The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-25 00:00:00

853.

intentions of thu Legislature from being again frus-
trated.

Because; in those cases where this statute appears to
be founded upon just principles, it would seem that
timidity or irresolution prevented their full enforcement.
When it is considered that one of the advocates of the
bill admitted that all the best and most useful measures
of Lord William Bentinck met with the opposition of
the Home Government, and were made the matters of
censure where they merited praise, and when another
supporter of the present bill has stated that in propor-
tion as a province of India has been long under the
jurisdiction of the company its condition is unimproved
and its inhabitants are unprosperous, while it is in the
provinces latest acquired that success and advancement
are to be found, the enactments of the present bill can-
not but appear inadequate and incomplete for the fulfil-
ment of those duties which the Imperial Legislature of
England owes to the inhabitants of India.
MONTEAGLE OF BRANDON.

THE FRENCH NAVY.-PART V.

THE COMPOSITION OF THE FLEET.
(Continued.)

The commission arrived at its final conclusion
with respect to the composition of the fleet in June
and July, 1851. At this time 27 ships of the line
were afloat, and 20 building, reckoning only those
ships which were considerably advanced in their con-
struction. The commission advises that 45 ships of
the line shall be hereafter maintained-30 afloat,
and 15 nearly ready for launching—in fact, a
reserve upon the stocks ; and that the whole shall
be furnished with screw propellers ; but whether
d grand vitesse, or only with auxiliary power, the
commission suspends its opinion until the Napoleon
shall have been tried. _ _

Only two of the ships of the line afloat were fitted
with screws. The commission recommends that 12
more of those afloat should be altered and fitted
with screws ; the remaining 13 are old ships,
which, though fit for service at present, are con-
sidered to be not worth altering, and to be only
likely to last an average period of four years.
Of the ships on the stocks, three, fitted with
screws, to be launched in 1851, would complete the
number of line-of-battle ships afloat to 30. The
remaining 17 to be altered and fitted with screws
would be launched to take the place of the old
ships as they were condemned. By the calculations
of the commission, it appears that four years are
considered sufficient for fitting the whole fleet of
ships of the line with screws.

A resolution is agreed to, that no more ships of
100 guns on two decks should be built, as they are
nearly as expensive and much less effective than
three-deckers.

The commission fixes the number of screw frigates
at 40 ; 20 with auxiliary power (fregates mixtes),
and 20 a gran& vttesse (fregates rapides). One of
each class was already afloat—the Pomone and the
Isly. Those with auxiliary power are to be sailing
frigates, converted and fitted with engines in four
years ; they are to be capable of carrying at least
four months' provisions and are intended for distant
operations. The 19 frigates, a gran* vEtesse, are
to be built in the course of the ensuing 10 years ;
they are to combine extreme rapidity of movement
with perfect efficiency of war, and are intended for
service on the coasts.

The screw corvettes are to be 50 in number :-
14 with auxiliary power, to consist of sailing cor-
vettes of the largest class, with upper decks ; these
are to be altered and fitted with engines in four
years, and are intended for distant expeditions.
The 36 ci grande vitesse are to be built in the course
of 10 years, and are for service on the coasts.
There are also to be SO vessels, of which 56 are to
be employed on the coasts, to consist, for the pre-
sent, of the paddle-wheel corvettes and avisos now
afloat.

The 20 paddle-wheel steam-frigates are to be here-
after called " transports."
The force specified by the commission is as fol-
lows :

45 screw line-of-battle ships-30 afloat, 15 a reserve
on the stocks.
20 screw frigates a grande vitesse (to be built).
20 ditto with auxiliary power (to be altered).
36 screw corvettes a grande vitesse (to be built).
14 ditto with auxiliary power (to be altered).
80 paddle-wheel corvettes and avisos, from 400 to
120-horse power (now afloat).
20 paddlewheel frigates, to be called "transports"
(now afloat).

235 total.