The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-04 00:00:00

THE STATE OF THE NAVY. f
At the present time, when so ranch discussion has
originated upon the topic of the national defences, in
which the army and its augmentation have formed an
engrossing feature, it may be as well to review our naval
resources, in order to ascertain in what state of pre-
paration they are for offensive or defensive warfare.
On the Ist inst., we find, on reference to the Navy
List, there were 671 ships and vessels of all classes in
the royal service; of these 233 are in commission, in-
cluding 88 steamers for service of all classes. On the
4th of October last we gave the state of the navy in com-
mission as follows:—
At Home and Fitting—Line of battle ships, 1; frigates,
2; steam frigates, 2; sloops, 5; steam sloops, 3; sailing
packets and smaller vessels, 12; small steamers and
packets, 35; store ships and stationary, 8.
Mediterranean—Line of battle ships, 5; frigates, 3;
steam frigate, 1; sloops, 3; steam sloops, 3; small
steamers and packets, 7; store ship and stationary, 1.
East Indies—Frigates, 7; steam frigate, 1; sloops, 8;
steam sloops, 2; sailing packet and smaller ♦essel, 1;
store ships and stationary, 2.
Brazil and Pacific—Line of battle ship, 1; Frigates, 6;
steam frigates, 2; sloops, 5; steam sloops, 2; sailing
packets and smaller vessels, 3; small steamers and
packets, 2; store ships and stationary, 3.
North America and West Indies—Frigates, 4; sloops
4; steam sloop, 1; sailing packets and smaller vessels,
2; small steamers and packets, 2; store ship and sta-
tionary, 1.
Cape and Coast of Africa—Frigates, 1; steam frigate,
1; sloops, 21; steam sloops, 4; sailing packet and smaller
vessel, 1; small steamers and packets, 2; store ships and
stationary, 2.
Particular Service—Line of battle ships, 6; frigates,
2; steam frigates, 5; small steamers and packets, 5; store
ships and stationary, 4.
Discovery Ships—Sloops, 2.
Troop Ships—Lint' of battle ship, 1; frigates, 3.
Surveying—Frigas, 3; sloops, 2; sailing packets and
smaller vessels, 2 ; small steamers and packets, 7.
Yachts—Steam frigate, 1; sloop, 1; small steamers
and packets. 2.
Lakes—Steam sloop, 1; small steamers and packets, 2.
Total—Line of battle ships, 16; frigates, 35; steam
frigates, 13; sloops, 52; steam sloops, 21; sailing packets
and smaller vessels, 21; small steamers and packets, 64;
store ships and stationary, 21: being a total of 243 ships
in commission, including 98 steamers of all sizes, with a
power of 22,122 horses.
The present list gives no material augmentation or
decrease in any point from the above items. An extra
line of battle ship has joined Sir C. Napier's tquadron,
and Sir W. Parker's has been similarly increased, whilst
the latter has also been strengthened by the addition of
three steam frigates detached from the former. An extra
line of battle ship (the Prince Regent, 92) is at home
and fitting. The disposition of the other figures may
stand.

There are in ordinary at Portsmouth—
Advanced Ships—The Britannia, 120; Neptune, 120;
Nels"n, 120; Powerful, 84; Pembroke, 72; Hastings,
72; Carnatic, 72.

In Ordinary—Queen Charlotte, 104; Princess Char •
lotte, 104; Camperdown, 104; Illustrious. 72; Melville,
72; Pitt, 74 ; Malabar, 74; Egmont, 72; Sultan, 72;
Alfred, 50; Winchester, 50; Java, 50; Blanche, 46;
Laurel, 42; Blonde, 42; Minerva, 42; Undaunted, 42;
Sirius, 42; Thalia, 42; Pique, 36; Talbot, 26; Orestes,
18; Champion, 14; Hyacinth, 18; Lily, 16; Sappho, 16;
Serpent, 12; Rolla, 10.
Building—The Royal Frederick, 110; Princess Royal,
90; Leander, 50.
Ordered to be Built —The Royal Sovereign,llo; Prince
of Wales, 110; Shannon, 50.
Steamers Building—The Arrogant, 46, auxiliary screw,
and Plumper, sloop of auxiliary power of 60 horses.
Ordered to be Built—The Argus, 360-horse power,
and the Furious and Resolute, padd►e-wheel steam.
sloops.