The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-01 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1847.

Our n a val cower is so essential to our very exis-
tence as a nation, that too many precautions cannot
be taken for the prever.tion of its decay, too much
interest cannot be felt in its prosperity, or too much
scrutiny cast upon the administration of that depart.
ment of our national service. We have already ex-
pressed our satisfaction at the vigorous course entered
upon by the present Government in reference to the
extension and development of our maritime energies.
In the able and comprehensive speech, delivered on
Friday evening by the Hon. Gentleman the Secretary
to the Admiralty, we have recognised the programme
of an innovation most propitious and most conso-
latory. But our observations upon the requisi-
tions announced in that statement of the naval
estimates for the current year were neces-
sarily restricted to the consideration of the
broad circumstance that a new system was
about to be adopted. Our congratulations to the
empire were, for ostensible reasons, confined to the
bare announcement of an increase in those important
estimates. It is, however, so essential that the money
thus abstracted from the Exchequer should be judi-
ciously applied—that, in short, with the minimum of
expense we should obtain the maximum of advantage
--that we are induced to return to the examination
of Mr. WARD's els ver and satisfactory statement.
What have been the perpetual themes of the
self-elected scrutators of the Admiralty ? These
two :—first, the mal-applicaticn of the moneys
already expended in our naval affairs, and,
secondly, the niggardliness of the amounts com-
prised in our annual estimates for that ser•
vice. It would be absurd and futile to deny the
validity of those accusations. That parsimony has
been evinced by our Legislature in the sums voted
periodically to this most national and rational expen-
diture, is manifest on comparing the gross calculation
of the naval estimates of France, not a merely mari-
time nation, and of the naval estimates of Great
Britain, essentially and pre-eminently a maritime
nation. Mr. WARD has contrasted those by no means
analogous estimates. We have repeated that con-
trast ; we have done more, we have enumerated the
various amounts devoted to the English navy as far back
as 1816, and as recently as 1844—an enumeration
VIJI-I;nh o 1,1 Le of itself sufficient, &catirrionir that our
vigour as an insular empire has been stunted, instead of
having been fostered to a natural and noble maturity.
While a sagacious neighbour, with all its mural, and
engineering, and military means of defence, has been
lavishing millions upon its extraneous instru•
ments of protection and aggression—namely, its
sea-service ; England has been doling out the cash
which was absolutely requisite for the maintenance
of our only safeguard—the main cause of all our na-
tional greatness—the glory and boast, and, what is
more, the very bulwark of our magnificent domi-
nions. That the application of the moneys voted by
Parliament for our naval service has neither been
characterised by the highest prudence nor the most
judicious economy, is an assertion wholly indisputable.
And it is this mal-application of the national re-
venues that has excited the attention and aroused the
energies of Sir CHARLES NAPIER. That there has
been considerable reason for the indignation expressed
by that gallant officer is certain : the very reforms
announced by the Admiralty through their Secretary
on Friday se'nnight, is a plain acknowledgment that
there was something to be reformed, and the demand
of an extension of the naval estimates, which was
likewise announced in the same speech by Mr.
WARD, necessarily implied that the previous esti-
mates were regarded by the present Right Hon. the
Lords of the Admiralty as having been insufficient and
parsimonious. So far the accusations of Sir CHARLES
NAPIER and the proceedings of the present Govern-
ment tally ; and it is with singular satisfaction we
have observed the bold and decided course taken by
the Government in this delicate, but absolutely neces-
sary innovation.

Among the most adiantageous regulations con-
tained in this improved system must be expressly
particularised, the advancement of the corps of naval
engineers from ranking with the ships' carpenters to
the real position to which; they are entitled as gen-
tlemen, together with an increased pay from 131. Is.
per month as heretofore, to 251. per month, propor-
tioned to the various grades of the profession. The
consequence of such a modification of the existing
system is obvious. Talent and respectability will
thereby be insured, and the service performed will
naturally be done more effectually from the cir-
cumstance ofatph
applied
tilsee
dabvteeoi notgfi
eap;srregfnpoba
crnloeemoi
organization
nsvmnti
tesooodorrebotet
ofcheoexlsr
eteddeaai
novamdcil
leaving
clothes, Ipyrioasraeddd
cdoittoripobnse; to this, no less than 20,0001. are pro-
twohesnixrewmeaeiknisn, gwoinththteheshislinsi
clothes, kit, &c., in the local dockyard. The total.
vote for salaries and wages is 810,6641. 'These salu-
-1 tary measures are, moreover, accompanied by a scheme
which must tend to the substantial benefit of the ser-
vice, by exciting a wholesome spirit
eofehemmulaantioins
throughout all the subordinate artizans in the
different dockyards of Great Britain. By
the plan unfolded by Mr. WARD, a
to be allured and incited to the most meritorious
discharge of his duties by opening up to him a series
of promotions and rewards. With an extension of
wages, and a systematic education, they will be in
such a position that the improvement of their con.
dition must inevitably result from their own probity,
sobriety, industry, and intelligence. Thus they
ould be enabled to anticipate their gradual elevation
to the rank of foremen, and thence, by successive
stages, to be inspectors and dock-masters, with a pos-
sible income of 6001. per annum, and a residence free
of rent. It is by such sensible enactments that the
interests of our naval service may be best consulted;
and the prosperity of that naval service is synonomous
with the grandeur, the strength, and the stability of
the British empire.

Madrid papers of the 22d ult. have arrived.
The debate on the Address continued in the Chamber
of Deputies, and Senor PIDAL, one of the late Minis-
ters, had commenced his defsnce of the Isturi:z Ca-
binet against the attacks of SCOUTS CORTINA and Boa
DE OLANO.
The Ileraldo says that the Government is adding to
the already enormous army. A corps is to be stationed
forthwith on the frontiers of Portugal, and another in