The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-20 00:00:00

French force. Ho was far from wi,hitig t, exert e any-
thing like jealousy between the two coup: ries; but he
thought no one could deny, considering the iiisu!ar posi-
tion of this country, that she was entitled to have a force
ut least•equally efficient with that of Filince. He held
in his hand a statement of the ships in commission in the
English and French navies, taken from our own Ncivy
List, and from the Journal de la Marine in France, and
the statement of the President of the French Repub'ic
The following was the
LINE OF BATTLE SHIPS IN COMMISSION.
ENGLISH. FRENCH.
No. Guns. I No.
12

Guns.
1,006

Fri6,tes.
382 I 7 .
Corvettes.
2931 17
Brigs.
300 I 21

13

61 Totals

55 Totals
NAVY.

STEAM

First Clays'. above
No. Horse pr.
26
Two of which, from 800 to
560 horse-pr. carry guns
on inain•deck.

220 horse-power.
No. Horse pr.
22
Ten of which, from 600 to
450 horse-pr. carry guns
Cu main-deck.
lower downwurds.
Nu. Horsepr.
36

From 200 horse•p,
No. Horse pr.
43

69 Totals 15,071 158 Totals
Screw S,.ramers.
No. Horse-pr. 1 No. Horse-pr.
9
RESERVED FORCE NuT IN COMMISSION.
Line of Battle Ships.
5 ready for commission. 1 President of French
20 advanced. I Repub. says there

Frigates an
11 (but several advanced)
STEAM I
Re!
Horse-pr.
6 Screw-vessels... 2,320
27 Paddle-steamers 6,688
Nearly
Horse-pr.
4 Screw-vessels... 1,520
6 Paddle-steamers 2.150

are
Corvettes.

lESERVE.

Steam-frigates

ady.

Corvettes
Small vessels

43 Totals ... 12,678 I Totals
He believed that statement to be as nearly accurate as
possible, and eas pertectly certain that this country
possessed a steam force sufficient to cope with any that
it might meet. He trusted, however, that in future
means would be taken to correct the evils complained of,
and that our steamers would no longer be in any case
the laughing-stock of the world ; for this country pos-
sessed ,very facility for building the finest steamers in
the world, and equipping them in a proper manner.
Whilst on the subject of naval matters, he should like
to obtain a return of the number of classes into which
ships are divided ? The present system was produc-
tive of the greatest possible confusion. For instance, if
one ship was disabled, or lost a particular spar, there
was sometimes considerable difficulty in procuring
another, and the consequence was, great delay in the
public service. This arose from a want of classifica-
tion. A maximum ought to be established, showing
what a first-rate ought to be—her number of
gun., and the amonnt of her tonnage. The same
ought to be done with respect to the other classes.
The navy would be much more efficient, if re-
duced to five or six classes ; for then the spars of one
class would be a substitute for those of a different class,
according to the size of the vessel. The Noble Earl then
adverted to the circular issued to the dockyard; by Mr.
Ward, the late Secretary to the Admiralty, relative to
the system of education to be pursued there. Ho (Earl
Take') thought the present system capable of great
improvement, and believed that nothing had been more
detrimental to the service than the abolition of the School
of Naval Architecture. At a future day he intended to
move for a return of the number of men discharged from
the dockyard since February, 1847. The same system
was now going on which obtained in 1832 and 1833, and
which he considered the very reverse of economical.
Having made those remarks, he would only say in con-
c!usion, that he felt perfectly confident that our steam
navy iicalled upon would be able to maintain the cha-
racter of the country. Although France might possess
greater facilities than formerly for the transport of
troops, it should be remembered that the means of re-
sisting them had been equally facilitated. It certainly
behoved this country to be watchful, but he had no tear
of the result, particularly as he trusted our steam boats
would shortly be placed on a proper and more efficient
tooting. He cJuld not sit down without reminding the
Government of certain powers and inventions which
would secure the country not only against all the
steamers of France but of Europe; and he thought they
were very remiss in not securing them for the benefit of
the country. The Noble Earl concluded by moving for
the two returns above given.
The Earl of MINTO did not intend to follow the Noble
Earl through his observations on the subject of the steam
navy. Had he been aware of the nature of the returns
required by the Noble Earl, he would have obtained such
Luton:nation from the Admiralty as would have enabled
him to give a more satisfactory answer than he now had
it in his power to do. He perfectly agreed with the Noble
Earl in the belief that whenever the state of the navy
might be looked into it would afford the most entire sa-
tisfaction and security to the country. So far as his own
knowledge of the navy went, it certainly was of a much
better description that might be inferred from certain
remarks which had been made, and he saw nothing in
them deserving the designation of the " laughing stock
of the world." Wi' h regard to the motives of the Noble
Earl in moving for the return to counteract the repre-
sentations which had proceeded from a very distinguished
and gallant officer, he (the Earl of Minto) was sorry to
say he had not had sufficient leisure to enable him to
look into that correspondence; but he might be per-
mitted to express his regret that an officer of rank and
standing of the gallant Admiral should have thought it
advisable to carry on a corrpespondei c and controversy
of that nature.— (Hear, hear.) It could be attended with
no public advan age whatever, might prove very detri-
mental to the public service, and was a practice which
ought to be as much vs possible discountenanced. He
understood there was no objection to the two first re-
turns, and, therefore, would agree to them. He trusted,
however, that before the Noble Earl moved for the re-
maining returns he would give sufficient notice, in order
that he (the Earl of Minto) might have the opportunity
of communicating with the Admiralty on the subject.
The returns were then ordered.

SEWERS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.
On the motion of the Earl of ST. GERMANS, this
Bill went through Committee.
SEQUES FRATORS' REMEDIES BILL.
This Bill was r..ad a third time, on the motion of the
Earl of HARROWBY, and was passed.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. July 19.
INCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) BILL.
they
'lCCheontSinOu .AofEteNraLookinititipornoopfosyeedsterday
that
LedlferolLmTooußr
should disagree to the amendment made by the Lords
in clause 25, to the effect that the Usher of the Court
of Chancery should not be entitled to poundage upon
estates sold under this Bill.
The motion was agreed to.
JUDGMENTS (IRELAND) BILL.
Bill,
Mr. House then went into Committee on this Bill,
Mr. Bernal in the chair.
On an amendment proposed in clause 2, in answer to
a question from Sir D. NORREYS,
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said, that it would
not apply to leases where warrants of attorney had been
granted.
slr. MONSELL objected most strongly to the altera-
tions introduced into the Bill. It would have dune much
more good if it had been kept intact.
Mr. SADLEIR objected to this clause. It was mani-
testly against first principles. This clause would revive
all the evils both of the custodiam system and the elegit
system. If the Solicitor-General would refer to the re-
ports of the Committee he would find that the evidence
given went to show this. At present they had two
systems of elegits, by one of which they could take pos-
session of the whole of an estate; by the other it was
possible to take possession of half the estate. Every
practical man who had given his evidence on the
subject of custodian and elegit process had stated that
the same evils arose out of the elegit as out of the etas-
todiain process. He had felt it his duty to oppose a
clause which went to revive a most pernicious legal
process in Ireland—he meant the system of elegits.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL did admit that some
evils attached to the elegit system; still he hoped the Bill
would pass through Committee fur the sake of its general
merits.
Ou clause 9 being moved,
The SOLICITOR GENERAL proposed certain alter.
ations to the effect that a receiver was not to be ap-
pointed or extended until after the expiration of a year,
and that the Court might direct substituted service under
scire facias.
These alterations were agreed to, the House resumed,
and the Chairman was ordered to report the Bill to-
IliOrrOVV.

STAMPS, &c., ALLOWANCES BILL.
The House then went into Committee on this Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex •
plained that the object of the Bill was to enable the Trea-
sury to reduce the allowances made on stamps.
The Bill then went through Committee.
The Turnpike Act Continuance Bill and the Juvenile
Offenders and Small Larcenies Bill were both postponed.
POOR-LAW UNION CHARGES ACT AMEND-