The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-14 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.

Sir,—Considering the increasing importance of the
subject of manning the navy, doubtless greatly aug-
mented by the warlike aspect of affairs in the East, I
venture to offer a few observations thereon. lam fur-
ther induced so to do by having read some letters in the
morning papers purporting to be from "A Vice-
Admiral," " A Retired Captain," and Captain Fitzroy,
R.N., during the last twelve months. Manning the
navy has engrossed no small share of public attention—
an additional proof that the navy is the popular service
of the country. With all its abuses, it is still regarded
as the national arm of defence, and the gratitude of the
country is eminently due to the press for its exertions
in the good cause, and the energy it has displayed in
bringing such abuses to light.
The safety and dignity of Great Britain depends on
the efficiency of her naval power. Is it then, a crime
to be alive to certain evils which still exist, and, by ex-
posing them, to be instrumental in their abolition .
These very evils have cost the country some thousands
of fine fellows, who would otherwise have been proudly
treading the decks of our ships at Spithead and el
else-
where.
I s itnoineffective
t grievous to
throughreflect thatwn u
ts such
fl
h an
n fleetto
should b erendered
man it, when there are yet good men and true in the
country unemployed.
v `n`e.TAh e d
nig sr
at
1, o”f
st ht e letter
uso of ye
loi
euvr
ec
toil': et stphoennd
naval
ser-
vice is the acme of perfection—that, forsooth, because
the general discipline of 1853 is less tyrannical than
was that of 1830, the service and thmewperaooyuvcneomtrnyemnaternedsutuorr.abtee
'tshien no i
t o nNgun
we -,tiseidr: aln dmraiesntt
as
iant i stfibeadt.
ng
the above period, great as it is,
with the improvement in the moral character and gene-
ral habits of the seamen, and still leaves theak Admiralty
s
considerably in debt. Yes ; and the order to square
yards must issue from head-quarters, e
the service with favour. Circumstances that would for-
merly have passed unnoticed, are now narrowly scruti-
nised by the men ; and the evils that still exist must be
rooted out before the project of a standing navy, by
permanent and continuous service, can be satisfactorily
carried out.
" The letter of " A Vice- Admiral " not only de-
nounces discussion on the subject, but goes so fara as to
assert that the sole object of the writers on naval mat-
ters is to degrade the service in the opinion of the sea-
men. If the gallant officer can really be serious, permit
me to ask what has produced the reforms of which lie
boasts ? Did they emanate from the humanity of the
quarter-deck ? Are they the fruits of the gratuitous re-
commendations of officers themselves, or is their source
not to be traced to public opinion expressed through
their legitimate organ, the press ? I assert, without
qualification, that all has been effected by this means.
It is no light matter to charge all those men who have
written on this subject with a desire to create discontent
in and dislike to the service ; however, the admiral has
thrown down the gauntlet, and he must be prepared to