The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-03 00:00:00

abroad were called home and paid off, while there was no
intention of replacing them with ships of the same size.
He trusted that if any unfortunate circumstance should
arise which would render it necessary for us to increase
the number of our ships—he trusted that Parliament would
have no difficulty is granting the necessary supplies for
that purpose. It was not his wish that in time of peace
our vessels should be manned to the full war complement ;
but he thought that the Admiralty should keep our navy in
the state which the circumstances of the country required.
He could not agree in the eulogy which the Noble Lord
had passed upon the naval force. There was a large force
in this Mediterranean, but it ought to be recollected that
we had possessions in other parts of tho world, and the
force in the West Indies and upon the coast of North Ame-
rica was by no means adequate to our possessions there.
If there had been a reserve force at home, there need not
have been a delay until the middle of February before any
ships could be sent out to China. He thought it would
be desirahle to return to the old practice of having a di!.
potable force at home, and keeping the men employed in
guard ships, cruising in the Channel, whence they could
be recalled in twenty-four hours by an order from the Ad-
miralty. He wished to know what proportion of the
9,000 boys, who appeared in the estimate under a separate
head, were taken as portions of the ships' complements.
Captain PERCIVAL, who was for the most part in-
audible, said there were two things necessary to reconcile
officers and men to the service. There ought to be imme-
diately an extensive promotion, and the pay of officers and
in
creased.
Mr. should be very largely
Mr. C. WOOD having spoken three times already in
this Committee, was reluctant to trespass upon it again.
But he had heard observations this evening which he could
not allow to pass without a reply. It was not owing to
any deficiency in the Admiralty that ships were not dis-
patcher! to China sooner, and as to what had been said of
the unprotected state of our own shores, he could say that
they were better better protected in the course of last
summer than they were for years past. There were eight
line of battle ships witqin call of the Admiralty, and there
would have been no difficulty at anytime in the past year in
filling their war complement in 24 hours, The number
wanted was only 1,500, and there were 1,700
in the ordinary, exclusive of the warrant officers,
The pamphlet which had been alluded to in the course of
the discussion, would deceive any one who relied oa it.
The comparative statement of the English and French
naval force was, in every respect, inaccurate ; in steamers
of the largest class there was an error of eight vessels,
whereas any one could have found the correct statement
in the Blue List that was published every quarter. The
pamphlet stated that there was an increase in the French
line-of-of-battle ships within the last year, the fact being,
that in that year they were reduced from forty-nine to
forty-six. Our force of steam-vessels was superior, in-
stead of inferior, to that maintained by France. Of
vessels under three hundred horse power, we had thirty,
and the French but twenty-six. But then, of
steamers of the largest size, we had fourteen, and the
French but three. He would only say of this pamphlet,
that it was incorrect, and that it was wrong to put forward
in print statements calculated to mislead the public, and
even Members of that House. Upon a subject upon
which the information was so obviously and easily obtain-
ed, he regretted that language was used in the course of
this discussion that was calculated to give offence to
Sovereign powers for the sake of taunting the Admiralty.
It was the duty of the Admiralty to be acquainted with
the state of foreign navies, and they were, in fact, pos-
sessed of ample information upon that subject. As to all
that had been said of the difficulty of manning the navy,
he could only reply that the difficulty seemed to be less at
present than it had been in former years. Ten years ago
it took an average of 114 days each to fit out five small
vessels of 28 guns. In 1836 three line-of-battle ships
went out from Sheerness and three from Plymouth, in
three months, requiring from between 4,000 and 5,000
men. In 1837 a 10-gun sloop took 107 days to get
her complement of men, whereas the las: two
sloops of that kind that were commissioned had
their complements, the one in 49 days, and the other
in 43, and in all the different classes of ships the
facillity of obtaining men was in favour of the
present period. He hoped that the Committee respecting
the organization of the Coast-guard would be re-appointed,
as he believed that force could be made available upon an
emergency. There was a class of men in whom there
was a large reserve for the Queen's service ; every year
about two hundred men were discharged from the navy,
who were still able men, but had served their full time.
These were dispersed throegh the merchant service, in
which they would render great good to the Royal
service by proclaiming among the merchant ser-
vice the advantages of the Royal Service.—( Hear. )
By an Act of Parliament, introduced by his Hon. Friend,
a provision was made that the moment- a war broke out, a
proclamation should be issued that men might come back
into the service, and enjoy their pensions with their pay;
therefore, to whatever extent there were able men enjoy
ing their pensions, they might be said to be immediatel::
available to the service of the country. It certainly was
most desirable to increase the naval force as much as pos-
sible, and he was quite convinced that the greater the ex-
tent to which they were increased, the more advantageous
it would be, as the system of impressment adopted in
France did not at all do in this country.—( Hear.) With
respect to what the Hon. and Gallant Member for Surrey
had said relative to the officers, he admitted freely that
there were many officers who were not fit to go to sea
again. The fault of this evil was not with the
Admiralty, but with the peace. The rules which had
been laid down with respect to officers, caused a consider-
able reduction. He felt, as much as any man, the situation
of the officers who were anxious for employment and could
not obtain it. That was attributable to the country having
enjoyed FO long a peace. He, for one, wished that peace
might be protracted to a very long time. The House and
every one must be aware that nothing short of a bloody
war could give these officers what they asked—promotion
or employ ment. He had no doubt that these officers
%sere mast worthy men, and entitled to great consideration,
still it must be recollected that the happy circumstances in
which the country was placed, rendered it impossible that
their wishes could be complied with. He trusted that he
had satisfied the House that the navy of this country was
not in the condition that had been represented ; and in the
firm conviction that he had done so, he would sit down.
Sir T. COCHRANE observed that the Hon. Member
for Halifax had stated that there was a large squadron at
home. Now what, he would ask, was the reason of that?
Why, because they had not got men to take them out to
sea. He concurred with what the Noble Lord had stated,
that it was impossible for any country to keep up a navy
to encounter all other countries. It would be preposterous.
But there was a great difference between that and not
having a force that was able to perform all those great
duties which were essential to this country in the times of
peace. Could the Government of this country, he would
ask, pay off a single ship, with reference to France or
America, a state bordering upon our own ? He did not
hesitate to say that they could not. There ought to be
kept up a sufficient reserve force at home, because the
very fact of the knowledge of such a force being retained
would have the effect of keeping the foreign relations of
this country in a tranquil state. It was true that there
might be some expense in keeping up such a force, but he
thought that the benefit to be derived from such a force
would be more than equivalent for such an expense. He
thought there ought to be a reserve squadron at home,
and he could not denominate a few guard ships as such
squadron.

Mr. A. CEI APM A N was bound to say that, as far as
the executive management of the navy went, he never saw
any better conducted than under the administration of the
Hon. and Gallant Officer opposite.—( Hear, bear.) He
agreed with all that had fallen from the Hon. Member for
Halifax, with the exception of allowing young officers to
go back into the world with their prospects blighted.
Admiral ADAMS said it was most gratifying to him
and to those with whom be was connected, to hear the
opinion of the Hon. Member opposite in favour of the
course the Government bad pursued, especially when they
knew the great knowledge that lion. Member possessed of
maritime affairs. With respect to the statement that had
been made by some lion Member as to the want of men,
he recollected when the eight line-of-battle ships were
commissioned, which had been adverted to, there were a
great many merchant vessels obliged to lie in the Thames
for want of men. The commercial marine of the country
had considerably increased, the building yards in every
part of the country had been moat actively engaged, and
it was not, therefore, to be wondered at that men were
scarce in consequence of the great demand for them. He
( Admiral Adams) was not there to say that the ships
which were manned in 1835 were as well manned
as those in the Mediterranean, or those that
were sent out last summer, but still he considered
them sufficiently manned for the purposes for which
they were sent out. The Honourable Member
for Stamford had spoken about employing guard ships,
but what was the state of the guard ships? Why, it was
very well known that when it was necessary to send out
vessels to Lisbon in 1829 to bring back the troops, that
they were ready for sea in a very short time. How was
that done ? Not by having them forcibly manned, but by
the discipline of the men who were on board. That those
vessels were not half manned, and bad no arms on board.
If they had they could not have brought the troops.
These ships, however, with a vary few alterations, and in
a very short period, might have been made fit for service.
The Hon. Member for Stamford had also spoken of the
complements of men and boys ; with respect to the former,
the complement had been determined by a rule that had
been adopted for years, and as to the boys, every thing
had been done to make them as efficient as possible. The
Hon. Member for Brighton had talked about the men
voted by Parliament not being employed. Now he ( Ad-
miral Adam) with respect to that must say, that it was un-
dernstood when that vote was taken, no more of the 8,000
men were to be employed than required. The Hon.
Member bad also said
that the Mediterranean was protected
but that Mexico
suo' was
much were
not protected. Now, what was the
case? Why, there
aswas more than a sufficient force in that
country—there an overwheming force, as compared
with France. foornthe statements of the. Hon.
Member on that subject.
China, the Hon. Member hapds'b
the coast of Mexico there
were, in all, thirty-three tali
afortrceine.ihn
Then with respect to
sthenernetoeughmtgtaopeharevetebeteankeap this pleased
affairsl
countryea st el
little
consequence,
oft onlsnseready
nt
ch
teal:ft
oietten't
dlndia since
frohrerteisheaGd
ablelsennt, ito ffiwocuerldwhhaoveh
abde ewnr
to be at
the death of the late lamented Sir F. Maitland,
s
the Ist of June being time enough for those talked of
Singapore. When they heard of the illness of
out to
Maitland, it became necessary to supply his place, Sir F.
he should not be able to proceed to China. The Chairmanlest
of the Directors of the East India Company informed
him (Admiral Adam) that they had a ship going
the Cape of Good Hope, and they counted she would he
at the Cape of Good Hope in thirty days. The des-
patches were sent home on the 18th January to meet the
ship at Falmouth. The ship was still at Plymouth, and
was not able to get from Plymouth to Falmouth till ten
days afterwards, and she actually sailed from this country
two days after it was expected she would have arrived at
the Cape of Good Hope.—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
Was that the fault of the Amiralty, and were they to send
out a ship to Singapore to wait there some time, consum-
ing stores and provisions ? After the speech of his
Noble Friend the Secretary for the Colonies ; after the