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

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
710 M Tie MORNING PAPZRS OP TELS DIT.
TIMES.—The great object of an administrative de-
wrtment should be to combine economy with efficiency.
The thing to be done should be 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
misqlaievous 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
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-
effaeiency of "extravagance by getting up the in-
efficiency of meanness in its stead. We may arrogate to
ourselves some 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 policy that diminishes the necessary and indis-
pensable strength of our army and marine. When a
millenarian light gleams upon the intellects of all
Mankind—when peace, contentment, and fraternity
have 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 Mr. Bright. But
meanwhile we see no prospect df 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
those which are able to command peace; the mediating
nation's 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 peculation. The Committee which has recently
been sitting on the naval estimates has, it is true, not
detected any of those gross monstrosities 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 into 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 %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 jestify the predilec-
tion of the people, and to take every possible precaution
that no handie be given to its enemies for casting an
imputation on its management or damaging its essential
vigour. Let anything like reckiese expenditure, heed
less misconduct, or flagrant jabbing be once traced to its
supsrisr 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 5,000,0004 to 6,000,000/. 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 fir 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
is some degree owing to the excessive economy forced
upon the Ministry alter the Reform Bill. Unfortunately,
one exfrorae drove official men to another. The House
of Commons convinced that it had carried parsimony
to a in 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 400,000/., and will cost
us 700,000/. more. Then there is a perpetual sea-wall
at Portsmouth, which every year pops its head
up among the Navy Estimates, and disappears
with a vote of some 30,0001., of which no clear cc-
count is ever rendered. Then, again, there are a
variety of mills, with all sorts of roofs—roofs that
will last end roofs t'iat won't—roofs that catch fire and
roofs that are fire-proof—all constructed accf,rding to
the taste of the Surveyor-General or First Lord for the
time being. I:i fact the navy seems to serve as a grand
experimentunt cr,is for the ingenuity of official fancier.
No sooner has stale new functionary paid his virgin visit
to Wool vsich, Portsmouth, or Plymouth, than a score or
so of new buildings are 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 ships. Here everything depends upon
whim and chance. One First Lord has a mania for
round sterns, another for square ones, one likes raze'd
74's ; another fancies nothing so much as tall-masted
shortsbodied brigs, that run neither over the water nor
through the water, but usifler it. One board was bitten
with a passion far 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 are 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 it 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.
Sc, after a costly hanselling there were no more iron
slyam-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 less than 68,00014 Besides all these
expenses there is a permanent one chat should at once
be put an end to—that of the contract for Britith oak.
This is a monopoly contract, and therefore oak is forced
upon the shipwrights fey 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 difficulty that is always apparent in apply-
ing national property to national uses—we shall clearly
understand why too large a price is paid by the Admi-
ralty for the ships of the Royal Navy. Indeed, it would
be very easy to economize in more ways than one. If
the Lords of the Admiralty would open the contract,
not only for the supply of timber, but also for the build-
ing of their ships, to public competitions, then the Royal
ivy would boast of 31443 cheaply and substantially
Milt, and as good sailers, as the vessels of Messrs.
Greene and the New York liners, instead of leaving to
the luck of every new 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 1,000,000/. a year on that philanthropic
bugbear, the African coast. Altogether, of the
6.,000,000/. which our navy costs us, 1,500,0001. is
/Fasted. 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 favar of eminently deserving
officers. In both these suggestions we heartily concur.
But because we do approve of a polies, which would
weed_ from the marine all imbecility and incumbrance—
f)r that 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 willing arms of the French,
Swedish, and American navies. Of all the elements of
atnavy sailors are the most important. We have on the
stsvo:nks and in commission ships enough to last us for
years. Men are not so abundant nor so easily
aost_r;y:dy ; and our first piece of economy is to enter on
:_otostinsaaintsvhich will leave us a large fleet of ships to he
anon, led by effete Admirals and manned by raw
CHRONICLES
Universal suffrage and the ballot
they have hitherto
unsrte this time in their accessories as
tors and the astoniPsrh"ed, to the praise of French elec-
. and
dnt of Political alarmists. Pink,
blue, yellow, brown
of green papers (the Government
has the monopoly ite) are flying about in all
lions, wee are told, abnidll3paonstded everywhere (to the dis-
direc-
paragement of play-
mendacM. Albert), in all the hues
of' the most beeteftil
ge Resignations,
aorre ptrhoe-
fessions—it would be hard,toOrtYd;ieteßrmesini
most elaborately fraudulent
deceitful. First
oftdl, it is M. De Girarilin whophisawnititYhdrawn from the
Louis Napoleon;
electoral struggle, and, next,
te competitors
while all El Dorado is promisedby dee
of a reecsepue sergeant in
with the zeal and vemity
England. And, as a MTet and harnsonloti:g
such professions, the Prefect of the Seine psutssequetee of
dilatation, which instructs us greatly in its illustoruattia pro •
a practice which is acknowledged to be fashionable_of
that of voting twice. Pains and penalties the 170.
severe are announced against such 'sewer's as shall this'
time think tit to double themselves. The Emperor
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 on offi-
cial authority, with the utmost ease and success. Nor
will this duplicity be arrested, we should think, by any
retenAe on the part of an Executive which, at the same
time, puts forward its own candidates and would-be no-
zainese, criraping„ rather than canvassing among the
population. Electors will probably compromise with