The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-28 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

A notification was yesterday circulated in Wool-
wich Dockyard, by order of the Lords of the Admi-
ralty, announcing that a considerable augmentation
of the departments would take place forthwith, and
that numbers of the following workmen would be
entered immediately—namely, shipwrights, saw-
yers, riggers, caulkers, engineers, factory men,
labourers, &c. A bounty of 10s. will be given to
any one introducing riggers, caulkers, &c. It was
likewise announced that the pay of the first and
second class riggers is to be augmented 9d. per day,
commencing on the Ist of November next, and the
pay of the leading men of the department 6d. per
day ; that of the former being raised to 4s. and 3s.
Gd., and the latter to ss. Gd. per day.
The following commendatory letter from the Se-
cretary of the Admiralty was also received yester-
day at the Dockyard, 'Woolwich, in reference to
the assumption of the sentry duties of the yard by
the military in garrison, and the consequent with-
drawal of the metropolitan police from those duties.
" Admiralty, Oct. 24.
" A report has been received front Woolwich Dockyard,
stating that the police, under the immediate superintend-
ence of Mr. Mallalieu, have performed the duties of the
guard since the 4th of May last. in a most satisfactory man-
ner, and that the conduct of the whole force has been ex-
emplary, their duties having been discharged very effectu-
ally. lam commanded by my Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty to state that they have received this report
with great satisfaction, and I urn to beg that it may he
communicated to Mr. Mallalicu and the force under his
orders.--I am, &c.,

It is reported from Paris that, at the request of
the Spanish Ambassador, the French Government
has placed materials of war at the disposal of Spain, " W. G. ROMAINE, Secretary.
" To Sir Richard Mayne, K.C. 8., &c."
and that the Emperor has declared his intention of
A letter dated Gibraltar, October 16, received at
supporting the operations against Morocco by ad-
vances to the Government of Madrid similar to Plymouth by a naval officer, says :
those made to Piedmont in the late war. Whether opinion here is that the French are to co operate
or not this news be literally true, there cannot be with the Spaniards against the Moors, but. that England
much doubt that France is preparing to intervene objec.ts to French interference. The Spaniards have here
one liner, three corvettes, ono sloop, and three paddlewheel
in the quarrel more actively than was originally steamers. The French have one three-decker, four two-
expected. The commanders in Algeria have con- deckers, and three smaller vessels. The British forces con-
centrated strong bodies of men on the frontier under sist of the Marlborough, flag of Admiral Fanshawe ; the
pretence of checking the incursions of certain un- Edgar, flag of Admiral Erskine; the Neptune, the Orion,
ruly tribes, and it is quite possible that the French the Princess Royal, the Centurion, the Victor Emmanuel,
the Conaurror the Cmsar, the Doris, the Scylla., the . Cad
-
and Spanish forces may combine to carry out other mus, the Scourge,and the Lapwing. The Vulture is at
plans than the obtaining redress for insults at Ceuta Tangiers. The dgar, Neptune, and Princess Royal are
or the plundering of an African model farm. If we expected to sail shortly for England, and the Caesar for
were disposed to feel cause of satisfaction in finding Malta."
gloomy anticipations realised, we might remind. our Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam sloop Alecto,
readers of the many times that we asserted the under heavy repairs at Woolwich, yesterday re-
impossibility of a period of quiet following upon ceived now boilers, end is otherwise in a forward
the martial successes of the French army. Whet state.
ther it be from the necessity of the Emperor's po- The screw steam sloop Mutine, recently off the
sition, or the wants of his soldiery, or the tempta- stocks, Ras yesterday undocked at Woolwich, and
tions of absolute power, Europe is witnessing, and the gunboat Louisa replaced in dock. The iron
seems doomed for a long time to witness, a series paddlewheel vessel Dover was taken into basin
of international troubles. Those who affect to for examination and repairs, and the paddle-
believe that it, is only the plain speaking of the wheel steamsloop Prometheus, recently commis-
English press which causes the general disquietude sinned. by Commander Skipworth for service on
should ponder over the events of the past year, in the West Coast of Africa, was hauled into the river
which the English press has taken little or no part. in readiness for sea.
The attack on Austria, the sudden peace and half- By the launch of the fine line-of-battle screw
desertion of the Italian cause, were matters in which steamship irresistible, 80 guns which took place
we had no part ; and now we find France and Spain from No. 4 slip at Chatham Dockyard yesterday
leagued against a Mediterranean State, with possi- afternoon, the British navy has received another
ble results which may be of a grave character. As it addition to its fleet of large line-of-battle screw
is only within the last few days that this question steamers. The Irresistible has been upwards of five
has been discussed in England, it cannot be said years in hand, having been commenced in May,
that any act of ours has provoked the present com- 1854, and the history of her construction up to the
plications. present time is another instance of the faulty system
No one in this country has the smallest wish to in which the shipbuilding department of the Royal
save the Riff pirates from chastisement, to prevent Navy is conducted. She was originally designed
a semi-barbarous Court from being taught respect by Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, the Surveyor of
for the rights of man and of nations, or even to forbid the Navy, for a sailing ship, and her lines and
a harmless State like Spain from taking as much plans wore prepared with that view. After she
ground as will make her African possessions secure. had been a short time in hand and when approach-
Spain has considerable grievances against the Maho- ing towards completion the Admiralty decided on
medans of Western Africa, and we are only glad to having her converted into a screw steamer, which
see a country so long torn by intestine war and ex- of course necessitated considerable alterations in
hausted by misgovernment thus asserting once more her original lines. These, however, were carried
a position among military nations. That Spain into effect under the direction of Mr. Leine, the
has a good army, a fair navy, and officers fit to former master shipwright at Chatham Dockyard,
command both ; that the Government is strong and the Irresistible havihg been slightly lengthened
enough to use its soldiers for other purposes than was finally completed by Mr. 0. W. Lana. the
repressing factions at home ; and that there is present master shipwright. Although the Ic4esis-
mostey enough in the treasury to carry a force tible is in many respect inferior to several large
across the Straits and into the untilled regions of line of battle-ships lately launched from Chathahin,
Morocco, must be a matter of congratulation to she is, nevertheless, a fine specimen of naval arc :-
every one who remembers what Spain was, even tecture, and will prove a valuable acquisitioaheo
in the memory of men now living. If Queen that class of vessels belonging to the navy. T
Isabella's army could learn in warfare with the following are her principal dimensions :Ft.
in.
Moors how to defend Cuba, and how to bid defiance
Length between perpendiculars 190 0
to an enemy in the Pyrenees, no one would rejoice
Length of keel for tonnage 156 968 4i
at it more than Englishmen. But the case is dif- Extreme breadth .. ...
ferent when the Cabinet of Madrid undertakes Breadth moulded
55 3
in
operations under the direction and with the Depth
hold 23 4
Burden in tons, 2,642 38-94ths.
help of a great and ambitious Power. We
cannot avoid perceiving that in these alliances The Irresistible is pierced for 80 guns, which
the stronger State must have complete contain metal: The rol number she will
hinery carry,
with all being
ch she of the hwilleaviest
be
over the weaker, and that it is not Sp
which goes to war, but France, under the shelter supplied will be of 400 horse-power (nominal). Her
of her name, and, perhaps, with the intention of figure-head is a fine colossal bust of the ocean
reaping tho fruits of the war. monarch Neptune, who is armed with his traditional
We have before said that this country should trident. As everything relating to the British
avoid the slightest meddling in this dispute, navy has just now a peculiar interest in the minds
should it result only in the punishment of an of the public the launch yesterday served to draw
obstinate Court, the taking of securities for together an immense concourse of spectators, who
the future, and such an addition to the Spanish took up their position on each side of the building
territory as will make Ceuta secure. That slip, every foot of which that provided a view of
more than this will be willingly undertaken by the launch being crowded. The timbers of the
Spain is not to be believed. Nothing could make Bulwark, 91, and the Undaunted, 51, which are
the Spanish Government attempt so absurd an building on the two adjoining slips, also had their
enterprise as the conquest of Morocco, except the occupants. Immediately in front of the ship a
injudicious interference of this country. A British spacious gallery was erected capable of accommo-
Minister making feeble remonstrances, which dating a large number of persons, and this was
public opinion would not allow him to follow up also crowded, chiefly by the gentry belonging to
by action, would be certain to put the continental the neighbourhood. There was also a booth for
nations on their mettle. They would do any- the Lords of the Admiralty and members of Parlia-
thing to seem regardless and disdainful of English ment, but none of the members of the board were
influence. If the Spaniards were alone in this present. Directly facing the bows of the ship a
affair, and were undisturbed by any foreign in- booth had been erected for the chief officers of the
terference, for or against them, we might be sure garrison and the principul officers of the dockyard
that three months would put an end to the whole required to take part in the launch, Major-General
quarrel.. It is the obligations under which Spain Eyre and most of the officers of the garrison being
lays herself by accepting French assistance which present. The ceremony of christening the ship was
constitute the chief evil of the present alliance. performed by Miss Williams, a relative of Col. M.
Against such an alliance, of course, we can say Williams, commanding Royal Engineer at Chatham.
nothing diplomatically. Spain has a right to ally The Irresistible is to be immediately supplied with