The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-07 00:00:00

littrtg )It

LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1849.

Such an inquiry as the one adventured upon by Sir
CLIAILLBS Name. in the elaborate document pub-
lished
in this evening's impression of our journal
cannot, if reasonably conducted, but prove singularly
advantageous. It ,is none other, in short, than any
investigation into the state and capacities of the ma-
ritime
force of England. Taking the memorable
assertions of two distinguished n.erobers of the Le-
gis:ature as the text of his argument, our indefati-
gable sea captain endeavours at once to examine the'
accuracy or inaccuracy of the statements that the
world might be commanded by a well•manned
navy and a full exchequer, and that a considerable
portion of the national debt has been incurred
by building ships and pulling them to pieces. With-
out concurring with the Admiral in all his positions,
differing indeed with him in many particulars, it is
impossible for us nevertheless to close our eyes to the
many stubborn truths which he has here articulated.

In the outset of his argument Sir CHARLES has
quoted, se,verally, the opinions of Captain Rous and
of Mr. TIRRNEY-at the outset of ours we would
quote n remark uttered upon the same subject

by the great NaroLEoN. On his passage
to St. Helena the EMPEROR spoke these

words—" England has ships, colonies, and
commerce ; with ships, colonies, and commerce she
commands the seas ; the power that commands the
seas commands Europe." Now, the preservation of
the two latter instruments of our national greatness
is manifestly impracticable without the maintenance
of the former. Without ships it is clearly impossible
to preserve either commerce or colonies. Ships con-
sequently are the chief necessity of a power like that
of England. They constitute her principal safe-
guard ; they are the sole sureties for her exist-
ence; they are at once the produce and the
origin of her supremacy. Hence it is that
the declaration of Mr. TIERNEY, " Give me
a well-manned navy, and a full exchequer, and I
will defy the world," is only an echo of the remark
previously made by the Emperor NAPOLEON, " Eng-
land has ships, colonies, and commerce ; with ships
colonies, and commerce she commands the seas ;
the power that commands the seas commands
Europe." That remark is deserving of repetition
until it becomes an adage among the people, and a
guiding rule with the Government.
Let it be remembered that the assertion was made
by the greatest of our enemies, that it was
pronounced by him with a noble magnanimity
even after ha had been immolated on the British
hearth, when he advanced towards us like
TIIEMISTOCLES. In that brief but pregnant sentence
he indicated at once the secret of our national
greatness and of our maritime supremacy. Ships,
colonies, and commerce—and without ships neither
the possibility of commerce nor of colonies. The
truth of this is forced upon us by common sense ;
altogether it is the inevitable result of one
instant's reflection. And in consequence of the
recognition of a fact so glaringly undeniable
it becomes a matter of moment to discover whether
or no the declaration of Captain Roos, that " a great
part of the national debt has been incurred in building
ships and pulling them to pieces," is accurate. Proving
to be correct in many particulars, it argues either a
wonderful incapacity or a most culpable extrava-
gance—a grievous fault on the part either of the
authorities at the Admiralty or of the persons em-
ployed by them in the products of naval architecture.
In either case the grievance is quite sufficient to
require searching inquiry, immediate improvement,
and ultimately the complete dissipation of such
abuses.

Any one who will have the industry, courage, and
perseverance to forward the cause of a reform so
directly bearing upon the vitality of the empire, will
be labouring practically for the achievement of one
of the noblest deeds of patriotism ; for on the
efficiency of the naval power of the country its real
strength and continued prosperity are mainly if not
altogether dependent. Upon that basis reposes the
vp..3t superstructure of our colonial grandeur
and of our commercial wealth. To connive, therefore,
at any long continuance of a system of waste in the
building of our vessels would be to wink, not; only
at those who are thereby shamefully abstracting
moneys from the Exchequer, but are absolutely
purloining the talisman of our national strength.
Those who have the insanity and turpitude to act thus
are nothing less than the DALILAUS of England.
While, however, the necessity becomes more
and more visible every day for the removal
of long-standing abuses in the way of ship-
building, abuses whereby a preposterous amount
of public money is frittered away in profitless experi-
ments, another kind of improvement is not less in-
cumbent upon our naval administrators, namely, the
adoption of every novel means for the ;enhancement
of the efficiency of our ships-of-war. Very far, in-
deed, are we from applauding the attempted applica-
tion to the navy of every new-tangled scheme pro-
pounded by every adventurer. What we mean is
simply the acceptance of the suggestions of
all acknowledged science, the adaptation to the
instruments of our maritime greatness, of all the ad-
vantages hitherto used with so much security and
success in our peaceful transactions. Steam, for exam-
ple,with all its subordinate but inestimable appliances,
has grown already not merely into a want, but into
an absolute necessity. The mere circumstance of its
rapid introduction into the other navies of the world
would be enough to force upon us the conviction
that its acceptance by ourselves is imminently re-
quisite. To this end, therefore, it is essential
that the attention of every naval reformer
should be directed, not less than to the removal of so
many long-existing abuses from our dockyards. Ad-
ditions on the one side are not less demanded than
reductions on the other ; and so soon as the truth of
this can be recognised by the Admiralty we shall be
spared the misery of seeing so much unnecessary
botching and cobbling, and in lieu of that shall be
gratified with witnessing the construction of a steam
nary worthy of the empire possessing naval su-
premacy.

The gathering of the Protectionists at Reigate, to
which we alluded yesterday, was followed by a meet-
ing of a very different character, although avowedly
held for the purpose of promoting the same objects.
Tho members and friends of the " Bucks Association
for the Relief of Real Property" assembled at New-
port Pagnell on Wednesday, to hold council together,
and to hear the man whose energy and talents at
once establish his claim to the leadership of a
party of which he is facile princeps.
There was not that lugubrious revelry,
that strange mixture of sorrowing and feasting,
of lamentation and conviviality, that distinguished the
Reigate agriculturists. The men of Bucks were not
prepared to abandon the contest in despair because
they cannot attain the full extent of their desires
without trouble or difficulty. They do not give in
their adhesion to the vague and undetermined policy
recommended by Lord STANHOPE and his associates.
They are ready " to commit themselves to distinct pro-
positions" when satisfied of their justice and expediency.
There can be no question as to which is the more manly
and straightforward course, or which line of conduct is
more worthy of Englishmen, who feel themselves to
be involved in circumstances of difficulty and danger.
The Reigate " faineants" will orignate no bold or
comprehensive measures from which any degree of
relief may be obtained. They proclaim their com-
plete and irretrievable ruin, but they declare
that no person shall attempt to ameliorate their
condition, or offer any practicable suggestion
on their behalf. Nothing but the immediate disso-
lution of Parliament will content them, a matter
wholly beyond their own control. They will not
work with the means within their reach, but cry out
for something which it is certain will not be con-
ceded. If an appeal to the country were to be made,
there is no decided line of policy on which the voice
of public opinion is to be pronounced. All is doubt
and mystery, vagueness and uncertainty. " Protec
tion to British industry" is their only cry ; but they
will not condescend to explain the nature of that
protection, or what is to be understood by the
unmeaning phrase. According to Lord STANHOPB,
the illagnus Apollo of the meeting, it is something
that is " to give all working men throughout the
country constant employment and fair wages." That
is, indeed, an object for which all would labour, but
hoW is it to be attained ? That is the great question
on which all information is studiously withheld,
which each man will guess at according to his own
peculiar fancies, and which would give rise to innu-
merable dissensions and disputes when the day of
action has at length arrived.
On the other hand, the yeomen of Buckingham-
shire are prepared at once to enter into the field of
argument, to discuss the various points fairly and
openly, to convince or be convinced by their oppo-
aents. They prove themselves worthy antagonists,
whom we must respect although we may dissent
from their views. There is every hope for
and of such persons. Their eloquent and
talented Member so fully vindicated the
propriety of such a course, and castigated
the advocates of a policy so disgraceful and injurious
as that recommended at Reigate, with so much
vigour and efficiency as to leave but little to be said
on the subject. He showed that the " real curse of
the land of England is because, for years, the owners
and occupiers of the land have been too content to
deal only,in phrases—that they have not inquired into
facts—that they have not known their own powers—
that they have not understood their own duties, or
comprehended the designs of their opponents—that for
a long time they imagined that they were guarding

THE SUN.