The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-10 00:00:00

liloll WATER AT LONDON 13f1I1)GIE.

Tim DAY —Morning 12 niin.after 12 I Evening 40 rnin.aft. 12
To.Moaaew—Morning 4 rnin.after 1 Evening 27 miu.aft. 1

THE WEATFIER.—SCIN OFFra, FEE, 10.
THERAIOHETER, IN THE SHADE.
47—highest since noon Yesterday.
36—lowe'st this morning and during the night.
43 —this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30'22.
WIND, N.N.W.—Fresh breeze, and fine, cold, sunshiny
Weather.

74-
,rcr)
? 45i44.4v
44,,j

LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1851.

" What are we to do to man our fleets—to
attract competent and efficient men to our. stan-
dard ?" We repeat the interrogatory which we
yesterday put for waril, and which is, par excel-
lence, the question of the day—the point to which
public attention is most closely directed at this
moment. The Government appears to be at
length awakened to a sense of its importance, and
are taking measures to provide some of the addi-
tional seamen required, and for whose expenses
votes wil l speedily be asked from the popular branch
of the Legislature. On this part of the case we would
impress upon our rulers the necessity of a wise and
judicious liberality. Nothing could be more pre-
judicial to the best interests of the nation during
the emergency than that which would indeed be
a "penny-wise and pound-foolish policy." For
every shilling saved (!) by undue parsimony, in
the first instance, a pound, aye, probably many
pounds, would subsequently be required. Let us,
then, not raise barely the number of men that on
a close calculation may be supposed to be wanting
in the first instance.
Although we kayo no earthly doubt as to the
issue of the contest, when the English and French
fleets are arrayed side by side, and in the same
glorious cause, it would still be a dangerous error to
undervalue our opponents. If we only consider
the effect of a decided preponderance of power in
diminishing bloodshed, and preserving the lives of
our fellow-men, we are convinced that no person
of ordinary humanity—not even the most strenu-
ous and decided advocate of the Peace Society-
-would wish to save a few paltry pounds at the
expense of a heavy sacrifice of human life, not
only of our own fellow-subjects, but even of our
opponents. It is too notorious to require argu-
ment, that the most sanguinary encounters are
those where the parties are most equally
matched. In such cases the battle will be
prolonged to the last moment. There will still be
the lingering hope of retrieving any mischance
and changing the fortunes of the day. For very
shame sake the commander would refuse to strike
until the destruction of his men warranted sub-
mission, and the blood of the killed and wouncle,l
had flowed in sufficient quantities to vindicate his
character from the imputation of cowardice. But
it would be otherwise where there was an over-
whelming force engaged, against which it would
be. hopeless to contend. in such case the triumph
would be achieved, and the objects of the expedi-
tion accomplished without the destruction of human
life.

Let not the massacre at Sinope be adduced
as an example to the contrary. It was
the Russian power that there predominated, and,
thank Gon, there is a difference between Russian
and English seamen. We, at least, have not for-
g'ttcti the precepts of our own Nzrsox. The
YaMnished enemy would still be treated as a
h':°ther; and in pl
capable of ace of firing on those no longer
defending
themselves, the British tar
would strain every nerve, and encounter the most
while resisting
appalling dangers, to rescue those against whom,
,
he had been hurling destruction
but a few minutes before. Every consideration
Christirm chari
a Fudelit economy, of
national security, of
us try) supply outy, r
na and
val earnest humanity, require
force in such abund-
arwe as to prevent the issue from remaining
a. single moment in suspense. Let us afford an
'ample excuse to the —uss..an. ; Ad •
miral to yield,
without the sacrifice of his unfortunate followers.
This can only be done by having seamen, in
sufficient numbers, skilful, experienced, energetic
seamen—true British, tars—in whom implicit re-
liance can be placed. Why not have ten, aye, or
twenty thousand more than may be required?
We have in every other respect ample materiel of
War, stately vessels and tried officers. But the
deficiency is in the most important, and the least
expensive, but yet, strange to say, the most
116gle'eted item. A small proportion of the money
branches of the service, would maintain a splendid
Y of experienced seamen, ready for service at
a moment's
notice and in any emergency—a body
that would act as a nucleus for further levies if
required ; for one Well-disciplined seaman would