The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-26 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Vice-Admiral of the Blue Hon. William Gordon, to
bo Commander-in-chief at the Nore, in the room of Vice-
Admiral Hon. Josceline Percy, C. 8., whose period of
service as commander-in-chief at that station has expired
having been appointed on June 23, 1851.1
Lieutenants—Edward Wilmot (1853); from the Excel-
lent, giinnery ship, at Portsmouth, to the Royal Albert,
131, screw steam-ship, at Sheerness ; Sir Malcolm Mac;
G regor, Bart., recently promoted 'from the Cumberland,
70; to the Royal Albert; William H. Annesley (1854),
-to the Conway, 14, flag-ship, at Cork ; John Jenkirrig. -
(1853), recently serving in the Cumberland, 70, •to the
Termagant, 24, screw steam-frigate, at Portsmouth.;
George John Malcolm-(1849),"to the Powerful, S 4. • - •
Chaplain—Rey. James-S. -Robson, B.X. (1848),• from,
Malta Dockyard, to the Leander, 50, serving in the,
'Black Sea.
Surgeon—Edward Nolloth, (HO), to the Le-
ander, 50, and to take a passage in the Vulcan, iron
S, team troop-ship, to.join the Leander in the Black Sea.
Clerk in Charge--George A. S: Ley (1849), recently
serving in the Blenheim, 60, screw steam-ship,, to the.
Volcano,
smiths
faotory ship, for service with the-Baltic
-

... Naval Instructor—Perceval Fothergill (1850, to the
Termagant, screw steam-frigate, •

. -
PRO Xi aTION.
Clerk—Edward W. Millman (1847), recently serving
as clerk in charge of the Royalist, 6, brig, when serving
on the East India station, to be paymaster.

GUNBOATS FOR THE BALTIC.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—The Admiralty have much to answer for in the
deplorable loss of seamen in the expedition against this
place—Gamla Karleby. So far as can be ascertained
from the indirect accounts which have reached this
country, it appears that the attack was made by nine
boats of 16 oars each. These boats, when advancing
towards the shore, were attacked " with a cannonade
and a fire to which the artillery and musketry of the
boats replied," but with what unequal effect may be
seen in the sad result, and which I need not repeat, as
it must be fresh in the minds of all who read your paper
of this day. It is, however, exactly what was to be
expected under the circumstances. The 144 Men who
were rowing the boats of course could not do two things
at once. Either they must cease to propel the boats
towards the shore, or else, when persevering at their
oars, their firing must be feeble, and our seamen appear
to have been, shot like so many wild ducks, while the
casualties among the enemy were quite insignificant, and
could be all accounted for by the few shots which the
officers of our boats may have fired whilst the crews
were sticking to their oars.
Now, all this shows clearly the want of a class of
steam launches adapted for shoal water, in which the
engines could be propelling whilst the crews could be
firing.
The cause of the fleet being left unprovided with steam
launches is, that the authorities at the Admiralty have a
maxim in favour of steam engines being placed under the
level of the water line in all steam vessels for war pur-
poses. This maxim is good in its proper place, but it
is misapplied when it is carried so far as to say that,
whenever the water in which a service is required is so
shoal that the propelling power of the boats must un-
avoidably be above water (and, consequently, vulnerable)
the flesh" and blood of our seamen, and not the iron
li:news of a steam-engine, shall be selected for the pro-
pelling instruments, and -wantonly exposed to the shot.
This, absurd as it sounds, is the actual practice.
' •By all means have a powerful steam navy for deep
water and intermediate purposes, with the machinery
placed below the level of the water line • but that is no
reason why there should not be a class of steam launches
for very shoal water, whose machinery must take all the
chances of an unfortunate shot in common with all who
are exposed to the chances of war.
It would be far more reasonable to say that no infantry
1 or cavalry shall ever go within shot of the enemy than
to say, as the Admiralty seem to say, that steam propul-
sion shall be confined to services admitting its applica-
tion below water level. Irrespective of all the interme-
diate classes of gun-vessels there ought to be a number
of steam launches for very shoal water attached to the
fleet, and which steam launches should be attached to
the larger ships, ,as part of their establishment, although
not hanging upon their davits or on their decks.
Your obedient servant,
A. B.

June 24.