The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-03 00:00:00

NAVAL RESOURCES.

Great stress has been laid upon the advantages Russia
would gain by delay, but a short retrospective and pros-
pective view of what was done last year, and will be
done this year, in commissioning for active service line-
of-battle screw steam-ships, must satisfy the public that
the advantages of delay in entering upon war are nearly
ten to one in favour of Great Britain. The present
Russian fleets have been the work of years, while during
the past year Great Britain has completed and commis-
sioned the following powerful screw steam-ships
Duke of Wellington, 131, in February, 1853 ; the St.
Jean d'Acre, 101, in May, 1853 ; the Royal George,
120, in October, 1853 ; the Princess Royal, 91, in Oct.
1853 ; and the Cressy, 80, in December, 1853. In the
present year, although one month has only just expired,
three line-of-battle screw steam-ships have been com-
missioned—the James Watt, 90, in January, 1854 ;
the Cesar, 90, in January, 1854 ; and the Nile, 90, on
February, 2, 1854 ; and within a few more months the.
following, now nearly ready, will be commissioned,
f
required :—The Royal Albert, 131, to be launched in
April next ; the Marlborough, 131 ; the Hannibal, 90,
launched at Deptford ; the Orion, 90, ready for launch.
ing at Chatham ; the Algiers, 90, at Devonport ; the
Majestic, 80, fitting at Sheerness ; and the Irresistible,
80, in an advanced state at Chatham. In January,
1853, the Agamemnon, 91 ; the Sanspareil, 70 ; and
the Imperieuse, 50, were the only large screw steam-
ships in commission,
as the blockships for guarding the
naval ports and the other description of screw steam-
frigates, i
have not been included in the above detail of
the naval resources of the country.
The spirit aroused amongst the fishermenoownetlel' and
north
of Scotland, than whom a more hardy, p
enduring race of men does aot exist, and the brave
hardy seamen of the coasts of England g to serve
in the Royal Navy, affords ample evidence that no diffi-
culty will be experienced in manning the ships of the
Royal Navy when their services are required.

INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
Another screw lino-of-battle ship was ordered to be
commissioned yesterday—namely, the Nile, 91, just
converted and fitted with 400 horse power machinery at
Devonpurt. The Nile is one of the three splendid 90-
gun ships designed by Sir R. Seppings before he left the
office of Surveyor of the Navy, 20 years since, but only
one of" those three ships were allowed to be commis-
sioned until lately. The Rodney, the first of the class,
is well known as the finest and most powerful two-decker
in the navy. The London is now in her first term of
service, but the Nile has never yet hoisted the pendant.
Of this splendid class of 91-gun screw ships we have
now five in commission---namely, Agamemnon, Princess
Royal, Cmsar, James Watt, and Nile. We have also
one of 81 guns, the Cressy.

THE GOOD-SERVICE PENSIONS.
The three captains good-service pensions, vacant by
the three last flag promotions, have been conferred on
Capt. Joseph Nias, C.B. (1835) ;
Capt. Sir George Back, F.R.S. (1835) ;
Capt. W. F. Lapidge (1837).
In selecting those officers, Captains Lord Colchester,
Charles Hope (superintendent of Sheerness dockyard),