The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-20 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAT.
'FI:MES.—The great object of an administrative de-
partment should be to combine economy with efficiency.
The thing to be done should he well done and cheaply
done. A rule so simple as this is runs a double risk of
infringement from two opposite quarters—from the par-
simony of the stingy and the profusion of the profligate.
Concession to either is a crying evil; both have the same
mischievous effect—viz., the mutilation of the public ser-
vice. But if we wish to estimate their respective magni-
tudes, we must give precedence to that which is the
parent of others. Upon this head there can be no doubt.
The niggardliness of a sensitive economy is the result of
a fretting extravagance. It is only when large sums
have been squandered without respect for the public
purse or benefit to the public interests, that men take the
epidemic of stinginess, and avenge themselves on the in-
efficiency of extravagance by getting up the in-
efficiency of -meanness in its stead. We may arrogate to
ourselves sc.me, right to speak upon this head. We have
resisted to the utmost, and shall continue to resist, every
attempt. ostensibly and professedly made to cripple the
defensive arm of the empire. We will be no party to
any ~nelicy that diminishes the necessary and indis-
pensable strength of our army and marine. When a
millesiarian light gleams upon the intellects of all
mankind—when peace, contentment, and fraternity
'nave taken the place of strife, ambition, and jealousy—
then we shall be quite as ready to propose a general
disarmament, and to insist on such an example begin-
ning with ourselves, as Mr. Cobden or Air. Bright. But
meanwhile we see no prospect of the kind. We believe
kingdoms and republics to be as prone to aggrandize-
ment as ever they were. The National Assembly in
Paris, and the National Assembly at Frankfort, both fail
to inspire us- with any hope of universal amity. The
old passions of nations still remain, and the old instru-
ments of their gratification remain also. As before, the
strong will seek to oppress the weak, and the weak will
combine against the strong. The pacific nations will be
dense which are able to command peace; the mediating
nations those whose intervention must be received with
respect. So long as human nature remains what it is,
this is likely to be the state of things in the world. While
it is, Great Britain will have a great deal of work on her
hands. In order that she may do it fully and effectually,
we would have her enter the arena of war or diplomacy
with her energies undamped and her resources un-
curtailed. But, that she may do herself justice in any
emergency of politics or war, we must insist that of all
the money that is voted for the public service of the
country not one farthing be diverted from its object by
the whims of theory, the malversation of office, or the
greed of peculatien. The Committee which has recently
been sitting on the naval estimates has, it is true, not
detected any of those gross nioustrosities of embezzle-
ment and plunder which in one century provoked the
lamentations of poor Pepys, and in the other raised the
wrath of Lord St. -Vincent. We cannot now point to
dockyards lumbered with rotten timber, nor to crews
starved 'onto scurvy in spite of a munificent vote of sup-
ply, nor to gigantic frauds committed with impunity by
thriving contractors and protected jobbers. These enor-
mities have, for the most part, had their day. The
frauds, the peculations, and the jobs of the present cen-
tury are on a scale of degeneracy compared with those
which our grandfathers tolerated, and their great-grand-
fathers laughed at. Whatever there is of flagrant disho-
nesty belongs to the department of the Woods and Forests.
There is nothing under the Admiralty or the Horse
Guards comparable to the robbery of the New Forest.
But, yet, enough is known to warrant the continuance
of the narrowest scrutiny and the observance of the
most rigid economy. We have a powerful marine ; the
House of Commons is generally most liberal in voting
its supplies; the almost universal wishes of the nation
are against its mutilation and diminution: it is there-
fore the bounden duty of every officer connected with
the administration of the navy to jsstify the predilec-
tion of the people, and to take every possible precaution
that no handle be given to its enemies for casting an
imputation on its management or damaging its essential
vigour. Let anything like reckless expenditure, heed-
less misconduct, or flagrant jobbing be once traced to its
superior or subordinate officers, and such a storm of
popular indignation will be raised as will not only
destroy the vicious excrescences of the system, but
will also in its fury tear up by the roots the basis and
groundwork of our defensive establishments. We pay
from 5,000,0001. to 6,000,0001. a year for the main-
tenance of our marine. This is an increase
--and, in fact, a regularly progressive increase
—since the year 1834. At that time the
clamours for retrenchment and the necessity of
doing something to earn popularity had cut down the
navy to its lowest possible strength. The sudden and
large increase in its expenditure during late years was
in some degree owing to the excessive economy forced
upon the Ministry after the Reform Bill. Unfortunately,
one extreme drove official men to another. The House
of Commons convinced that it bad carried parsimony
to a sin atoned by conniving at a proportionate profusion.
Many expenses were incurred which have since grown
into costly and recurring burdens. Many estimates were
allowed which have since returned periodically with no
prospect of their cessation or their utility. The Keyham
steam works have already cost us 400,0001., and will cost
us 700,000/. more. Then there is a perpetual sea-wall
at Portsmouth, which every year pops its head
'tip among the Navy Estimates, and disappears
with a vote of some 30,0001., of which no clear ac-
count is ever rendered. Then, again, there are a
variety of mills, with all sorts of roofs—roofs that
will last and roofs that won't—roofs that catch fire and
roofs that are fire-proof—all constructed according to
die taste of the Ssosveyor-G„eneral or First Lord for the
time being. In fact the navy seems to serve as a grand
experienentum crucis for the ingenuity of official fancies.
No sooner has some new functionary paid his virgin visit
to Woolwich, Portsmouth. or Plymouth, than a score or
so of new buildings 'ire sketched on paper, and—with-
out the ceremony of an estimate or a vote—proceeded
with till ready money is wanted to complete them. But
if we are expensive in our buildings, we are more ex-
pensive in our &hips. Here everything depends upon
whim and chance. One First Lord has a mania for
round sterns, another for square ones, one likes ra.se'd
74's ; another fancies nothing so much as tall-roasted
short-bodied brigs, that ran neither over the water nor
through the water, but under it. One board was bitten
with a passion for iron steam-boats. About fifty were
launched. Suddenly, some dissatisfied grumbler
suggested that they would not stand a broadside.
This had never occurred to any one of the board. How-
ever, as steam-ships were intended for action, and as
powder and shot aro used in actions, it was resolved to
test one of these favourites by an 18-pounder. The
effect proved the grumbler to be in the right. Instead
of merely making a perforation to the extent of its own
diameter (as 4 would have done in an oaken plank), the
shot tore away the whole iron plate; and had this oc-
curred in an engagement the vessel would have sunk.
So, after a costly hanselling there were no more iron
steam-ships. Then, again, there has been an enormous
outlay in doctoring and tinkering the other steam-ships.
Sometimes they have been equipped with paddles, some-
times with screws, but always without economy. The
Blenheim was tortured from a seventy• two into a steamer
at an outlay of no Las than 68,000/.! Besides all these
expenses there is a perm anent ono that should at once
be put an end to—that of the contract for Britith oak.
This is a monopoly contract, and therefere oak is forced
upon the shipwrights for objects for which other timber
is better adapted. Now, when we reflect on the
favourite mode of dealing with the timber in the royal
forests, as lately brought to light by Lord Duncan, and
on the great difficultly that is always apparent in apply-
ing national propery to neaten al uses— we shall de irly
understand why too large a price is paid by !he Adint
R
reify for the ships of the Royal Navy. Indeed, it won!,
be very easy to economize iti more' ways than one. I
the Lords of the Admiralty would open the contract
not only fur the supply of timber, but also for the build-
ing of their ships, to public competitions, then the Royal
Navy would boast or ships w cheaply and substantially
bulk, and as good sAil,rs, as the vessels of Messrs.
Greene and the New York liners, instead of leaving to
the luclepof every npw First Lord, and the genius of
every new Survey or, the qualities of every new vessel in
her Majesty's service. There are other pieces of extrava-
gance noticed by the Committee besides these connected
with the building of ships and sea-walls. There is
the extravagance of keeping up an immense invalid
corps of Admiral and routine Captains, three-fourths
of whom are utterly unfit for service. There is the
annual outlay of 1,000,0001. a year on that philanthropic
bugbear, the African coast. Altogether, of the
6 000,000/. svhn'h our navy costs us, 1,500,0001. is
wasted. The Committee does not notice the latter, but
does the former ; and recommends that the number of
Admirals be reduced to 100, and that the system of
routine be discontinued in favour of eminently deserving
officers. In both these suggestions we heartily concur.
But because we do approve of a policy which would
weed from the marine all imbecility and incumbrance—
for dila very reason do we earnestly protest against the
first step which the present Board has taken in the way
of economy—viz., dismissing 2,000 ablebodied and well-
disciplined seamen into the witlibg arms of the French,
Swedish, and American navies. Of all the elements of
a navy sailors are the most important. We have on the
stacks and is commission ships enough to last us for
twenty years. Men are not so abundant nor so easily
got ready ; and our frost piece of economy is to enter on
a systein which will leave us a large fleet of ships to be
commanded by effete e.ldmiials and manned by raw
sailors I *
UlZONlClsr.—Universal suffrage and the ballot
are searelyhtohfeorrttueate this time in their accessories as
they have
tors and the astonishment
to the praise of French elec
brtmnnishment of political alarmists. Pink,
blue, yellow,
of
green papers (the Government
has the monopoly
soilwhite) are flying about in all direc-
tiocs, we ono told, Posted everywhere (to the dis-
paragement of play-himlls and M. Albert), in all the hues
of the moat tasteful
fessions—it would be hiantel( acit
Resignations or pro-
.oternaitio which, ere she
most elabsrately fraudulent to
flagrantly c?eceitful. First
of all, 14 i 3 M. De Girardin'ao.T
electorifl struggle, and, next ,Vr7is withdrawn from the
'_ce Louis Napoleon;
while all El Dorado is promiostifdy desperate competitors
with the *eel and veracity
sergeant in
tiunsgsequeece of
England. And, as a meet and haremeoru
puts
illustrations
ns proo f
such professiens, the Prefect of the Seinuteo
clatnation, which instructs us greatly in' ts a
practice which is acknowledged to be f:ssh
that of voting twice. Pains and penalties 'thneabhl7
Emperor'
severe are announced against such persons as shalltnt(hist
time Mink fit to. double themselves. The
Charles the Fifth was wont to say,' that " he was twice
a man who knew two languages. The descendants of
his old Parisian antagonists have discovered, not a
royal, but a republican road to this sort of multiplica-
tion, but repeat their individuality, as we learn oil offi-
cial authority, with the utmost ease and success. Nor
will this duplicity be arrested, we should think, by any
menace on the part of an Executive which, at the same
time, puts forward its own candidates and would-be no-
minees, crimping,- rather than canvassing among the
population. Elentora will probably compromise with