The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-06 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The following letter has been published in explanation
of a supplementary estimate of 6,5001. for the retirement
of naval officers:—

(Confidential.)
Admiralty, April 29.
I dm commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty to communicate to you, for the information
of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that the
present state of the navy list has engaged the serious at-
tention of the Lords of the Admiralty.
At the termination of the war in 1815 the number of
officers of different ranks was necessarily very large, and
this number was greatly increased by the promotions
made in that 'year in consideration of the services of
those who had been employed during a long and arduous
contest.
The active list was thus swelled far beyond the re-
quirements of the country during peace, and the evils
resulting have continued to affect the service most in-
juriously.
Different Boards of Admiralty have from time to time
taken measures calculated to mitigate these evils; but
the eondition of the navy list, in their opinion, still re.
quires material amendment.
The Lords of the Admiralty have therefore considered
it their duty to give their best attention to this important
subject, in the hope of effecting some arrangement which
may tend to the benefit of the service, and at the same
time secure to the public a gradual reduction of the heavy
charge of half-pay.
To effect these objects, the Lords of the Admiralty
feel it absolutely necessary to reduce the active list to an
amount more commensurate with the requirements of
the country, by diminishing the number retained on that
list and removing to permanent half-pay those who have
become unfit for employment. Their Lordships will have
to deal with the wishes and feelings of a large body of
old and deserving officers, but in the proposals which
they are about to lay before the Treasury, they have
endeavoured carefully to preserve to every officer all to
which he has a just claim.
The number of admirals is at present fixed at 150,
exclusive of admirals of the fleet.
Their Lordships propose that the number should be
reduced to 99, exclusive of admirals of the fleet; of
these 99, 21 to be admirals, 27 vice-admirals, and 51
rear-admirals.
They propose that this reduction should be effected-
1. By removing to permanent half-pay those now on
the active list who, under the Order in Council of 30th
June, 1827, have not served for their flag.
The Lords of the Treasury are aware that previous to
the Commission appointed in 1838, and whose report is
dated 26th March, 1840, these officers were placed on a
retired list, but that in consequence of an opinion ex-
pressed by that Commission the r names were transferred
to the active list. From that time, however, to this no
officer has been employed who has not served for his
flag. The Committee of the House of Commons of 1848
recommended that these officers should be removed from
the active list; and the Lords of the Admiralty are of
opinion that this step is absolutely necessary if any re-
duction is to be effected in the number of admirals.
Under present regulations these officers rise in rank
according to seniority, receiving no addition to their
half-pay as rear-admirals. Their Lordships consider it
but just that they should retain this advantage, and rise
in rank as if they had remained on the active list.
2. By the creation of 10 retired service pensions of
150/. each, to be awarded to flag officers on the active
list who are either above 70 years of age or are physi-
cally incapable of further service. These pensions not
to be held in addition to the good service pension.
Such officers to be placed on the retired list, and the
vacancies occasioned by death to be filled up from the
active list.
Their Lordships make this proposal in the confidence
that the Treasury and Parliament will not withhold their
sanction to an expense of 1,500/. a year, by which an
lion,urable retirement will he secured to old or worn

out officers who have actively served iheir-- country.
This expense, however, small as it is, their Lordships do
not propose should
be permanent. The honorary com-
mand of General of Marines will not be filled up when
the present interest shall terminate, and their Lordships
consider that the sum which then will fall in may fairly
bs cirried to the payment of those pensions.
By these arrangements the number of admirals will
be reduced to 99, or to within one of that number.