The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

WINTER IN EARNEST.

IF Warm Winter ATTIRE is not now absolutely
necessary, then, indeed, may it be dispensed with altogether.
intense frigidity of atmosphere, sudden, Inclement changes, and
heavy snow-falls, materially enhanced the value of really needful
Clothing like that of L. HYAM, which for excellence of material and
neatness and durability of manufacture is such as will meet the
requirements of all classes of purchasers.
L. HYAM, Tailor, Clothier, and General Outfitter, 36, Gracechurch-
street, City.

OUR' NAVY.

We cannot better employ the brief interval which
may only too probably elapse before we find our-
selves confronted with the dangers and emergencies
of war than in considering the means which we pos-
sess for carrying it on, and forestalling resolutions
and deliberations which can ill be dealt with in the
hurry and excitement of action. We believe we are
possessed of a fleet sufficiently numerous for any
service that can be required of it, and provided
with all the aids and appliances which the existing
state of mechanical science can devise. We doubt
not that we have able and experienced commanders
capable of maintaining the ancient naval renown of
the country, and that, if the Admiralty are careful
to avoid the selection of men enfeebled by age or
disqualified by infirmities of temper, we possess
officers capable of carrying out the orders of a bold
and enterprising chief. The only point on whieh
anxiety need be felt is, unfortunately, the most ma-
terial of all—the manning of the fleet—the obtain-
ing in a short time those strong hands and gallant
hearts without which commanding officers are but
useless pensioners, and ships mere costly encum-
brances. The present enormous increase of our trade
and shipping, the high rate of wages which the mer-
cantile marine is willing and able to pay, the immense
demand existing all over the world for the services of
British seamen, clearly show that the Goverment has
no little difficulty to encounter if itmeanstocommence
the impending war with a spirit and energy worthy
of the pretensions of our enemy and our own repu-
tation. This is no new difficulty. At the com-
mencement of the last great European war Lord
Howe found himself so indifferently supplied with
seamen that he did not venture to engage till a
year's practice had trained his crews to discipline
and order, and Lord Hood was so ill satisfied with
the crews with which he put to sea that he left
behind him a written protest, on his embarcation,
against being held responsible for the success of a
force so imperfectly organised. Yet the English
Government had then a resource which it does not
possess now. Instead of competing in the open
market with the merchant service, Government
could then recruit the crews of its ships through
the barbarous instrumentality of the pressgang.
To the disgrace of our age and our civilisation,
the right of impressment still exists, but woe to the
Government that shall rely on such an aid, and to
the country, if it trusts to such means for defending
its shores. The law of impressment is as com-
pletely obsolete as if it had been expunged from
our code, and we are anxious this matter should be
clearly and distinctly understood, in order that an
emergency, which can be met by no other means,
may not arise and tempt us to an outrage in the
perpetration of which we should most assuredly
and deservedly fail. But, even if impressment
were open to us, the conditions of modern naval
warfare no longer admit of such a method of re-
cruiting. We. cannot go into war as of old ;to
train and discipline our crews we must have them
ready formed to our hand in full efficiency.
The General who is intrusted with an army
incompetent for field operations may scatter it in
fortresses, may protect its weakness and inexpe-
rience by fortified camp 4; and t rain it by skirmishes
and out-post duty to await the attack and endure
the presence of an enemy. Bad roads and indiffe-
rent communications may excuse his tardiness in
coming into action, and the absence of any fixed
criterion of speed will account for the most dilatory
movements. In a fleet propelled by sails, adverse
winds and currents, the caprice of the elements,
and a thousand
other contingencies, may give time
for the exercise of inexperienced seamen and the
establishment of a discipline essential to conquest.
But with a fleet propelled by steam such excuses
are inadmissible. It will be the duty of the Ad-
miral to seek at once the enemy wherever he can
find him, and to put all to the issue of skill and
valour. There is no room for delay or drilling.
The winds and waves are subjected to a more
powerful agent, and delay must be attributed to
weakness or inexperience. These considerations
show that it is more than ever necessary for our
fleets to put to sea, at the commencement of a war,
in a condition fully prepared for battle. We can-
not afford, as of yore, to spend precious time in
training raw recruits ; we Ought, before war breaks
out, to have in the fleet we intend to employ an
instrument ready and perfected to our hand. With
the first spring our flag Should appear in the
Baltic ready to encounter and crush all that the
rage and despair of a great empire can bring
against us. Those whom we intend to employ
for offensive operations in
.the spring ought to be
already afloat, and familiarised with their officers,
their ships and their duty. With men accustomed
to act together, thoroughly practised at their guns,
and feeling that confidence which experience only
can give in their officers and their commander, we
have no fear in attempting any enterprise that
human skill and valour can overcome ; but there is
no time to be lost. During the last year we have
i
found some difficulty n enlisting five thousand
seamen ; for the present requirements of the coun-
try eight thousand more are wanted. We trust
that not a moment will be wasted in raising this
necessary force, by
whatever means may be re-
quired for the purpose. itf the present rate of
wages be not found sufficient, by all means let a
bounty be given to induce
.enlistment. The Go-
vernment comes into the field as a competitor with
the merchant service, and must, if it means to
succeed in the competition, offer more favourable
terms. A seaman embarked now, and made
thoroughly effective before the commencement of
hostilities, is infinitely more valuable than a sea-
man enlisted a few months hence,
.and requiring to
be taught at the moment when he is wanted to act.
We ought, by all means, to guard against a con-
juncture of circumstances Which may force us
either to have recourse to the dangerous and despe-
rate expedient of impressment, or to engaging the
enemy with ships undermaamed, and crews not
sufficiently exercised. That the war may be short
we must be strong, and that we may be strong we
must be fully and amply prepared. There can be
no worse economy than to husband our strength
in such a conflict, and dole it out by driblets. If
we must strike, lei it be as those whose first blow
leaves little room fo.r two, and whos vappearance is
a terror to the enen2Y, not merely from ancient
renown or modern seal.ilan .but from the con-
viction that in that blow is concentrated the might
of a nation conscious of he !axe, and determined
to put it forth te the utmoD,