The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-02 00:00:00

an instant to push onward yet more vigorously in
the direction—in the direction upon which we have
already of late so far advanced. Let us not budge
one inch, so to speak, not a single hair's breadth
from the straight line clearly marked:out before us
—the line already marked, so far resolutely, and
constantly alike, by the Cabinet of Lord DERBY
and the Cabinet of Lord PALMERSTON. Patriotism
and not party is now the motive-power setting in
play the machinery of our maritime administra-
tion. Abundant mistakes and errors have yet to
be rectified at the Admiralty—not a doubt of it.
But what encourages us in our reliance upon the
Board (whoever may be in power—no matter
whether it may be presided over by the Duke of
SOMERSET or by Sir JOHN PAKINGTON) is the evi-
dent readiness of all parties and of all adminis-
trations to rectify off-hand, whenever it may be
possible, whatever may be clearly shown to require
rectification.

There is at the same time fortunately little

fear at present but that the authorities at the
Admiralty will be kept up to the mark, the high-
water mark of efficiency, assiduity, and zeal, desired
alike in this instance by the people and by the
Parliament. Last evening afforded us proof posi-

in, both in Lords and Commons, in that matter,

that there are really, henceforth as we have inti-
mated, but few reasons for regarding the
affairs of the Admiralty, the sayings and doings
of our Admiralty administrators, with anything
like our pristine solicitude. The master of debate
in the House of Lords was as vigorous and as pa-
triotically in earnest, in every syllable of the noble
harangue he delivered yesterday, as he has shown
himself during we don't care to say how many previous
sessions of the Imperial Legislature. Seldom has
Lord LYNDHURST spoken more directly to the pur-
pose—and that a very noble purpose, one of vital
and permanent importance to the commonwealth—
than he did yesterday. • Nor are we by any means
prepared to cavil at the tone in which the hon. and
gallant Admiral the member for Southwark was
almost simultaneously bringing under the consi-
deration of the House of Commons last evening the

requirements of the heroic service with which his

own chivalrous reputation is so intimately asso-
ciated. Whatever may be the exception taken to
that tone by Lord CLARENCE PAGET, we at any
rate can by no scans regard it as calculated to
militate against the interests of the Royal Navy.
There are caprices yet to be got rid of by the
Admiralty authorities as pernicious and ridiculous.
There are inconveniences to which our gallant tars
are yet subjected quite unnecessarily. There is
still for them to a very considerable extent a lack
of genial and inspiriting encouragement. Until
the Naval Service shall have attained a state of
something as near as possible to perfection in the
comprehensive and yet at the same time the detailed
excellence of its general organisation—we do trust
that Sir CHARLES NAPIER, and more like Sir
CHARLES NAPIER, will still continue to speak right
out, to plead yet manfully the cause of those brave
tars who are thus professionally represented in the
Commons House of Parliament.

As conspicuous, and in a manner prominent,
among the auguries of good to the Royal Navy,
we must particularise, before concluding our re-
marks upon yesterday's discussions, the rapid pro-
gress now making towards the realisation of a pro-

ject, the adoption of which we ourselves have for
very many years past advocated in the columns of
The Sun energetically and perseveringly. We
allude to the augmentation of the number of boy-
sailors enrolled in the QUEEN'S service, as in one
sense the youngest members of the Royal Navy of
the present, and in a nobler and a higher sense, as
the germs at the same time of the Royal Navy of
the next or immediately ensuing generation. Upon
this point, however, we must let Lord C. PAGET,
with his sailor's frankness, speak manfully out for
himself. He observed—" A statement for the years
1857, 1858, and 1859 would show the increase
which had been gradually taking place in the esta-
blishment of the boys, as the Governments of the
day perceived the necessity for an augmentation.
In 1857 the number of boys was 1,898, in 1858 the
number was about the same, but in 1859 the num-
ber had increased to 5,147. At the present time we
had no less than 8,535 boys. Opinions might vary
as to the percentage of boys which it was desirable to
have in the fleet, and he did not think that point
was yet satisfactorily ascertained. It was still un-
der the consideration of the Admiralty. The per-
centage at present of boys was about one-sixth,
but some authorities thought it ought to be as
high as one-fifth. However that might be, the
fact remained that we had at present 8,500 boys,
who would become in a short time first-rate sea-
men." This one part of itself would be amply
sufficient to fill us with confidence as to the future
Royal Navy of England. It is evident at length
that the Admiralty recognise the advisability of
beginning at the beginning in the great work of
simultaneous advancement and renovation. Let
them but persevere now along the path upon
which they have taken heart at last to adventure.

The Sicilian rising is evidently a much more
formidable affair than the Government of Naples
wishes Europe to believe. Every means has been
used to prevent information from the island reach-
ing the capital, and this alone looks suspicious;
at the very same time, too, at which the Govern-
ment was publishing accounts that the rebellion
was suppressed and order restored, troops, ammui-
tion, and stores were being shipped to Sicily.
There can be no doubt that so brutal was the con-
duct of the garrisons in the island that the foreign
consuls were obliged to protest ; their written and
published document is the proof that the accusa-
tions against the soldiers and their general of endea-
vouring to provoke a rising even in Palermo
are but to true. The Neapolitan soldiery
appear to be ready for any work of bloodshed,
and above all, of pillage ; the inhabitants may well
dread them, for though, doubtless, they would prove
cowards enough before other soldiers, they appear
to exult in attacking and plundering the unarmed.
It is beyond doubt that they have destroyed and
sacked entire small and beautiful Sicilian towns,
murdering all the inhabitants who could not escape,
and carrying off the spoil like brigands.
It is, of course, difficult to come at the precise
truth of the case. No "own correspondents " can
follow the contending armies. The last accounts,
however, from Naples, which are up to the 25th,
tell us on good authority, and with a detail which
can hardly be the work of fiction, that up to
the 22d the Royal troops were still fighting,
and often with heavy loss, against the patriots.
Near the little town of Monreale, for instance, the
fighting was very severe. The Royal troops were,
in fact, repulsed. The insurgents hearing that they
were coming out in greater force withdrew in order
to save the town from destruction. It was of no
avail; the place was sacked and pillaged just the
same, although it is one of the favourite resorts of
the inhabitants of Palermo. The fight at Carini
sees to have been a very sanguinary one. It was
held by two or three thousand of the insurgents.
After they had retired the KING'S troops imme-
diately buried 320 of their own number and 250 of 1
the rebels. The town was then pillaged and plun-
dered, as a matter of course, in the most relentles