The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-18 00:00:00

TEE BRITISH NAVY.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
The slumbering giant it took two years or more
to waken and put forth his strength, is not, it
would seem, to be drugged, through a false econo-
my, to the same extent as before. Even Sir
Charles Wood perceives the impolicy of persisting
in such dangerous treatment, and lest the greatest
naval power in the world should receive a mortal
blow from a less powerful but more active and un-
scrupulous rival, he has introduced a bill to insure
a more rapid and efficient manning of our wooden
walls. Casting his eyes across the Channel he sees
a navy competing with ours, ship by ship, and
armament by armament, and surpassing it in the
provision of men. Extending his observations,
America and Russia, with their powers of naval
offence, meet his gaze, and in reverting homeward
the fact only becomes the more glaring that we are
not prepared, systematically, for war, but in case
of an immediate struggle would have our men to
soak as we had at the commencement of the late war,
and would, consequently, be placed at like disad-
vantage. The result of his cogitations, stimulated,
doubtless, by the threatening aspect of the politi-
calhorizon, is the bill to which we have alluded,
which, if not misapplied, may be described as be-
ing a good measure as far as it goes.
Two opinions have not existed as to the efficiency
and utility of the 2,500 Coast.guard-men drafted
into our fleet during the recent contest. Prepared
by previous training for every duty incumbent on
or to be expected from the hardiest seamen, they
formed a nucleus around which the numerous ar-
dent but inexperienced volunteers gathered with
confidence, and thereby acquired those habits and
that resolution which contact with experience and
the force of example go so far to insure. This
useful body Sir Charles Wood proposes to increase
by 5,000 men, making, in all, 10,000, to consist of
• trained seamen, who are to be kept up as the
Marine Coast Blockade used to be, and drafted on

board our fleets in case of war. To insure the

efficieaoy of the force, guard-ships it is proposed
shall be stationed at the different ports, and at-
tached to them a squadron of gunboats, serving
alike for a protection and the purpose of training.
With this scheme is to be associated the extension
and training of the force of Naval Coast Volun-
teers, and some modification of the system of offer-
ing small pensions to insure the services of experi-
enced seamen.
No doubt that provision of the bill cannot be
carried out without incurring considerable outlay.
But this can bear no sort of proportion to the value
of the service rendered. That we doubt not will
be great—more so than many anticipate ; for, un-
fortunately, there is too much of that drivelling
credulity which can rest contented with our present
condition, forgetful that the other side of the
channel only no fewer than 40,000 trained, and
20,000 partially trained seamen are available at a
moment's notice. We say drivelling credulity,
because let a rival be ever so amicably disposed,
it is never prudent to put temptation in his way ;
and if there be one temptation greater than another
to any, and more especially to a vair.glorious state,
it is opportunity to strike a deadly blow at a pow-
erful but unprepared enemy. Neither riches nor
power are sure possessions unless available on an
emergency, and against that we ought never to
expect a note of warning, but perpetually to be on
our guard. As conceived in a spirit of needful
precaution, and as carrying ns a step further in a
right direction, the bill is deserving of approval
and support, whatever modifications may be re-
quired in its provisions. That it will meet with
both in either house is tolerably certain, as it is
that if passed it will be one of the few, the exceed-
. ingly few, good measures passed during the entire
session.