The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-21 00:00:00

NAVAL LEAVE-TA KING.

On Sunday, the 2nd instant, after the celebration of
Divine service on board IL M. receiving ship Hibernia, at
Malta, the officers and crew of the fl.igship Caledonia
were addressed by Lord Clarence Paget, whose period of
service as Commodore of the Mediterranean Fleet has
expired. His lordship said "My lads it, is due to
Captain Gardner, Commander Codrington, and your
)fficers generally, that I should state to you my pleasure
at being able to declare that this ship is in the highest '
state of discipline and efficiency. To thegood example
shown by all the officers of the Caledonia this effect is
due. Two years ago when I joined the ship I
had reason to form great expectations of your conduct,
and these have been fulfilled. I am anxious this
should continue to be so. You are about to be paid off— '
to return to your homes—to be dispersed about the world,
but I do entreat you for the short time you are together,
keep up your discipline, preserve that bright character
which you have won. Now we are about to part. It
cannot be that men who have lived so long together can
separate without some degree of feeling. I cannot shake
hands with every one of you, but I wish you a very hearty fare-
well. For some time, atleast, I shallbe unemployed ; but my
heart and soul is in the navy, and there is not a man
among you whom I shall not be glad to see, and shake
hands with, should I meet him at home. Now good-bye ;
and I entreat you again, whether on paying off, or on leave
at home, don't forget your discipline or good conduct. See
what it has done for you. You are an example to others ;
foreign Ministers have sent complimentary letters to the
Admiralty at home ; your officers are always coming to
me with some plan for your benefit, so that by and bye
men will be us well treated as officers. I wish you all suc-
cess—and a hearty farewell."
The Malta Obscrrer says on this subject: "We feel sure
that our readers will join us in asincere and public acknow-
lodgment of the merits of Lord Clarence Paget's very
beneficial and successful naval administration. Lord
Clarence Paget established the naval savings-bank sys-
tem, which has worked with perfect success. Lord
Clarence Paget is the originator of the Contagious
Disease Act'—popularly called at the time of its introduc-
tion, ' Paget's Outrageous Act'—and which has proved of
such infinite advantage to the health of the services ; so
much so that it is now proposed by members of both
Houses to extend it to the metropolis and all corporate
towns. The next improvement effected, and which to
some extent accounts for the unexampled good conduct
of the different crews, is the establishment of the Royal
Naval Canteen on a respectable and liberal footing, and
which includes a library and reading-rooms, theatre, fives
court, skittle-alley, and other sources of amusement--
to say nothing of the wholesome drinks wherewith to
refresh the inner man. When Jack finds that his
health and comfort are cared for even in this respect,
he avoids being inveigled into viciou and
noth poisonous
haunts that go against his honest grain.s A
important step in the right direction that has conduced to
- the welfare and the brightness and education of the boys
and seamen of the fleet, is the summer cruise tak
thene Medi-
every
year to the various ports of foreign countries in
terranean. Besides benefiting the health and ind of the
crews by these travels, an excelleht opportunity was
afforded to the sailor of obtaining a knowledge of foreign
ports, ships, and the manners, customs, and aptitudes of
I different people."

Whi!st the day for the opening of the election bal.
lot in France is rapidly approaching, Paris is agitated by
various rumours of polit'cal ehangeP. It is once snore af-
firmed that the Emperor will make an attempt to conciliate
the electors by liberal concessions. It is confidently ex-
pected that a decree will al pear before Sunday announcing
a reduction of the army, a change of Ministry, and the end
of personal Government.

It is stated with regard to the threatened strike at
Oldham, that a ckputtation from the Optlativo Cotton
Spinners' Association has waited upon the Trades' Council,
and after fully explaining how matters etood, a resolution
was unanimously come to that the president and secretary
of the Trades' Council and the Operatives' Association
should wait upon the masters, with a view of endeavouring
to settle the matter in an amicable manner.
As many conflicting accounts as to the Bishop of
Salisbury's health have appeared in the newspapers, we
(Globe) are asked to state that the disease from which ho
lrts now been suffering for several months varies much
from week to week; but at present there is no substantial
change for the better, and it is at present entirely out of
the queoo t should clAtick. of his
Snial

So far as the experiment has yet proceeded, the cruise
of the Naval Reserve must be accounted a decided
success. Correspondents writing "At Sea" declare
that the men have taken to their duties with
surprising quickness, and submit to the discipline
of a man-of-war with very good grace. Admiral Dacres,
indeed, has given his opinion of their seamanlike bearing
in most favourable terms. "He never," he said, " saw a
Eller body of men than was mustered on the Agincourt's
quarter-deck, and he could not say which he liked best,
the Reserve or the Coastguard." l‘lr. Childers, it
is understood, is equally pleased with the trip,
though the First Lord, like the other landsmen who have
ventured on the expedition, has experienced some of the
disagreenbles, if not the perils, of a seafaring life since his
embarkation. It has been blowing hard, with a bitterly
cold wind from the east. The scorning of the start was
especially unpleasant, but, nevertheless, Mr. Childersand
acseciates were determined rot to be daunted, and
took their places on the poop of the Agincourt at four
a.m. The fleet steamed out of the road in regular proces-
sion, the flagship of course leading the van with the
Admiralty ensign flying. It is said that this cruise
supplies the only instance on record in which a
British fleet has been commanded at sea by a First Lord in
person. On Sunday Mr. Childers attended Divine ser-
vice under circumstances that must have been•somewha.t
novel to him. The process of " rigging church' is a brief
one. The fire buckets are placed on deck, and capstan
bars laid from bucket to bucket, forming the seats for
the crew, while the officers have their own chairs. The
pulpit is put together by the carpenter in about two
minutes, and a harmonium is contributed by the officers.
Hymns are sung, and the sermon is short and practical.
The fleet is composed of vessels of very varying size, armour
plating, and horse-power. Their speed, too, is yew
different, and some of the faster vessels find it
difficult to keep their appointed stations in the rear of
their slower companions. The Duncan is the fastest ship,
the St. George the slowest. The Trafalgar is the most
venerable, having been launched more than thirty years
ago as a three-decker, and since converted into a two-
decker, which greatly improved her sailing powers.