The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-01 00:00:00

THE FRENCH NAVY.

The National contains the following observations on
the neglected state of the French navy:—
" France has always been a naval power of the first
order whenever a man of strong determination, ani-
mated with national sentiments, has been placed at
the bead of the Marine Department. Such are
still the inexhaustible resources of our country,
and the wonderful aptitude of the population of
our coasts, that if the Ministers of Marine of
the late Government had taken advantage of the
eighteen years of peace enjoyed since 1830, the good
feeling of our nation, and the 1,700,000,0001. which were
apportioned in the annual budgets, we cannot doubt
but that France would have rapidly resumed the
rank on the sea which our maritime reverses
during cur great continental wars caused us to
lose. But insurmountable obstacles were opposed
by the fatal policy of the House of Orleans, which
did not wish to create a navy, fearing to displease Eng.
land. What has been the result ? At present we have
an insufficient fleet, and our arsenals are empty. We can
no longer delay to direct the attention of the Provisional
Government to our alarming situation, particularly at
a moment when England has increased her armaments
so considerably. Everything is to be created in
the administration of the marine, aid we have not seen
since the revolution of February any new measure
adopted to raise our navy. We have certainly remarked
some modifications of detail, of which we do not wish to
depreciate the merit, and we are ready to do honour to the
sympathies of the Minister of Marine for the condition
of our seamen. But, we say it with regret, we find the same
men, the same regulations, the same habits, which
cannot fail to perpetuate the same abuses, and to lead
to similar results. We call, therefore, upon the Pro-
visional Government. to appoint a commission for the
navy, as it has done for the army, invested with the most
ample powers to investigate the causes of our maritime de-
cay, and to propose such reforms as the preservation of our
naval power demands. But, in order that the commis-
sion shall attain this object, we must introduce into it
new men, whose firmness is equal to their experience,
and wbo are determined to seund all the wounds, to point
out all abuses, to reveal all frauds, and to stop short at
no innovation."

H MEETINGS.
The followingTE 3Y
anniversarylA meetings are announced to
be held during the present month :
MONDAY, MAY l.—Wesleyan blissionary Society,
Exeter Hall, at eleven o'clock; chairman, J. Heald, Esq.,
M.P.—Home and Colonial Schools Society, Literary In-
stitution, Gray's Inn-road, at eleven o'clock; chairman,
Earl of Chichester.

TUESDAY, MAY 2.—Church Missionary Society,
Exeter Hall, at ten o'clock; chairman, Earl of Chichester.
—Churchchairman,
Missio
Bary Society, Exeter Hall, at six
o'clock; Marquis of Cholmondeloy.—Christian
Instruction Society, Finsbury Chapel, at six o'clock ;
chairman, S. M. Peto, Esq., m.p.
_ _

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3.-1-British and Foreign Bible So-
ciety, Exeter Hall, at eleven; chairman (not fixed).—
British Anti-State Church Association, Finsbury Chapel,
at half-past six o'clock; chairman, Dr. F. Price.—Free
Church of Scotland Foreign Missions, Exeter Hall, at
six o'clock; chairman, Right Honourable Fox Maule,
M.P.—St. Ann's Schools, the Asylum, Streatham, at
two o'clock; chairman, Lord Bishop of Manchester.—
Book Society, Exeter Hall, at six o'clock; chairman,
Alderman Challis.—Town Missions and Scriptur.
Readers' Society, Freemasons' Tavern, at half-past six
o'clock; chairman, J. D. Paul, Esq.
THURSDAY, MAY 3.—Lyndon City Mission, Exeter-
hall, at eleven o'clock ; chairman, Lord Kinnaird —Sun-
day School Union, Exeter-hall, at six o'clock ; chair-
man, Sir E. N. Buxton, Bert., M.P.—London City
Mission, Crosby-hall, at half past six o'clock ; chairman,
R. C. L. Bevan, Esq.
FRIDAY, MAY s.—London Society for Promoting
Christianity among the Jews, Exeter-hall, at eleven
o'clock ; chairman, Lord Ashley, M.P.—Religious Tract
Society, Exeter-hall, at six o'clock ; chairman, Thomas
Farmer, Esq.—Colonial Church Society, Freemasons
Tavern, at half-past six o'clock ; chairman, J. P.
Plumptre, Esq., M.P.
SATURDAY, MAY 6.—Sailors' Home and Asylum,
Hanover-square Rooms, at two o'clock ; chairman,
Admiral Bowles, M.P.
MONDAY, MAY S.—British and Foreign School So-
ciety, Exeter Hall, at twelve o'clock ; chairman, Right
Honourable Viscount Morpeth, ALP.—Prayer Book and
Homily Society, Exeter Hall, at twelve o'clock ; chair-
raan (not fixed).—British and Foreign Sailors' Society,
London Tavern,
at half-past six o'clock ; chairman, the
Right Honourable the Lord Mayor.
TUESDAY, MAY 9.--Church Pastoral Aid Society,
Exeter Hall, at eleven o'clock ; chairman, Lord Ashley,
M.P.—British Missionary Society, Exeter Hall, at sixo'clock ; chairman Alderman Challis.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10.—Protestant Association,
Exeter Hall, at twelve o'clock; chairman (not fixed).—
Ragged School Union (District Meeting), Arnwen.
street, Pentonville, at six o'clock; chairman, Lord Bishop
of St. David's.
Tgu"DAYI MAY le.—London Missionary Society,
Exeter Hall, at ten o'clock; chairman, J. Kershaw,
Esq., M.P.—British Reformation Society, Hanover-
square-rooms, at twelve o'clock; chairman (not fixed).—
London Missionary Society, Finsbury Chapel, at six
o'clock; chairman, Alderman Challis.
Pruner, MAY 12.—London Hibernian Society,
Hanover-square Rooms, at twelve o'clock; chairman,
Marquis of Cholmondeley.—Operative Jewish Converts'
Society, London Tavern, at half-
past six o'clock; chair-
man, Right Hon. Sir George Rose, Bart.
TUESDAY, MAY 16.
square Rooms, at one o'clock; chairman, Marquis . of
Cholmondele —Foreign Aid Society, Hanover-
Y.—Ragged School Union (General Meet-
ing), Exeter Hall, at six o'clock; chairman, Lord Ash-
ley, M.P.—Primitive Methodists' Missionary Society,
Ellin Chapel, Fetter-lane, at six o'clock; chairman (not
fixed).
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17.—Royal Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals,-Hanover-square Rooms, '
at one o'clock; chairman, Lord Bishop of Norwich.

-- -- ---- rri_ Bill
AUDIT Or RAILWAY ACCOUNTS.—The to
provide for a more effectual Audit of Railway Accounts
in certain cases, which has passed the House of Lords, is
awaiting the second reading in the House of Commons.
It is proposed to empower shareholders to call on direc-
tors to submit the balance-sheet prepared for the exami-
nation and report of an auditor. 'file Act, if passed, is
to take effect on the Ist July.
A PUZZLING ADDRESS.—We fi'id in a retort of
the Anglesea
Assizes, a person mentioned 18 "Owen
,Jones, late of Llangfairywilgwygpil." •