The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE Sty.

Srn,—Has the " Volunteer Reserve of Seamen for the
Navy" been a failure or not ? This is a question of much
more importance than at first sight appears, because on its
success depends the most vital question of our being able
to man the navy, in case of a sudden war, without having
recourse to the iniquitous system of pressing.

The experiment of having a volunteer reserve of seamen
has now been in operation for nearly five months; it may,
therefore, be safely inferred t hat it has had a fair trial, with
a result, I am sorry to say, anything but satisfactory, the
actual number of men entered being still only verging
on a thousand. Now there must be some cause opera-
ting in a sinister manner on the minds of the sea-
men which prevents them from enrolling themselves in
this reserve, because the inducements held out by the
Government are, to say the least of them very liberal,—but
still there is evidently a strong disinclination on the part of
the seamen to enter.

Now I think that the aspect of the political horizon is
such as to make it imperative on Great Britain to hold her-
self in readiness for any eventuality ; and no thinking
person for one moment doubts that a war with France is
"on the cards," if not an inevitable consequence on the
present Imperial policy. Such being the simple facts, it is
absolutely necessary for us to inquire and ascertain the
cause of this unwillingness on the part of our seamen to
come forward in defence of their country.

I have made a close investigation into the feelings of the
seamen, and regret much to observe not only a great repug-
nance on theirpart, but even a decidedhostility to employment
in the Royal Navy—much patience and ingenuity was ne-
cessary to probe this mysterious circumstance. I have,
however, I think, ascertained that several causes are in opt.
ration, all tending to deter the seamen from entering the
Naval Reserve. The first and most serious obstacle is the
complete want of confidence on the part of the men in the
Promises of the Admiralty; they say, and I fear but too
justly, that the Admiralty will always be able to find some
excuse for evading the fulfilment of their agreement with
the seamen should they wish to do so—the experience sea-
men have hitherto had of the good faith of the Admiralty
being such as to justify this suspicion. Now no one at all
conversant with nautical matters doubts for one moment
that the Admiralty is the worst conducted public
department we have. Indeed, the present state of the
navy generally, and the ill feelings of the men, exhibited
in frequent acts of mutiny, too clearly shows that some-
thing is radically wrong at tie head of this department;
and it is much to be feared, in case of a war, that the com-
plicated system will break down entirely. It would be
well, therefore, if steps were taken at once to sweep away
the whole establishment, with its ambiguous forms, and
begin, de novo, with a system of management more suited
to the age, and with a permanent head, so as to secure uni-
formity of action. From some cause or another a spirit of
diAtontent and consequent disorganisation pervades the
whole navy, permeating both officers and men, which it is
much to be dreaded will have a deleterious effect in case
of their services being required in actual war.

Another cause of the ill success of the Naval Reserve is
the total and absolute want of patriotism on the part of a
great majority of the seamen. We find none of that
national pride and confidence in the power of Englishmen
which was formerly the characteristic of the British sea-
men. They openly declare their want of confidence in and
indifference to their country, expressing a determination not
to fight for a country which has entirely ignored them, and
brought the whole world into competition with them for
employment; even at their own thresholds the foreigner
steps in and takes their bread from them. In my commu-
nications with men respecting entering into the Naval Re-
serve this has been the perpetual reply, " We do not care
who governs, we would not be worse under the French
Emperor than we are now under Manchester." This
feeling, we firmly believe, has more effect in de-
terring men from joining the reserve than even their dis-
trust in the Admiralty, and if something is not speedily
done to elevate the character of the British seaman, and to
reknit his now weakened tie to his country, consequences
the most serious must ensue.

The remaining objections raised by the seamen to the
Volunteer Reserve are merely to matters of detail, which
the exercise of a little common sense on the part of the Ad-
miralty would easily obviate ; such as making,rnore simple
the regulations under which the men enter, and ceasing to
issue blue-books of complicated conditions, which not even
the party who drew them up can interpret. Add to this
an assurance, on the part of the Government, that
the men, when once entered on the Naval Reserve,
shall not be dismissed from it, excepting for misconduct, or
at their own request, but be allowed to remain until they
have earned their claim to pension, this being the chief
attraction to the steady married man, and also this feeling
assured of a support in old age, at once establishes an in-
terest in the welfare of their country, and creates a per.
manent and enduring tie to their native land.

From the opportunities I have of seeing and conversing
with seamen, and being thoroughly convinced of the exist-
ence most extensively of those feelings of indifference to-
wards their country which I have described, I consider it
only to be my duty to bring the matter fully before the
public, that some thing may be devised to remedy so se-
rious an evil—lest, when England in her hour of need may
require their services, she may find alienated hearts and
unwilling hands. NAUTICUS.

There are still rumours that the French Govern-
ment contemplate raising a loan before long. The guise
assumed by the operation will perhaps be that of a loan for
agricultural purposes.—.lroney Market Review.
THE UNION BANK FRAUD.—The prisoner, Wil-
liam George Pullinger, the late cashier to the Union Bank,
whose enormous defalcations have created so much public
interest, mad who it will be remembered was sentenced at
the last session of the Central Criminal Court to 20 years'
penal servitude, was on Saturday removed from the gaol of
Newgate to Millbank Penitentiary, to undergo his sentence.
The prisoner, since his conviction, has appeared perfectly
resigned. Hei has conversed freely with the officials of the
gaol upon several occasions with reference to his crime, and
the manner in which the enormous sum of money of which
he defrauded the bank was disposed of. The impression that
appears to have been created in their minds is that he is
speaking the truth when he states that the whole amount
has been dissipated in speculation, and that there is no reason
for supposing that any portion has been retained for the pur-
pose of making up a purse for the benefit of himself or those
connected with him. It may be stated that upon the arrival
of the order from the Secretary of State for the removal of
the prisoners to their different places of destination Pul-
linger was treated in exactly the same manner as the other
convicts, and he appeared to be deeply affected at his de-
graded position. Among the other prisoners who were
removed with Pullinger to Millbank was the Portuguese
seaman Charles Annois, who was convicted of murder
at the last October sessions, and who was ordered to be kept
in penal servitude for life, the capital sentence being com-
muted on account of there being reason to believe that he
was not in a sound state of mind at the time the act was
committed.
NEWCASTLE-l;roN-TYNE.----On Wednesday a pre-
liminary trial trip of the magnificent steamship Connaught,
one of the fleet of the Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company, took place under circumstances which proved
that in a more favourable state of the weather the expecta-
tions of her builders will be fully realised in the attainment
of a speed of 20 miles an hour. The directors of the
Atlantic Company may well be proud of the ship in which
they propose to inaugurate their great undertaking of
effecting a permanent communication between Europe
and America by Galway. The Connaught- is 380
feet in length by 40 beam, of a registered tonnage of
3,000, but an actual tonnage of 4,500. Her engines,
by John Palmer, of the firm of Palmer, Brothers, and
Co. of Newcastle, are of 800 nominal horse power,
worle• fin up to 3,500, oscillating, three cylinders abreast,
seven feet' stroke, 80 inches in diameter. Two of Galloway
and Berdernore's superheating apparatus are attached. The
paddles—Morgan's Patent—are 33 feet in diameter. The
interior of the ship is fitted up with the utmost attention to
the comfort of passengers, and it was observed during the
trip, notwithstanding the heavysea running, that the tremu-
lous motion so disagreeable to landsmen was scarcely per-
ceptible. In spite of a high wind the Connaught, without
any difficulty or strain upon her engines, made 171 miles
per hour in a run of 46, and there is every reason to believe
that on the 4‘ official trip," which will take place imme-
diately, she will attain a higher speed than has yet been
reached by any ocean going steamer in the world. The
Connaught will proceed to Kingstown previous to her
being sent round to Galway, where she will be placed upon
her ation for regular packet duty.
SANITARY STATE OF THE CITY.—The last report
of Dr. Letheby, the Medical Officer of Health, to the City
Commissioners of Sewers, states that the mortality returns
are below the average for the season and show a satisfactory
state of the public health. There have been but 76 deaths
in the city in the course of the last fortnight, the average
for the corresponding period of the last five years being 81.
Only 25 of the deaths were among children less than 5 years
of age, and 20 were among persons 60 and upwards. The
chief causes of death were diseases of a chronic character.
There were 20 deaths from affections of the pulmonary or-
gans, viz., 5 from phthisis, 5 from pneumonia, 10 from
bronohitis. Of the zymotic class of diseases there were only
12 deaths, viz., 3 from fever, 3 from small-pox, 2 from
hooping cough, and 1 from each of the following--erysipe-
las, measles, scarlet fever, and dysentery. 97 births were
registered during the fortnight, viz., 54 boys and 43 girls.
Dr. Letheby also reported on the state of 311 houses that
had been inspected since the last meeting of the commis-
sioners, and he submitted a list of 110 places that required
sanitary improvement. He likewise presented a list of 34 of
the courts and alleys of the city, which he stated would re-
quire periodical flushing and cleansing during the hot wea-
ther of, the approaching summer.

THE COAL TRADE.-During the month of May,
the total quantity of coal and coke exported from the vari-
ous coal ports of Great Britain was of coal 714,036 tons,
and of coke 21,020 tons. Of this quantity, which shows a
large increase upon the exportsofApril, Newcastle exported
214,888 tons of coal and 10,617 tons of coke •, Sunderland,
117,822 tons of coal and 1,873 tons of coke ; Hartlepool and
West Hartlepool, 68,17 L tons of coal and 2946 tons of coke;
Middlesborough, 9,047 tons of coal and 2,680 tons of coke ;
Hull, 10,365 tons of coal ; Liverpool, 64,278 tons of coal and
952 tons of coke ; Cardiff, 90,179 tons Of coal and 337 tons
of coke ; Swansea, 30,108 tons of coal ; Newport, 20,702
tons of coal; Llanelly, 9,297 tons of cc -di and 1,080 tons of
coke; and Charlestown, 11,059 te-,is of coal. The quantity
of coal and coke shipped to London and other ports in the
United Kingdom duri.,,g
the month was 796,844 tons of
coal and 4,007 tong of coke • of which Newcastle shipped
131,474 tone of coal and 1,980 tons of coke ; Sunderland,
142,775 tons of coal , Seaham, 66,819 tons of coal ;
Hartlepool and 'West Hartlepool, 104,846 tons of coal
and 102 tons of coke ; Middlesborough, 20,100 tons
of cof-+I and 440 tons of coke ; Swansea, 19,299 tons of coal
Cardiff, 74,449 tons of coal and 1,333 tons of coke ; Llanelly,
29,440 tons of coal
,' Nowport, 62,602 tour of coal and SO
tons of 001(01 ttlptd Maryport, 34,143 tour of coal and 72 tons
of cobe. Tbe number of vessels enff'aged in the trade was
7,548, of which 4,761 were engagdin the lame and 2,787
in the oversea coal timke.

tion.