The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-24 00:00:00

was a measure which appeared to me not only gene-
rally impolitic but specially impolitic under the peculiar
circumstances in which we then stood, anticipating,
as at least I did, an impending war. This =cum.;
stance has tended very much to disturb, perhaps I
may say to alienate, the minds of the seamen in
those ports, and I think it a matter highly important
to remove those feelings of distrust, as may be done in
a great degree by the endeavour—which their families,
as well as themselves, will estimate—to improve the
ports to which they resort. There is at present! I regret
to say, a serious disagreement between the shipowners
and the seamen in those ports. The seamen, acting
under very evil influence and bad advice, have united
themselves in associations, every member of which is
distinguished by a medal ; the rule of those associations
being that no person wearing a medal shall serve in a
ship not wholly manned by members. The consequence
is, the shipowners have been bringing seamen from other
ports to supplant the seamen of the north-eastern ports;
and although the whole matter of difference is only 10s.
a voyage, these men, under evil advice, are walking
about doing nothing, while the country wants their ser-
vices ; and if the country did not want them, merchants
would be glad of those services. I feel the only medal
it becomes a man to wear is a medal placed on his breast
by his Sovereign for good services rendered to his coun-
try, and nothing makes men appear more effete, if not
contemptible, than decorating them with distinctive
medals by their own authority, which in this case is the
emblem of disunion among seamen at the very moment
the public interest requires to the greatest extent union
among them. I hold that these seamen would, in
case of emergency, be willing to come forward and take
service in the fleet, I think that emergency now
exists. Three or four weeks hence, when the French
squadron will have joined our fleet in the Baltic, and we
then have a numerical equality with the fleet of the
Russians, and that degree of superiority which may
arise from having vessels o' greater force and inure ex-
tensive use of steam, then indeed the war in the Baltio
may resolve into the ordinary course of a superior fleet
blockading an inferior fleet in their own harbours ; but
until the fleet in the Baltic under Sir Charles Napier
does obtain that superiority, by the junction of the
French squadron, which it has not now—until that
period, while Sir Charles Napier has the advantage of a
central position between the three squadrons into which
the Russian fleet is divided, while the ice is breaking up,
every stratagem will be exercised in which, with well-
managed, well-manoeuvred vessels, he may have an op-
portunity of striking a great blow with decisive effect,
and perhaps even with little loss. But, my lords, great
chances attach to all warfare, and especially to naval
warfare. There may, perhaps, by possibility —I will not
admit at all the probability, but there may be by possi-
bility, either from the weather, or from the enemy being
superior, as he is, in numbers—there may be disasters,
and I believe the men of the Tyne, the Wear, and the
Tees—these, the finest seamen we have, would never
forgive themselves —that through life they would feel the
internal pressure of remorse, if from their absence any
opportunity of seizing a victory should be lost. (He r,
hear.) I cannot think these men, who hold aloof from
the naval service of the Crown--I cannot think they do
riot participate in the general, enthusiasm with 'which
the present war has been adorted by the whole country
—I cannot think that they alone are insensible to the
effect of those cheers with which the men proceeding to
service in the Baltic are saluted by their fellow country-
men. (Hear.) It so happens that at a very early period
of my life I was thrown very much among seamen, and
I have from that time entertained the greatest feeling of
respect for their generous arid noble qualities. (Hear,
hear.) At a more recent period I was accidentally
engaged in company with them for many months, and,
undoubtedly, the experience which I then acquired only
tended to confirm the previous impression I entertained.
(Hear, hear.) My lords, last year I endeavoured—as I
nave said, vainly—but I endeavoured, thinking I was
discharging a public duty, to induce your lordships, both
on presenting a petition from many thousands of these
seamen, and afterwards, when the bill came before
your lordships' house, not to adopt a measure which
they thought, and justly thought, inconsistent with
their interests. I must, therefore, when I venture
to offer a word of advice to the seamen, be considered
as offering it in my anxiety for their interest and their
honour as a friend, and I do most earnestly entreat
them, without the loss of one day, not individually, not
by twos and threes, but as It body at once te enter the
service of the Crown. The emergency has arisen which
demands their services. I do trust they will not be found
wanting in this hour of their country's difficulty. I do
not ask them to abandon all the habits of their life—to
enter, for ten years, or even for five years. Her Majes-
ty's s Government, in the emergency in which they now
stand, have wisely, I think, abandoned that principle,
and are willing to accept seamen for the year—though I
may think that term inconvenient, both for Government
and the seamen themselves. Let them offer themselves
for the voyage—that is, for the campaign—and I can
hardly think, if such offers were extensively made by
large numbers of able seamen, her Majesty's Govern-
-mint would refuse to comply with their request, if in
that manner they paced themselves at the disposal of the
Crown for immediate service in the Baltic (near.) They
;nay return with a medal granted for their services—they
inay return with prize money —but certainly they. will
return with honour. They will return respecting them-
selves—they will return respected by others : they will
have participated in great events, of which the fortunate
termination may in a great degree depend on their co-
operation ; they will have seen and will have done things
to remember during their lives, and may talk of in their
families as long as they exist. (Hear. hear.)

REGISTRATION OF BILLS OF SALES BILL.
The Earl of HARROWBY moved the order of the
day for the committee on this bill.

Lord CAMPBELL said a few words in commendation
of it.

Lord BROUGHAM suggested whether, instead of
compelling all parties to come to London, it would not
be advisable to establish local registries in the county
courts.

The Earl of HARROWBY doubted whether a mere
examination of the local court of registration would be
qufficient, and parties would still send up to London to
ascertain whether any sale had been effected elsewhere.

Lord CAMPBELL assured the noble and learned lord
(Brougham) that it was as easy and as cheap to consult
the register in London as the local register, seeing the
facilities afforded by railways and other improved modes
of communication.

The bill, with some verbal amendments, then went
through a committee, and was reported to the house.
VALUATION (IRELAND) ACT AMENDMENT

BILL.

The house then went into committee on this bill. On
the first clause being read,
The Earl of DONOUGHMORE complained that this
bill would effect a change in the existing system of local
taxation, by including tenements under the value of 51.
The effect of this alteration would be to render it im-
possible to collect the county rates, and the landlords
would be rendered liable for this rate as regarded all
tenements under Si. He should move, therefore, the
omission of such portion of the clause as referred to the
rating of these smaller tenements.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY saw no reason
why this description of property should not pay this as
well as other rates and taxes. The effect of this exemp-
tion hitherto had Leen to encourage the erection of a
small and inferior class of houses, for which the landlords
obtained a higher rent. He could not, therefore, assent
to the proposition of the noble earl.
The Earl of CLANCARTY would support the clause,
and thought it a bad principle to make exemptions with-
out strong grounds.
Lord MONTEAGLE also supported the clause.
The Earl of DONOUGHIVIORE withdrew his amend-
ment.