The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-26 00:00:00

THE NAVY.
(From the Times.)
It is very much to be wished that some cempefent
nuthorities would complete the task N't hick Admiral
Bowles lately projectedeend -giere_the country e Fe , _
and intelligible view of the state of its naval force. Such
a report would be fully as serviceable to the Adminis-
tration as satisfactory to the people ; for there is no
single subject on which misrepresentations are so easily
made, or alarm so readily taken. No doubt a certain
measure of trouble and inquiry would produce the re-
quired inCormation, but it is not every person who has
leisure to collect the details, or is competent to form :he
estimate. The force of the French and American navies
is perhaps more clearly understood than the strength of
our own, for succinct tabular statemeets are frequently
issued by these Powers ; and we lately trans-
t4red to our own columns a royal ordinance of
Louis Philippe, which conveyed as clear a view of
the French marine as could possibly be desired. So far
are we from anticipating any exposure, or conceiv-
ing that any discreditable considerations dis-usde the
publication of such documents, that we firmly
believe the subject would be set at rest at once by a
simple statement of facts. We are convince d that.
to say the hest since 1840, our navy and our coast de-
fences have been improved arid strengthen, d more qui.- tly
perhaps, but more a ffectually, than during an) atvitlar
period prt4iously, and that the-e reforms have been
radical and not superficial, going to the very source of
any mal-arrangements affecting the efficiency of our
ships or the condition of our seamen. We have doubt-
less much to learn in the construction of war steamers,
and in that perhaps of sailing ships too; but, though our
experience might possibly be purchased at a cheaper
rate than the present, yet we have no idea of represent-
ing' the rivalry of two architectural schools as fraught
with ruin to our marine. Our ships will be good enough
for our sailors, whether built by Sir William or by the
college which he superseded; and probably the worst
craft ever constructed by either is far better than the
vessels furnished to Nelson or Jezvis, even if consider. d
relatively to the improved materiel of our opponents. We
know of no person more competent to discharge
the task in question than Admiral Bowles himself,
if he would only satisfy the conditions he so clearly
enounces, and make his pages more in accord with
his preface. In fact the Gallant Admiral seems to be
entitled to some of the credit of the regulations we
have so lately recorded in our naval intelligence,
and which promise so much towards our security and
our strength. We detailed last week the particulars of
the measure, by which a reserve force of nearly 5,000
men, always available, will be added to the ordinary
guard of our dockyards and arsenals, an addition gained
at a very small expense and in the best possible fashion
by organising and training in gunnery practice and
simple military evolutions a hardy and robust body of
men, already possessed of an esprit de corps, and who,
by a little judicious management on the part of their
officers, may easily be brought to look upon their new
duties as a source of amusement and pleasure. Some
measure of this sort we presume Admiral Bowles was
contemplating when he suggested, in August last, "a
complete revision of all our existing establishments,with
a view of bringing every person employed in the mili-
tary departments into a general arrangement for the
defence of his own locality, which would enable
him to repair to his post without alarm or
confusion." No doubt can exist of the expe-
diency of such an arrangement, and we are
sure that if it is only conducted with proper tact, the
men themselves will be the last to complain of it. We
wish we could now state, that on the most important
point rof all—that of providing an effective supply of
trained sailors to man our ships in case of an emer-
gency—we were aware of any satisfactory measure at
present in contemplation. There are here two questions
to be considered,—the method of engaging the services
of able seamen, and the method of retaining them ; and
hitherto we have been as improvident in one respect as
we were arbitrary in the othm r. We had no sooner col-
lected a ship's complement with some trouble, and
trained them with great pains, than we turned them
adrift on the wcrld again ; and as the small number of
men-of-war's people found in the merchant service—
barely four per cent of the whole—shows that they did
not mainly resort to this quarter for employment. it
follows, almost as a matter of course, that our trained
and disciplined seamen betook themselves to another
country for the wages they could no longer find in their
own. There was, however, a circular issued from the
Admiralty about three months ago, which cannot be too
generally published, as it obviates this mischief in no
incon-iderable degree. Its tenor was as follows :
" Memorandum.—ln all future cases when any of her
Majesty's ships are about to be paid off, their Lordships
desire it may be distinctly explained to the men that if
they choose to continue in the service they may have a
month or six weeks' leave of absence, during which time
their time and pay will go on, and that they will be at
liberty to join any of her Majesty's ships fitting out at
any ports upon their return from such leave.
" Their Lordships further desire that every facility
may be given to the men to deposit their hammocks,
clothes, &c., in the do .kyards during their stay on shore,
in the manner proscribed by their memorandum, dated
April 13, 1842, the object of which their Lordships de.
sire muy be frilly impressed upon the men, and the regu-
lation .strictly attended to.
" BY command of their Lordships,
" Sept. 1, 1846. ‘• 11. G. WARD.
"'Po all Flag-officers, Commanders-in-Chief,
" Captains, and Commanders of her
" Majesty's ships and vessels."
Perhaps, it is hardly worth while to contend for the
exclusive credit of so obvious a suggestion; but we may
remark, that Admiral Bowles had hinted a month before,
that "Ships returning from foreign service, in good con-
dition (not requiring more than two months' repair),
should not be paid off, but that the crews should have
six weeks' leave of absence, offering all those who had
served above a certain period their discharge or re-entry
for another term." But little difficulty is apprehended,
by persons acquainted with the subject, in retaining the
services of those sailors who have been lately afloat. A
good seaman is rarely desirous of changing his berth.
The Queen's service is anything but unpopular to those
who know its character; and though the pay is small,
yet there is a compensation in the allowances and other
matters which does raise it above its nominal value. It
is certainly found, in practice, that the men are content
enough with their plight, and far from wishing to roam.
The disinclination to the pennant is discovered precisely
in those quarters where the tradition of the last war, and the
mischievous libels of crimps, and others interested in
scaril",- the sailor from his best service, are least cor-
rected by experience and observation. There are no
ports where the Queen's service is so popular as at Ply-
mouth or Portsmouth, while our greatest shipping
towns scarcely supply a volunteer. It is clear, however,
from the readiness with which eligible lads entered for
the navy the other day, when a week's opportunity was
offered them—and which was such as to satisfy the de-
mand in a much shorter space than might have been pre-
sumed—that we have the means at hand for providing
against any calls not very immediate. The difficulty of
the main question is this:—We cannot meet an emer-
gency without a reserve; and we cannot keep a reserve
without an expense which might be misrepresented and
censured. The problem, therefore, in the solution of
which many heads have been occupied, is the reconcile-
ment of these differences; or the division, if possible, of
both the cost and services of the reserve corps between
the State and some other body;—in other words, it is
sought so far to alienate these services as fo make it
worth while for another party to hire them; and so far
to retain them, that they may be secured at a few days'
notice. Some of the plans proposed for this purpose we
may notice on a future occasion.