The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-07 00:00:00

10W TO MAN THE FLEET.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—ln the course of the last ten years several events
have occurred which have brought this country to the
verge of war—events equally unprovoked and unforeseen,
but which the most anxious desire for peace on the part
of England has failed to prevent.
In most of these cases, war has been avoided either ly
concessions carried to the utmost limit, or by acceptir g
a very inadequate reparation for wrongs inflicted.
The unprepared state of England rendered any sacri-
fice preferable to war, for steam, as a new element of
wartare, has wrought a complete revolution, by depriv-
ing her of at least one-half the security hitherto afforded
by her insular situation.
There can be no question that the means of defence
to be derived from steam fleets bears no proportion to
the advantages which in a much greater degree it gives
to attack; but while France cultivates this arm with
startling energy, and maintains, under the " Inscription
Maritime," her whole seafaring population available for
the fleet on the instant, England has entirely failed to
realise the change in her own position, and to take
those measures which a large steam navy, 100,000 sea-
men, and 40,000 regular troops, across the water, have
rendered indispensable to her security.
With the exception of the part between the Thames
and the Land's-end, the whole coasts of England, Ire•
land, and Scotland, lie completely bare to the attack of
an enemy; and of hundred of ports, containing mil-
lions of property, not ten are capable of defence
against five steam-frigates with as many thousand
troops on board.
The very notion of preventing the egress of such a
force from the ports of France and Belgium by blockade
is ridiculous, and our ports must henceforward be pro-
tected by works capable of repelling such attacks, and
an efficient land force, in addition to our wooden walls.
But, during the period mentioned, not only has the
navy been the only means of defence, but it has been in
general reduced to the lowest possible amount, and all
attempts to increase it to meet occasional emergencies
have proved wholly impracticable. In 1839.40, when
seven or eight line-of-battle ships were added to the
force, not one was manned within five months, and
more than a year elapsed before all were ready for
service.

Thus, instead of a proof of preparation and efficiency
calculated to prevent hostilities, a deplorable spectacle
of weakness was exhibited, offering the most powerful
inducements to aggression. The prestige with which the
name of England was invested afforded the best security
for the peace of the world ; but she has suffered this
gradually to decline ; and a peace policy that consists in
neglecting the means of defence—in conceding every-
thing and enduring everything—must eventually cause
the evil it weakly endeavours to avert, and render it,
when it does occur, in the last degree disastrous.
The political horizon is at present without a cloud,
and this breathing time will be well employed in con-
sidering the events of the past ten years in connexion
with the preparation of the country for defence, and as a
means of making a better preparation for the future.
I propose to confine my observations to a branch of
the subject of inestimable importance—" The means of
manning the fleet"—a point in which we have hitherto
been utterly deficient, unless by means of impressment.
While most people believe that this method would fail
to supply our need in time, every one will agree that to
resort to it would be in the last degree disgraceful, see-
ing that during thirty years' peace a proper organisation
of resources would have rendered a recurrence to such a
system of injustice and cruelty wholly unnecessary.
The tyrant plea " necessity " can never be allowed
where the necessity is distinctly caused by a wilful and
obstinate refusal to adopt other adequate and effective
measures for securing the ends desired.
Of the 40,000 men now voted for the service of the
navy, nearly one-half are comprised under the heads of
officers, marines, artificers, servants, and boys, leaving
only about 20000 seamen and landsmen. The whole
number of merchant seamen falls but little short of
400,000, and yet when a small increase for the navy is
required, no volunteers can be obtained. The navy is
manned by men who entered as boys, and have become
attached to it—by seamen who alternate between the
two employments and by landsmen.
The great mass of merchant seamen regard the royal
service with the greatest dislike, and may be said on
the whole to form a distinct class from those who man
her Majesty's fleet.
Here is, indeed, an anomaly in the utmost degree as-
tonishing and alarming ; the mere statement of the fact
is enough to create on the part of every Englishman the
most anxious desire for an explanation and a remedy,
but the more it is inquired into, the more true will it be
found.
I, however, am clearly of opinion that at a trifling ex-
pense, and without the slightest diminution of the powers
necessary for the preservation of discipline, but by means
of a complete remodelling of our system, the navy
may be made in the highest degree popular, and from an
object of dislike may be in a short time rendered one of
general desire and competition to merchant seamen.
This expectation may appear too sanguine, but it is
to be remembered that one half of our merchant seamen
have never even seen a man- of-war, and that all take
their notions either from the traditions of the last war,
or from deserters, who are not likely to trace their
offence to their own misconduct. Moreover, the men
who man the fleet, for the most part, continue to serve in
it by repeated re-entries, after the termination of each
period of three years, and this although in the merchant
service an able seaman receives 21. ss. a month, and in
the navy only 1/. 14s.
The treatment endured in the last war is undoubtedly
a prominent cause of this alienation, which is kept alive
by the conviction that a similar course will be again
pursued, for seamen are well aware that impressment
has been relied on by every successive Government as
the sole means of meeting any emergency. However
painful it may be to open this sad page of our history,
it is necessary that it should be well considered, in order
that the future may be free from the same blot.
The practice was entirely destitute of the direct
sanction of the laws, and was carried into effect with
every mark of lawless violence. The community at-
tached the badge of slavery to a small but clearly dis-
tinguishable section, and tearing them from a state of
security and high pay, compelled them to defend the
country on wages a third part of what they were before
enjoying.
Thus were tens of thousands of seamen thrust on
board ships of war, and without a moment's notice
severed from their wives and families to serve for a long
course of years, without once visiting their homes, and
kept under by an iron discipline, rendered indispensable
by a system so unjustifiable.
During a war of long continuance, in which, for a time,
the very existence of England trembled in the balance,
these men served her with the most devoted and un-
conquerable spirit, and, lavish of life and limb, won for
her imperishable glory, and under Providence, secured
to her those blessings which have been so bountifully
showered upon her.
But if the war was brought to a triumphant issue by
men raised by a system so oppressive and unjust, the
advent of peace was marked by a cruel disregard of the
welfare of men on whom their country had inflicted so
much, and to whom she owed all.
At the peace of Amiens (1802) the fleet was reduced,
at one fell swoop, from 130,000 to 70,000, 60,000 men
being thus turned adrift to beg or starve, for that such
a multitude should suddenly find employment was out
of the question.
The same course was afterwards pursued. In 1814
the fleet was reduced from 140,000 to 90,000, and in the
beginning of 1816 from 90,000 to 33,000—thus throw-
ing. in the first instance, 50,000, and in the other 57,000
men into the labour market without the slightest means
or prospect of subsistence. What a catalogue of human
suffering is contained in these few words! Let us be
slow to blame our seamen for any want of patriotic at-
tachment, let the country rather blush for the past, and
no longer delay to organise measures for meeting the
hour of trial without a repetition of such injustice and
ingratitude.
Lest 1802, 1814, and 1816, should be forgotten, the
same thing was repeated on a small scale in 1841, when
3,000 or 4,000 men were suddenly paid otf before the
period for which they entered was completed, and when
no employment could be obtained in the merchant ser-
vice. Those bitter months passed in a state of destitu-
tion, aggravated by the idea that faith had been broken
with them, have not been without their effects in
strengthening those prejudices which it is so essential to
combat. But it seems that in dealing with our seamen
every principle of equity and of sound policy is to be
alike subservient to the narrowest and moat sordid
motives of economy.
Having alluded to the influence of the past in account-
ing for the alienation of the great mass of eur seamen, I
-shall take an early opportunity of entering upon the
present causes, both in the merchant service aed in the
Royal Navy, which tend to the same result.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY.

July 24.

A fire broke out on the 12th ult. in the town of
Menemen, three leagues from Smyrna, and destroyed 600
shops in the bazaar. Twenty Turkish houses, two mosques,
and a public bath, were also destroyed. A quantity of gun-
powder blew up during the fire, but it does not appear that
any lives were lost.

COURT ClitteClAß.
Lord John Russell had an audience of the Queen yes,.
tzzday._ . _

The Queen, the Queen of the Belgians, cud Prince
Albert, walked yesterday forenoon in the pleasure-
grounds of Buckingham Palace.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Majesty and Prince Albert, and their Majesties the
King and Queen of the Belgians.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince
Alfred, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the
Princess Helena, took their accustomed walks and rides
yesterday in the Royal gardens.
The Quee❑ had a dinner party yesterday at Bucking-
ham Palace, which included their Majesties the King and
Queen of the Belgians, her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent, their Royal Highnesses tho Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge, their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary
Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh
Strelitz, his Royal Highness Prince George, his Ex-
cellency M. Van de Weyer, the Marquis and Marchio•
ness of Normanbury, the Countess Vilain XIIII., Lady
Anna Maria Dawson, Lady Augusta Cadogan, Baroness
de Speth, the Countess of Morley, Earl Spencer, Earl
Granville, the Right honourable Sir George and Lady
Gray, Sir John Hohlionse, Lord George Lennox,
Major A. d'Hanins de Muerkerke, Mr. Edmond Mild-
may, and Captain the Honourable J. P. Murray.
A military band attended at the Palace during
dinner.

Her Majesty had afterwards an evening party. The
company began to arrive at the Palace soon after nine
o'clock, The following hat the honour of receiving in-
vitatiQns:—Ma lame Van de Weyer, Baron and Baroness
de Moncorvo, Prince Castelcicala, Le Commandeur and
Madame Marques Lisboa, Count and Countess de Jarnac,
the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and the Ladies Mary
and Adeliza Howard, Lord Edward Howard, the Mar-
quis of Anglesey and Lady Adelaide Paget, the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Clanricarde and Lady Emily de
Burgh, the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry
and the Lady Alexanerna Vane, the Earl and Countess
of Jersey and Lady Clementina Villiers, Viscount East-
nor, Lady Elizabeth Dawson and two Misses Dawson,
Dowager Lady Lyttelton and the Hon. Caroline Lyttel-
ton, Lord Foley, Lord Adolphus Vane, Hon. Frances
and Lady Anne Charteris, Mr. George Edward and the
Hon. Mrs. Anson, Lord Brownlow Cecil, Hon. John
and Mrs. Bloomfield, Captain the Hon. Mortimer West,
Hon. William Cowper, Sir Robert and Lady Gardi-
ner, Miss and Miss Emily Gardiner, and Captain Francis
Seymour.
Her Majesty's private band was in attendance during
the evening in the Palace.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended
by Colonel Keate, visited the Surrey Zoological Gardens
on Wednesday evening.
Mr. Wilshere, M.P., for Great Yarmouth, with a
deputation, consisting of the Mayor of Yarmouth, Mr.
Clarke, and Mr. Saunders, had an interview with the

Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, yesterday, at the office of
the Board of Trade, upon the Wreck and Salvage Bill.
The Marquis of Normanby transacted business on
Wednesday, at the Foreign-office.
Mr. Andrew Tennent and Mr. Peter Drew, of the
North British Bank, Glasgow, had an interview with the
Earl of Clarendon, yesterday, at the office of the Board
of Trade.

Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes,
had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street.
Mr. Carr, Solicitor to the Excise, had also an interview
with the Right Hon. Gentleman.
. .

Dispatches were received yesterday, at the Colonial
Office, ft om the Governors of the West India colonies.
Dispatches were sent off last evening for the Governor
of New Zealand.

Captain G. Smith, R.N., had an interview with the
Right lion. T. Milner Gibson yesterday, at the Board
of Trade, and explained his invention of the paddle-
box safety boat, recommended by the Committee on
Shipwrecks to be generally adopted in all sea-going
steam-vessels. . . .

Mr. 11. Ilouldsworth had an interview with the Earl
of Clarendon yesterday.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
• TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
ST. LEGER.
5 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Pyrrhus the First—taken
7 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's Grimston—taken
7 to 1 agst Mr. W. Scott's Sir Tattoo Sykes—taken
9 to 1 agst Col. Anson's lago
10 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's The Traverser—taken
10 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Fancy Boy—taken
12 to 1 agst General Shubrick's Brocardo—taken
20 to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Sting—taken
25 to 1 agst Mr. W. Scott's Eringobragh
30 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Free Lance—taken
35 to 1 agst Mr. Dawsen's Povnton—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Cranston's Cranebrook
400 to 100 agst Sir Tattoo Sykes and Fancy Boy—taken.
DERBY.
12 to 1 on the Field—offered.
BRIGHTON RACES-.-TIIURSDAY.
Her Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas. Heats, two miles.
Lord Stradbrooke'sLynceus,3yrs,6st 131b(Clay) 3 3 1 1
Mr.Ramsbottom'sQueen of Cyprus,4yrs,6st 21b 1 4 5 2
Sir W. M. Stanley's Pic Nic, 4 yrs, &I 91b...... 2 1 6 3
Mr. A. Johnstone's Annandale, 4 yrs, 7st 41b... 4 2 2 dr
Mr. Waller's Columbus, 4 yrs, 9st ... 6 6 3 dr
Lord Chesterfield's Jenny Wren, 4 yrs, Bit 9th 5 5 4dr
First Heat-5 to 4 agst Annandale, and 4to 1 agst Lynceus.
Won by a length, only two having run for the heat. Second
Heat-6 to 5 agst Annandale, 3to 1 agst Lynceus, and 4to
1 agst Queen of Cyprus; Pic Nic jumped off with the lead,
was never caught, and won by 15 lengths. Third Heat-5 to .
2 agst Annandale, 3 to 1 agst Lynceus, and 3 to 1 agst Jenny
Wren. Won by a length: Columbus a good third. Fourth
Heat-7 to 4on Lynceus, who won by two lengths.
Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, and 30 added. Heats one mile.
(9 Subs. )
Mr.-Leigh's Correct Card, 4 yrs, 7st
Mr. Jackson's Syntaxina, aged, Bst lib
Lord Chesterfield's New Brighton, 6 yrs, Bst I Ilb 1 4 die
Mr. Cuthbert's Bourra Tomacha, 6 yrs, 7st 101 b 2 3 dr
Mr. G. Hobson's Twyford; 3 yrs, Est 31b ... 3 dr
Mr. Booth's Moose Deer, 3 yrs, Est 121 b
On Wednesday the winner of the Town Plate was ridden by
Sly, not Esling, as stated in our return.
BANBURY RACES—TUESDAY.
The Warden Hill Stakes, of 10 sovs each, b ft, with 30 added.
Heats. One mile-and-a-half. (6 Subs.)
Mr. Martin's Trifle, 5 yrs, list llb (S. Darling, jun.) 1 1
Mr. Wills's c, by the Count, out of Polly, 3yrs, 9st 41b 3 2
Mr. G. Symonds's Tincton, aged, list 91b
Mr. Brown's Lightning, 3 yrs, 9st 41b
The Banbury Stakes, of 10 soya each, with 50 added Two
miles. (15 Subs.)
Mr. S. Scott's Mosque, aged, Bst 111 b ...... (S. Mann) 1
Mr. Norris ns Valiant, (h b) 4 yrs, Bst 41b ..... ......... ..
r, Pratt's Venus, 4 yrs, Bst 41b ... 3
Mr. G. Ongley's Mystery, 4 yrs, Bst
The Tally-ho Stakes, of 3 sovs. each, with 15 added; mile
and a distance; (6 Subs), was won. in four heats by Mr.
Collins's Brunel, 5 yrs, Bst 13lbs (H. Darling), beating Mr.
Symonds's Tincton, aged, 9st 2lbs—Mr. Brown's The rreten.
der, 3 yrs, Bst 101bs—and Mr. B. Austin's Fancy Girl, 3 yrs,
7st 31b. The winner was claimed for 201.
The Neithrop Stakes, of 5 sovs. each, with 50 added; one
mile and a distance; was won by Mr. Cowper's Roebuck, 4
yrs, Bst, beating Mr. Pratt's Venus, 4 yrs, Bst—Mr. Green-
weors Tit-bit, 2 yrs, Est 101bs—Mr. Wall's 'Lela, 5 yrs, 7st
51bs—and Mr. Holmes's Chevy Chase, 2 yrs, 6st 101bs.
NOTTINGHAM RACES—WEDNESDAY.
The Nottingham Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 50 added ;
three yrs old, 7st; four, Bst 41b; five, Bst 121 b; six and
aged, Oct 21b. Once round and a distance (4 Subs.)
Mr. Hesseltlne's Fitzwilliam, 3 yrs (Longstaff) 1
Lord Chesterfield's Arkwright, 3 yrs
Mr. Lancaster's Lutestring, 3 yrs...
Plate of 501.; three yrs old, 6st 101 b; four, 7st 121 b; five,
Bst 51b ; six and aged, Bst 101 b ; mares and geldings al-
lowed 31bs ; and the second to receive 101. Heats, two
miles and a half.
Lord Chesterfield's c by Don John, out of Game
Lass, 3 yrs .. (Longstaff) 1 4 1
Mr. Harrison's Lady Mallorie, 3 yrs 4 1 2
Mr. Clifton's Pedlar, aged 3 2 dr
Mr. Mallett's Paleface (late Utica), 6 yrs ... 2 3 dr
The Two year old Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 50 added ;
colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 21b; winners 31b extra. T.Y.C.
(7 Sabs. )
Mr. Clifton's Conceit
(Daly)
Colonel Anson's Treacle OO
21
Mr. Copland's Cheapside
second
saveo only 1 I
Lord Chesterfield's cby Don John, dam by Ishatael.,. 4
The first was a dead heat, the second won easily.
added. 20 so
ThseiCf
dheeseltearerfigday.,anwdrit'cah Handicap
vs.TelLeb 10 n
dft, to sand
stake, and the winner to pay 10 sovs. to the fund. Twice
round and a distance.
Mr. Bell's Winesour, 6
.yrs, Bst 91b
Mr. Johnstone's Brother to Sir Henry, 3 yrs, 6st 2
Mr. Godson's Susannah, 5 yrs, Est 121 b
A Plate of 50 sovs. ; three yrs old, 7st 41b ; four, Bst 71b ; five,
9st ; six and aged, 9st 41b. The winner to be sold for 2001.,
if demanded, &c. Heats, once round and a distance,
(5 Subs.)
Mr. J. Scott's Curiosity, 3 yrs (Simpson) 4 1 1
Mr. Edmonstone's Pinkinkindness, 3 yrs 1 3 2
Mr. Lancaster's Lutestring, 3 yrs
Mr. Wildman's The Heiress, 5 yrs
Mr. King's Minnette, 3 yrs 2 dr