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 :.--The
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, if
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 Devon Port ; 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 blocksbips for guarding the
naval ports and the other description of screw steam-
frigates have not been included in the
above detail of

the naval resources of the country.
The spirit aroused amongst the fishermen on the north
of Scotland, than whom a more hardy, powerful, and
enduring race of men does Not exist, and the brave and
hardy seamen of the coasts of England willing to serve
in the Royal Navy, affords ample evidence that no diffi-
culty will be experienced in manning the ships of the
Reyal Navy when their services are required.

Captain Lapidge has served 32 years afloat, from 1803
to 1812, in gallant affairs, during the war, including the
expeditions to Copenhagen and Waleheren. As a com-
mander, he is well known as having commanded the
Ringdove, 16, on the north coast of Spain, and for his
gallantry at the defence of Portugalette and the siege of
Biiboa, when the Carlists were defeated. His last ser-
vice was- in command of the Cyclops, steam-frigate.
1 The senior of the three good-service pensioned captains
is Joseph Nias, C. 8., who commanded the Herald, 26,
in China, when he obtained that much•envied decoration
of a Companion of the Bath. His brilliant deeds are so
Universally known that it would be superfluous to re-
Count them, but it may be remarked that his heroism in
the China war has been most eloquently set forth in an
oration by one of the most distinguished lawyers of the
day, her Majesty's present Attorney-General, Sir Alex-
ander Cockburn. His decoration reflects a lustre on
that most noble order of which he is a member, and
amongst the list of those gallant officers who hold the
good service pension for distinguished service Captain
Nias may take a high position. Its bestowal on him at
this juncture will teach young and dashing officers that
these who hold the few prizes of the navy in their gift
are not insensible to the claims of devotion, courage, and
estimable qualities, of mildness and gentlemanlike con-
duct in command. A career such as Captain Nias's has
brought him so prominently before his profession and
his country that posterity will not fail to do him ample
justice.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, FEB, 2.

The Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Daubeny, will give
his lectures during this term every Wednesday and
Friday, at 8 p.m.; and not, on the Tuesday and Saturday
evenings as announced.
Tuesday,
the 7th inst., is fixed as the day on which
the Convocation for electing the burgess will be held.
The proceedings will begin at two o'clock.
R .IIL 1r A

RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS ON
STANDING ORDERS.

Yesterday the following railway bills passed through
the standing orders of the Rouse of Commons :—North
Yorkshiro and Cleveland, Stockton and Darlington,
Lancashire and Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Man-
chester, and Southport, South Staffordshire, Great
Western, Shrewsbury and Birmingham and Shrewsbury
and Chester railway companies amalgamation.
CONWAY AND LLANRIVST RAILWAY.— It was stated
that this undertaking was abandoned.
The standing orders were " not" complied with in
certain points in the case of the South-Eastern (Lewis-
ham to Bromlepand Shrewsbury and Chester (explana-
tionand amendment).

The carriage of the following miscellaneous measures
was dec!ared complete :—Commissioners of Sewers fur
Levels of Havering and Dagenham, Harrow Water-
works (for incorporation of existing company, rates and
supply) Glasgow Bridges, Glasgow Corporation Water-
works, Brighton and Hove General Gas Company,
Thames Improvement, and Chesterfield Market.