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

C APTAIN 9.

The number of captains wag fixed by the retirement o,
1846 at " not exceeding 500;" but the number of 500 is
not now complete, the full number not having been
filled up, in contemplation of some new arrangement.
My Lords propo.e that the number of captains on the
active list should be fixed at 350. I❑ fixing this number
their Lordships secure to officers of captain's rank more
conti❑uous active employment than under the present
system, while the rise of a captain to the rank of ad-
miral will be more rapid than it can be when the number
of captains is larger.
It is proposed that the reduction of 350 shall be ef-
fected—

1. As vacancies occur in the active list of flag officers
the captain first in seniority, who has served for his
flag, will be promoted (reserving her Majesty's un-
doubted right of selection). Those captains who rise to
their flag, and who have not served, will be placed on
p.rmanent half-pay, rising in rank as at present, but
with the half-pay of rear-admirals.
2. By keeping open the retirement of 1846 to the
number of 200, until the list of captains be reduced to
350. The retired list then to be diminished by only re-
tiring one in •Rro vacancies until it be reduced to 100,
and by permitting captains who are above 55 years of
age, and who have been on the captain's list for 10 years,
to be eligible for retirement.
3. By observing the rule of promotion as it is now
in force, of one in three, until the number is reduced
to 350.

4. By abandoning the system of brevet promotions.
Without this, their Lordships feel that no regulations
can be effective, either in reducing the number or re•
taining that number when once reached. It is in vain
to observe strict rules for a time, if the whole result is
to be swept away at once by a large promotion.
At the same time their Lordships are aware that
brevets afford the opportunity of meeting the claims of
old officers who have served long and well, and who
seek their promotion rather as the reward of past ser-
vices than iu the expectation of further employment.
To meet these claims equitably, and at the same time
not to fill the active list with officers who cannot long
continue fit for service, their Lordships propose to pro-
mote by selection 50 commanders to the ruck of cap-
tams; these officers to be placed on permanent half-pay,
Of these 50, 20 to be selected in the current year and
10 in each succeeding year, until the number reaches
.50, when the vacancies only should be filled up.

COMMANDERS.
The number of commanders on the active list on the
Ist of April, 1851, amounted to 828. My Lords propose
that the active list should be reduced to 450 commanders.
Tbis reduction should be effected-
1. By the selection of 50, as above proposed.
2. By increasing to 100 the list of commanders pro-
moted to the rank of retired captain under th© Order in
Council 1840, and keeping such retirement open until the
number of commanders on the active list is reduced to
450, as proposed.
3. By placing on permanent half-pay all commanders
who have not served ail )at, or in the packet or revenue
service, witbia twenty years, or who are physically in-
c,ipable of service; and by continuing from time to time
to remove such officers from the active list to permanent
half-pay.
Their Lordships consider that it will be just that
()Mc:era s,) placed on permanent half Tay should retain all
the advantages they now enjoy of rising in pay or rank,
or of receiving the Greenwich out-pension.
4•. That the system of brevets be abandoned, but that
50
lieutenantsra,ek of
should be promoted by selection to the
commanders to be placed on permanent half-
Pay, m the '
same manner and for the same reasons as
their Lordships recommended in the case of commanders
promoted to
captains.
5
• By oblerving tho rule of promotion of one in three,
as now in force, until the number on the active list be
reduced to 450.

The number, Ofw LIEUTENANTS.
of April, 1851alsie2utenants on the active list on the Ist
The Lords of the 2.147.
number to 1,200. y propose to reduce this
They recommend, firstly
lection, as above proposed the promotion of 50 by se-
2. To place on permanent half
all lieutenants who
have not served afloat, or
allthe packet or the revenue
in -
service, within 20 years, and
t9tracke ate are physically
o remove such
unable to serve, and from time to
officers from the activo to the permanent
serving to them, as in the case of commanders-pay. Re-
tages they now enjoy of rising in pay or rank
be
all advan-
ceivinff the Greenwich out-pension. , or of re-
3. That the rule of promotion of one in. three should
be kept, until the number on the active list
reduced
to 1 200, as proposed.
4. That no promotion of mates to lieutenants should
be made by brevet.
The Lords of the Admiralty have no suggestion to
make with respect to the number of mates, midshipmen,
and naval cadets. They have already adequate power
to conral the increase of their number beyond the
warts of
the service, and measures have been taken to
that
e"a. '"t• In 1848 the entries of cadets were limited
to 100 in each
cornea into fair
year. This number, when the system
in the five operation,yearis may not e
*
large entries had
bean
the introduction of a limit
view of reducing the Lordships, with a
made, their
the excess gradually, not long ago fur-
therentries.watch to 76 in each year. Their
I.ordsdhilnipi:iwshiledl
hec:refully the operation of this ar-
rangement; and, if
'arY, they will further
or increase the number reduce
ii; etries; in the meantime they
will make no change
Treasury.
It present rule without pre-
vious communication with
It remains to state the result of
Re-
cording to the list of Ist of April, 185r.Proposals. Ace
admirals, 492 captains, 828 commanders, 2,147 lieu-
tenants.
My Lords propose to reduce the active list
to 100 admirals, 350 captains, 450 commanders, 1,200
lieutenants.
The Lords of the Treasury will not fail to "e that at
first this reduction will be merely a transfer from the
. activo list to the permanent half-pay; but as lives drop
the number on the permanent half-pay will diminish, and
the expenditure for the deadweight decrease.
Their Lordships will also observe that the arrange_
went includes the creation of 10 pensions for admirals,
the keeping open the retired list for captains, and an
addition to the list of retired captains and com-
manders. So far as expense is concerned, their Lord-
ships believe that it would be unnecessary to ask Parlia-
ment for an increase of the sum now included in the
estimates. The vote for half-pay is always framed on
tho basis of the past year, and has usually exceeded the
wail espanditure; and the vote in the estimates of
- . 101421 M feirly be expected to meet the excel:4l%lre