The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-15 00:00:00

Ha was made a post-captain in 1S 2, after thirteen years'
service ; and yet the Order of the Bath had never been
given to him, though he obtained the approval of
his commanding officer. Though he had been recom-
mended for that honour in 1840, the successive First Lords
of the Mmralty had passed him over. Other officers
who had had gazettes had received the honour. No one had
more energetically sought employment than he had done
for 30 years ; he went to first lord after first lord--sometimes
he was too low on the list, sometimes too high : the fact was
he had no interest, he had entered the service without it,
and had got all his steps without it. Though he had offered
himself for any service, in any part of the world, he never
got anything but a cold curt answer, enough to break his
heart. The test ought not to be whether an officer had had
service, but whether he had sought for it. (Hear, hear.)
He believed the rule at the Admiralty was, if any one ven-
tured to run counter to the noble lord he got notice to quit.
(A laugh.) At present admirals only attained that rank in
about 18 or 19 years ; out of the 100 only 3 were now em-
ployed, and the consequence of this system was that men
were removed from the list of post-captains, where they
might be usefully employed, and made admirals when there
was no necessity for it. The lieutenants of our service were
a standing proverb; unless they had an opportunity of dis•
tinguishing themselves it was morally impossible for them
to become commanders. They had given rank to the medi-
cal officers ; and the result was that a lieutenant might see
a medical officer rise above him. The navy wanted nothing
but justice. He had only referred to his own case knowing
that there were hundreds of others in the same position.
Sir G. SEYMOUR considered that an improved scheme
of half-pay and retiring allowances was much needed, and
he accepted with gratitude any proposition for that purpose.
At the same time he regretted that the scheme of the noble
lord was so limited, and considered that such an inquiry as
had been suggested by the right h.on, baronet would be of
advantage, and give satisfaction to the service. He entirely
concurred with the statement of the right hon. baronet as to
the insufficient remuneration of the captains, and he also
thought the medical officers had specialclaims to attention.
He hoped the scheme of the Government would as far as it
went be carried out, and could not understand how officers
could complain that it wasa hardship or injustice to be re-
moved from one class to another.
Mr. HENLEY thought the debate calculated to attract
a good deal of attention. The noble lord said no rule could
be laid down to meet the case that had arisen, but that it
should be dealt with where the shoe pinched. He could
not help thinking that some general rule should be laid
down. They saw that the sum paid for non-effective
officers was nearly the same as that; paid to effective officers
—about £900,000 in each ease. They saw that the num-
ber of men voted now was 80,000, and previously it was but
40,000, yet he said there was great difficulty in promoting
the petty officers. That he (Mr. Henley) could scarcely
understand. Then as to the promotion of lieutenants and
commanders; how did the noble lord propose to carry out
his scheme ? They were told that captains declined ships,
because by accepting them they would incur loss. All this
tended to show that the subject must be generally dealt
with, and not upon the principle laid down by the noble
lord—of easing where the shoe pinched. He did not know
whether it was possible to alter the proportion between the
effective and the non-effective list—but thought there were
ample reasons for dealing with the subject comprehensively
as a whole, instead of partially, in reference to particular
ranks only.
Lord C. PAGET—The number of officers on half-pay
was not due to the present day, but was the result of past
wrong. You could not kill off the old officers, and they
must remain on the list. (Hear, and laughter.) No com-
prehensive scheme would affect the old captains and ad-
mirals of the last war. The right honourable gentleman
had said if they dealt with the captains and commanders,
the scheme should also provide for the compulsory re-
tirement of the admirals likewise. In the first place the
admirals stood upon a different footing from that of
the lower ranks of officers—their rank was gene-
rally the reward of distinguished service, and they
were mostly aged men, whose feelings would be unneces-
sarily wounded were they subjected to such a rule. He
did not think that the scheme was of sufficient import-
anoe to be examined by a commission. It was merely a
small boon to officers of a low grade who were felt to have
been hardly treated; and, if adopted, it would also cause a
flow of promotion, which it was admitted would be very de-
sirable. He did not think that any advantage would arise
to the service from counting mates' time, because if that
were done the time would have to be lengthened, and it
would make no difference in the end. The grievance of
captains in command of line-of-battle ships had been stated
with so much force that he had almost himself joined in the
cheers of the hon. and gallant members. No doubt there
might be cases in which the present rule worked hardly to
individuals, but how was it possible to frame a general
scheme which should not inflict hardship in individual
cases ? The inconveniences complained of arose from the
number of junior captains who happened to be in command
of line-of-batt'e ships; but it should not be forgotten that
the Government had latterly done a great deal for captains.
Formerly a captain was put to a great expense in his fit-
out ; but he had nothing now to take on board but his port-
manteau. No doubt the French captains were allowed
table money; but the fact was, our service costs the coun-
try a great deal of money, and the Government were not
able to do all that they would otherwise be quite willing to
do. He hoped the house would at once agree to the scheme,
for the service was very anxious to have the point settled.
Sir J. PAK INGTON thought that the noble lord could
not expect the house at once to commit itself to the recep-
tion of the scheme. He had himself only seen it that morn-
ing, and its reception by the committee had certainly not
been a very gratifying one. (Hear.)
Sir C. NAPIER hoped the noble lord would withdraw
his plan, otherwise he should feel it his duty to oppose it,
and to divide the house upon it.
Admiral DUNCOMBE regarded himself bound to sup-
port the gallant admiral who had just spoken.
Sir C. WOOD said that when the rule was to pay cap-
tains in proportion to the rates of the ships they com-
manded, the Admiralty could not put an experienced officer
in command of a frigate because it would be equivalent to
a reduction of his pay. They had therefore altered the
rule, and made the pay dependent upon the standing of the
officer.
Sir C. NA I'IER said the change was a bad one, and he
hoped that it would be reversed. He begged to propose
that the chairman report progress.
Lord C. PAGET said that after the opinions which had
been expressed he would beg to move that the vote be re •
duced by the sum of £12,000, with a view of postponing the
consiieration of the subject. He hoped the committee
would allow him to pass the reduced estimate.
Sir C. NA I'IER said that under these circumstances he
would withdraw his motion.

Sir J. PAKINGTON had no objection whatever to the
course proposed by the noble lord, and he sincerely hoped
the scheme would never again be submitted to the house.
The vote of £679,262 was then agreed to, as was also a
vote of £448,000 for the pay of lieutenants.
The house resumed.
PHcENTX PARK. BILL.
This bill was read 'a second time.
The Caledonitul and Crinan. Canals Bill passed through
committee, ar.d was reported to the house.
THE InJSBAND AND WIFE RELATION LAW
BILL (SCOTLAND).
This bill was read a second time.
NUISANCES REMOVAL, &c., BILL.
The debate on this bill was adjourned until Monday
week at 12 o'clock.