The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-14 00:00:00

OUR HOME FORCES.

True to his promise to the House of Commons,
Sir J. Pakington, the First Lord of the Admiralty,
is gradually strengthening the home force by the
means suggested in his clever elucidation of the
navy estimates.

Since the Ist of May the China force has been
reduced, the Pacific division has been strengthened,
and the particular service nearer home has been
increased.

From China, one ship, the Himalaya, screw
transport, Commander S. P. Piers, has arrived in
England, and a dozen others are on their way
home, namely -
SCREW SHIPS

Sanspareil
Shannon
Pelorus
Poarl
Hornet l7
Roebuck
Assurance
Mohawk

SAILING SHIPS.
Nankin 5O
Pique
Belle sle (hoFpital ship) 6

making a total of 13 ships, 301 guns, and 3,552
men. Two other ships have been detached from
China to the Pacific station ; the Pylades, 21,
screw, Captain De Courcy, and Amethyst, 26,
Captain Grenfell ; so thAt the China fleet now
musters 50 vessels of all classes, 457 guns, and
6,302 men, instead of, as on May Ist, 60 ships, 720
guns, and 9,395 men.
The Mediterranean, we are glad to find, has an
additional line-of-battle ship added to its force, and
now it may be said that the station has once more
a screw fleet, powerful although small, composed
of the Royal Albert, 121; Conqueror, 100 ; Re.
nown, 91 ; Princess Royal, 91; and Oanturion,
80 ; and the Renown having left the Channel for
the Mediterranean, a sister ship, the Orion, 91, has
been put into commission. _ _ _

In April last we remarked that, badly off as we
were stated to be with respect of a home force, we
could muster from all sources about 20,000 seamen,
marines, and boys in active service in the Channel
ports. Since then we are glad to find that this
force has been gradually and steadily increased
—our coast-guard ships afloat, for instance, 26
efficient vessels (all but one of them screws) carry-
ing 633 guns, and having on their books 3588 men,
Two ships paying-off have 880 men available. The
ships fitting out are 8, with 284 guns, and 2755
men ; and the "particular-service" ships and the
" Telegraph Squadron" have 2392 men. These
give a total of 9600 men. If to these we add the
force at Cork, 500 ; at Sheerness, Woolwich, and
Pembroke, 1700 ; at Portsmouth, 2490 and Ply-
mouth, 1700 ; total 6300 ; add, also, 3500 men
employed in the coast-guard service ashore, &c:,
and the marines at head quarters, we shall find
that at the present moment we have at our home-
ports and on our coasts in actual employment
under the Crown no less than 25,000 officers, sea-
men, marines, and boys. The number of ships
ordered home from all stations is 22, with 382 guns
and 4766 men. If these are counted in with our pre-
sent home strength, theavailable force for an emer-
gency will not come far short of 30,000 of all ranks.
Thus from this force, together with the additional
seamen that will daily enter to make up the num-
bers voted for 1857-58, we may shortly expect to
have a Channel fleet of eight or ten screw of the
line, and a dozen screw frigates and corvettes,
manned by 14,000 seamen and marines ; a regular
cruising fleet, totally independent of, but ready to
work with all the efficient coast-guard ships, steam
guard ships, port flag ships, and any other se lgoing
home port vessels, from each and any of which,
after very little exercise, divisions of men might
be taken on an emergency to form the nucleus of
three fleets.—llli.rning Herald.

THE NEW ROUTE TO AIIIEBIC,I.