The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-10 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1854.

" What are we to do to man our fleets—to
attract competent and efficient men to our stan-
dard ?" We repeat the interrogatory which we
yesterday put forward, and which is, par excel-
lence, the question of the day—the point to which
public attention is most closely directed at this
moment. The Government appears to he at
length awakened to a sense of its importance, and
are taking measures to provide some of the addi-
tional seamen required, and for whose expenses
votes will speedily beasked from the popular branch
of the Legislature. On this part of the case we would
impress upon our rulers the necessity of a wise and
judicious liberality. Nothing could be more pre-
judicial to the best interests of the nation during
the emergency than that which would indeed be
a "penny-wise and pound foolish policy." For
every shining saved (!) by undue parsimony, in
the first instance, a pound, aye, probably many
pounds, would subsequently be required. Let us,
then, not raise barely the number of men that on
a close calculation may be supposed to be wanting
in the first instance.
Although we have no earthly doubt as to the
issue of the contest, when the English and French
fleets are arrayed side by side, and in the same
gloriouscause, it would still be a dangerous error to
undervalue our opponents. If we only consider
the effect of a decided preponderance of power in
diminishing bloodshed, and preserving the lives of
our fellow-men, we are convinced that no person
of ordinary humanity—not even the most strenu-
ous and decided advocate of the Peace Society--
would wish to save a few paltry pounds at the
expense of a heavy sacrifice of human life, not
only of our own fellow-3ubjects, but even of our
opponents. It is too notorious to require argu-
ment, that the most sanguinary encounters are
those where the parties are most equally
matched. Ira such cases the battle will be
prolonged to the last moment. There will still be
the lingering hope of retrieving any mischance
and changing the fortunes of the day. For very
shame sake the commander would refuse to strike
until the destruction of his men warranted sub-
mission, and the blood of the killed and wounded
had flowed in sufficient quantities to vindicate his
character from the imputation of cowardice. But
it would be otherwise where there was an over-
whelming force engaged, against which it would
be hopeless to contend. In such case the triumph
Would be achieved, and the objects of the expedi-
tion accomplished without the destruction of human
life.

Let not the massacre at Sinope ba adduced
as an. example to the contrary. It was
the Russian power that -there predoininated, and,
thank GOD, there_is a difference between Russian
• and English seamen. We, at least, have not for-
gotten the precepts of our own NELSON. The
-vanquished enemy would still
_be treated as a
blether; and in place of firing on those no longer
capable
of defending themselves, the British tar
n every
would atrai
nerve, and encounter the most
appalling dangers, to rescue those against whom,
while resisting, he had been hurling destruction
but a few miwites
before. Every consideration
of prudent economy, of national security, of
Christian. charity, and.
earnest humanity, require
us to supply our naval force in such abund-
anceas to prevent the issue from remaining
. i
a single moment in suspense. Let us afford an
„pp/0 mouse to the Russian Admiral to yield,
without the sacrifice of his unfortunate followers.
This, can only be done by having seamen in
sufficient numbers, skilful, experienced, energetic
seamen---true British tars--in Whom implicit re-
Why not have ten,
fiance caa be placed.
aye, or
twenty thousand more than may be required?
We have in every other respect ample materiel of
war, stately vessels and tried officers. But the
deficiency is in the most important, and the least
expensive, but yet, strange to say, the most
neglected item. A small proportion of the money
squandered in the dockyards, or in the non-effective
branches of the service, would maintain a splendid
body of experienced seamen, ready for service at
a moment's notice and in any emergency—a body
that walla act as a nucleus for further levies if 1
required ; for one well-disciplined seaman would

speedily qualify two landsmen to act efficiently
by his side. But, unfortunately, it was not for
such men that half-pay was provided. They had
not Parliamentary influence sufficient. A great
I I improvement in this respect has unquestionably
I
been effected by the recent regulations as to
" continuous service," where the parties enter
for ten years. But that, although a move in the
right direction, does not proceed far enough to
achieve the great desideratum--the speedy and
effective manning of our fleets.
There is a great demand for seamen, and com-
petent men are too well acquainted with their real
value to be easily bamboozled. It is no use for
"my Lords" to think that they can get at the
blind side of Jack, or persuade an A. B. (or able
seaman) that 2/. is. 4d. per calendar month is
better than 4/. or 5/. in the merchant service.
That may serve as an interesting narrative for the
I marines ; but, unfortunately, the blue jackets are
unduly sceptical. They must be satisfied as to
the advantages they are about to receive before
we shall find them voluntarily flocking to
enrol themselves in our vessels ; and we may
be well assured that it is not to one
only that they look, or on which full information
must be afforded to those whom we desire to be-
come volunteers.
The first question a genuine blue-jacket asks,
and to which he justly attaches paramount im-
portance, is, " Under whom am I to serve ?" The
characters of the different captains are closely
canvassed and well known at the different out-
ports. Nay, more, the tempers and dispositions
of the different officers—of all, in fact, who can
exercise a material influence over the comforts of
the crew. Sailors like a strict disciplinarian, one
who is himself a thoroughgoing seaman, who knows
every matter connected with the manage-
ment of the ship, and does not require a dry-
nurse (in the shape of a veteran officer of superior
standing and knowledge, but inferior in rank) at
his elbow. Such a person will appreciate good
men, and a word of approbation is eagerly sought
for. With such a person, too, they know that
they have every possible guarantee for the safety,
and, what they think of at least equal importance,
the honour of the vessel ; for every true-hearted

sailor speedily comes to love " the old ship"—to
cherish with affectionate regard every timber.
Look to the esprit du corps, the pride which every
one of the crews of the old " Agamemnon,"
the "Victory," the "Bellerophon"—and, indeed,
of all the well-known fighting men-of-war—
took in their vessels and their officers, and we can
judge of the kind of spirit which it is desirable to
infuse into the breasts of our sailors. But they
detest a martinet—one who delights in the cat,
who is unduly querulous, finding fault without
adequate, or frequently without any, cause, and
interfering with the liberty of the men on every
tangible opportunity. Such persons they avoid
with a holy horror. No temptations will induce
them voluntarily to take service under an unpopu-
lar captain. Let them know the commander-in-
chief, whose character will materially influence
that of his inferior officers, and also the
vessels in which they are to be employed,
and a great point will be achieved. In such case
(if other matters be satisfactory) it will not be
difficult to find plenty of volunteers for the ser-
vice. We can venture to prophesy, without laying
claim to any extraordinary powers of vaticination,
that there will be no necessity for impressment.
Among these, other matters, pay and bounty,
assume prominent positions. We have already
pointed out the advantages of a bounty, varying
according to circumstances, and the state of the
market (say from 51. to 101., we may assume
71. 10s. as an average). Jack likes a little money
in hind to leave with the dear ones at home,
pay debts, obtain an outfit, aye, or expend in a
spree. A bounty of 101. in hand would be more
efficacious in procuring volunteers than an addi-
tion of 11. per month to the regular pay, and, we
need not add, far less expensive to the country.
One hundred and fifty thousand pounds thus
applied would procure twenty thousand good men li
in a month ; and surely there never was a morel

judicious expenditure of money, or one more in
accordance with due economy. Why, double the
amount might without difficulty be lopped off the
dockyard expenditure.

That terrible circle of fire is every moment be-
coming narrower, which our diplomatic experi-
mentalists have been so long foolishly attempting
to square by a protracted series of negotiations:
the necessity of War ! Scarcely any uncertainty
now remains as to the close of this pacific corres-
pondence, carried on for eleven mouths, between
the Russiln AUTOCRAT and the mediators in be-
half of Turkey, the four allied European Govern-
ments. Wherefore, discussion having proved
fruitless of any of those good results which were
expected from the first, by the more sanguine among
the lookers-on—action has become inevitable. That
diplomacy has actually exhausted its last ener-
gies in thus vainly endeavouring to ward off the
dangers of a general war—must be at length suf-
ficiently obvious, now that M. DE BRUNOW has
at last quitted London, and that M. DE KISSELEFF
has at length taken his departure froin Paris, and
that Count ORLOFF is really, in spite of every
counterstatement, at this moment on his road
back from Vienna to St. Petersburg. So that of
the close of these pacific efforts to patch up a
reconciliation, we have literally a threefold
testimony. It is whispered, however, that Count
ORLOFF returns to his Imperial Master not so
entirely dissatisfied with the result of his mission
as might be conjectured—elated, in fact, with
having secured something like a tangible pledge,
or a substantial guarantee, that a strict course of
neutrality will be pursued in the event of a
struggle on the part of Russia against the formi-
dable armaments of France and England--a strict
course of neutrality on the part of the two
principal Powers of the Germanic Confederation.
However this may be, we all know that " playing
fast and loose" is about the aptest phrase to be
employed in allusion to the hereditary policy of
the Hapsburg Dynasty, while the present genera-
tion at least cannot easily forget the reasons given
for suspicion as to his future conduct by the past
career of the reigning Prince of the House
of Brandenburgh. Nothing but duplicity has
hitherto marked the proceedings of Russia
throughout the whole of these recent transactions
in regard to the contest for and against Turkish
independence. Little else can be looked for from
either Austria or Prussia—so long as FREDERICK
WILLIAM continues to hold the sceptre of the
Great FREDERICK, and so long as FRANCIS JOSEPH
preserves in his councils the remembrance of those
evil influences which were the strings of his pup-
pet-predecessor FERDINAND. Whatever may have
been the amount of the success or failure which
has followed the temporary appearance of Count
ORLOFF at Vienna—there cannot at least be any
doubt whatever now as to the direction of the
path lying plainly open at this moment to the
French and English Governments.
The path of honour ! implying in that term
the absolute and imperative necessity of the two
great Powers of Western Europe employing no
half measures, after their prolonged hesitation,
in vindicating the rights of the Turkish Sove-
reignty, and in maintaining the integrity of the
Turkish dominions. How ? The means are
manifest—as manifest, indeed, as the duty itself
is apparent. There is the powerful naval arma-
ment already despatched to the vicinity of the
seat of war beyond the waters of Constantinople.
There is the augury of a formidable fleet to be

sent out early in the approaching spring from this

country to the Baltic—there to second the

blow dealt against the arch-enemy in a to-
tally opposite quarter by the combined fleets

in the Black Sea. By means of a Baltic fleet
we might effectually deprive the Russian

AUTOCRAT of one of the principal advantages ac-
cruing to him from the neutrality of the two great
Powers of Germany. As yet, however, attention
should be almost exclusively paid to the capabili-
ties for instant action presented to France and
England by the presence at this juncture in the
Black Sea of a combined maritime force, against
which it would be preposterous for the CZAR to
oppose all the men-of-war he could bring toge-
ther. Already
have done the combined. fleets in that sea
good service to Turkey by enabling

Iher vessels to convey to Batoum, in perfect safety,
a most necessary supply of troops and ammunition.
It is expected that a similar advantage will be
afforded to the Ottoman Power in the direction of
Varna, on the next excursion taken by Admirals
DUNDAS and HAMELIN from their pleasant anchor-
age in the Bosphorus. Immediately bolder acts
than these shall be adventured upon, we shall
look not so much either to the right or left as
straight onwards across the Black Sea to the
Crimea, not so much for a resolute move-
ment towards Batoum or -Varna as towards a
much more important point, the site of Sebasto-
pol. In which event troops, whether of France
or England, or of both, might be readily landed
in the Bay of Theodosia, and in the Gulf of Kar-
kimet—thereby completely cutting off the retreat
of the Russians from the Crimea, without the
necessity of our effecting an entrance into the
Sea of Azof, through the Straits of Kerch. Such
are among our anticipations, or rather we might
say our aspirations—now, when war has become
more than ever imminent ; and when, although
war has become more imminent, the cordial
alliance of France and England constitutes a
substantial guarantee of the ultimate peace of
Christendom, and of the inevitable triumph, in
the end, of the holy cause of Civilisation.

LONDON AND PROVINCIAL MEDICAL
DIRECTORY for 1854. JOHN CHURCHILL.

The ninth annual edition of this Directory presents
the same features and excellencies which have for a long
period secured for it the approbation and liberal patron-
age of the medical profession. It contains a great
amount of information, invaluable to the members of
this profession, in addition to the register of all qualified
practitioners throughout the kingdom ; and as regards
the public generally, the work is not without its use, as
it affords a safeguard against impudent pretenders.
Among the improvements in the present edition, is the
re-introduction, in accordance with the wishes of many
subscribers, of the Poor Law List of Medical Officers,
which has been compiled from the most authentic returns.
The obituary of medical men, since the last publication,
is continued, long memoirs being-, in several instances,
given of the more important individuals.