot help thinking, with many others, that there
was much left out of that treaty. (Hear.) I look
round me and see gentlemen representing the com-
mercial communitygenerallyWhy have you not put
your shoulders to, th,,,, wheel and instructed your am-
bassador abroad As towhat was required ? It is not for
me,to do more than suggest these things to your
consideration, and to return thanks for the manner
in which you have drunk my health : but I hope
you will understand your position and strengthen
yourselves so as to give us a lesson which we, as
your representatives in Parliament, shall most
thankfully receive. I have been before now some-
what roughly taught that I ought not to interfere
in mercantile affairs, I have been told I know
nothing about trade, and perhaps I ought to bow to
that imputation ; but all I can say is, that so long
as my constituents are pleased with my efforts, I
shall endeavour to do my best to aid them in any
way that the opportunity shall present itself.

sb,3
alvtaii
Hospital,lsa
bpl
available
for
probable
use
the
el
ase really
ath debtors' that tv at
ihu 3
THE GAOL DELIVERY:
wsti.ilTshhmr
talys,
The return made by the keeper prison
being on the
Ist inst. contained the names of 53 prisoners ; of these, 17
able Queen'spt
rl;'sreissogonofne.
were, prior to the registrar's visit, either before the Court of
Bankruptcy or discharged by some other process ; 17 others
are before the Insolvent Debtors' Court, and unless some
action is taken by that court for their removing their names
from its rolls, these prisoners may remain exempt front
bankruptcy jurisdiction for months to come. But we be-
lieve the necessary measures are in progress for effecting
this very desirable object. Five are prisoners in contempt
of various courts, and it is to be hoped that these also may
be discharged by some action to be taken on the part of the
several courts committing, or, at all events, to transfer them
to some other prison. There will be plenty of room for them
in Horsemonger-lane Gaol—an abode somewhat less airy
than the Queen's Prison, and probably, notwithstanding
the kindness of the excellent governor, less attractive for a
permanence, Three prisoners had not been in gaol for the.
requisite time, but this objection will bo cured next month ,
and it is satisfactory to find that the new arrivals are vLry
few indeed. Eight prisoners were discharged by the regis-
trar, and there would have been a ninth, but that the exa-
mination
mination taken by a creditor induced the registrfaar
et pr
that the bankruptcy should be at the instance of a
and that the creditor undertook forthwith to
—Gazette of Bankruptcy.
al Aids to Health.
[ADVERTISE. . MENT ]-11olloway'sP—s.
dcrmine the
petition. roe di creditor,
to regulate
ii power
h—eaSlotl many
tahnayt itd i shteuhrobv' ne
behoves
his system. Professor Holloway
re"
Pais are equal to
causes aotet,:ifFpn7TUnTl
~1;,
within the reach of all—his
owfhelinfeee
it
tt mis:aygefnrotmly
every emergency.. Conic
food, atmosphere, or ili'Dyni
these perfect purifiers, Hel-
met, but forcibly expelled
nervouspills h adveee decline,
earned
and
nsdi u
pre-
servedi il a r
tjanygoeZveTadhotesahae,o most remarkable recoveries
incases
Pofil:vsahs
reputation for maintaining the human
sound health, and full efficiency even
body n
of crowded cities,
amidsts plt otamhanes
enviableioilit fa
pt
state
oitf debility.
ies

~.

'
-