The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,- TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1856,

There was indeed a small diminution. The clerks were paid
according to seniority, and if a senior retired and his place
was supplied by a j tinier, there was a small diminution.
e Mr. WILLIAMS—Has not the expense of postage been
transferred ?
Sir C. WOOD—The Admiralty were not responsible for
that; it was the act of the Treasury, who thought it advis-
able that all the postag should appear in one vote. The
next vote is 20,0001. for Naval Coast Volunteers. In that
there is a considerable reduction. The number of men
who have entered has been much smaller than was ex-
pected. I think it is possible, however, that this establish-
anent may be turned to more account when the number of
sailors employed inthe navy is reauced at the conclusion
of peace ; and I am therefore unwilling to adopt the course
which some persons have suggested, and to put an end to
the system which was recommended by a committee of most
able officers during the time that the Duke of Northumber-
land was at the heal of the Admiralty. The next vote is
58,9821. for the scientific branch. In that department there
has been an increase of expenditure, to which I think the
country will willingly assent. The first item is for an increase
of the salary of the Astronomer Royal. It is now 20 years
since Mr. Airey was appointed to that position at a smaller
salary than hispredecessor had eeejoyed. While he has filled
that office he has distinguished himself by various i inprove-
ments in the constitution of the Observatory and its appa-
ratus. He has shrunk from no labour, and has constantly un-
dertaken work net connected with the Observatory. The
character of that establishment now stands as high as, or
higher than that of any other establishment in Europe.
The catalogue of stars which the Astronomer Royal has
prepared has been appealed to without hesitation as the
most complete and perfect one which exists. (Hear.) Ho
has applied photography to the taking of observations, and
has been at much trouble in connexion with the measures
which have recently been adopted for communicating the
correct time to the mercantile marine. He has also taken
part in many scientific inquiries ; and it is only right that
the country should in some manner express the sense
which it entertains of the value of his services. The other
principal item of the increase in this department is a sum
of 4,2001., required for procuring and erecting at the Royal
Observatory a more perfect astronomical instrument called
an equatorial. The equatorial now in the Observatory is
inferior to those possessed by any similar establishment of
any reputation in Europe, and even to one which has been
erected by a gentleman in the county of Sligo. There
is at present an opportunity of obtaining a very per-
fect one with an object-glass 13 inches in diameter, and
the Astronomer Royal has proposed to me to take a vote
for its purchase, and for the erection of the necessary ma-
chinery. To that votel am convinced the house will most
willingly assen t. The next vote is 153,7951. for her Majesty's
establishments at home. The greater part of the increase in
this vqte has been rendered necessary by the pressure ofwork
in the dockyards ; but it also includes an item which, as it
may provoke some opposition, I think it right to explain.
Wo find that there are in the navy a considerable,
number of Roman Catholic officers and soldiers, and we
thought it was bht fair that they should, when in port,
have the opportunity of attending at the performance
of divine worship according to the rites of their own
church. We have, therefore, at each of the ports, caused
to be prepared in a ship in' ordinary, accommodation
precisely similar to that which is provided for the
service of our own church, and in these ships Roman
Catholic priests have performed service hitherto with-
out remuneration. I propose to the house that we
should at each port pay a Roman Catholic chaplain for
the performance of service to the seamen of the fleet. An
impression having existed that there are is the float no
great number of seamen of the Roman Catholic persuasieu,
I desired a return to be prepared, showing the number of
officers and men who attended the celebration of divine
worship according to the ritual of that church, at the three
great ports. I find that yesterday there attended the
Roman Catholic service at Slieerness 2 officers and 59 men,
and at Portsmouth 120 officers and men. The average num-
ber of those who have attended that service at Plymouth
has been 26 officers and 197 men. It is exceedingly unde-
sirable that the men should be required to land in port, as
such landing generally leads rather to attendance at public-
houses than at, place of public worship ; and I believe it
will be very conducive to the discipline of the service, as
well as to the moral character of the men, that they should
have the opportunity of attending this service. I, therefore,
trust that the sum required for that service will be granted
by the house. The next three votes are for the salaries
of officers and wages of seamen in the yards at home and
abroad. Ido not think it is possible to reduce the sums
paid for wages. Hon. gentlemen are aware that during the
last year much building has been done by contract ; but
that is not a satisfactory mode of executing the work. We
find that even the largest contractors seldom have an ex-
tensive stock of material on hand, and consequently much
of the timber 'that is put into even the smaller vessels is
not sufficiently seasoned. More than that, very few con-
tractors have kept time and delivered the vessels at the
period at which they promised them. Independently of
the greater punctuality insured by such an arrangement,
I cannot but think that, both as regards the soundness of
the materials used and the superior character of the work-
manship, the interests of the public will be best promoted
by doing the work as much as possible in our own dock-
yards, instead of giving it out on contract, as was custo-
mary in former times. The amount of repairs necessary to
be executed on ships returning from the Black Sea and the
Baltic define the last two years was so large that building
was to a certain extent diminished, but, as the committee
will no doubt bo of opinion with mu that it is by no means
desirable that iu a country such as this the art and practice
of shipbuilding should be allowed to fall into disuse, I trust
that you will sanction, for next year, the same expendi.
titre on account of the yards as is at present in progress.
(Hear.) The only item in respect of which I can entertain
a well-founded hope that there will be a reduction before
the close of the year is that which refers to our establish-
niente in Constantinople and the Black Sea. An immedi-
ate reduction is scarcely to he expected, for the committee
will not fail to bear in mind that, if peace should be con-
cluded, we shall have to withdraw the whole of our army
from the Black Sea, and for that reason the amount of
work thrown on the establishment at Constantinople will
in the first instance he necessarily very great. For this '
reason, and fur no other, it may be necessary to increase
the expenditure on account of transports. The next vote
is for stores, and it will be seen that upon this item there
is a reduction of about 500,0001., chiefly owing to the large
supply of some essential articles of stores, the means of
purchasing which the House of Commons placed last year
at the command of the Admiralty, the main article being
that most necessary commodity—hemp. It was but natural
to expect the t the war would interfere with the regular
and abundant supply of Baltic hemp, and, under the e
circumstances, an offer was made 'to the Admiralty of a
large quantity of Italian hemp, which has been received,
arid which has proved of excellent quality. Five hundred
tons of Hungarian hemp were also offered to the Admi-
ralty, and wo thought it advisable to accept them, not
only that we might insure an ample stock of so essential
an article, but because it is desirable to extend the area of
supply, and so secure the double advantage of a larger
market and a cheaper price. In 1e54 Baltic hemp was sold
at 661. per ton. 6,600 tons of the Italian article have been
purchased since then, and the result has been that Baltic
hemp has fallen to 441. the ton. Ia other words, a reduc-
tion of more than 20/. per ton hes been effected in the price
of the Baltic hemp by the ant of the Admiralty in buying
the Italian commodity, which turns out to be of a very
good quality. We have now doubled the stock we had on
hand at the beginning of last year, and are therefore inde-
pendent of any unfavourable contingency that may here-
after arise. Having two years' supply in our stores, we
should not suffer inconvenience, even though the sources
heretofore open to us were now to be closed. Copper is
another important commodity, of which, that it might be
at hand in any required quantity for the purposes of the
dockyards, we last year laid in so large a stork that we
can afford to make a considerable redaction in the supply
now demanded. The item which relates to the purchas-
ing and repairing of steam machinery for the construction
of steam-ships is necessarily a very heavy one, for, inde-
pendently of works that may be hereafter projected, we
shall have to pay a large sane for vessels already ordered.
(Hear, hear.) It is to be understood; therefore, that this
vote does not refer merely to immediate objects, but that
a large portion of the expenditure is clue on account of
work which will not be completed till within the course
of next year. (Hear, hear.) The large increase in the
number of steamships frequenting the Baltic rendered it
unavoidable that there should be a proportionate augmen-
tation of the expenditure on account of coal. However, I
mean to ask for something less than appears on the f,ce of
the estimates. (Hear.) lam not in a position to make a
sweeping reduction, but I propose that, instead of
3,500,000 e, as originally intended, we shall take under this
head a vote for 3,000,000/. (Hear, hear.) I need scarcely
observe that the introduction of steam is causing a com-
plete revolution in the mechanism of the navy. Fully
one-third of the expense of a new ship is now due to the
machinery, and I think I should be justified in computing,
that a screw ship of 90 guns will cost three to two com-
pared with a sailing vessel. (liar.) It is obvious that
such a system of naval architecture demands extraordinary
means and appliances, and renders it necessary that there
shall be factories, and new machinery of a costly and com-
plicated character, in all your dockyards. Nevertheless,
we have heretofore had regard to economy, and 1 are sure
that naval men, who have a practical knowledge of such
subjects, will concur with me in thinking that we have
rather fallen short of than exceeded the demands of the
service.in this respect. The increased size of vessels ren-
ders it necessary to enlarge the proportions of the docks ;
and in four of the yards we arc at the present met-neat in-
curring considerable expense for the purpose of extending,
the docks in such a manner as to enable them to accom-
modate the longer vessels wbich the invention of steam has
introduced. For souse years back it has been the practice
of all the Admiralties to promote as to touch as possible the
i!'tr•allotiasu of machinery into the dockyards. Thie do--
curable object will be materially promoted by the vote
we
mean to submit this ye af a 1 lam pirticularly
anxious that the committeeshould bear in mind that
a large itevnis on account of that vote fir ma-
chinery,will which
and, by economising improvebo the work done in the yards,
tttr, eventually diminish the cost
of production. Anotherg
item of marine barracks at t°llra in this vote is for the build-
ingdivisions of marines. (ae:rhi. sad-quarters of the various
which I doubt net the committee This'
is an expenditure
marines have done good service countrytothwelll
the
Governmentrih hon.
will
cor-
dially concur in the hope expressed by approve,
re df r tl
gen-
tlemanlB who preceded me in office, thatr
take so injudicious a step as to reduce numerical
strength of that valuable branch of the se
at all times been most useful as far as the disci. iThey have
ships is concerned, and on many occasions, recentlyPr'e ofh war
for-
merly,
they have proved that they are not infenso
sailors afloat or to soldiers on shore. The sanitary arrange,
meats manta of these barracks will necessarily involve some slight
additional expenditure, but this consideration wilt not, 1
am sure, avail against improvements which modern ou-
lightenment renders indispensable. The next vote is for the
medical supplies of the navy, and %miler that head I pro-
posed the same votes as last year-55,0001.
On the miscel-
laneous votes I do not know that it will be possible to
make any considerable reduction. They are pretty much
the acme as last year, rho only material increase being that
oeceeioned by legal proceedings arising out of a state of
blockade. I now come to the vista for half-pay. Here there
is an increase which wee inevitable under the circum-
steeces, and which will, I trust, he it sufficient answer to
rue' hon. and gallant friend now me (Captain Scobell), and
satisfy him that we have not ;ewe usgererdlY in the promo.
Mem we have roads in rupee, ireftee 111 the war. The in-
creased expenditure under this heart is simply attributable
to the fact that a uneaher or ,dicers have been promoted ,
for gallant services since the commencement of hostilities.
On this account alone 100- lienteueute were last year pro-
moted to the rank of commauders, and, although there
may be in coosequence a greater number of commanders ou
the list than can at the present moment be employed, there
is no one, I am sure, who will deny the justice and expe-
diency "givib' to these officers the advancement to which,
by their merits, they are manifestly entitled On these
and some other items I shall make some further observe-
Voile by and by©; but
leave them for the present and
pass on to the other votes. I come, then, to the good-
service Peusi"l3- :1116 gentleman aniollverted upon
the bestowal of theseoo,
upon two officers in particu-
and, sithomgh dide not mention their names, nobody
lar,
reeeneug tee the estimates c01114a: •
to lwatuly the „
-

duals to whom he alluded. It would therefore be needless
delicacy on my part to withhold the names of those two
officers, while I give the reason for our bestowing these
rewards upon them. The first of them is Captain Koppel,
who has seen more active service than almost any other
officer of his rank ; and if my hon. friend behind me wore
to poll the entire navy, he would find its unanimous opin-
ion to be that there is not a better, more gallant, or more
deserving officer in the service. (Hear.) Capt. Koppel has
distinguished himself on every occasion in which his ser-
vices have been called into requisition, the most recent in-
stance of this having occurred during his command of the
Naval Brigade before Sebastopol, and, if such a mark of
honour is to be conferred at all, I declare I do not know an
officer on the list to whom it could be more appropriately
given. (Hear.) The second officer to whom my hon. friend
referred is Lord Clarence Paget. It is true that Lord Cla-
rence Paget has not seen the same amount of service as
Capt. Keppel ; but it was considered that he and Captain
Henderson, both being most meritorious officers, who had
done good service in the war, and in consequence of that
service had unfortunately been incapacitated by ill-health
for the discharge of further duty, were fully eligible to re-
ceive this pension, Lord Clarence Paget served in the
Black Sea, and was also employed on shorein various ways
by Sir E. Lyons until his eyesight completely failed him.
I believe that he has irrecoverably lost the use of one eye,
and is in imminent danger ofalso losing the use of the ether;
and being, moreover, as excellent an officer as there is in
the navy, we thought a good-service pension would not be
ill bestowed if it were awarded to hirer. (Hear.) The same
remark applies to the case of Capt. Henderson, who cer-
tainly does not belong to an aristocratic family, and there-
fore cannot be said to have received his pension for the
reason to which Lord Clarence Paget's has been unjustly
ascribed. Capt. Henderson is an officer of very fair ser-
vice, although not longer than that of Lord Clarence Paget ,•
he was selected by my predecessor in office for the command
in the West Indies, where he acquitted himself with ad-
mirable judgment, discretion, and skill. Ho was compelled
to return home from ill health, and it was my duty to allow
him to leave without being previously relieved, in order to
save his life. Under these circumstances I deemed him
not undeserving of a good-service pension. After these ex-
planations, I hardly think that the committee, or even the
hon. gentleman behind me, will regard these pensions as
having been improperly or unfairly bestowed. In the next
vote, for pensions, there is a slight increase, in consequence
of the extension of the boon to the widows of officers dying
from ill health contracted in the service ; but the main in-
crease in this branch of the expenditure is owing to a change
that has been made in the mode of paying seamen their.
out-pensions. The seamen will be placed this year on the
same footing as the army with regard to these pensions,
which will be paid to them in advance instead of at the
end of the quarter. The next vote is for civil pensions and
allowances, and amounts to 147,6351. This item so en-
tirely depends on the health and mortality of the service,
and the rules which regulate its distribution are so fixed
and unchangeable that there is very little variation in its
amount one year as compared with another. The next vote,
which is for the transport service, is very large; and, al-
though I propose to take a smaller Burn than that which
appears on the estimates—viz., 6,971,5371., inclusive of the
charge for prisoners of war—yt, even if it should so happen
that peace is shortly concluded, and the whole of our troops
can be brought home from the shores of the Black Sea, it
must nevertheless be obvious that there can be little or no
reduction in this vote. (Hear.) The freights of most of
the vessels have fallen, and on that account a smaller sum
will be chargeable than was required last year ; but, on
the other hand, the sum taken for coals has turned out to
be inadequate to meet the demands of the service ; and in
the case of many of the other items, such as those for the
fitting of the transports, bedding for the troops, forage, &ca.
the amounts also proved insufficient. Therefore, looking to
the larger force that we now have in the Black Sea than
we had before, we propose to take a still larger sum than
eisperience showed to be requisite for the last year. In like
manner there will be a slight increase in the vote for the
maintenance of prisoners of war, because we have more
prisoners to keep now than we had last year; an-1 we have
to bear the expense not only of those who are in this coun-
try, but of those who are at Constantinople. As long as
these persons remain prisoners of war they must be main-
tained ; the account can be checked when it comes in, and
it would be unwise not to make an ample provision under
this head. The committee may, perhaps, like to know the
amount of service which has been performed in the course
of the past year by the Transport Board ; and I shall,
therefore, road to it the number of the troops who have been
conveyed by sea within that period. The figures are as
follows :—To the Black Sea from Enrope—British from
Englana, 50,003 • military corps from ditto, 5,00 J; Foreign
Legion, ditto, 5,000; French from south of France, 26,000 ;
Sareinians from Genoa, 19,000. Total, 105,000. To the
Mediterranean—Militia from England, 5,039. In the
Black Sea and the Mediterranean—British from the Medi-
terranean, 20,001 ; French in the Black Sea, 5,000 ; Turks
in ditto, 58,000 ; Turkish Contingent, 20,003 ; British on
the Black Sea, 20,030 ; Kinburn, 3,500. Total,' 133,000.
Troops moved elsewhere, invalids, &c., 46,000. Total
number of troops moved within the year29l,ooo. (Hear.)
And I au] happy to say that with the exception of the
burning of a single vessel, this vast amount of work has
been performed without a disaster. (Hear.) It is only
fair that I should bear testimony to the exemplary 0)12-
duet and care of the masters of the transport ships, whether
belonging to the Royal Navy or to the merchant service,
for it mainly owing to their great skill and diligence
that the service has been so satisfactorily accomplished ;
and it certainly afforded me much -pleasure to hear the
hon. member for Northamptonshire (Mr. Stafford) speak
so highly as he did the other night of the admirable state
of our transport service. (Hear.) The only other vote is
one for the packet service, on which there is a small in-
crease in consequence of a contract ordered by the Trea-
sury for Shetland awl Orkney. I have now gone through
the various items comprised in these estimates; but I said
that I 'should postpone further remarks upon them till I
could present to the committee, in a single view, the causes
of the additional expense in the shape of pay, retirement
allowances, and pensions, which appears in the estimates ;
and to do this I must revert to a period that has long
elapsed, because, what we aro doing now and what has
been done in the course of the last year, are merely the
sequel and consequences of a series of measures which have
been in constant progress during the last eight or 10 years.
Whatever Government may have been in power during
that period, a continuous improvement in the condition of
every class in the navy=from the admiral to the cabin-boy
—has been steadily going forward from year to year. it
is mach the fashion for hon. gentlemen to tell us night
after night that the officers and men of the navy are neg-
lected and uncared for by the Admiralty; and I dare
say that those who make these assertions do so sincerely
believing diem to be true, from not having taken the trou-
ble to inquire into the facts. I feel it, therefore, my duty,
in justice, not so much to myself as to those boards which
have preceded me, to go through the various improvements
which have been made in the condition of every officer and
every man in the navy. My hon. friend behind me refer-
ral the other evening to the number of admirals, but he
mixed up with the active list the reserved list of admi-
rals, of which the vacancies will not be filled up. The
number of admirals upon the active list was fixed by
order in Council, in 1851, at 96, and at the same time 10
reserved service pensions of 1501. a year were assigned to
such admirals as were willing to have their names taken
off the list. With regard to the captains, by order in
Council the number was fixed at 3.o—the reduction to
that amount being gradual, as officers attained the head of
the list. I know that my lion. and gallant friend oppo-
site complains that his name appears on the reserved list.
[Admiral WAT.COTT—" I did.") But unless that
course were adopted, it would be impossible to bring
the number of officers down to a number consistent with
a state of peace. (Hear, hear.) To use, perha:is, a strong
term, besides being deceitful, it disgusts the public, to see
a large number of admirals and captains on the active list,
when it is perfectly well known that a very small number
only can be employed. What wan done was this—a re-
served list of admirals was made, consisting of captains
who had not served their time, rising in rank, but with
the pay only of rear-admirals. In 1846 there wore 200
retired admirals and captains, 55 years of age, and 10
years' standing, on the captains' list, and that number has
been kept full up to the present time. There are two
modes by which captains may go upon the reserved list.
If they get sufficiently high in the list they may take the
half-pay of 255. a-day as rear-admirals; and if they choose
they way retire, after 10 years' service, with pay rising
from 18s. to 11. a-day. In the course of the present year a
change has been made in the mode of paying captains.
Instead of being paid according to the rate of the ship in
which they are employed, they are paid according to their
standing on the captains' list. It may be desirable, on
account of the importance of the command, to employ a
captain of high standing in a small ship, and I think it
would be a great injustice to give the lower rate of pay.
It is, therefore, now provided that captains shall be paid
according to their standing on tbo list, in whatever size
ship they may serve, and, at the same time, we have
raised the pay of the lower class of captains of all below
the first 170, because we thought it not adequate to meet
the expenditure which in these dap they may be called
upon to make. (Hear.) With regard to the next list,
that of commanders, the number in 1851 was fixed at 450.
A certain number were placed on the reserved list, and
51 were promoted to be reserved captains by selection,
with the lowest grade of half-pay as captains. At
the same time 50 additional
.retirements were given
to commanders by seniority, making, with the 50
retirements in 1340, 100 retirements for commanders.
They have been receiving the lowest half-pay of captains,
and Ido not think that adequate retirement. (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) There should be large means of
retirement for that class of officer,. because it is a step most
anxiously sought by lieetenaiitzi, an& the natural tendency
is to accumulate on the commanders' list far more ottieers
Elan can be employed. We therefore added 50 more to the
number, to be promoted by selection, to be reserved cep-
tains, and 150 more to those rhingth the rank of seniority.
There are thus 250 commanders who rise to the position of
reserved captains by seniority, to be reduced ultimately to
200 ; and it is arranged that those appointed by selection
shall not be appointed all at once, but at the rate of 15 per
annum until the whole number is completed. With regard
to lieutenants, the number was fixed by order in Council
in 1851 at 1,200, and the number is about that at present.
Power was also given in 1851 to promote ;3 by selectiou to
be reserved commanders, with the lowest half-pay of com-
mander. That was felt to be a great boon, and I propose
to double the number. This is one of the sources of in-
crease in the half-pay vote; but I think it only just and
fair to the officers, while it is equally fair and beneficial to
the public. [" Hear," from Mr. Williams.] In 1846 half-
pay was given to mates after three years' service if they
were unable to obtain or were unfit for service, but before
that they were sent away without any half-pay at all.
With regard to midshipmen, one great change was made
in 1850, rendering indispensable examination at the end of
fear years, and two years' sea service, subsequent to pass-
ing that examination, before they became mates. I come
next to the class of masters. A more meritorious class of
of ;;ers does net exist, and they have not been neglected by
successive Boards of Admiralty. In 1146 a regulation was
made that the tinaeas master 'ish. cotint as lieutenants'
time to qualify for promotion to the rank of commander.
In 1855 it was arranged that masters should be paid by ser-
vice and not by rate, their fall pay was raised, their half-pay
was raised, and ample means of retirement were given, if
they qualified for first or second rate, after 15 years as corn-
eas rider after 29 years ascaptain. In the present year it is
proposed,'and the proposal only was: s the sanction of the
Treasury, and an order in Council—to further increase the
pay of two classes of masters. I &herald also mention that
in 1812 half-pay was given to second masters if unfit for
service or unemployed, in the same manner as to mates.
The next class aro the engineers. ' They have been in a very
anomalous position, incidental to the comparatively
recent
application of steam to the navy, and they naturally desire
to be placed on a permanent footing. A measure is pre-
pired, and waiting only the sanction of the Treasury, Which
places them substantially on the same footing as masters.
They are divided into classes like masters ; they will have
the dame
havePathey will be entitled to the same half-pay
ty ;
theysimilar pensions granted to their widows sad
families, and will wear the same uniform. An order in
Council was passed in the present year increasing to &cer-
tain extent the full pay of chaplains. An order has been
ease' lately passed, increasing the pelf-pay of naval instrne-
tore, after 15 yea service, and giTieg retirement atm. 20
.1